Help a beginner plese
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 4
Help a beginner plese
Hey,
After heavy drinking 4 or 5 days a week for the past 2.5 years, I have made a 100% commitment to sobriety. I have said "I'll quit" twice before to people but never actually meant it and would start up 5 or so days later again and simply didn't care. I made decided enough was enough and am 100% serious about quitting (for the first time, 100% serious).
Right now I am only 3 days sober and am feeling anxious, irritable, and had trouble sleeping last night. How long should I expect this to last? I am not taking any drugs of any sorts, workout a lot, and drink lots of water. This does pass, right?
Thank you all so much.
After heavy drinking 4 or 5 days a week for the past 2.5 years, I have made a 100% commitment to sobriety. I have said "I'll quit" twice before to people but never actually meant it and would start up 5 or so days later again and simply didn't care. I made decided enough was enough and am 100% serious about quitting (for the first time, 100% serious).
Right now I am only 3 days sober and am feeling anxious, irritable, and had trouble sleeping last night. How long should I expect this to last? I am not taking any drugs of any sorts, workout a lot, and drink lots of water. This does pass, right?
Thank you all so much.
Forum Leader
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family!
Posts: 23,024
Most likely it'll pass, but to be on the safe side I'd definitely recommend seeing a doctor for a check-up, and being completely honest about your drinking history. Alcoholism is deadly serious. Since you're 100% committed to sobriety, I hope you'll treat your health with the same dedication.
Welcome, glad you've joined us here!
Welcome, glad you've joined us here!
Hi LivinFree
What a great decision to make
I'm with Astro - it's probably completely normal - I know I took longer than 3 days....but it's always a good idea to check with a Dr. anyway
Welcome to SR!
D
What a great decision to make
I'm with Astro - it's probably completely normal - I know I took longer than 3 days....but it's always a good idea to check with a Dr. anyway
Welcome to SR!
D
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,591
Livin, there are lots of posts on the topic of "what can we expect now that we have quit", here and there. Of course there is a range of experience because of all the different bodies and circumstances out there. I can't say anything worthwhile about medical realities, but a common experience is for people to deal with "annoyances" during the first couple of weeks. I can't remember much in detail (even though I was not drunk, ha ha), but I think the things you are describing (which would have been minor things in me and I am lucky) decreased after 2 weeks and then more after another 2 weeks. Then unfortunately a pattern of insomnia came back home for me (I used to suffer from it BIG TIME in my early 20s) and it was a bit of a slap in the face to have it back...but for me it was also welcome because it meant so much to me to be without alcohol, which I associate with death. (I wondered how long I was going to live for a long time. Lucky!)
I remember an anxious feeling in my hands for a couple of weeks, like they were puffing up. And then I also noticed when I stretched my hand in front of me, parallel to the floor, that it was perfectly still instead of quivering. I used to do that once in a while, as a drinker, and see how much my fingers would go up and down as a test of nervousness. They would shake sometimes when I had nothing to be nervous about too.
What I am noticing in people that come here and talk about their first few days of not drinking is that some of them have a sense of elation after about a week. It's like they have their life back. Then there is a lot of questioning that they do and there is no telling how long that goes on, everybody is different. For most people though, the work has only just started, as far as I know It gets easier and then there are rough spots and then it goes on and on.
I have not been as good as I should be about staying physically active, but I recommend doing what you can and if you can.
If you want to, I think you should check in here and exchange notes as much as you can. It's a great place to sort all kinds of things out and share.
I remember an anxious feeling in my hands for a couple of weeks, like they were puffing up. And then I also noticed when I stretched my hand in front of me, parallel to the floor, that it was perfectly still instead of quivering. I used to do that once in a while, as a drinker, and see how much my fingers would go up and down as a test of nervousness. They would shake sometimes when I had nothing to be nervous about too.
What I am noticing in people that come here and talk about their first few days of not drinking is that some of them have a sense of elation after about a week. It's like they have their life back. Then there is a lot of questioning that they do and there is no telling how long that goes on, everybody is different. For most people though, the work has only just started, as far as I know It gets easier and then there are rough spots and then it goes on and on.
I have not been as good as I should be about staying physically active, but I recommend doing what you can and if you can.
If you want to, I think you should check in here and exchange notes as much as you can. It's a great place to sort all kinds of things out and share.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 4
Thanks all. It is really helpful to know there are others out there like myself who have quit and want desperately to be sober for the rest of their lives.
I am currently in grad school and have been having trouble with grades, then I went home this weekend. I was drunk, of course, but for some reason it did not hit me until this past weekend how much my family and friends love me. I realized I have done things to make them disappointed, things I did while drinkings, things I am horribly ashamed of. And realized I needed to be serious about sobering up and MEAN IT when I said I was going to.
I went to an AA meeting Monday morning, but felt horribly out of place. All the people there were in their 40's and 50's and didn't seem too interested, kind of just ignored me and put me to the side. I am VERY glad to have found a place like this where I can come and share my struggle and have people tell me theirs.
Thank you all so very much.
I am currently in grad school and have been having trouble with grades, then I went home this weekend. I was drunk, of course, but for some reason it did not hit me until this past weekend how much my family and friends love me. I realized I have done things to make them disappointed, things I did while drinkings, things I am horribly ashamed of. And realized I needed to be serious about sobering up and MEAN IT when I said I was going to.
I went to an AA meeting Monday morning, but felt horribly out of place. All the people there were in their 40's and 50's and didn't seem too interested, kind of just ignored me and put me to the side. I am VERY glad to have found a place like this where I can come and share my struggle and have people tell me theirs.
Thank you all so very much.
Hi LF!!! I'm so glad to read you went to a meeting. I don't know how old you are but you specified ages and that you were uncomfortable. There are different kinds of meetings you can attend......... I'm hoping, depending on your area. Maybe Google meetings in your city?? Trust me, addicts and alcoholics (we're all addicts) are in every age bracket. Anyway, I know going to a meeting for a first time can be a little nerving. Good for you for taking a step though, I think that's awesome!!!
Welcome to SR and yes!!! Keep reading and posting. This site is GREAT and you'll get tons of wonderful support and insight here.
Welcome to SR and yes!!! Keep reading and posting. This site is GREAT and you'll get tons of wonderful support and insight here.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 4
Thanks VB - I located a couple "Young Persons" AA meetings that go each week. From the regular meetings I have gone to just this week, I have seen how bad it can get. Right now I'm blessed enough to be in grad school and I can't mess this up - no way in hell.
I will still continue to use this site everyday but also need to talk to some people face to face. I have one friend in Med School here who went through treatment a couple years ago and I have been talking to him, but he and I are both busy and I need to find something that fits my schedule. I have also just joined a couple clubs on campus to occupy more of my free time so I have less time to drink.
I guess I'm just scared as hell right now and feel really alone and ashamed for doing the things I've done, lost the relationships I have lost (a girlfriend of 4 years whom I was going to ask to marry me a month later - and countless friends due to the horrible things I have said). I just feel so messed up right now and desperately want these feelings to go away.
Does anyone have any advice what to do about insomnia? I need rest to study and be alert in classes. I know pills are out of the question and I am already exercising, is there anything else anyone has found?
Thank you everyone.
I will still continue to use this site everyday but also need to talk to some people face to face. I have one friend in Med School here who went through treatment a couple years ago and I have been talking to him, but he and I are both busy and I need to find something that fits my schedule. I have also just joined a couple clubs on campus to occupy more of my free time so I have less time to drink.
I guess I'm just scared as hell right now and feel really alone and ashamed for doing the things I've done, lost the relationships I have lost (a girlfriend of 4 years whom I was going to ask to marry me a month later - and countless friends due to the horrible things I have said). I just feel so messed up right now and desperately want these feelings to go away.
Does anyone have any advice what to do about insomnia? I need rest to study and be alert in classes. I know pills are out of the question and I am already exercising, is there anything else anyone has found?
Thank you everyone.
Forum Leader
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family!
Posts: 23,024
I agree that you might want to keep checking out different meetings. I've been going to the same place for 5 years. Our youngest members are in their mid-teens and the oldest in their 90's. For the most part we all get along well and have much to share with each other about recovery.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,591
Livin, about the age thing at the meeting....I don't know how to explain that, it could have been a combination of things, maybe it was just that day. I am in my 40s, I don't know if I am too much of a fogey or not thus far, ha ha. I am usually better at guessing age in writing, but you know, it is not the same in this context, I find. It's much more of a common age for me a lot of the time.
Hope the insomnia gets better. You have support here on many fronts.
Hope the insomnia gets better. You have support here on many fronts.
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