I'm done, when did you guys start feeling better?
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 135
Hi,
I drank and smoked about the same as you and I'm about the same age.
The great thing about quitting drinking is that many of the positive effects (for me anyway) came quick.
I felt better the day after the day I quit drinking
and progressively better each day. I felt really good at around a week and on.
I did not have physical withdrawals.
After a couple months, the changes were more subtle like my memory started to really improve.
I did not quit cigs and booze at the same time. I felt better from cigs pretty quick too but I quit cold turkey so it was hard to distinguish "feeling good" with all the withdrawals I had.
Its hard (for me) to stay quit from the beer, I drink out of boredom and then when you start feeling really good you get tempted by the voice. It says things like "See you don't have a problem" or "This is so good it'd be even better with a drink!"
I had the worst booze cravings around the 3 month mark. I think for me it was the point where my "self" realized this was really going to happen and it was going to be permanent.
Best of luck.
CJ.
I drank and smoked about the same as you and I'm about the same age.
The great thing about quitting drinking is that many of the positive effects (for me anyway) came quick.
I felt better the day after the day I quit drinking
and progressively better each day. I felt really good at around a week and on. I did not have physical withdrawals.
After a couple months, the changes were more subtle like my memory started to really improve.
I did not quit cigs and booze at the same time. I felt better from cigs pretty quick too but I quit cold turkey so it was hard to distinguish "feeling good" with all the withdrawals I had.
Its hard (for me) to stay quit from the beer, I drink out of boredom and then when you start feeling really good you get tempted by the voice. It says things like "See you don't have a problem" or "This is so good it'd be even better with a drink!"
I had the worst booze cravings around the 3 month mark. I think for me it was the point where my "self" realized this was really going to happen and it was going to be permanent.
Best of luck.
CJ.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 22
Went a few days, felt great. Drank tonight because I'm a dummy. I'm not gonna beat myself up up over it because this was proof positive I was on the right course.
It doesn't feel the same. Just felt crappy from the beginning. Like "ugh, this again". Like going back to a bad girlfriend and after a couple hours realizing, oh that's why you left
Starting fresh tomorrow
It doesn't feel the same. Just felt crappy from the beginning. Like "ugh, this again". Like going back to a bad girlfriend and after a couple hours realizing, oh that's why you left
Starting fresh tomorrow
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 22
I should also add that while I did toss and turn at night and not sleep well, I did feel better than I did drinking myself to sleep. 4 hours of sleep sober was better than 8 hours of beer coma.
I'm gonna assume the sleeping gets better. I just gotta give it time.
I'm gonna assume the sleeping gets better. I just gotta give it time.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: California
Posts: 2,693
Originally Posted by ryan9119 
I should also add that while I did toss and turn at night and not sleep well, I did feel better than I did drinking myself to sleep. 4 hours of sleep sober was better than 8 hours of beer coma.
I'm gonna assume the sleeping gets better. I just gotta give it time.
I'm gonna assume the sleeping gets better. I just gotta give it time.
My god, I can't believe I used to go work hungover every day.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,256
Ryan,
When you say that you used to fall asleep with "beer coma," does that mean you were able to fall asleep immediately? The only reason that I ask is that my husband is able to fall asleep immediately after drinking, whereas I could not fall asleep immediately after drinking and would feel restless for a few hours before finally maybe getting to sleep. That is one of the biggest reasons I had to give up drinking, as trying to get to sleep was a living nightmare, in addition to the anxiety the following day from the hangover.
When you say that you used to fall asleep with "beer coma," does that mean you were able to fall asleep immediately? The only reason that I ask is that my husband is able to fall asleep immediately after drinking, whereas I could not fall asleep immediately after drinking and would feel restless for a few hours before finally maybe getting to sleep. That is one of the biggest reasons I had to give up drinking, as trying to get to sleep was a living nightmare, in addition to the anxiety the following day from the hangover.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Originally Posted by ryan9119
I'm gonna assume the sleeping gets better. I just gotta give it time.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Vashon WA
Posts: 1,035
I think that once I quit drinking and smoking pot other things started working as far as getting better sleep. Without drinking I never woke up at the wrong time feeling paranoid or sick. Exercise worked better for making me tired. I took regular naps, as opposed to "weed naps" or "hangover breaks" and woke up feeling improved. Also, you can't really go to a doctor and say "I'm having trouble sleeping (or anything else) do you have anything that will work with heavy drinking?"
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 22
Originally Posted by Needanewme
After my last 2 week period of sobriety, I felt real good at two weeks, but unfortunately started again. I am back on the wagon now. All I want to do is sleep.
Start again. I did, feel good this morning, woke up at 6 am and didn't have to work till 11. Felt great
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 124
Bump
I'm giving sobriety another try and this is my day 7, and I also quit cigarettes at the same time. I don't feel at my best physically. Tired and achey. I think I have a kind of slight cold also which hasn't helped, but I can't tell whether it's a cold or whether it's the detoxification symptoms.
I am not sure how noticeable the positive effects are going to be for me, perhaps I am somewhat doubtful this time about how much better I will feel.
The reason I am doubtful is that I have already tapered down a lot since January. I haven't been drinking as much or as heavily as I used to, yet I still feel like the booze and fags are keeping me from feeling on top form physically. I think the question is whether I will still see a big difference from regular, moderate drinking and smoking to zero drinking and zero smoking. I suppose to answer my own question I probably will, but I need to be patient and I will start to feel more alive.
The other kind of realization I had was, ok, it's good to quit drinking and smoking, but it's not gong magically improve everything. I also need to focus on eating clean and working out.
I'm giving sobriety another try and this is my day 7, and I also quit cigarettes at the same time. I don't feel at my best physically. Tired and achey. I think I have a kind of slight cold also which hasn't helped, but I can't tell whether it's a cold or whether it's the detoxification symptoms.
I am not sure how noticeable the positive effects are going to be for me, perhaps I am somewhat doubtful this time about how much better I will feel.
The reason I am doubtful is that I have already tapered down a lot since January. I haven't been drinking as much or as heavily as I used to, yet I still feel like the booze and fags are keeping me from feeling on top form physically. I think the question is whether I will still see a big difference from regular, moderate drinking and smoking to zero drinking and zero smoking. I suppose to answer my own question I probably will, but I need to be patient and I will start to feel more alive.
The other kind of realization I had was, ok, it's good to quit drinking and smoking, but it's not gong magically improve everything. I also need to focus on eating clean and working out.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 124
Sorry for the second message; just want to get some thoughts of my chest.
I suppose I am just tired of always chasing an ideal version of health. One where I wake up feeling energized, and happy, one where I rarely get colds and illness, and where I feel happy everyday, and am always in a good mood.
I realize I am forever 'wishing' that I could feel like the above, but somehow I feel trapped in this cycle of feeling like a total bum, I feel tired in the mornings most days, I have low energy, and I rarely feel grateful or happy to be alive. Most weekends I am just immobile on my couch or bed doing nothing.
I've realized that alongside sobriety I need to start having some more hobbies as well. I want to wake up on the weekends at the same time I do in the week and do more. I feel like a total bum just passing the time at the moment.
I suppose I am just tired of always chasing an ideal version of health. One where I wake up feeling energized, and happy, one where I rarely get colds and illness, and where I feel happy everyday, and am always in a good mood.
I realize I am forever 'wishing' that I could feel like the above, but somehow I feel trapped in this cycle of feeling like a total bum, I feel tired in the mornings most days, I have low energy, and I rarely feel grateful or happy to be alive. Most weekends I am just immobile on my couch or bed doing nothing.
I've realized that alongside sobriety I need to start having some more hobbies as well. I want to wake up on the weekends at the same time I do in the week and do more. I feel like a total bum just passing the time at the moment.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,445
Don;t expect too much too soon would be my advioce George. It would be great if we felt awesome after a month - I'm sure many more people would stay sober - but for many of us that's just not the case; many of us drank for years.
It takes time to get over the damage we inflict on ourselves mentally and physically.
For me it was 90 days before I felt anywhere near normal again and then a few more months before I felt consistently good.
For people used to the instant gratification of the bottle that wait can be quite a challenge...but it really is worth it.
Keep the faith - you will feel better eventually - no one would stay sober if they didn't
It takes time to get over the damage we inflict on ourselves mentally and physically.
For me it was 90 days before I felt anywhere near normal again and then a few more months before I felt consistently good.
For people used to the instant gratification of the bottle that wait can be quite a challenge...but it really is worth it.
Keep the faith - you will feel better eventually - no one would stay sober if they didn't
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 124
Thanks a lot Dee.
I think it's the very start that can be the hardest I guess. Once you start feeling better in a mental, physical and spiritual way, then it becomes positively reinforced that what you are doing is worth it. I have quit before and have felt better, so I know it will happen. It's just being patient enough to see it through.
I just am tired of feeling tired and really hoping to feel more alive and awake.
If I had to put my finger on it, that's what I feel I am lacking: that sense of being awake, alive, invigorated. My senses and day to day experience feel quite numb right now.
I think it's the very start that can be the hardest I guess. Once you start feeling better in a mental, physical and spiritual way, then it becomes positively reinforced that what you are doing is worth it. I have quit before and have felt better, so I know it will happen. It's just being patient enough to see it through.
I just am tired of feeling tired and really hoping to feel more alive and awake.
If I had to put my finger on it, that's what I feel I am lacking: that sense of being awake, alive, invigorated. My senses and day to day experience feel quite numb right now.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
