Day One - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

carlrc · 09-04-2012, 11:00 AM

Howdy! I am starting a new chapter in my life by going sober. I found this forum and thought I'd post my story here and see if I could get some feedback / advice / support.

I'm 24 years old, have a great wife, a wonderful job and a great family. I got a new job that has me starting my day early (5:30am) but I'm out by 2pm. Recently (within the past two or three months, when I started my new job) I have started to drink when I get bored. No real major stresses in my life (my marriage is great, my new job is stress-free). This "boredom" drinking escalated in the past two weeks to binge drinking one or two times a week and having two - three drinks on other nights.

This morning I woke up at around 3am sweating after a day / night of Labor Day drinking. This scared the daylights out of me. I've never woken up like that before. Ended up startling me so I couldn't fall asleep and had a panic attack. No fun.

So, I've decided to make a change and stop. It's one of those things I've known isn't healthy, but I didn't realize how big of an impact binge drinking can have on your health. I've been without alcohol for about 24 hours now and have noticed that my sweating has gone away and I'm not feeling "shaky" any more. Just anxious (as in, I feel really on edge). From what I understand this seems pretty normal (especially for someone like me who is prone to anxiety / panic attacks in the first place).

Does anyone have any advice? Specifically, has anyone with anxiety / panic attacks dealt with going sober before? Also, as I mentioned, I drink when I'm bored. Any suggestions on things to do to replace alcohol?

Thanks in advance (and thanks for reading this wall of text!

)

2granddaughters · 09-04-2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlrc

Howdy! I am starting a new chapter in my life by going sober. I found this forum and thought I'd post my story here and see if I could get some feedback / advice / support.

I'm 24 years old, have a great wife, a wonderful job and a great family. I got a new job that has me starting my day early (5:30am) but I'm out by 2pm. Recently (within the past two or three months, when I started my new job) I have started to drink when I get bored. No real major stresses in my life (my marriage is great, my new job is stress-free). This "boredom" drinking escalated in the past two weeks to binge drinking one or two times a week and having two - three drinks on other nights.

This morning I woke up at around 3am sweating after a day / night of Labor Day drinking. This scared the daylights out of me. I've never woken up like that before. Ended up startling me so I couldn't fall asleep and had a panic attack. No fun.

So, I've decided to make a change and stop. It's one of those things I've known isn't healthy, but I didn't realize how big of an impact binge drinking can have on your health. I've been without alcohol for about 24 hours now and have noticed that my sweating has gone away and I'm not feeling "shaky" any more. Just anxious (as in, I feel really on edge). From what I understand this seems pretty normal (especially for someone like me who is prone to anxiety / panic attacks in the first place).

Does anyone have any advice? Specifically, has anyone with anxiety / panic attacks dealt with going sober before? Also, as I mentioned, I drink when I'm bored. Any suggestions on things to do to replace alcohol?

Thanks in advance (and thanks for reading this wall of text!

)

You will read your story over and over.

I found sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous.

All the best.

Bob R

pipparina · 09-04-2012, 11:14 AM

I didn't have panic attacks but those first few days after realizing I couldn't drink safely were tough. I definitely felt anxious. I went to AA meetings a lot, and always felt a sense of calm come over me. Sitting, listening to other people share what happened to them, knowing I wasn't alone in this, made a big difference in my mood.

I've only been on this site a short time but you will get a lot of support. If you can find some meetings in your area, that will help too. Call your local AA and they will get you some meeting locations

bbthumper · 09-04-2012, 11:38 AM

When I was drinking I suffered from panic and anxiety attacks almost on a daily basis. More so in the last several weeks of my drinking. Booze used to be a great answer to my anxiety problems. Then it seemed ot make matters worse. The worst times were laying awake at night and thinking myself into a panic attack.
I joined AA and worked the program that is outlined in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. I have been drink, drug and panic attack-free for 4 years now. about 5 months or so into sobriety I was able to stop taking my anxiety meds under my doc's supervision. That is not the case for everyone, but it is the case for a LOT of folks who work the program of AA. Its a beautiful thing!
Best wishes!

Sapling · 09-04-2012, 11:41 AM

Same deal on the anxiety for me too....I just needed to remove the alcohol....You can check it out with a doctor if it doesn't improve....But alcohol can fuel that. AA for me too....It works if you work it.

Hexipuff · 09-04-2012, 11:50 AM

Hi Carl
Welcome aboard. Congratulation on your decision
I am sober four months now and the differences in my life are already significant.
I go to AA and am working the steps, it may not be the solution for you but go along and try a few meetings. It is amazing walking into the rooms and hearing other's stories, situations and solutions. The main impact for me at my first meeting was the understanding I was not alone. I have an AA family who totally get me.

Being bored is not a good thing is it. I found in the very early weeks that spent a fair amount of my time reading about alcoholism and the AA literature. Plus I also started reading novels again and doing puzzles and crosswords - things I could pick up and put down again if my concerntration left me. Also I started to exercise and my energy levels increased. I now have so much back in my life -I am quite arty so I do sewing, knitting etc. I am teaching myself to crochet. Also I am going to start to teach myself Latin over the winter. - Why - well I can that's why.

Anyway - good luck on your journey. I hope you find the support that is right for you and may your sober days be filled with new adventures and skills

Take care

hypochondriac · 09-04-2012, 01:49 PM

Welcome to SR Carl

I had horrible anxiety from drinking and it pretty much all disappeared once I stopped

I would recommend reading some recovery material to distract you to start off with. Once you have dispelled any thoughts of alcohol being a good way of relieving boredom then other things to do will come naturally to you.

Glad you're here x

soulgypsy · 09-04-2012, 05:26 PM

Welcome to SR. Sorry about your anxiety--many, many of us experience it. After a week or so of sobriety, my unchecked anxiety drove me right back to the bottle.

Today is Day 1 for me too. Again. This time I went to my doctor and she prescribed some meds to get me through the depression and anxiety--everyone is different though.

I would definitely go to your doctor and get some medical advice.

Glad you are here.

09-04-2012, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
carlrc Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1	Day One Howdy! I am starting a new chapter in my life by going sober. I found this forum and thought I'd post my story here and see if I could get some feedback / advice / support. I'm 24 years old, have a great wife, a wonderful job and a great family. I got a new job that has me starting my day early (5:30am) but I'm out by 2pm. Recently (within the past two or three months, when I started my new job) I have started to drink when I get bored. No real major stresses in my life (my marriage is great, my new job is stress-free). This "boredom" drinking escalated in the past two weeks to binge drinking one or two times a week and having two - three drinks on other nights. This morning I woke up at around 3am sweating after a day / night of Labor Day drinking. This scared the daylights out of me. I've never woken up like that before. Ended up startling me so I couldn't fall asleep and had a panic attack. No fun. So, I've decided to make a change and stop. It's one of those things I've known isn't healthy, but I didn't realize how big of an impact binge drinking can have on your health. I've been without alcohol for about 24 hours now and have noticed that my sweating has gone away and I'm not feeling "shaky" any more. Just anxious (as in, I feel really on edge). From what I understand this seems pretty normal (especially for someone like me who is prone to anxiety / panic attacks in the first place). Does anyone have any advice? Specifically, has anyone with anxiety / panic attacks dealt with going sober before? Also, as I mentioned, I drink when I'm bored. Any suggestions on things to do to replace alcohol? Thanks in advance (and thanks for reading this wall of text! )

09-04-2012, 11:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
bbthumper Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,152	When I was drinking I suffered from panic and anxiety attacks almost on a daily basis. More so in the last several weeks of my drinking. Booze used to be a great answer to my anxiety problems. Then it seemed ot make matters worse. The worst times were laying awake at night and thinking myself into a panic attack. I joined AA and worked the program that is outlined in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. I have been drink, drug and panic attack-free for 4 years now. about 5 months or so into sobriety I was able to stop taking my anxiety meds under my doc's supervision. That is not the case for everyone, but it is the case for a LOT of folks who work the program of AA. Its a beautiful thing! Best wishes! __________________ *~BBThumper* ~All Big Book Quotes from the 1st edition A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. C. S. Lewis

09-04-2012, 11:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Hexipuff Hexipuff Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kent UK Posts: 369	Hi Carl Welcome aboard. Congratulation on your decision I am sober four months now and the differences in my life are already significant. I go to AA and am working the steps, it may not be the solution for you but go along and try a few meetings. It is amazing walking into the rooms and hearing other's stories, situations and solutions. The main impact for me at my first meeting was the understanding I was not alone. I have an AA family who totally get me. Being bored is not a good thing is it. I found in the very early weeks that spent a fair amount of my time reading about alcoholism and the AA literature. Plus I also started reading novels again and doing puzzles and crosswords - things I could pick up and put down again if my concerntration left me. Also I started to exercise and my energy levels increased. I now have so much back in my life -I am quite arty so I do sewing, knitting etc. I am teaching myself to crochet. Also I am going to start to teach myself Latin over the winter. - Why - well I can that's why. Anyway - good luck on your journey. I hope you find the support that is right for you and may your sober days be filled with new adventures and skills Take care __________________ I am what I think. Copyright: Women for Sobriety, Inc When my dog winks at me, I always wink back in case it's some sort of code

09-04-2012, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
hypochondriac Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK Posts: 4,443	Welcome to SR Carl I had horrible anxiety from drinking and it pretty much all disappeared once I stopped I would recommend reading some recovery material to distract you to start off with. Once you have dispelled any thoughts of alcohol being a good way of relieving boredom then other things to do will come naturally to you. Glad you're here x __________________ “The future you have tomorrow, won't be the same future you had yesterday.” ― Chuck Palahniuk, Rant

09-04-2012, 11:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
pipparina Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NYC Posts: 1,226	I didn't have panic attacks but those first few days after realizing I couldn't drink safely were tough. I definitely felt anxious. I went to AA meetings a lot, and always felt a sense of calm come over me. Sitting, listening to other people share what happened to them, knowing I wasn't alone in this, made a big difference in my mood. I've only been on this site a short time but you will get a lot of support. If you can find some meetings in your area, that will help too. Call your local AA and they will get you some meeting locations

09-04-2012, 11:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sapling AA Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Between Meetings Posts: 9,004	Same deal on the anxiety for me too....I just needed to remove the alcohol....You can check it out with a doctor if it doesn't improve....But alcohol can fuel that. AA for me too....It works if you work it.

09-04-2012, 05:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
soulgypsy Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 117	Welcome to SR. Sorry about your anxiety--many, many of us experience it. After a week or so of sobriety, my unchecked anxiety drove me right back to the bottle. Today is Day 1 for me too. Again. This time I went to my doctor and she prescribed some meds to get me through the depression and anxiety--everyone is different though. I would definitely go to your doctor and get some medical advice. Glad you are here.

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