For a long time I didn't really get bad hangovers, then towards the end of my drinking I always got hangovers and it was more and more obvious that it was withdrawal. I would get heart palpitations and terrible anxiety, bloodshot eyes, shaky hands, unquenchable thirst. Then as soon as I felt the least bit better I'd say "well maybe I'll have a little drink, it'll make me feel better".
It felt like a giant shadow of doom was hanging over me, but it didn't make it any easier to stop.