Questions on withdrawal
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: London
Posts: 7
Questions on withdrawal
Hi all,
I'm a bit nervous posting here so please bear with me.
I'm trying to quit alcohol, results mixed, but I'm confused about this withdrawal thing. To those of you with more experience than me: how quick and hard does withdrawal hit you?
I went without touching any for about a week recently, and it badly messed up my sleep but that was all. Nearest comparison I can make is trying to sleep when I've got the flu. Do other symptoms usually come in sooner? Am I going to get hit like a ton of bricks after a week or so?
I've heard some really scary stuff about it and just want to be prepared.
Thank you.
I'm a bit nervous posting here so please bear with me.
I'm trying to quit alcohol, results mixed, but I'm confused about this withdrawal thing. To those of you with more experience than me: how quick and hard does withdrawal hit you?
I went without touching any for about a week recently, and it badly messed up my sleep but that was all. Nearest comparison I can make is trying to sleep when I've got the flu. Do other symptoms usually come in sooner? Am I going to get hit like a ton of bricks after a week or so?
I've heard some really scary stuff about it and just want to be prepared.
Thank you.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
My experience is that withdrawal starts pretty quickly. 8-12 hours after last drink. But I'm a bender drinker...in other words I drink A LOT over the span of several days....then withdraw and stop for months or longer. Withdrawals last 3-5 days for me, but I usually feel lousy for a couple of weeks.
Everyone is different so that is just my experience. The best and safest thing to do is to see your dr. And never be afraid to seek emergency services.
Everyone is different so that is just my experience. The best and safest thing to do is to see your dr. And never be afraid to seek emergency services.
Matt M
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 490
I think it depends on how much you have been drinking and for how long really.
A basic hangover is a result of alcohol withdrawal, but at it's very lowest level.
I get awful withdrawals but that's partly because I've had six withdrawal seizures in the past six years.
For me for example, if I had been drinking vodka for the past few days and stopped now, then I would say by tomorrow afternoon the withdrawals would start hitting hard.
Really bad shakes, wobbly legs, racing heart, feeling sick, severe anxiety, unable to eat, unable to sleep, brain racing when you try to lie down to sleep.
I think my withdrawals are more extreme because of the seizures I had in the past tho, I'm more susceptible to them happening again.
So when I've relapsed in a big way I've basically had to spend 48 hours with all the symptoms above just hoping that a seizure doesn't hit.
It's a nightmare, I get scared to move around the house because of the worry of a seizure hitting on the stairs or something.
But the safest thing to do is speak to your doctor and ask them about the best way of safely withdrawing.
A basic hangover is a result of alcohol withdrawal, but at it's very lowest level.
I get awful withdrawals but that's partly because I've had six withdrawal seizures in the past six years.
For me for example, if I had been drinking vodka for the past few days and stopped now, then I would say by tomorrow afternoon the withdrawals would start hitting hard.
Really bad shakes, wobbly legs, racing heart, feeling sick, severe anxiety, unable to eat, unable to sleep, brain racing when you try to lie down to sleep.
I think my withdrawals are more extreme because of the seizures I had in the past tho, I'm more susceptible to them happening again.
So when I've relapsed in a big way I've basically had to spend 48 hours with all the symptoms above just hoping that a seizure doesn't hit.
It's a nightmare, I get scared to move around the house because of the worry of a seizure hitting on the stairs or something.
But the safest thing to do is speak to your doctor and ask them about the best way of safely withdrawing.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Welcome Nat and congrats on a week sober! As a lot of folks have mentioned, the worst WD symptoms usually start within the first few days after quitting, but they can linger around for a week or even longer sometimes. If you have a history of bad symptoms previously or have any specific fears/concerns it never hurts to see a doc.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: London
Posts: 7
Ok seems the info I've had before I came here hasn't been great; seeing how it varied so much for you all is an eye opener, I guess I'll have to manage it as it comes.
On a more serious note, silly question though it may be, what are the major signs I should be seeing a doctor? (Assuming it's not blindingly obvious when it hits me.)
On a more serious note, silly question though it may be, what are the major signs I should be seeing a doctor? (Assuming it's not blindingly obvious when it hits me.)
Semi-Professional Philosopher
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Rural PA
Posts: 949
Welcome!!
The first day was horrible. I thought I was gonna die. Up until day 3 or so I didn't sleep. When I did manage to doze off I had nightmares. After day 5, things evened out a bit, but still not in the clear 100%
The first day was horrible. I thought I was gonna die. Up until day 3 or so I didn't sleep. When I did manage to doze off I had nightmares. After day 5, things evened out a bit, but still not in the clear 100%
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: London
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by steve-in-kville 
Welcome!!
The first day was horrible. I thought I was gonna die. Up until day 3 or so I didn't sleep. When I did manage to doze off I had nightmares. After day 5, things evened out a bit, but still not in the clear 100%
The first day was horrible. I thought I was gonna die. Up until day 3 or so I didn't sleep. When I did manage to doze off I had nightmares. After day 5, things evened out a bit, but still not in the clear 100%
I only managed about 6 days sober there and I did start sleeping easier (more or less) about the same mark you did, thanks for the reassurance.
Matt M
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 490
Originally Posted by Nat127
Ok seems the info I've had before I came here hasn't been great; seeing how it varied so much for you all is an eye opener, I guess I'll have to manage it as it comes.
On a more serious note, silly question though it may be, what are the major signs I should be seeing a doctor? (Assuming it's not blindingly obvious when it hits me.)
On a more serious note, silly question though it may be, what are the major signs I should be seeing a doctor? (Assuming it's not blindingly obvious when it hits me.)
The real danger sign is the DT's/Delirium Tremens which involve severe anxiety, hallucinations etc.
That's worth googling but I'd also point out that they would generally only occur if you've been drinking very heavily for a long period of time and then suddenly stopped.
I remember a few years back having to just sit up in bed all night with the light on because everytime I laid down and shut my eyes I would just get racing images flash through my mind and then I would sort of jerk a bit. Really weird and hard to explain.
I would say if you get the shakes pretty badly, your heart is racing and you feel really anxious then you should see a doctor.
You mentioned the nightmares, I forgot to mention I get those too!
After about three or four nights of zero sleep, when I do start sleeping again the nightmares are just strange and very vivid.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Wareham, Mass
Posts: 7,067
Hey, Nat. Welcome. Agree with Matt that how long and how much you drank are factors in withdrawal, imo. Also, everyone is different. Some really struggle with withdrawal symptoms: headache, nausea, sleeplessness, emotional highs and lows. Others, not so bad. I was sleepless for about two weeks, very tender and fragile emotionally, but that was it for physical symptoms. I craved alcohol for 3-4 months. Those went away in time. Good luck.
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,981
It can very widely from person to person, but for the most part the withdrawals kick in the day after you stop drinking, and usually settles down around day 4 give or take. For some it can just be some anxiety, insomnia, sweating, etc,.. others it can be much worse with seizures, hallucinations, violent shaking, throwing up, and worse.
They also keep getting worse and worse over time so I would really look into to quitting now while it seems you're still on the "easy" end of the withdrawals,..
They also keep getting worse and worse over time so I would really look into to quitting now while it seems you're still on the "easy" end of the withdrawals,..
Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 162
For me after 5 days I am back to normal. It usually starts a few hours after I have stopped. Although I am a bender drinker. I know people who drank less for longer, and had no withdrawals other than feeling a little rough. With me as well, it depend on what I have been drinking. If it was lager, the withdrawals are very mild. If it was vodka, I have hallucinated, had the shakes and sweats, been agitated and in not a very good state.
Plus depending on how much I drank, for how long, the withdrawals are different each time
Plus depending on how much I drank, for how long, the withdrawals are different each time
Human
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Earth
Posts: 183
I stopped drinking once and had what you experience now. I was drinking a little over a year, and the last 12 weeks of it were heavy, probably 4-6 drinks a night 5 days a week. I was uneducated about alcohol in general, much less withdrawals.
So the first time after the heavy 12 weeks I tried to stop, I felt "flu-like" for 4 days. I gave it a week, then went back to drinking. It was environmental, and I didn't really know any better. After 3 days, the flu-like symptoms returned, but for longer. So I gave it a week. Drank two days in a row after that, and I ended up with uncontrollable shaking and a month bed ridden with fluctuating temperatures, dizziness, brain fog, confusion, and depression. Then I had horrible pain in my upper right abdomen quadrant. Then terrible IBS symptoms. Then uncontrollable trembling 24 hours a day for a month straight. Memory problems, anxiety.
So there's that. I didn't have a fraction of the drinking under my belt that others have had, but the stopping/starting is what I believe led to the worse situation later. Best idea, just stop the first time and be done with it. And check in with your doc, just in case.
So the first time after the heavy 12 weeks I tried to stop, I felt "flu-like" for 4 days. I gave it a week, then went back to drinking. It was environmental, and I didn't really know any better. After 3 days, the flu-like symptoms returned, but for longer. So I gave it a week. Drank two days in a row after that, and I ended up with uncontrollable shaking and a month bed ridden with fluctuating temperatures, dizziness, brain fog, confusion, and depression. Then I had horrible pain in my upper right abdomen quadrant. Then terrible IBS symptoms. Then uncontrollable trembling 24 hours a day for a month straight. Memory problems, anxiety.
So there's that. I didn't have a fraction of the drinking under my belt that others have had, but the stopping/starting is what I believe led to the worse situation later. Best idea, just stop the first time and be done with it. And check in with your doc, just in case.
Matt M
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 490
A quick google search tells you all you need to know anyway.
That's what I did about six years ago.
I decided it was time to stop drinking because although it hadn't caused me any serious problems, I was getting sick of feeling like crap all the time.
I remember telling my girlfriend at the time that I had read about how dangerous withdrawal can be and she basically said to me "that's rubbish, stop being a *****, I know you wouldn't do it".
So that kind of made me think "sod it then, i'll just carry on".
And strangely enough, when I had my first withdrawal seizure I actually had a printout next to me about the dangers of withdrawal because the evening before I had showed it to my Dad because I remember saying to him "something really doesn't feel right".
That's what I did about six years ago.
I decided it was time to stop drinking because although it hadn't caused me any serious problems, I was getting sick of feeling like crap all the time.
I remember telling my girlfriend at the time that I had read about how dangerous withdrawal can be and she basically said to me "that's rubbish, stop being a *****, I know you wouldn't do it".
So that kind of made me think "sod it then, i'll just carry on".
And strangely enough, when I had my first withdrawal seizure I actually had a printout next to me about the dangers of withdrawal because the evening before I had showed it to my Dad because I remember saying to him "something really doesn't feel right".
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Wareham, Mass
Posts: 7,067
My AB had a seizure as well that put him in the hospital. He is a very heavy drinker and he ran out of booze over a long weekend. Withdrawal is nothing to make light of, particularly if one has been consuming for a long time, as my AB has.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Arizona
Posts: 107
My last binge lasted 12 days. At the beginning I could not really fall sleep the first 3 nights and like others I experienced nightmares. On Day 2 I had such a wicked bad dream that I left the lights on the rest of the night.
On day 4(night 4?) I finally experienced about 4 and a half hours of deep REM sleep with no bad dreams. I think this was due to the fact that I worked extremely hard physically during the day on days 3 and 4. I still had an extremely dry mouth and throat and did not feel my body began to hydrate until day 5 at night. This in spite of drinking plenty of water and Gatorade the past few days.
My first 3 days it seemed I lost my strength and vigor. I hated feeling like such a wimp! It was a terrible time with dark depression and despair. Man, I never want to go through that again.
In hindsight the smoothest withdrawals I ever had were when I had some benzos prescribed for me and were readily available. They made the physical and mental anguish easier to deal with.
I hope none of us here ever have to go through those dark days of withdrawals again.
On day 4(night 4?) I finally experienced about 4 and a half hours of deep REM sleep with no bad dreams. I think this was due to the fact that I worked extremely hard physically during the day on days 3 and 4. I still had an extremely dry mouth and throat and did not feel my body began to hydrate until day 5 at night. This in spite of drinking plenty of water and Gatorade the past few days.
My first 3 days it seemed I lost my strength and vigor. I hated feeling like such a wimp! It was a terrible time with dark depression and despair. Man, I never want to go through that again.
In hindsight the smoothest withdrawals I ever had were when I had some benzos prescribed for me and were readily available. They made the physical and mental anguish easier to deal with.
I hope none of us here ever have to go through those dark days of withdrawals again.
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Hi and welcome.
As you can see, there is a wide range of experiences. I had different ones myself when I would go without alcohol- by the end there was always some amount in my system. My case was pretty severe and I was very sick- given about a yr, 18mo to live if I did not stop. My body had been through hell over the four or five years before I quit 8 months ago. I quit cold turkey and I was up to a handle of vodka about every 2 days (maybe more) - I am 5'7" and was about 120 at the time. My withdrawal and PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms) took around 5 weeks to get through my body and I really started to feel steady and healthy around 100 days. Here is some info for you that goes in depth about how our collective healing can happen-
https://digital-dharma.net/post-acut...r-immediately/
The single most important thing about whatever happens to you as far as withdrawals and physical problems is that you do not drink. Do not drink. That is the only way to get through to the other side and begin a healthy life. There are drs, medicines, all kinds of things that can support you as you start your recovery, based on your unique physical and mental/emotional needs - please seek help. Then a program that helps you - AA is mine- build a new life is key.
Good luck.
As you can see, there is a wide range of experiences. I had different ones myself when I would go without alcohol- by the end there was always some amount in my system. My case was pretty severe and I was very sick- given about a yr, 18mo to live if I did not stop. My body had been through hell over the four or five years before I quit 8 months ago. I quit cold turkey and I was up to a handle of vodka about every 2 days (maybe more) - I am 5'7" and was about 120 at the time. My withdrawal and PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms) took around 5 weeks to get through my body and I really started to feel steady and healthy around 100 days. Here is some info for you that goes in depth about how our collective healing can happen-
https://digital-dharma.net/post-acut...r-immediately/
The single most important thing about whatever happens to you as far as withdrawals and physical problems is that you do not drink. Do not drink. That is the only way to get through to the other side and begin a healthy life. There are drs, medicines, all kinds of things that can support you as you start your recovery, based on your unique physical and mental/emotional needs - please seek help. Then a program that helps you - AA is mine- build a new life is key.
Good luck.
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