alwaysdrinkin

Hi everyone, I'm 6 weeks sober today! I'm grateful I'm sticking to this, BUT....I look terrible! I'm sleeping 8 hours a night but I have giant dark bags under my eyes, I look ill, is this the withdrawal....even 6 weeks in? Maybe its not related to getting sober, but far from looking better I look a mess!

People wouldn't guess looking at me that I haven't touched a drop in 6 weeks!

KateL

You could be coming down with something. Why don't you go and see your doctor xxx

alwaysdrinkin

Thanks Kate, I'm not ill, I just look it!...lol. I had a cold 3 weeks ago but I feel fine now, maybe its just too much time spent on my tablet, eye strain or something, need to cut my time down on the internet.

MamaGoat

I would still go to the Dr. and get a physical. You may have a deficiency of some sort that needs a boost.

KateL

Lol. Yeah, me too. I'm sure you'll feel better soon xxx

alwaysdrinkin

I will go to the doctors for a check up anyway, thanks.

freethinking

Maybe start taking a multi vitamin? I always suffer from iron deficiency anemia when I sober up due to poor eating habits while drinking (plus, I am just prone to it...esp during winter months). The anemia always gives me circles under my eyes when untreated.

matt4x4

I'd rather feel terrific and look terrible, then look good and feel terrible.

Hevyn

Always - I looked like death for a couple of months. I was very pale & puffy. It all changed though - we need time to recover from what we've done to our poor bodies. (Good to get checked out though just in case.)

TigerLili

I just had blood tests for liver function, thyroid, vit D - the whole shebang. It can't hurt to get some tests and see if everything is ok or if something needs attention.

Rar

Reminds me of what my father used to say, "I'd rather be rich and healthy than sick and poor".

TomSawyer

I think there is a lot of misconception about getting clean out there. I always pictured myself as full of energy and looking great when I stopped drinking, but in reality I looked and felt like I was still drinking for a good while. Things started to pick up around 90 days, energy-wise and appearance-wise. Hang in there.

advbike

Yeah it really does take awhile, especially if you've been drinking for many years. Personally, I suspect I will always have bags under my eyes, then again I am 58, lol..

DG0409

I needed more than 8 hours of sleep a night after I quit. Sleep helps your body and brain to heal from all the damage.

1newcreation

Good work on making a wk! Don't worry;feelings & look will change as time goes. Putting down the bottle & eating healthier will definitely help

1newcreation

My apologies Always!
Meant 6 wks not days. Keep coming back; we are here for you

SnoozyQ

Hiya alwaysd . :-)

I remember thinking exactly the same thing and thought oh well it's not coming back this time , I'll just have to look old and wrung out .

4 months in ...a massive change , everything settled , colour came back . Hair is thicker , shinier .

It takes time so be patient , it wont happen overnight , but it will happen ;-) my puffiness and bags were the worst , but considering the poison i was administering , it makes sense .

Free hi , I would take a trip to the doc for a blood test to see if you are lacking in anything . taking too much iron when you may not need it , isn't a good thing .it builds up in the liver . Even vitamins of any kind should be discussed with your doc as some can adversely affect medications . Hope you feel better soon ,

I think lethargy is a major symptom , it was for me . Good luck guys ;-)

Conrats on your sobriety xx

alwaysdrinkin

Thanks for the great replies! I do feel a lot better, NO WAY am I going back to drinking. 6 weeks is my record so I'm in new territory. I'm actually finding it quite easy to stay off the sauce now, it would seem alien to me to drink again, such a waste of health and money!

Thanks again.

jessie65

I was sober (before I drank again) for almost 2 months and looked like Hell.

It didn't help that I'd been sick but even before I got sick I was mentally & physically exhausted most hours of the day. I had trouble keeping my eyes open, I looked wasted and/or hung over.

Not sure why sobriety makes me look worse, lol.

sugarbear1

6 weeks is great, but how long did you drink? Maybe it's proportional to that....and give yourself more time to heal well!