ready to quit but scared
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: vancouver canada
Posts: 14
ready to quit but scared
Hi I am new to this fourm. I have never drank up until 6 months ago. when i was having trouble sleeping so I would have a glass of wine before bed to clam me and go to sleep, however I suffer from anxiety all my life so this sudden sleeplness worried me and because I dont like taking pills the one drink slowly evolved, now I drink about 3/4 to a bottle of red wine a night before bed. and the last 2 or 3 days for about half the day I feel twitchy (dont know if thats a word or not) and very anxious jittery and hard to concentrate. I was going to try to just quit but was scared of the withdrawl symptoms I've been reading about. so tonight I start my cutting down and hope to cut back all the way to nothing. could use some advice ?
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
Hi AMDDE
Welcome to SR
It's always best to consult with your doctor before starting any kind of withdrawal - even tapering.
They should also be able to advise you on the anxiety and the jitters.
Personally tapering never worked for me - I never got the hang of the 'back to nothing' bit LOL
See what your doctor says.
I wish you well
Hope you post some more.
D
Welcome to SR
It's always best to consult with your doctor before starting any kind of withdrawal - even tapering.
They should also be able to advise you on the anxiety and the jitters.
Personally tapering never worked for me - I never got the hang of the 'back to nothing' bit LOL
See what your doctor says.
I wish you well
Hope you post some more.
D
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,243
Welcome AMDDE!
I was too embarrassed to talk to my doctor about my drinking problem for years and looking back it would have been so much easier if I had just asked for help.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
I was too embarrassed to talk to my doctor about my drinking problem for years and looking back it would have been so much easier if I had just asked for help.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
As you are already dealing with anxiety problems
I too suggest a medical assestment is wise.
Good to know you are exploring a way to return to sobriety
Welcome to SR!
I too suggest a medical assestment is wise.
Good to know you are exploring a way to return to sobriety
Welcome to SR!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: vancouver canada
Posts: 14
Hi Thankyou for all the kind comments.
yesterday I made the decsion to curtail my drinking problem which started from not being able to sleep.I intend on slowly cutting back to an acceptable level and then quit. last night was day 1. I drank a bottle of red wine last night and I added water to the glass to make it seem like I drank more and it also would take longer to finish. I marked the bottle with tape to track how much I drank and today I will drink a fraction less and less slowly. I only got 5hrs of sleep and probaly poor alchol induced sleep I have a bad headache but still feel better than yesterday. I have also started to excersise, and meditation for the poor sleep part.
anyone have any tips on cutting back that worked for them.
yesterday I made the decsion to curtail my drinking problem which started from not being able to sleep.I intend on slowly cutting back to an acceptable level and then quit. last night was day 1. I drank a bottle of red wine last night and I added water to the glass to make it seem like I drank more and it also would take longer to finish. I marked the bottle with tape to track how much I drank and today I will drink a fraction less and less slowly. I only got 5hrs of sleep and probaly poor alchol induced sleep I have a bad headache but still feel better than yesterday. I have also started to excersise, and meditation for the poor sleep part.
anyone have any tips on cutting back that worked for them.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,504
Hi and Welcome,
I'm glad you recognized that you have a problem and need to stop drinking.
Tapering didn't work for me either, I couldn't manage it. And, like you are now, I was obsessing about alcohol - how much, when, what kind, etc. My mind was consumed with thinking about drinking. Stopping was a relief.
Talking to your dr is very important, and as Carol suggested, you will likely need to deal with the underlying anxiety.
I'm glad you recognized that you have a problem and need to stop drinking.
Tapering didn't work for me either, I couldn't manage it. And, like you are now, I was obsessing about alcohol - how much, when, what kind, etc. My mind was consumed with thinking about drinking. Stopping was a relief.
Talking to your dr is very important, and as Carol suggested, you will likely need to deal with the underlying anxiety.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
I tried too many times to 'cut down' gradually but couldn't do it. I ended up drinking too much. Best way for me was to stop altogether. Please do talk with your doctor about quitting drinking. Best to detox safely.
:ghug3
:ghug3
SHARING THE LOAD
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: In the Slowlane
Posts: 878
party line
Only you can say if you are an alcoholic or not and controlled drinking is a great way to figure that out personally. If you can my baseball hat goes off to you. However, I am a wino and drank to get drunk daily.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SE and then South some more
Posts: 2,648
Hey there. I have suffered from panic attacks and anxiety all my life. It can be crippling and alcohol does seem like a great relief for it. I used it a lot for the stress in my life until it became a full on disease with consequences that brought me to a real low in my life.
I agree and concur on your going to your doctor and talking to him/her. The anxiety can be worked on. I would hate to see alcohol become a crutch where you become completely dependent/addicted to it.
Tons of hugs!!! Welcome to SR. :ghug3
I agree and concur on your going to your doctor and talking to him/her. The anxiety can be worked on. I would hate to see alcohol become a crutch where you become completely dependent/addicted to it.
Tons of hugs!!! Welcome to SR. :ghug3
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 373
Originally Posted by JoshNU 
is she supposed to drink herself sick every night till she sees a dr?
Why is it ok to start bad things on your own but not good things ie exercise, stop smoking etc
Why is it ok to start bad things on your own but not good things ie exercise, stop smoking etc
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: 45 degrees latitude
Posts: 129
Originally Posted by JoshNU
is she supposed to drink herself sick every night till she sees a dr?
Why is it ok to start bad things on your own but not good things ie exercise, stop smoking etc
Why is it ok to start bad things on your own but not good things ie exercise, stop smoking etc
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 29
Originally Posted by waterfountain
I don't follow what you could be responding to. Which post inspired this response?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: 45 degrees latitude
Posts: 129
Originally Posted by JoshNU
A bunch that I see on here. It good advice to see a dr to stop. But has anyone ever talked to a dr before starting a smoking or drinkig routine? I'd love to hear if they did.
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