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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
New Here
Hi All,
I'm new here and would like to introduce myself and tell you a bit about me. Well I got sober on Oct 12, 2016 after many years of drinking. I'm 45 btw and married with 2 children. Guess I was a function drunk as I went to work and semi managed the rest. Like most of you, I tried to cut back and all the rest but I always ended up back where I started. I had been miserable for many years because I felt trapped within myself, if that makes sense. I didn't think I could quit and I hid my problem from myself and my family. My wife had suspected I had a problem but never thought it was as bad as it was because I went through the motions and wasn't your "Typical" alcoholic.
Anyway, I woke up on Oct, 12 and felt terrible. As I laid in bed I thought to myself, if I don't quit now this is going to kill me, so I got up that day and quit. It certainly wasn't easy as it reads.
As you all know, the next week was rough but not as terrible as I expected. Headaches, nauseous, and nervous as hell. The part I didn't expect came about 2 weeks in. I didn't know what was going on but I was more anxious and uncomfortable then ever and I thought there was something wrong with me. I remember thinking the booze is out of me, wft is going on here.
Well I took to the internet, and found this acronym PAWS. I read the symptoms and I said wow that is to a T what I was feeling. I did have a few more symptoms like my heart beat hard, at times, and was dizzy occasionally, but I read that was what some people experienced. The anxiety was terrible.
Moving forward, I read and read, article after article to find out how to work with this issue. I began to meditate, which helped a bunch. I opened up to my wife about how I was feeling and spilled my guts. As much as I am capable of anyway. That relieved a lot of the strain I felt. The symptoms are still there for sure, but they are getting less severe and I have had more good days this month then last, so I see progress. ****** thing is those good days make you think you got it beat and then it kicks you in the nuts.
Well through my searching for answers, I found this place. I read through a lot of members experiences and found I wasn't the only one who was struggling. It has helped a lot. I signed up today because I wanted to tell someone else, other then my wife, where I was and where I am now. Believe it or not very few would believe I had/have a problem. Guess I was good at hiding it.
Well that's it. Just wanted to get that out and say thanks to those who have helped me without knowing it.
I'm new here and would like to introduce myself and tell you a bit about me. Well I got sober on Oct 12, 2016 after many years of drinking. I'm 45 btw and married with 2 children. Guess I was a function drunk as I went to work and semi managed the rest. Like most of you, I tried to cut back and all the rest but I always ended up back where I started. I had been miserable for many years because I felt trapped within myself, if that makes sense. I didn't think I could quit and I hid my problem from myself and my family. My wife had suspected I had a problem but never thought it was as bad as it was because I went through the motions and wasn't your "Typical" alcoholic.
Anyway, I woke up on Oct, 12 and felt terrible. As I laid in bed I thought to myself, if I don't quit now this is going to kill me, so I got up that day and quit. It certainly wasn't easy as it reads.
As you all know, the next week was rough but not as terrible as I expected. Headaches, nauseous, and nervous as hell. The part I didn't expect came about 2 weeks in. I didn't know what was going on but I was more anxious and uncomfortable then ever and I thought there was something wrong with me. I remember thinking the booze is out of me, wft is going on here.
Well I took to the internet, and found this acronym PAWS. I read the symptoms and I said wow that is to a T what I was feeling. I did have a few more symptoms like my heart beat hard, at times, and was dizzy occasionally, but I read that was what some people experienced. The anxiety was terrible.
Moving forward, I read and read, article after article to find out how to work with this issue. I began to meditate, which helped a bunch. I opened up to my wife about how I was feeling and spilled my guts. As much as I am capable of anyway. That relieved a lot of the strain I felt. The symptoms are still there for sure, but they are getting less severe and I have had more good days this month then last, so I see progress. ****** thing is those good days make you think you got it beat and then it kicks you in the nuts.
Well through my searching for answers, I found this place. I read through a lot of members experiences and found I wasn't the only one who was struggling. It has helped a lot. I signed up today because I wanted to tell someone else, other then my wife, where I was and where I am now. Believe it or not very few would believe I had/have a problem. Guess I was good at hiding it.
Well that's it. Just wanted to get that out and say thanks to those who have helped me without knowing it.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Welcome to SR ljc267 and thank you for sharing your story. You'll find a lot of people here who do understand what you went through because we went through a lot of the same things. Opening up about it can really help and being around others who "get it" can too...hope you can stick around and join us for some more conversation.
Congratulations on your choice to quit and your sobriety thus far, it's a great accomplishment you should be very proud of.
Congratulations on your choice to quit and your sobriety thus far, it's a great accomplishment you should be very proud of.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
Originally Posted by Upstairs 
Welcome to SR! And thanks for sharing about PAWS. Glad to hear you managed to quit while you were ahead. 
Actually, the way I found this forum was through a search for info on PAWS. There was a long thread in here on the subject.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Welcome to SR, I've only been here a few days myself.
I was kind of in the same boat as you, a complete functioning alcoholic drinking 1/4 gallon of vodka a day and running a business.
My wife knew I drank but had no clue how much and she doesn't even know I'm going thru this now.
SR is the place to be if you just need to talk to someone and read about others experiences.
I was kind of in the same boat as you, a complete functioning alcoholic drinking 1/4 gallon of vodka a day and running a business.
My wife knew I drank but had no clue how much and she doesn't even know I'm going thru this now.
SR is the place to be if you just need to talk to someone and read about others experiences.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,499
Welcome ljc!
I experienced noticeable anxiety after I quit. It showed up in the first few weeks after quitting (4-6 weeks), in the form of feeling extremely uncomfortable in certain work situations, especially socialising at work functions. It was situation specific so I ignored it. Anyway, I had overall benefits from quitting, and felt so much better, i.e. clear-headed, fitter, stronger and so on, that the anxiety was "easy" to set aside.
Several months in, I had a few more experiences of hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, racing thoughts etc., in situations involving public speaking and presenting. It was noticeable and I was concerned it would be a hindrance at work. I was quite bothered. I could not remember experiencing this before ... and I felt a bit like I should not be experiencing it because ... well, c'mon, I was sober! Sober people (in my simple thinking) would not have such issues.
I opened up on SR and received some excellent suggestions from people here. The one that helped me most was deep breathing exercises which I now do before speaking in public. If you google "deep breathing anxiety exercises" or something like that, you'll see a bunch of helpful links.
I also run regularly, as if it is a form of prescribed medication, because that so-called runner's high is a dose of endorphins to my system which allows my body and mind to operate more smoothly. Perhaps it's a dependency but I have no better alternative at this point.
In time, the anxiety episodes have decreased. Part of it may be physiologically being further down the track of sobriety, part of it may be active management (breathing, running etc.), part of it may be simply being more comfortable with my work situation ....
Whatever the case, I do believe there's a good chance your symptoms will improve. It may be worth seeing a professional to discuss it.
Congratulations on the 3+ months of sobriety! It gets better, and better, and better!
I experienced noticeable anxiety after I quit. It showed up in the first few weeks after quitting (4-6 weeks), in the form of feeling extremely uncomfortable in certain work situations, especially socialising at work functions. It was situation specific so I ignored it. Anyway, I had overall benefits from quitting, and felt so much better, i.e. clear-headed, fitter, stronger and so on, that the anxiety was "easy" to set aside.
Several months in, I had a few more experiences of hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, racing thoughts etc., in situations involving public speaking and presenting. It was noticeable and I was concerned it would be a hindrance at work. I was quite bothered. I could not remember experiencing this before ... and I felt a bit like I should not be experiencing it because ... well, c'mon, I was sober! Sober people (in my simple thinking) would not have such issues.
I opened up on SR and received some excellent suggestions from people here. The one that helped me most was deep breathing exercises which I now do before speaking in public. If you google "deep breathing anxiety exercises" or something like that, you'll see a bunch of helpful links.
I also run regularly, as if it is a form of prescribed medication, because that so-called runner's high is a dose of endorphins to my system which allows my body and mind to operate more smoothly. Perhaps it's a dependency but I have no better alternative at this point.
In time, the anxiety episodes have decreased. Part of it may be physiologically being further down the track of sobriety, part of it may be active management (breathing, running etc.), part of it may be simply being more comfortable with my work situation ....
Whatever the case, I do believe there's a good chance your symptoms will improve. It may be worth seeing a professional to discuss it.
Congratulations on the 3+ months of sobriety! It gets better, and better, and better!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
Originally Posted by sk187
Welcome to SR, I've only been here a few days myself.
I was kind of in the same boat as you, a complete functioning alcoholic drinking 1/4 gallon of vodka a day and running a business.
My wife knew I drank but had no clue how much and she doesn't even know I'm going thru this now.
SR is the place to be if you just need to talk to someone and read about others experiences.
I was kind of in the same boat as you, a complete functioning alcoholic drinking 1/4 gallon of vodka a day and running a business.
My wife knew I drank but had no clue how much and she doesn't even know I'm going thru this now.
SR is the place to be if you just need to talk to someone and read about others experiences.
Certainly not tell you what you should do, but I would talk to her. She probably knows more then you think. Women are very intuitive.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
Originally Posted by MissPerfumado
Welcome ljc!
I experienced noticeable anxiety after I quit. It showed up in the first few weeks after quitting (4-6 weeks), in the form of feeling extremely uncomfortable in certain work situations, especially socialising at work functions. It was situation specific so I ignored it. Anyway, I had overall benefits from quitting, and felt so much better, i.e. clear-headed, fitter, stronger and so on, that the anxiety was "easy" to set aside.
Several months in, I had a few more experiences of hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, racing thoughts etc., in situations involving public speaking and presenting. It was noticeable and I was concerned it would be a hindrance at work. I was quite bothered. I could not remember experiencing this before ... and I felt a bit like I should not be experiencing it because ... well, c'mon, I was sober! Sober people (in my simple thinking) would not have such issues.
I opened up on SR and received some excellent suggestions from people here. The one that helped me most was deep breathing exercises which I now do before speaking in public. If you google "deep breathing anxiety exercises" or something like that, you'll see a bunch of helpful links.
I also run regularly, as if it is a form of prescribed medication, because that so-called runner's high is a dose of endorphins to my system which allows my body and mind to operate more smoothly. Perhaps it's a dependency but I have no better alternative at this point.
In time, the anxiety episodes have decreased. Part of it may be physiologically being further down the track of sobriety, part of it may be active management (breathing, running etc.), part of it may be simply being more comfortable with my work situation ....
Whatever the case, I do believe there's a good chance your symptoms will improve. It may be worth seeing a professional to discuss it.
Congratulations on the 3+ months of sobriety! It gets better, and better, and better!
I experienced noticeable anxiety after I quit. It showed up in the first few weeks after quitting (4-6 weeks), in the form of feeling extremely uncomfortable in certain work situations, especially socialising at work functions. It was situation specific so I ignored it. Anyway, I had overall benefits from quitting, and felt so much better, i.e. clear-headed, fitter, stronger and so on, that the anxiety was "easy" to set aside.
Several months in, I had a few more experiences of hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, racing thoughts etc., in situations involving public speaking and presenting. It was noticeable and I was concerned it would be a hindrance at work. I was quite bothered. I could not remember experiencing this before ... and I felt a bit like I should not be experiencing it because ... well, c'mon, I was sober! Sober people (in my simple thinking) would not have such issues.
I opened up on SR and received some excellent suggestions from people here. The one that helped me most was deep breathing exercises which I now do before speaking in public. If you google "deep breathing anxiety exercises" or something like that, you'll see a bunch of helpful links.
I also run regularly, as if it is a form of prescribed medication, because that so-called runner's high is a dose of endorphins to my system which allows my body and mind to operate more smoothly. Perhaps it's a dependency but I have no better alternative at this point.
In time, the anxiety episodes have decreased. Part of it may be physiologically being further down the track of sobriety, part of it may be active management (breathing, running etc.), part of it may be simply being more comfortable with my work situation ....
Whatever the case, I do believe there's a good chance your symptoms will improve. It may be worth seeing a professional to discuss it.
Congratulations on the 3+ months of sobriety! It gets better, and better, and better!
I too work in a field where I am in front of people constantly so the anxiety really sucks.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,564
You found a great place for encouragement. 
I waited a lot longer to get sober, with disastrous results. Good that you saw what needed to be done and took action. It's great to meet you, ljc267.
I waited a lot longer to get sober, with disastrous results. Good that you saw what needed to be done and took action. It's great to meet you, ljc267.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
Originally Posted by Hevyn
You found a great place for encouragement. I waited a lot longer to get sober, with disastrous results. Good that you saw what needed to be done and took action. It's great to meet you, ljc267.
I waited a lot longer to get sober, with disastrous results. Good that you saw what needed to be done and took action. It's great to meet you, ljc267.
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