First signs of withdrawal
Doggiema
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
First signs of withdrawal
Disclaimer- I haven’t actually stopped drinking yet. But, last night, I drank 3 1/2 8% talls. Tonight I dropped myself to one bud ice. My god this sucks. I’m clammy, cant get comfortable, can’t sleep, I’m exhausted, I feel a pain in my neck and liver area, and overall general feeling of unwellness. I also feel like I’m having trouble processing anything I’m looking at. I don’t know if anything I’m typing is coherent and I’m not really sure I care. I feel like I need another drink but I want to wait at least another 14 hours. Good thing I’m not working today. Has anyone else had experiences like this?
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Yes - and you just have to quit. I'm not being a jerk or saying it's easy. But where you are now is a place that isn't sustainable - we either quit or go back to full drinking.
Some people do a taper; I don't particularly subscribe to the idea. It's too easy to play games (like how often til I need the next drink...) and prolongs the reality of quitting.
See a dr? Start a plan (AA, whatever)? Stop.
Some people do a taper; I don't particularly subscribe to the idea. It's too easy to play games (like how often til I need the next drink...) and prolongs the reality of quitting.
See a dr? Start a plan (AA, whatever)? Stop.
Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,602
It will only get worse from where you are at the moment. That you can be sure of. It's cummulative and tolerance doesn't get re-set if you abstain for a while. You're altering your brain chemistry every time you drink like that - eventually, those WDs will go from being a bit clammy and not being able to sleep, to intense anxiety, shaking, sweating and if it gets really bad seizures and delirium tremens.
I really need to listen to my own advice.
I really need to listen to my own advice.
Doggiema
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by Briansy 
It will only get worse from where you are at the moment. That you can be sure of. It's cummulative and tolerance doesn't get re-set if you abstain for a while. You're altering your brain chemistry every time you drink like that - eventually, those WDs will go from being a bit clammy and not being able to sleep, to intense anxiety, shaking, sweating and if it gets really bad seizures and delirium tremens.
I really need to listen to my own advice.
I really need to listen to my own advice.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 138
I broke down and saw a Dr last week. Day seven feel great. Home detox can be very painful and dangerous, which leads to more drinking to take the edge off. Every time for me the edge became a cliff and I fell off. Good luck.
Grateful
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NC
Posts: 1,763
Glad you are going to see a doctor Doggiema. Like you I was trapped in that cycle of wanting to quit but not wanting to face the withdrawals. In the AA Big Book Bill Wilson talks about this scenario when he says he reached the point where he couldn't imagine living with alcohol or without it.
The first positive step for me was going to see my doctor and coming clean about my situation. He referred me to outpatient rehab (I refused to do inpatient) and he helped me medically detox. Taking that step by going to see him was key in my journey to achieving permanent sobriety (6.5yrs as of Oct 17th).
I did alcohol counseling for a few months and went back to AA (this wasn't my first rodeo), and after 20+ years in and out of AA and sobriety I finally got a sponsor and worked the steps. I mention that to point out that most people who successfully stay sober long-term will adopt some type of recovery plan to maintain their sobriety. It could be AA, AVRT, SMART, church, therapy, exercise, using SR daily, or some combination of any/all of these, but my advice would be to come up with a recovery plan and work it daily.
For me it has been AA and the 12 steps, reading and sharing here on SR and getting regular exercise, as I've found that exercise really helps with depression/anxiety issues I've had whether I am sober or not.
The first positive step for me was going to see my doctor and coming clean about my situation. He referred me to outpatient rehab (I refused to do inpatient) and he helped me medically detox. Taking that step by going to see him was key in my journey to achieving permanent sobriety (6.5yrs as of Oct 17th).
I did alcohol counseling for a few months and went back to AA (this wasn't my first rodeo), and after 20+ years in and out of AA and sobriety I finally got a sponsor and worked the steps. I mention that to point out that most people who successfully stay sober long-term will adopt some type of recovery plan to maintain their sobriety. It could be AA, AVRT, SMART, church, therapy, exercise, using SR daily, or some combination of any/all of these, but my advice would be to come up with a recovery plan and work it daily.
For me it has been AA and the 12 steps, reading and sharing here on SR and getting regular exercise, as I've found that exercise really helps with depression/anxiety issues I've had whether I am sober or not.
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