how long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?

Pj again. Over a year sober now. Feel fine, ive also cut out 'diet' drinks and anything with fake sugar eg sucralose, aspartame etc in and that has done me the world of good.

so, to sum up, quit drinking, no fake sugar, lots of sleep, exercise, healthy food and relaxation and you will be fine. Also take a multi vitamin.

been out today, not a hint of anxiety. 12 months ago I struggled to get up, felt dizzy and distant with a short fuse, struggled to remember things, felt in a daydream, forgot things, had a terrible temper and felt almost bipolar and twitched uncontrollably and felt so anxious I couldnt sit in a restaurant or watch tv and had recycling negative thoughts all day.

 

now I'm fine, have got my pic in mens health and am in pretty great shape, have saved loads of cash and am upbeat and positive and see the best in things rather than feel down and negative.

 

i honestly feel it was alcohol withdrawal and it was not helped by stress, sugar, aspartame, tiredness and caffeine.

i honestly do NOT think its in your mind nor do I think hypnotherapy or cognitive psychology works because its not in your mind I think its a chemical imbalance in your nervous system/brain. 

 

Have prob had 8 alcohol free beers in the past year, Bavaria 0.0% cant say they taste any different to normal beer nor do they give me a craving. Funnily enough I wouldn't start drinking again even if I could.  My health, career, wealth and outlook on life have all improved.  T

Thanks for updating us on your progress, Pj. I am sure your posts have helped MANY people.

Give it time it will stop about the 4th day or so!God got your back!

I've started to write this several times, but never finished.  I found this site on Jan 7, 2013, after a week-long bender that almost ended my relationship, and messed up my custody.  My fiance came home from a trip and found me, stuck in bed with empty bottles of wine and vodka next to the bed, and my son sitting in the living room, not at school for the 2nd day in a row because I was so sick I couldn't get out of bed to take him to school.  I wasn't sure what day it was, and I'd only been out of bed long enough to pay the food delivery guy and booze delivery guy.  I ran out of liquor about 5 hours earlier and couldn't stop throwing up.  I had to call my ex-husband to come get our son, and he only pulled out of the driveway a couple of minutes before the ambulance and police showed up to take me to the hospital and question me and my fiance about my situation.  This is a long description, I know, but I wanted to paint an honest picture of where I was.  I'm a 39-yr old mom, and successful business owner.  I never thought of myself as the "type" of person that would be in that situation.  But the alcohol helped me deal with stress, anxiety, any issue that was bothering me that day.  I hid it from everyone, drinking in the morning before anyone was up, drinking with lunch, only going to restaurants that served wine...you get the picture.  I controlled it pretty well most of the time, but the last few months of 2012 had gotten really bad.  The ride to the hospital was horrible, and the ER was so packed that no one even came to see me for several hours.  The withdrawals were horrible.  I had lost about 10 lbs in a week and when the doctor finally came in, he gave me some fluids, some ativan, and told me to eat a sandwich.  They released me and when I got home, I found this site.  It literally saved my life.  The next 2 weeks were a bit of a blur, though at the time, they seemed like the would never end.  Every minute seemed like an hour.  I couldn't sleep, had horrible anxiety and panic attacks, I was hearing things, seeing things, and just really thought I was losing my mind.  For the first time in my life, I understood why people get to the point of committing suicide.  I even went into a little market on the corner and was going to buy some wine, thinking, "one little drink will get you to the "ahhh" and then you can make it through."  Thank god they didn't sell wine.  Every time I felt weak, I came on here and read through the posts.  Then, after 2 weeks, it was time to go back to work.  My fiance hid the real reason from our staff, but even then, I couldn't last more than a few hours.  Driving was horrible, I could barely eat, sleeping was impossible.  Then...little by little...things got better.  Like PJ, I cut out soda and caffeine from my diet.  It took several months, but I finally started to feel like a human being again.  Now, I'm 2 weeks and 3 days short of 1 year sober.  There are times when I miss it.  The social aspect, the ability to escape and unwind, but i can still remember how I felt that day and I don't go back.  Thinking of the smell still makes me want to vomit.  Which, to me, is a good thing.  So, I know this is long, but I wanted to do my part and give back.  This site kept me going.  Hopefully I can contribute to someone else too.  Thanks to everyone who has posted here.  It sucks and is horrible - beyond horrible - when you're in the middle of it, but stick with it, it does get better, and there is another side.

Really interesting post above. Pj again. I honestly think many people with depression and anxiety could be cured by more sleep, change of diet, more water, more nutrients, no sugar, caffeine and booze but they don't try hard enough for long enough.

 

i was in a bad way but got through it. Went out with my mates last night and was dancing and chatting to girls whilst my mates were at the bar 'warming up' with a few beers before they had the confidence. 

 

Booze doesn't relieve stress but people believe it does-quite a nasty drug that has you believe it helps you.

i honestly don't need or want a drink, not sure why, I think because I know what its done to me but if anyone is struggling please read a book by a guy called allen carr. It's called how to quit drinking or something like that.

 

id be interested in hearing from people who think I may have helped them.

 

once you get into not drinking and your diet is in check you see gains in terms of the way you look.  

 

I am Dj.
45 yo, 5.11,
Type 1 Diabetic
Day 1+

I just hit the last post of this thread and I can tell you Pj that you are helpful and inspiriting to me. I progressively became an alcoholic about 6 years ago. At that time, I was starting to drink about 2 small mixed drinks/evening during the week days and maybe 4 to 6 weekend days. I enjoyed the booze… Before that, I use to drink casually either around friends at diner parties or holidays. I enjoyed the booze even if I wasn't looking forward to drink after. 2 days ago and for the past 2 years I've been drinking 200ml and more recently 400ml+ of Vodka daily sometime starting in the morning. I am not functional when I drink. I the past few month, I felt the anxiety feelings in the morning like a hurtful nod in my belly and now with vivid dreams reflecting reality stresses such as seeing myself from above and asking what I've done to myself or stressful circumstances involving my wife and son. My wife is an alcoholic who went through countless hospitalization, detox and rehabs since I married her 13 yrs ago with the mess that go with them. She was able to stop for weeks, months and ever a year but always relapsed. I even used to go to some AA with her, attended to Al-Anon meeting for a year before I became myself alcoholic. She always had my support, but given my problem, I cannot anymore. I have to let it go. One of my brother almost died from pancreatitis (60yo), my father (80yo) use to drink since I was a kid (he stopped 6 years ago), my nephew (36 yo) drinks like hell, one of my brother (47 yo) drinks a bit like me, my other sister (62 yo) is always drunk when I talk to her on the phone… You see the picture I guess. I always hated been around drunk people but now I became what I hate the most and that has affected deeply my self-esteem.

3 days ago, I got multivitamins, Valerian roots and Melatonin. Didn't drink for 24 hrs, was ready to stop but get about 100ml of Vodka from my wife at 11pm. Went to bed at 12am and woke up at 4:30 with severe anxiety and cannot go back to sleep. In the morning, after long arguments with my wife regarding our staying together, I went back to get liquor for 400ml+ of Vodka, last drink been at 7pm. I didn't spleen that night… anxiety, depression, restless and obsessive thoughts in mind the whole day. I eat bits celery, salad chicken with garlic salt several times and drink water or juice. My wife left her bottle of Vodka where I can see it… She never does that… almost empty, I looked at it and walked away telling myself later maybe… I believe that if I would've finished it she would've ask me to get another one from the store because I finished it. I use 2 tablets of 5mg of Melatonin and 3 capsules of Valerian Root and get to sleep at 9pm, woke up every 3 hours took 1 capsule of Valerian Root each time, and went back to sleep. Altogether, I slept about 8 hours without vivid dreams, but not very deeply and woke up at 6am with mild anxiety, depressed and obsessive thoughts. The drinking craving is there but I keep pushing it away. That's my start… I just don't have much support here and my wife is dead drunk on the sofa as I speak. I got myself a one way flight ticket to France, Paris. I am done with this mess… I am living everything (cars, home, money, bills) to her I may never comeback and get new start.

Based on the posts, I have a fair idea of what to expect. Anxiety and depression are the most critical issues I am going to deal with. I lost the taste of life, ambition and motivation and I need to get that back.

Thank you all for your posts and thank Pj I congratulate you for your success, determination, persistence and all the follow ups pls keep posting.

Hi my grandfather has been drinking for about 25 years heavily. We currently have him in the hospital going through detox. He is weak and almost zombie like. He has been in the hospital for 7 days. Do you know about how long this will take? It is so hard to see him like this and it is taking a toll on his family. I am just curious how long we can expect to see him in this state of mind.

i have been reading this for over a year. i lost the best job i had ever had due to my drinking two years ago but still continued to drink. i miss it everyday. i quit my job yesterday and have to start all over again. i live in a big city and i can't function when i drink. i take it to a whole other level. i sold my car because i didn't need it and it is making my drinking worse. knowing i don't have to drive is bad for me. i have ruined everything. i have to push through this. tomorrow i start doing what i want. life is too short. i can not waste it. i met someone i really like. no one likes a drunk. this disease is horrible. sometimes it won't stop. i'll drink for a few days. there are bars everywhere in sf and i know all of the bartenders. i'm so worried for my life. i'll walk home but be blacked out. something really bad could happen...
27 yo from california. jasmine. <3

It is so helpful for me to read about your journey. I am you, but a female and have not yet begun the journey. Have been drinking since my teens, drink every night, and no one by my husband knows my issue. It's been worse lately...or I've been more focused on the need to address it. It sounds to me that your current way of addressing it is working for your mind and body. I can't imagine giving it up totally...I'd like to think I could still have a few, but not everyday or so much. I struggle to keep it at one bottle of wine a night. I am so impressed by how far you have come. I wish you the best of luck. My biggest concern is the harm I'm doing my body and brain. I'm now preparing myself for making a change. My husband is desperate for me to change as he's concerned I won't be around as long as he wants me to be.

Pj again. I'm pleased if ive helped just one person. I wouldn't have ever classed myself as an alcoholic, ive always been the sporty type but boy could I drink on holidays and stag dos etc and I think it was one long week long holiday that was non stop, al trying to out drink each other that tipped me over the edge. From then on I got worse and worse after each holiday and it eventually started affecting me after a Saturday night . Never drunk much mid week etc. I'll try summarise my thoughts.

keep out of bars and things where you will be tempted in the early days, go to cinema, bowling, coffee shops or shopping instead. the gym and cardio helps but not heavy weights.

avoid protein shakes and aspartame, sucralose, caffeine and too much sugar. Chocolate has caffeine in it.

take multi vitamins Nd have chamomile tea and lots of water.

sleep well and have nice relaxing baths with candles, lavender, hypnosis CDs, back massages, reiki, acupuncture etc. spa weekends are nice to chill.

sunshine can help and so can reading positive things and watching comedies. 

I found a punch bag good to take my energy out on and get sweaty and tired.

good clean eating helps too.

i was in a VERY bad way, mood swings, bipolar, twitching, feeling I was going to die, panic attacks, racing heart, faint feelings, dizzy, disorientation, feeling like I couldn't concentrate, couldn't sit still in restaurants and HAVING to flee places and feeling like going mad. 13 months on and I'm fine now.  

funnily enough caffeine and sugar now don't affect me and my body isnt as sensitive anymore, I'm finally back to normal.

the allen carr book is good but I cant help any more than that, I never took medicaction but you have to do the rest

Read up on something called mindfulness, don't read negative stuff, don't read up on this too much and spend time worrying. Don't be tempted to have just one after a while.

at first I would sweat often and couldn't shake Bo even just after a shower, constantly lethargic and tried to avoid having conversations.

its amazing at what you think is normal. I couldn't get out of bed and just was constantly shattered. Everything was a big stress and I felt hard done to.

that all changes. 3 months I felt better but every passing month it gets better.

at say 6 months i was much better but when stressed or tired id get anxious but now that has gone completely.

i reckon for big boozers it could be 2 years till they get right Completely.

you will think theres not much point to anything if you cant drink, thats when you know you have a problem. If all you think is good in life is booze you are truly addicted. Tv, comedy, sports, movies, the park, cycling, walking, pub lunches, sunbathing, reading, books, friends, coffee shops, shopping, cars, making things, working, learning new things, traveling, good food, family, children, the internet, sex, joking, theatre, shows, these are all things you will learn to enjoy again. Sitting at home with a poison is NOT what life and living is about, when you start believing that it is when you start breaking free.

 

Why you are thinking like that it stays maximum 6 or 10 days instead of you just think or hope that it will last forever...

PJ your post have definitely helped me....I'm now 7 months sober and still
Dealing with brain fog and anxiety all which developed 9 days after I quit drinking.
I was drinking 6-8 beers every night and more on the weekends for 23 years or so.
While the anxiety has lessened it's still there but definitely makes me never I want to
Drink again. I've read up on post acute withdrawal syndrome which seems to be what I'm suffering
With at this point. Just wish my brain would heal and return to normal.

Pj again. To the post above are you also doing the other things I suggest? Its very hard to sort diet etc but you must. Try it for a month and see how much better you feel. Good luck.

I have been taking a b multivitamin everyday along with eating a lot more fruits and salad...I've also been riding stationary bike 2x a day everyday and while I have some good days I still have a lot of bad days that feel just as bad as the beginning