Sohard

When does this get easier?? Day #1 and I already want to quit. I was drinking a bottle of wine (minimum) at night. That was if I was alone. If I am anywhere which has more than that (I purchase one each night when I am at home), I will drink until I pass out. I just want to start a new life. But I'm scared. I don't know what I'll do with my time not drinking or sleeping or hung over. I mean, I'm already realizing how empty my life has become. I'm so tempted to start tomorrow, but that never ever works. I just need it to get easier.

least

The first few days of physical withdrawal are rough, but it gets better with time. Give yourself a few months to start feeling 'normal' again. It does get better.

Sohard

But I don't even know what normal is. Ugh.

least

You will come to understand and appreciate 'normal' when you are in that state. Your body and brain have to readjust to living without a constant intake of a depressant. Treat yourself well, good food and exercise, and rest. I think you'll come to find, like I have, that living sober really rocks! My favorite part of living sober is waking up feeling good and not hating myself.

Hevyn

Hi Sohard. I drank every day for years - when I quit it was total misery. After about a week I began to feel human again, & have hope & optimism. As uncomfortable as this is, you never have to feel this way again once you're through the worst of it. Be proud of yourself for reclaiming your life & wanting a better future.

Sohard

Thanks so much everybody. I appreciate every word of advice. I wish I was at the place you guys are in your recovery.

Hevyn

You're closer than you've ever been, Sohard.

least

We all started out where you are now.

Sohard

Thank you. I guess that's true. It feels like I'm alone in this though.

Sohard

That's an interesting way to look at it. I guess you're right.

least

Just take it a day at a time and those days will add up quickly.

PhoenixJ

DEPENDS HOW MUCH EFFORT I put into it. I never feel happy...but some days almost happy. It does not get easier- but it gets less hard.

Sohard

Jesus Christ. It's 4:09am and I am wide awake and craving/withdrawing. I get it now. I get it. It's an addictive poison. But I just hate this feeling and want it to go away. It's a bit scary.

Sohard

A part of me wonders if I should try tapering down instead, like this way cannot be healthy. I'm scared of having a seizure. But, I don't even know.

PhoenixJ

Seizures are dangerous. Controlled wheening off booze never, NEVER worked for me. I suggest you see a doc- or do a detox program.

Sohard

Thanks for your advice. I'm hanging in for now, but I'll see. I so appreciate your thoughts. I've been up all night.

KES06

Drink lots of water. Anytime you want to drink alcohol, drink water. Drink Something! Water actually helped my cravings the first few weeks tremendously. Take it all in and remember one day at a time. You never have to have another day 1 again. And if you start to feel too jittery, go to your doc or a walk in clinic. You CAN do this. We are behind you and you are not alone. Post, post post

Gottalife

Hi Sohard, I hope you managed to get some sleep. Normal is a strange word. You are normal for you. I was normal for me. My alcoholic life was the only normal thing. But when I got sober I discovered over time that my idea of normal was not exactly main stream.

I can relate to how tough it is going through this on your own. I tried it thousands of times and 99 percent of the time never made it past the first few hours.

My last drink was a four day bender which finished some time on a Saturday. It was another failed experiment at controlled drinking. On Sunday morning a concerned friend form aa called to see if I was ok. I wasn’t really used to people being concerned about my welfare. Anyway, that night I met him at an aa meeting and resolved to do whatever was required to overcome alcohol. I never drank again.

Within a short time the obsession with alcohol was gone, and my character seemed to change so that I began behaving in a way that might very roughly be regarded as normal, and got better from there.

All the best.

August252015

Welcome, first of all.

Second, in regard to this post- I am one of those around here that thinks tapering is a terrible idea. It can just let us delay the actual quitting part bc the alcoholic mind easily goes to postponing the critical part of ... quitting.

If you want to be sober, permanently, you can. That part is up to you alone. Then, others are here for support - on SR and IRL - my chosen path is AA and I work an incredibly dedicated program. I have found such joy and peace in my (19+ mo) sober life.

Do you want to quit?

RE the cravings, difficulties, pain at the beginning- yep, it's tough to go through. I was VERY sick when I quit and I went through a lot. I knew, though, that I had to face an uncertain future sober rather than a certain death by drinking, which I finally accepted was all I would get if I kept drinking.

Hope you stay on here- and do search around, read and look for similarities not differences in what people share - and perhaps start a program like AA. Your mind and body need time to clear from the alcohol and I can promise you it is worth taking a chance and letting that happen.

Take care.

Sohard

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'll take all the support I can get.