My last 4 years of drinking I drank every single day without fail. I didn't suffer in detox at all. Was a lot different than I actually expected it to be. It was AFTER the detox that the fun stuff for me really began
. But I dove right into AA (actually was dragged by someone, first night out of the hospital), then after a month without a drink got myself into a 28 day rehab. I really felt I wasn't going to be able to hang on if I didn't do that. Went straight to outpatient treatment after that, continued my involvement in AA, and started living a completely different life. Didn't feel anywhere near normal (or even a part of anything, including AA), until around 6 months sober. Took me well over a year before my anxiety and panic completely went away. But while the progress was slow, it was steady.
You're about to embark on a wonderful journey. Embrace it, and things just happen as they will. You'll be in safe hands.