Four days sober and still random anxiety
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Four days sober and still random anxiety
All, I came off a five day bender last week and finally had a full night's sleep last night but still tired today. I was hoping to sleep again tonight but throughout the day I've still been having random anxiety about stuff like, "oh this hurts", "what if I have this", or just thinking back and anxious about "why did I let myself do that". Four days after stopping I am still having these episodes and getting my adrenaline going which feels like it does the night after I drink and can't sleep. Once I start obsessing over what disease I might have, or what damage I might have done, I can't fall asleep and stay asleep. Trying to calm my mind and hoping that by writing this down, this anxiety will go away. I feel am close to the point where I know I'm not going to sleep. When I feel like this, nothing works. No melatonin, no zzquil, no sleepy time tea, etc. nothing works to help get to sleep mad stay asleep. I know I just repeated myself, but writing it down is helping, so just looking for anyone else's experiences. I know everyone is different, but there must be someone out there with similar experiences four or more days out. Do withdrawals last this long? Well I guess they do but usually I am okay two days later. It's been four days now.
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Hi Starcco
the more years I drank, the worse and longer my withdrawals were. Its a thing called kindling,
Myh anxiety got worse too.
I used to be ok again after a day. 20 years later it was taking me 10 days to even start to get over a binge.
try and be patient - of course if it really debilitating you might want to see your Dr?
D
the more years I drank, the worse and longer my withdrawals were. Its a thing called kindling,
Myh anxiety got worse too.
I used to be ok again after a day. 20 years later it was taking me 10 days to even start to get over a binge.
try and be patient - of course if it really debilitating you might want to see your Dr?
D
I've dealt with insomnia my entire sobriety. I go though days at a time where I can't sleep. Not from anxiety, just because.
What worked WONDERS for me was a subscription to Netflix and trying to let go of placing such an urgency on sleep.
I have a couple of neurological sleeping disorders that sometimes makes it really difficult. It can be frustrating, but then there are months at a time I sleep like a baby.
It's gonna take some time for your body to regulate the hormones your brain needs to sleep. The way it was explained to me was alcohol messes with the same receptors that help produce our natural sleep chemicals. Once you stop, it can take a little time to get that back on track.
Distracting yourself with TV or a book will help you stop obsessing about your disease anxiety. Try to let go and just enjoy the entertainment.
It will improve....A lot.
What worked WONDERS for me was a subscription to Netflix and trying to let go of placing such an urgency on sleep.
I have a couple of neurological sleeping disorders that sometimes makes it really difficult. It can be frustrating, but then there are months at a time I sleep like a baby.
It's gonna take some time for your body to regulate the hormones your brain needs to sleep. The way it was explained to me was alcohol messes with the same receptors that help produce our natural sleep chemicals. Once you stop, it can take a little time to get that back on track.
Distracting yourself with TV or a book will help you stop obsessing about your disease anxiety. Try to let go and just enjoy the entertainment.
It will improve....A lot.
Hi starcco I smiled a little when I read your header because 4 days is nothing when it comes to recovering from alcohol induced side-effects. It doesn't make it any easier for you, but every day you go without a drink your mind and body are healing.
If generalised anxiety is part of your personality, as it is for many people, have you considered having it treated professionally? There are also physical things you can do to help yourself like walking outside or learning to meditate. You're in this for the long run, so do what you need to do to make your life work for you.
If generalised anxiety is part of your personality, as it is for many people, have you considered having it treated professionally? There are also physical things you can do to help yourself like walking outside or learning to meditate. You're in this for the long run, so do what you need to do to make your life work for you.
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Thank you all for your replies. I did it! I slept for about 6-7 hours, which isn't the preferred 8 hours, but I'll take it, especially right now.
My only other question is if the bloating and ab irritation is still common in your experiences. I still have. Some slight bloating still and slight irritation in my right side. Not upper liver area, but a little lower. Not asking for medical advice, and I will see my Dr. It's just that it's the weekend. Any experiences with this, even four days out?
Thanks again all!
My only other question is if the bloating and ab irritation is still common in your experiences. I still have. Some slight bloating still and slight irritation in my right side. Not upper liver area, but a little lower. Not asking for medical advice, and I will see my Dr. It's just that it's the weekend. Any experiences with this, even four days out?
Thanks again all!
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Join Date: Jan 2018
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Keep an eye on right side pain. You've got liver and gall bladder, but if it's lower you have your appendix. I had right side pain for a couple of days and later it intensified ... was my appendix ruptured. So do monitor this and get to your urgent care if it amps up. Good luck, hopefully it will resolve itself.
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At the urgent care now, I couldn't stand it. A bit light headed and almost flu-like bit no body aches. BP high, probably the anxiety too. My poor wife driving me all over the place for this sh&t.
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Quick update. Went to UC. I told Dr about my symptoms:
Lightheaded, feeling generally sick, anxious, no appetite, and abd and liver pain.
He said withdrawal symptoms and spoke to me about anxiety and alcoholic services. He felt me up on my right side and said the abd and liver area pain shouldn't be anything serious and should go away. He was a sincere man and asked me if I am going to stop drinking. I said yes. I stopped Tuesday. My last drink was Monday and he said well that is great. He spent time with me and told me about his dad and his drinking experiences. He told me I may have to power through this but that it is great that I am not going to dunk anymore.
He ordered a urine test which came out good. At my request he ordered labs and ultrasound which I'll get tomorrow. I feel better and much less anxious. I don't feel sick anymore and my appetite is miraculously coming back! Weird how that happens. I think the mental anguish is more detrimental than any physical pain.
It's not over yet until I see the results, but I am hopeful I can sleep again tonight.
Thank you all again.
Lightheaded, feeling generally sick, anxious, no appetite, and abd and liver pain.
He said withdrawal symptoms and spoke to me about anxiety and alcoholic services. He felt me up on my right side and said the abd and liver area pain shouldn't be anything serious and should go away. He was a sincere man and asked me if I am going to stop drinking. I said yes. I stopped Tuesday. My last drink was Monday and he said well that is great. He spent time with me and told me about his dad and his drinking experiences. He told me I may have to power through this but that it is great that I am not going to dunk anymore.
He ordered a urine test which came out good. At my request he ordered labs and ultrasound which I'll get tomorrow. I feel better and much less anxious. I don't feel sick anymore and my appetite is miraculously coming back! Weird how that happens. I think the mental anguish is more detrimental than any physical pain.
It's not over yet until I see the results, but I am hopeful I can sleep again tonight.
Thank you all again.
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 94
R
Thank you Dee. Funny that he said everything that I have been reading here which I appreciate all the support! Seeing and hearing from someone in person gives me extra comfort.
I still feel anxious for no reason, it comes and goes. Just ate a nitritious dinner which was satisfying, comforting and hopefully healing.
Thank you Dee. Funny that he said everything that I have been reading here which I appreciate all the support! Seeing and hearing from someone in person gives me extra comfort.
I still feel anxious for no reason, it comes and goes. Just ate a nitritious dinner which was satisfying, comforting and hopefully healing.
I had very bad anxiety at first too. Most of us spent YEARS destroying ourselves with alcohol, so I'm not sure why we think we should magically be better in a few days. The anxiety will get easier, as long as you remain sober.
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Sounds like you are making some good decisions starting with not drinking!
Everyone's eperience when quitting is different but you describe very common symptoms and concerns. I was told I had a year to 18months if I didn't quit and I went through a lot of agony. I am very fortunate the most critical things like liver tests normalize in about a hundred days. Other things have indeed ebbed and flow d and as mentioned above, I do have an anxiety disorder so that is a real thing in my recovery program.
The best thing for healing is never drinking, and after that, time. The other thi is that once alcohol is out of the picture, we can see what is left to deal with physically and we can proceed to the emotional, mental, and habit changes we need to make to recover.
Take care of yourself and I would suggest beginning a recovery program along with your medical care. Now is the best time, for any of us!
Everyone's eperience when quitting is different but you describe very common symptoms and concerns. I was told I had a year to 18months if I didn't quit and I went through a lot of agony. I am very fortunate the most critical things like liver tests normalize in about a hundred days. Other things have indeed ebbed and flow d and as mentioned above, I do have an anxiety disorder so that is a real thing in my recovery program.
The best thing for healing is never drinking, and after that, time. The other thi is that once alcohol is out of the picture, we can see what is left to deal with physically and we can proceed to the emotional, mental, and habit changes we need to make to recover.
Take care of yourself and I would suggest beginning a recovery program along with your medical care. Now is the best time, for any of us!
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 94
All, I've been feeling anxious for over an hour. This is day six after by binge and still having these episodes. Is this expected? What I am noticing today is that they happen around the time I would start drinking, between 1-3. Maybe I have been ignorant, but is that my body expecting alcohol at this time and throwing a tantrum because I am not giving it any? At first I thought the episodes were random, but I am now realizing that they are happening around this time every day.
I just wonder how long this will continue.
I just wonder how long this will continue.
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 29
All, I've been feeling anxious for over an hour. This is day six after by binge and still having these episodes. Is this expected? What I am noticing today is that they happen around the time I would start drinking, between 1-3. Maybe I have been ignorant, but is that my body expecting alcohol at this time and throwing a tantrum because I am not giving it any? At first I thought the episodes were random, but I am now realizing that they are happening around this time every day.
I just wonder how long this will continue.
I just wonder how long this will continue.
All, I've been feeling anxious for over an hour. This is day six after by binge and still having these episodes. Is this expected? What I am noticing today is that they happen around the time I would start drinking, between 1-3. Maybe I have been ignorant, but is that my body expecting alcohol at this time and throwing a tantrum because I am not giving it any? At first I thought the episodes were random, but I am now realizing that they are happening around this time every day.
I just wonder how long this will continue.
I just wonder how long this will continue.
It's also entirely possible that you suffer from anxiety disorder - I do. Anxiety is about as common with alcohol withdrawal as a runny nose is to the common cold, but it generally doesn't last forever. Usually days or maybe a couple of weeks. I dealt with it for literally about 2 years after I quit drinking before I finally did something about it. Certainly the symptoms when I first quit were a lot more severe, and they did get much better over time - but never went away totally. I decided to address it as a distinct and separate issue, and I finally got some help - I really wish I had done it fare sooner.
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