Wilde10

After 5 days without drinking I feel worse today than any previous day. Basically, very, very tired and a bit shaky (but it is not visible to the eye, I just feel like it).

Could this be because my body is used to not drink during 3 or 4 days every week but has 'got' the pattern? Sounds bit stupid, but I wonder if my withdrawal symptoms start when by body knows alcohol should be there.

I used to drink tones of diet coke that I have reduced to 1 a day. But I feel much worse today than any other 'normal' dry day. Any idea?

TwelveSteps

This article: https://webapps.ou.edu/alcohol/docs/...yndrome149.pdf has some good information. Basically it says that some withdrawal symptoms can appear 4-5 days out. If you're a caffeine addict and are cutting that out at the same time, I would definitely say that's a contributing factor.

GG

artsoul

Also, look up PAWS. It describes the symptoms that can last beyond initial withdrawal (there's a thread on it around here somewhere, but I don't have it - sorry!)

I had alot of trouble with insomnia and low energy for the first couple of weeks. It's very annoying, I know, but things really have gotten much, much better. Hang in there!

Wilde10

Thank you both... I have seen the PAW thing but I do not think it is my case since I have not had any other withdrawal symptom at all beyond craving the evil. Actually, today, a Friday and therefore a typical drinking day I am not having these cravings.

I read somewhere here and in other places that removing caffeine can be very useful. However, I also read in one scientific article months ago that apparently coffee protects the liver of heavy drinkers. These were preliminary results with no clear explanation. I mean, the results were there: heavy drinkers of alcohol and caffeine had less liver damage. But they did not know why since caffeine is not particularly good for the liver either. In any case, I thought that cutting down the caffeine would help with the alcohol bit and I believe it does.

Thanks a lot for the link twelvesteps. Will read the other article you posted too, although the one you link here is really 'scientific'. But very informative too.

intention

...And it will do but by cutting down on all that Diet Coke you are probably also withdrawing from Aspartame (artificial sweetener). It's very addictive (probably why you used to drink so much) so it stands to reason you will experience withdrawal when you come off it. Plenty of info to search online about aspartame.

So what with coming off alcohol, caffiene, aspartame, it is no wonder you are not feeling your best at the moment. But it will be worth it in the end. Well done.

Wilde10

Intention you are an incredible source of knowledge and you have provided me with plenty of good tips so far that I have been able to investigate a bit further and have become strenght points...
So Off I go to start my research of aspartame.... Never done before . As a good addict of something I did not want to quit (diet coke) I had very strong suspictions it must be utter rubbish for the body but have never dared to ask Saint google about it..

KingsCross

My own research into artificial sweeteners (and my own experiences) led me to totally avoid any products with them.

My big life-changing experience was that I would drink 4 cans of a popular energy drink a morning. If I did this for several days I would come down with the mother of all depressions that would last for three days. It finally sunk in after about the 10th time this happened to me. I had been drinking artificial sweeteners for decades! Why did they bother me now? Don't know. Could have been other things, plus I was naturally consuming tons of alcohol anyway, so that just is the wild card.

Anyway, I wrote myself a BIG note that said "No more artificial sweeteners!" and have kept to that. My mood has never crashed like that again... until one day I felt so depressed. I looked around for what I had been eating. Nothing. But I felt just like I did went I used artificial sweeteners! I thought some more. I had a cold. Aha! I looked at my cold medicine. Sure enough it had artificial sweetener in it. Dang! Now I look in everything and have not felt that crushing depression.

I'm ONLY saying this applied to ME. I just reached a point where my body could not process it more, or maybe the alcohol enhanced it. Whatever, to this day I avoid products that have it. I will not knowingly use them. My two cents.

CarolD

Nothing unusual that I see concerning
your initial de toxing from alcohol.
What does your doctor suggest?

Just to refresh members recollections....

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

Well done on your new sobriety....

Deckard97

Im also 5 days without drinking and feel tired and somewhat sick. If I do decide to drink its the lite beers that got 4% alcohol and it never gives blackouts even if I drink a gallon of it.

conkers1

its probably that your body and mind are so used to having a drink, now its 5 days and your body still isnt getting it, its not used to it.. i get the jitters after not drinking for 4-5 days and i think its because im so used to drinking in the vicious cycle and i usually give up and have a drink after 4 days, thats if i can last that long. I get worse the longer i dont drink, it niggles at me the cravings... so definately 'the pattern' as you say.

also the caffiene in coke is a drug in itself that will probably make you shake and nervy.

intention

Aspartame is now being marketed as AminoSweet - because that sounds a whole lot healthier

This is taken from the book Beyond the Influence by Katherine Ketchum.


If you don't know already dopamine plays a big role in alcoholism - plenty to research there if you want.