Withdrawal experiences
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 75
Withdrawal experiences
Hi, I am not seeking medical advice I am only asking you to tell me what it was like the first week you quit drinking. Also, how much and for how long did you drink and what did you feel when you quit.
Thank you,
Thank you,
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,460
Here you go, and I do hope you talk to your dr:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 75
Anna, while I appreciate the link the posts are old. I am looking for new faces to relate their experiences. This seems like a good time of the year. I understand the need to see a doctor. I just would like to read some current personal experiences.
Thank you
Thank you
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 553
Ok then, here's my experience
Day One: Feel like crap. Anxiety and paranoia through the roof. Keep getting flashbacks of all the resentments I have and all the selfish things I have done in my drinking career. Very sleepy and having a hard time putting together a coherent sentence. Can't comprehend what people say and have to keep asking them to repeat.
Day Two: Still sleepy. A little anxiety but better than the first day. Can't sleep at all and up all night.
Day Three: Major insomnia, still can't sleep at night. Anxiety and paranoia are gone and I'm laughing again.
Day Four - Day Eight: Feel back to normal except still not sleeping well and having nightmares. Planning my life and on top of a pink cloud!!!! So glad to be sober and can't believe I have wasted so much time.
Day Nine - Day Twelve: Realizing that sobriety is going to be really hard. Feeling self pity and that maybe I can just have one? It's New Years!!!
Day Ten -Today: Groggy and tired. Unmotivated. Realize that I can't just have one. Gaze longingly at alcohol whenever I see it.
Day One: Feel like crap. Anxiety and paranoia through the roof. Keep getting flashbacks of all the resentments I have and all the selfish things I have done in my drinking career. Very sleepy and having a hard time putting together a coherent sentence. Can't comprehend what people say and have to keep asking them to repeat.
Day Two: Still sleepy. A little anxiety but better than the first day. Can't sleep at all and up all night.
Day Three: Major insomnia, still can't sleep at night. Anxiety and paranoia are gone and I'm laughing again.
Day Four - Day Eight: Feel back to normal except still not sleeping well and having nightmares. Planning my life and on top of a pink cloud!!!! So glad to be sober and can't believe I have wasted so much time.
Day Nine - Day Twelve: Realizing that sobriety is going to be really hard. Feeling self pity and that maybe I can just have one? It's New Years!!!
Day Ten -Today: Groggy and tired. Unmotivated. Realize that I can't just have one. Gaze longingly at alcohol whenever I see it.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,635
I was a binge drinker but still had withdrawals. Even after a weekend of drinking- usually it was non-stop though.
Day 1- shakes, nausea, couldn't eat but hungry, extreme anxiety, gagging for no reason, no sleep
Day 2 Still shaking, no eating, hard to sleep, anxiety, night terrors
Day 3 can eat, shakes better, sleep still spotty, anxiety still there but better
Day 4 shaky, sleep spotty, brain fog, anxiety
After 4 days the symptoms are SO MUCH better. Or lessened should I say.
The first three days are what suck the worse. The anxiety freaks me out. My worries were multiplied by about 50.
Good luck and keep posting.
I was drinking 10-12 miniatures of vodka per day.
Day 1- shakes, nausea, couldn't eat but hungry, extreme anxiety, gagging for no reason, no sleep
Day 2 Still shaking, no eating, hard to sleep, anxiety, night terrors
Day 3 can eat, shakes better, sleep still spotty, anxiety still there but better
Day 4 shaky, sleep spotty, brain fog, anxiety
After 4 days the symptoms are SO MUCH better. Or lessened should I say.
The first three days are what suck the worse. The anxiety freaks me out. My worries were multiplied by about 50.
Good luck and keep posting.
I was drinking 10-12 miniatures of vodka per day.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: toronto canada
Posts: 181
forget about the first week .
it's a right off.
try not to think off anything important.
just do the absolute necessary things.
dont do anything in haste, wait for the fog to clear.
week two is a whole lot better.
good luck
it's a right off.
try not to think off anything important.
just do the absolute necessary things.
dont do anything in haste, wait for the fog to clear.
week two is a whole lot better.
good luck
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 746
too.tall
I remember my previous 6 days of sobriety. 1 and 2 day felt awful. Could not sleep for the first 2 nights. Had nightmares. Real ones. Bugs on the walls, cat under bed. I have a cat, but I keep my bedroom door closed. Day 3 I felt perfect until day 6 when I relapsed.
Its easier to stay sober than starting again from day1.
I remember my previous 6 days of sobriety. 1 and 2 day felt awful. Could not sleep for the first 2 nights. Had nightmares. Real ones. Bugs on the walls, cat under bed. I have a cat, but I keep my bedroom door closed. Day 3 I felt perfect until day 6 when I relapsed.
Its easier to stay sober than starting again from day1.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 117
I am day at day 4...I never had withdrawals really, just being agitated and REALLY wanting to drink. I have found myself going to bed early with some sleeplessness and getting up really early.
By the way, the first post to this thread with the links, you said they were old--People are people they don't really change, the info could have been 100yrs old, and I am sure you will find the information pertinent.
Good luck to you
By the way, the first post to this thread with the links, you said they were old--People are people they don't really change, the info could have been 100yrs old, and I am sure you will find the information pertinent.
Good luck to you
Life is Grand
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,039
The first week of sobriety for me was HORRIBLE!!!! So was the second, I was sick as a dog!!! Skin so dry I was peeling from head to toe, even the palms of my hands. I couldn't drink enough water to quench my thirst. My hair was like straw, I had the night sweats so bad I would soak through my clothes everynight for over two weeks. My hands were shaking so bad I could only hold half a cup of water at a time.....after two weeks it began to get better, it took a solid month to even begin to feel anything like normal....but each day was a little better than the one before. It took over a year sober for my short term memory to start comming back...but it is as sharp as ever now.
How much was I drinking to get to that point? I was probably a fifth to 1 1/2 fifths of vodka a day for way longer than I care to remember.
When I think about how bad detoxing was the last time (I had made several attempts before I finally "got" it) it truly helps me stay sober today. I know that I never have to feel that way again, as long as I don't take that first drink...I pray that those memories NEVER fade.
Cathy
How much was I drinking to get to that point? I was probably a fifth to 1 1/2 fifths of vodka a day for way longer than I care to remember.
When I think about how bad detoxing was the last time (I had made several attempts before I finally "got" it) it truly helps me stay sober today. I know that I never have to feel that way again, as long as I don't take that first drink...I pray that those memories NEVER fade.
Cathy
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 20,458
it's difficult to make any kind of comparison when we are all different ages, health status, sexes and weights....my experience may be 180 degrees from the next person.
you can have extreme gi upset both ends, auditory hallucinations, pain everywhere, dehydration, sugar cravings, insomnia and heavy sweating for the first 3-5 days...then a few hours sleep.
you can have extreme gi upset both ends, auditory hallucinations, pain everywhere, dehydration, sugar cravings, insomnia and heavy sweating for the first 3-5 days...then a few hours sleep.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 75
Thanks everyone, I have gone three days and not felt any withdrawal. I found this surprising since I have been drinking for 30+ years. My drink was mostly wine, at least one bottle per night. I am going to begin my journey to sobriety tonight. My father was a drinker and it has tarnished my memory of him. I don't want the same for my son.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New Braunfels, TX
Posts: 1
Hi there. I'm on day three. The anxiety and fear is terrible. I'm also very irritable, but mostly just anxious and afraid of everything. I've taken long walks around the neighborhood the last two nights, and that's helped a bit. I tried taking Inositol, but that hasn't done anything at all. I ordered some Kava tea to help with relaxation, but I won't have it for a few more days. I'm going to walk a bit faster tonight, and a bit faster the next night, until I'm jogging, and eventually running each night. That's my plan of action.
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