Hey Guys - Kindling?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3
Hey Guys - Kindling?
hey guys I'm so glad I found you. So long story short I'm a college student and I've been drinking since high school. I can say I was never an alcoholic, I never drank daily nor craved drinking as how alcoholics usually do. Right now I'm 20 and just moved to Canada a year ago. On the last 5 months before January I started drinking 2 or sometimes 3 times a week. Most of those times were binge drinking, never to the point of blacking out but always getting drunk. I'm usually an anxious person but never to the point of taking medication for it. Anyway, right before christmas I binge drank for 4 days straight and the next day after drinking I was just chilling at my place when all of a sudden I began experiencing repetitive obssessive thoughts, paranoia feeling, some weird pression on my head, rapid eye movement, etc. I couldnt sleep at all that night and I woke up covered in sweat. I knew it was withdrawals and it freaked me out because it was the 1st I experienced something like that. Anyway, next week after that I went out with my friends and decided to have some beers again. I didn't drink as much as I didnt get drunk, so next day I experienced the exact same thing as the week before. This made me stop drinking cold turkey and havent had a zip since then but summer is comming and I'm afraid that what I experienced was kindling. I've never been a serious drinker so I was wondering if the small time of heavy drinking I had could trigger such a brain damage for me? I know this happens with people with longer periods of heavy drinking or simply more serious situations? I'm just wondering because is not like I'm craving to drink but having just a couple of beers in moderation shouldnt be a problem, Im just afraid I mighr have done permanent brain damage. Thanks
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
George - welcome, glad you're here!
You might consider starting your own new thread as this one is old and you would likely get more responses. Sometimes members read the first post from the member and respond to it without reading other posts.
Alcoholism and the progression of it is unpredictable. For some it's a slow deal over many years. For others it can come on very quickly. We are all different.
I would suggest seeking medical assistance and review what happened with a doctor. Other issues might be involved - alcohol can be deadly the first time or the 5,000 time. For us alcoholics, it's Russian roulette.
Keep posting your questions - lots if good people here.
You might consider starting your own new thread as this one is old and you would likely get more responses. Sometimes members read the first post from the member and respond to it without reading other posts.
Alcoholism and the progression of it is unpredictable. For some it's a slow deal over many years. For others it can come on very quickly. We are all different.
I would suggest seeking medical assistance and review what happened with a doctor. Other issues might be involved - alcohol can be deadly the first time or the 5,000 time. For us alcoholics, it's Russian roulette.
Keep posting your questions - lots if good people here.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,320
Hey Guys? Kindling?
Originally Posted by george5030 
hey guys I'm so glad I found you. So long story short I'm a college student and I've been drinking since high school. I can say I was never an alcoholic, I never drank daily nor craved drinking as how alcoholics usually do. Right now I'm 20 and just moved to Canada a year ago. On the last 5 months before January I started drinking 2 or sometimes 3 times a week. Most of those times were binge drinking, never to the point of blacking out but always getting drunk. I'm usually an anxious person but never to the point of taking medication for it. Anyway, right before christmas I binge drank for 4 days straight and the next day after drinking I was just chilling at my place when all of a sudden I began experiencing repetitive obssessive thoughts, paranoia feeling, some weird pression on my head, rapid eye movement, etc. I couldnt sleep at all that night and I woke up covered in sweat. I knew it was withdrawals and it freaked me out because it was the 1st I experienced something like that. Anyway, next week after that I went out with my friends and decided to have some beers again. I didn't drink as much as I didnt get drunk, so next day I experienced the exact same thing as the week before. This made me stop drinking cold turkey and havent had a zip since then but summer is comming and I'm afraid that what I experienced was kindling. I've never been a serious drinker so I was wondering if the small time of heavy drinking I had could trigger such a brain damage for me? I know this happens with people with longer periods of heavy drinking or simply more serious situations? I'm just wondering because is not like I'm craving to drink but having just a couple of beers in moderation shouldnt be a problem, Im just afraid I mighr have done permanent brain damage. Thanks
I hope you don't mind but I hived your post off to give it it's own thread - you'll get lots of responses that way
I'm not a Dr and neither is anyone else here but if these experiences are connected to you drinking alcohol, the smart money is to may lay off the booze?
At least go and see a Dr and make sure everything is ok
If you do decide to quit, you'll find a lot of support here
D
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 105
Hello and a warm welcome
your post really touched me. I was your age when i first experienced such symptoms. I continued to experience them following 'big nights' for the next 17 years - maybe every week except for occasional better periods.
If I could go and meet my 20-year-old self I would do all I can to convince that young chap to choose a different path - to choose wellness and respect for my body and mind. I would be saving me a lot pain. :-)
So, I guess I am trying to convince you to do the same. Of course I know it is easier said than done!
Very best wishes to you thanks for a thought provoking post! :-)
CC
PS I am just a newbie here really but it has been nothing less than superb in terms of the encouragement and understanding it provides.
your post really touched me. I was your age when i first experienced such symptoms. I continued to experience them following 'big nights' for the next 17 years - maybe every week except for occasional better periods.
If I could go and meet my 20-year-old self I would do all I can to convince that young chap to choose a different path - to choose wellness and respect for my body and mind. I would be saving me a lot pain. :-)
So, I guess I am trying to convince you to do the same. Of course I know it is easier said than done!
Very best wishes to you thanks for a thought provoking post! :-)
CC
PS I am just a newbie here really but it has been nothing less than superb in terms of the encouragement and understanding it provides.
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,960
I'm thinking that maybe your definition of alcoholic is a bit skewed. We don't have to drink daily.....
Can you live without drinking? If this is difficult, there may be a problem. There is hope for all of us.
hugs and love to you
Can you live without drinking? If this is difficult, there may be a problem. There is hope for all of us.
hugs and love to you
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 346
Hi George
I agree that you should go speak to a Dr. Be completely open about how much you drink and the effects of hangovers/withdrawal. They will be able to run test if need be and speak with you about healthy drinking habits going forward, if you chose to continue drinking. I promise you though that not drinking isn't weird and you can still have a perfectly full and normal social life without it.
At 20 I was noticing some problems with my drinking and paid no attention to them and it only got worse once I could legally buy alcohol. Good for you on realizing something isn't right. I hope you are proactive about your health moving forward.
I agree that you should go speak to a Dr. Be completely open about how much you drink and the effects of hangovers/withdrawal. They will be able to run test if need be and speak with you about healthy drinking habits going forward, if you chose to continue drinking. I promise you though that not drinking isn't weird and you can still have a perfectly full and normal social life without it.
At 20 I was noticing some problems with my drinking and paid no attention to them and it only got worse once I could legally buy alcohol. Good for you on realizing something isn't right. I hope you are proactive about your health moving forward.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 132
Hi George! I don't know much about kindling, had never really heard the term before I came here. But MAN, I definitely know what it FEELS like. I was actually relieved to find this thread and the other one you responded to, because it puts my struggles in a whole new perspective. I used to drink to excess whenever I wanted and I could deal with the hangover, even the really bad ones. Not so, the last couple years.
I don't drink all the time, but when I do, I go hard. That made it tough for me to admit I had a problem for a long time because, you know, I don't drink every day, so I can control it, right? Well, I've learned that no, I can't, and the side effects (hangover, withdrawal, whatever they are) have gotten progressively worse. I get lousy hangovers from a few drinks (something that at one point would have had 0 effect on me the next day) and I think I must experience some withdrawal after a real binge night. I get so sick I can't eat all day (even though I will dry heave through the whole day), I get terrible migraines, severe depression and shakes. I remember getting what I can only assume are tremors and literally worrying that I might have a seizure (a possibility). I never spoke to a doctor, because I didn't think I could go through withdrawal when I was only ever drinking one night a week. After reading so many responses, though, this idea of kindling makes a lot of sense and I probably could have used to speak to a doctor.
Anyway, I drank a lot like you in college, binging here and there, but keeping it together most of the time. I gotta say, it really got worse. It's hard to see a problem developing in that kind of setting because there is SO much alcohol and partying going on all the time, it seems totally normal to drink your face off whenever you want. And some people will leave and grow up and not do that any more and they will be fine. Some, like me, won't and the excuses to party and drink will get flimsier, the drinking will get heavier and the problems will grow. Whether you are worried that you have a problem drinking or not, it sounds like you have enough cause for concern to at least have a word with your doctor and maybe lay off for a while. As others have said, if you do decide to quit, we will be here for you
The nice thing about quitting drinking is that there are amazing health benefits for anyone, alcoholic or not. It's nice to never wake up the way I used to
I don't drink all the time, but when I do, I go hard. That made it tough for me to admit I had a problem for a long time because, you know, I don't drink every day, so I can control it, right? Well, I've learned that no, I can't, and the side effects (hangover, withdrawal, whatever they are) have gotten progressively worse. I get lousy hangovers from a few drinks (something that at one point would have had 0 effect on me the next day) and I think I must experience some withdrawal after a real binge night. I get so sick I can't eat all day (even though I will dry heave through the whole day), I get terrible migraines, severe depression and shakes. I remember getting what I can only assume are tremors and literally worrying that I might have a seizure (a possibility). I never spoke to a doctor, because I didn't think I could go through withdrawal when I was only ever drinking one night a week. After reading so many responses, though, this idea of kindling makes a lot of sense and I probably could have used to speak to a doctor.
Anyway, I drank a lot like you in college, binging here and there, but keeping it together most of the time. I gotta say, it really got worse. It's hard to see a problem developing in that kind of setting because there is SO much alcohol and partying going on all the time, it seems totally normal to drink your face off whenever you want. And some people will leave and grow up and not do that any more and they will be fine. Some, like me, won't and the excuses to party and drink will get flimsier, the drinking will get heavier and the problems will grow. Whether you are worried that you have a problem drinking or not, it sounds like you have enough cause for concern to at least have a word with your doctor and maybe lay off for a while. As others have said, if you do decide to quit, we will be here for you
The nice thing about quitting drinking is that there are amazing health benefits for anyone, alcoholic or not. It's nice to never wake up the way I used to
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: US
Posts: 524
Hi George,
It's great that you have the insight to seek answers and have concern about your drinking at such a young age. I wish I did. I don't know if you are experiencing 'kindling' or not but it sounds like you have an unhealthy relationship if you binge drink every time you drink. As someone mentioned not all alcoholics have to drink every day. Many start off as binge drinkers who set aside a weekend here and there to get 'smashed'. Thats how my drinking started in my 20's, every other weekend or so I'd get drunk. I too never used to black out in the first few years, that came later. Over the years my tolerance slowly increased so I needed more and more to feel drunk and the frequency of my binges increased. My hangovers also got to the point that I could no longer function when I had one and they continued to get worse giving me crippling anxiety.
Can you stop drinking at just one or two drinks? If so, is it very difficult for you? Do you find yourself really looking forward to these episodes of binge drinking sometimes days in advance? These are a few questions that can help you determine if you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that could very well get wayyy worse if you continue. Just like it did with me.
It's great that you have the insight to seek answers and have concern about your drinking at such a young age. I wish I did. I don't know if you are experiencing 'kindling' or not but it sounds like you have an unhealthy relationship if you binge drink every time you drink. As someone mentioned not all alcoholics have to drink every day. Many start off as binge drinkers who set aside a weekend here and there to get 'smashed'. Thats how my drinking started in my 20's, every other weekend or so I'd get drunk. I too never used to black out in the first few years, that came later. Over the years my tolerance slowly increased so I needed more and more to feel drunk and the frequency of my binges increased. My hangovers also got to the point that I could no longer function when I had one and they continued to get worse giving me crippling anxiety.
Can you stop drinking at just one or two drinks? If so, is it very difficult for you? Do you find yourself really looking forward to these episodes of binge drinking sometimes days in advance? These are a few questions that can help you determine if you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that could very well get wayyy worse if you continue. Just like it did with me.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3
I cannot express with words how grateful I am to have found you guys and for the great warm welcome from all of you! I tried having just ONE beer last night for the 1st time since January when I experienced those symptoms. I can tell I am not reacting to alcohol the way I used before definitely, today my anxiety was a little higher than it usually is, I felt this weird kind of like headache all day and these kind of like super mild hangover feelings. All of that just because of ONE BEER. It's very weird because I see a lot of people, specially at my young age, drinking and partying so hard! Much more than what I normally used to and they seem to react normally to alcohol. My best friend has been with me to every single party I've went to and he's been around every time there's something related with alcohol. We always drank the same amount and he feels totally fine today. That is what I find really weird, like why am I reacting to alcohol like this? I know alcohol isn't something I should be craving but it just really concerns me if there is really something wrong, like if I just have permanent brain damage or is it something temporary because of the last months of heavy drinking. I guess the only and best way to find an answer is to keep abstaining and go check myself with a doctor. Do you have any idea of with what type of doctor I should go with? THANK YOU ALL
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