CantWait11

sorry its long, at least read the bold print.

So this is my 2nd detox.
Ive only been drinking a lot for the last 2 years... mostly in the last year. leading up to a binge weekend in August.. then a detox that lasted 6 days.

then it happened again, I was drinking socially/regularly for a month or so, then drinking every night again, then heavier leading up to ANOTHER binge 3 day weekend with some friends, leaving me where I am now on Detox2. Both times had the usual dry heaves, night sweats, not eating, ANXIETY, no DTs or anything worse just the standard stuff I guess.

dont worry I went to the doctor both times, got some Rx's to help, etc.
I've been on here, around long enough to know all the stories and Ive even been the advice-giver on here. but:


heres where i need reassurance.
last time i was fine by day 7. this time im on day 11 and im not doin so well.
Physically symptoms are over, appetite is fine, eating is fine, stomach is fine.
BUT I CANT GET RID of this ANXIETY, INSOMNIA, and DEPRESSION.

I feel like I'm never going to feel normal. Drink craving is not a problem, never really is. I dont want to drink at all I dont even think about drinking... I just wanna feel normal. I cant sleep til like 4am (and thats with the ativan the Dr gave me) sleeping isnt very quality, im just not myself, im okay-ish during the day but come 8pm my nerves skyrocket and i cant sit still.. i feel hopeless and sometimes I cry. I dont want to be alone but I am not social. Nothing keeps my attention and I feel like im GONNA LOSE MY MIND. it makes it hard for me to work so I have to take half of an ativan to get through it.

please somebody tell me that im not the only one who has had it like this, and tell me its gonna go away. its been 11 days! Even my dad cant understand why its so bad for me when I didnt drink as much as some people, and they dont even have withdrawals when they stop! I want this to be done with and not have to take the ativan cause Ive read how addictive that can be too, so I usually tough out the anxiety all evening until RIGHT before I know I'll be able to fall asleep with its help (like 2am). Someone reassure me that this isnt completely abnormal.

thanks, oh and happy holidays everyone.
bj

Omega Man

Your describing a lot of the symptons of PAWS. Theres info here on SR related to it or just google it for some help.
Or it might just be taking a little longer for you to bounce back this time.
I'm heading into Day 14 and feeling pretty normal, whatever that is. I'm learning as I go because I've been drinking fairly consistently for the past 20 yrs and heavy for the last 5 or so.

I don't know what your take on AA is but here's the OC meeting guide for AA. Saturday

There's a bunch of meetings in Orange today, Saturday, why don't you give one a shot. It helped me relieve a lot of the anxiety which means I'm sleeping like a baby now.

Dee74

Every detox was different for me.

Always, if you're worried consult your doctor.

The actual withdrawal should be well and truly over by Day 11 - the advice on PAWS is good... you may even be suffering some anxiety, as your mind and body heals.

Check out the sticky on Quitting:What to Expect
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html

Good luck on making this one your last

D

least

It does indeed sound like PAWS. I've been having a lot of depression and anxiety lately myself. Do see a doctor or the emergency room if you get worse.

nolawench

Agree here... it does sound like paws. It took me about 3 weeks or so to get to a semi normal sleep pattern. I'm grateful the anxiety was purely situational for me and resolved itself when I confronted the situation.

The things that helped me sleep...
Herbal sleepytime tea and sometimes valerian root and the most boring book I could find. If that didn't work, more tea and I'd turn the tv to something like Golf. Or the Military channel.
Warm baths helped too.

A call to the doc would be a good idea.

Good luck darlin

call your

Texasblind

The PAWS. I had it for months. The anxiety and sleep "weirdness". I thought I had ran out of my house kicking and screaming and was later told that I said hello and calmly walked out of the house.

Either way, it was weird. The damn PAWS.

CarolD

I am sorry you are having difficulties...

Here is the info on PAWS

Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center

By not drinking again....you never have to have this happen again.
....Good reason for sobriety

CantWait11

thanks for the advice, I dont know why I didnt think of that. I'll read up on it.
oh and thanks Omega man for the link

I actually have gone to AA 5 out of the last 6 days - every day that I dont work basically. I feel a little better when Im at the meetings.

Texasblind

PAWS has been very real for me. About a month after I withdrew I withdrew again, even though I hadn't been drinking. I'm here at 9 months and still occasionally vomit, sweat and have minor withdrawal like symptoms. The doctor said it could take up to a year and a lot of it is probably in my head.

Alcohol withdrawal is no joke, I think that's why there's so much relapse. Doctor told me only heroin is worse.

CantWait11

i seem to be sleeeping better, and the sleeping is confined to the same time (3am-ish til noonish).. I could sleep later even if i wanted to.. morning sleeping isnt very hard but I dont wanna sleep in too much cuz im hoping the earlier i wake up the earlier i'll be able to fall asleep. I only took 1 ativan yesterday (right before sleep) and thats all i needed.

Its really just the anxiety at in the evening. Which leads to thinking too much and getting depressed. Hopefully this stuff wont stick around for a year to life like the PAWS site says. Hopefully I'm just still healing.

bj

catlovermi

I've found that I can often take the edge off anxiety by a hard physical workout, or a strongly creative activity. And also making a distinct break from the previous routine when the anxiety is tied to a routine. Especially if the evenings/nights are a time when I wind down and get quiet, and the anxiety then looms large. Turn that block of time into an active block instead of a passive block. It's not a magical cure, but can nudge me into the manageable sphere, get me to the point where I can manage my anxiety and survive it. Point being, I do something different rather than wallow in THOUGHTS of anxiety. They tend to grow and overshadow me otherwise.

Texasblind

My anxiety attacks are weird, they come based on a dream. If I have a really vivid dream or nightmare I will have an anxiety attack, guaranteed. I rarely, if ever, have them during the day.

I've told the story before. In my head, I punched the ground and ran out of my house screaming and kicking stuff. To everyone who witnessed it, I walked out of my room, said "hello" and wandered outside.

Detox sucks. Even 9 months later. The hallucinations were the absolute worst.

Brandeeno

I've done weekend binges off and on for the past 10years and I've never really suffered any side effects other than "drive heaves" or "extreme fatigue". And my drinking was plentiful and often.

I guess either I'm lucky or don't realize these symptoms are happening as I'm recovering.

Well, Im on 13 days now and am feeling pretty good.

Good Luck

CantWait11

lol, day 13 as well here