Stir Crazy!
Sober...Finally.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Galveston TX
Posts: 574
Stir Crazy! I am a 25 year old woman who has been struggling with my alcoholism for 6 years, drinking either 10-18 Shots or beers a night. I am trying to quit, yet again but can never seem to make it past the 2 week marker before relapsing. I am on day 4 and I dont want to be mean to the loved ones around me, but I am aggitated, angry and I clench my teeth so hard that I get headaches. Does anyone know if there is a remedy to make the withdrawals a little more subtle? Its already bad enough all I can focus on is my next drink and it is absolutely driving me insane. 
instant
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 5,711
welcome Dominica. I found that chocolate, Coke and water, keeping busy with simple things helped. I also let my family know what is happening so they could steer clear.
I don't think there is anything that will "take the edge off" that does not also feed the addiction. See your Dr if it is getting tough or you think you are at risk of a severe withdrawal.
Sobriety is worth it, keep going.
You might find you get more replies if you post under the "newcomers to recovery" section. There is also a thread there called "class of september 2011" where people giving up this month give each other support. The "class" threads are very helpful. You are not alone, keep up the good work.
I don't think there is anything that will "take the edge off" that does not also feed the addiction. See your Dr if it is getting tough or you think you are at risk of a severe withdrawal.
Sobriety is worth it, keep going.
You might find you get more replies if you post under the "newcomers to recovery" section. There is also a thread there called "class of september 2011" where people giving up this month give each other support. The "class" threads are very helpful. You are not alone, keep up the good work.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 24
Hey I've been there...
The whole on again/off again for me really became so taxing. I remember pacing around my apartment, my head and heart racing, the shakes, sweating, everything. Just trust that this will go away with time. People told me that and it would **** me off so much but they were right. It went away. It went away very gradually. So gradual I didn't even notice at first. Everyone's different.
For me, sometimes just leaving my place and going for a long walk to clear my head and get air helped a lot. I couldn't sit still.
Best of luck to you!! You can do it - just trust that this will get better.
The whole on again/off again for me really became so taxing. I remember pacing around my apartment, my head and heart racing, the shakes, sweating, everything. Just trust that this will go away with time. People told me that and it would **** me off so much but they were right. It went away. It went away very gradually. So gradual I didn't even notice at first. Everyone's different.
For me, sometimes just leaving my place and going for a long walk to clear my head and get air helped a lot. I couldn't sit still.
Best of luck to you!! You can do it - just trust that this will get better.
SR Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 7,910
Welcome, Dominica!
I found that reading on this forum really helped me deal with the mental obsession. It also helped to keep things simple, snack a lot, and take Vitamin B Complex. I put sobriety first and took it one day at a time. Just a few off the top of my head.....
The thoughts do lessen over time. Just keep reminding yourself that you're working on a better life. You can do it!
I found that reading on this forum really helped me deal with the mental obsession. It also helped to keep things simple, snack a lot, and take Vitamin B Complex. I put sobriety first and took it one day at a time. Just a few off the top of my head.....
The thoughts do lessen over time. Just keep reminding yourself that you're working on a better life. You can do it!
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
I get the anxiety thing, Dominica, but what's with the anger? Or maybe you mean irritability, which I understand also. My witching hour was just before my dinner, when I would have a couple of doubles to take the edge off the day. Then, I would settle in to the rest of the evening so that I could pass out at bedtime. Rinse, repeat. Now, dinner time is when I am most anxious and cranky.
It helped me to put things in a different focus, by trying to step back in my mind, and consider what it was that I was trying to accomplish. I might have believed that I must not feel anxious and irritable, but I realized that was wrong. This was not going to be an easy thing, after years of 10 - 18 units a day, but I decided I could handle it. These addiction thoughts were not in charge of me, I was.
Good Luck, and stay close to SR. It has helped a lot of us through those first tough weeks.
It helped me to put things in a different focus, by trying to step back in my mind, and consider what it was that I was trying to accomplish. I might have believed that I must not feel anxious and irritable, but I realized that was wrong. This was not going to be an easy thing, after years of 10 - 18 units a day, but I decided I could handle it. These addiction thoughts were not in charge of me, I was.
Good Luck, and stay close to SR. It has helped a lot of us through those first tough weeks.
Last edited by freshstart57; 09-16-2011 at 06:35 PM. Reason: speeling musteak
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,756
If you are sober four days now the physical withdrawal should be nearly over. Drinking plenty of water and juice and taking vitamins helped me in those first few weeks. It takes time to get back to normal, but don't let the up and down feelings take you back to the bottle.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 1,928
One thing that helped me is vitamin B complex. Advised by the shrink when I went to rehab last year. I also was finding myself white knuckling lately and resenting everything. The Dr perscribed Naltrexone for the cravings and I'm feeling much more normal now. I'd see a Dr to see if there is anything that might help. It's a miserable time period - early recovery - I never want to go through it again.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 14,911
It sounds like you are really "white knuckling" it. From my experience that is not going to work long term and you are going to be miserable the whole time you are sober. Do you have a plan for sobriety like AA, or are you just using willpower? Alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful, it's difficult to overcome it by yourself.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
Originally Posted by Zebra1275 
It sounds like you are really "white knuckling" it. From my experience that is not going to work long term and you are going to be miserable the whole time you are sober. Do you have a plan for sobriety like AA, or are you just using willpower? Alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful, it's difficult to overcome it by yourself.
I also agree with Zebra that we need a plan such as AA, and willpower won't cut it. There are many other options you can consider though. Here is one to consider. The Lizard Brain Addiction Monster
It's a bit of a read, but it might appeal to you. Good Luck.
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