robbo78

Hi All,

31 days sober today and smoke free, would like to say its been a easy, however after drinking for 10 years or more a minimum of 8 pints a day or night with out fail (weekends could be 12 or more a night or if i were to go out could be anything to any time). I have had all the withdrawals, loss of appitite, shakes, sweats, fear, anxiaity, stress, pulsating headache, pins and needles in legs and arms, feeling dizzy, panic attacks, thinking the worst all the time, feel like crap in the mornings and twitching to name a few.

My reason for this thread is i have been to see doctor 3 or 4 times as i still have my anxiaity, the pulsating headache and little twitches or pins and needles, which concern me and the doctor has said its the withdrawals and it will pass but when. i have always been a worry sort of person but was always confident i suppose due to the drink. i have had blood tests done at doctors request which have been ok apart from liver which i expected to be high. doctor also suggested an eye examination which i have done and been given new specs.

i feel almost like a different person and things just seem to be strange around me, is this being sober for the first time in over a decade or is there something wrong with me. if i am truly honest if its this bad being sober i would sooner stay drunk.

I have worked out i would of drunk a minimum of 248 beers and 150 smokes sinse i went cold turkey on 15th July , or could this be the reason my mind and body need time to heal.

i need some sort of help or has anybody had the same sort of problems.


Robbo

Sorry for going on and on

Dee74

You can always go to a different doctor and get a second opinion Robbo.
Being sober should never be so bad that you'd rather stay drunk, mate.

seen this link from CarolD?

D

Charmie

hello robbo and welcome to sr.alcohol withdrawels are horrific,it was only a few months ago that i had them.my life wouldnt have been great either had i not found something in my life to help me to live! i hadnt lived but merely existed for most of 20 yrs.my life is amazing now,im happy,joyous and free from the bondage of alcohol.i did this by going to AA.it has given me a wonderful life so far.putting the plug in the jug is nearly always not enough.have you thought of giving it a try? my best wishes are with you.

robbo78

yeah been to about 7 or 8 AA meetings and admit sometimes felt great after leaving for an hour or so. Been away for a week or so and will be going back next week.

Cheers,

Robbo

ElegantlyWasted

It is not bad being sober...just different. I am on week three myself (this time). What has helped me is throwing myself into exercise, shutting everything else out for a while, and taking b complex vitamins as well as eating healthy. PAWS is real and can linger for up to six months. My brain is still a little foggy (comes and goes) as well as some lingering anxiety. It will take time to adjust. I am going to have another go at AA and try SMART. I think both have the ability to help one adjust to "sober living" and not becoming a permanent "dry drunk". The language of alcohol recovery was at first baffling to me; but after several attempts at drying out it is starting to make sense. Take out of it what works for YOU and leave the rest. Best of luck to you in you current and future endeavors.

Anna

I think it does take time and patience for the body to try to get back to normal.

And, as Dee said, a second opinion couldn't hurt. It might make you feel more comfortable.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

Charmie

thats great robbo,keep going and things will get better!

box3

It's common to have a spike in anxiety when you stop drinking/using, withdrawal does increase anxiety. However, when you remove an addictive substance like alcohol from your life, you no longer have a buffer between your conscious mind and your feelings and thoughts. If you have an existing predilection to anxiety, you're going to feel it full-force until you take steps to manage it.

Anxiety can be managed with help from a psychologist (which your GP can refer you to). I've found cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in combination with an SSRI to be the most effective method for me. Exercise also helps.

Best wishes.

CarolD

Robbo....please give yourself time to get back in balance.
Alcohol is a toxic liquid....it damages everyone who drinks

Keep posting and keep moving forward