Day 1 For me
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Milton, de
Posts: 5
Day 1 For me
Hi all, so far I've gone 24 hrs. No sleep last night, anxiety, I had dry heaves so bad i think i pinched a nerve in my back. I had no idea the battle was going to be quite like this. It's been a real eye opener coming on here and reading posts all morning. Very scary what lies ahead these next few months.
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Welcome to SR.
What about the next few months is scary to you?
I don't know how much chaos your drinking brought into your life, but if they were like mine, a few months sober can't be worse that a few months of continued drinking.
Share your fears.
Good luck.
Originally Posted by Derrick39 
Very scary what lies ahead these next few months.
I don't know how much chaos your drinking brought into your life, but if they were like mine, a few months sober can't be worse that a few months of continued drinking.
Share your fears.
Good luck.
New to Real Life
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: I come in Peaces
Posts: 2,071
Originally Posted by doggonecarl
Welcome to SR.
What about the next few months is scary to you?
I don't know how much chaos your drinking brought into your life, but if they were like mine, a few months sober can't be worse that a few months of continued drinking.
Share your fears.
Good luck.
What about the next few months is scary to you?
I don't know how much chaos your drinking brought into your life, but if they were like mine, a few months sober can't be worse that a few months of continued drinking.
Share your fears.
Good luck.
Agree that you should share your fears. Early sobriety was hard but honestly it was much easier than drinking life because every day was regret free. I always compare it to training for a marathon or climbing a mountain (neither of which I have actually done :rotfxko but anyway)... it's HARD yes but every step is an wonderful accomplishment.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: I'm exactly where I should be.
Posts: 1,889
It is very scary...and welcome Derrick.
It can't be anymore scarier than waking up every morning feeling like you could die...not to mention the shame and guilt of drinking and the chaos it causes. Change is good...starting with yourself is the key then worry about others. If you feel that alcohol is becoming an issue then it is time. Change is not easy but easier than spending the rest of your life in an uncontrolable mindset.
I found that once I changed my thoughts about what life was really about, what I really wanted out of life and set a goal -it was easy. Removing alcohol from the equation made problem solving easier to manage.
Wishing you peace and strength.
It can't be anymore scarier than waking up every morning feeling like you could die...not to mention the shame and guilt of drinking and the chaos it causes. Change is good...starting with yourself is the key then worry about others. If you feel that alcohol is becoming an issue then it is time. Change is not easy but easier than spending the rest of your life in an uncontrolable mindset.
I found that once I changed my thoughts about what life was really about, what I really wanted out of life and set a goal -it was easy. Removing alcohol from the equation made problem solving easier to manage.
Wishing you peace and strength.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Milton, de
Posts: 5
Drinking has not brought a whole lot of pain into my life. My wife and I get along great, good income, great kids. We usually have a couple of drinks at night, and drink on the weekends. It never causes marriage problems, we only drink at home never out. A couple of months ago i realized what kind of hold it had on me, waking up in the morning feeling the withdraws, cant waiting to get home to have a drink for the calm. My fear is just what an intense battle it is going to be overcoming all of the physical and mental pain that goes along with quitting, but I do know it has to be done.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 518
Keep going....it is scary...that is why I am afraid to quit...but you are doing so much better than I am and I am rooting for you.
And as EmeraldRose said...it is a progressive disease...I never believed it at first...but it is incredibly true that each time you try to quit, it gets harder and harder.
Congrats.
And as EmeraldRose said...it is a progressive disease...I never believed it at first...but it is incredibly true that each time you try to quit, it gets harder and harder.
Congrats.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 29
It gets better, and it gets better relatively fast. Like you everything was pretty much great but I started to see it affect my business and I knew if I kept going wife/kids/health was over. I figured I had a year left at max before stuff started going really far south. When I stopped the withdrawal was rough.
Those first couple of days are hell. In 4 or 5 days you'll likely be feeling decent, and day 10+ for me was the real turning point. The anxiety passes. For me exercising mildly, drinking plenty of fluids like water and tea helped. Sleep eventually comes back and starts getting normal again. And stuffing myself with food helped even though I wanted to barf it all up. Lots of apples, oranges, berries, spinach, and other green leafy stuff. Handfuls of uncooked old style oatmeal too. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and heart rate. If it gets creepy or anything weird happens see your doctor or go to ER. Or go see the doc right now and get something to help you through this safely. If I had to do it again I would have seen the doctor first. I'm waiting for the 6 month and year mark to see if I get any PAWS stuff but so far every day has been better and better. When you first start out everything seems pretty darn dark.
Those first couple of days are hell. In 4 or 5 days you'll likely be feeling decent, and day 10+ for me was the real turning point. The anxiety passes. For me exercising mildly, drinking plenty of fluids like water and tea helped. Sleep eventually comes back and starts getting normal again. And stuffing myself with food helped even though I wanted to barf it all up. Lots of apples, oranges, berries, spinach, and other green leafy stuff. Handfuls of uncooked old style oatmeal too. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and heart rate. If it gets creepy or anything weird happens see your doctor or go to ER. Or go see the doc right now and get something to help you through this safely. If I had to do it again I would have seen the doctor first. I'm waiting for the 6 month and year mark to see if I get any PAWS stuff but so far every day has been better and better. When you first start out everything seems pretty darn dark.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brea, CA
Posts: 13
I am on my 43rd day sober today and I know what you're going through. What I did that really helped other than coming to this site was start a progress blog, I documented any change I felt and it helps a lot to look back at what I wrote the first day I decided to get sober. I wrote notes to my future sober self about how close to death I felt, the anxiety, shakes, sweats, all of that. It's really prevented me from going back to that place. I think it's easier to pick up a drink again when you feel "all better," so this is a huge reminder for me that I am an alcoholic and I need to move forward constantly, but it's also important to know where I used to be so I don't repeat that behavior.
Welcome and good luck to you! Being sober is so much more than I had hoped for. I'm so active, I'm waking up with energy and excited for the day. My main goal was to be sober through the holidays so that I could enjoy the time with my awesome family. My next goal is to make it through the new year, one step at a time!
Welcome and good luck to you! Being sober is so much more than I had hoped for. I'm so active, I'm waking up with energy and excited for the day. My main goal was to be sober through the holidays so that I could enjoy the time with my awesome family. My next goal is to make it through the new year, one step at a time!
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 29
Congrats 29, and good point on the progress/journaling. It took me 3 tries before I succeeded, if indeed I have succeeded but I think I've figured a lot of things out now. The first two times I screwed up on day 10 and 11 as I recall thinking I was 'all better' . I didn't write myself a note. I made a frowny face in permanent marker in the top right corner of my dry erase board on try #3. It is silly but I think it helped.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,526
Hi Derrick. Those first few days are rough. We become so used to our crutch - our 'reward' at the end of the day. It takes awhile to get used to being without it.
It's great you're realizing now what a grip the habit has on you. Many of us wait until all hell breaks loose before we take action. I kept on going with it, trying to control it - until I was drinking every day & my life was chaos. This won't happen to you, Derrick. We're happy to have you here with us.
It's great you're realizing now what a grip the habit has on you. Many of us wait until all hell breaks loose before we take action. I kept on going with it, trying to control it - until I was drinking every day & my life was chaos. This won't happen to you, Derrick. We're happy to have you here with us.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: toronto canada
Posts: 181
you are sooo far ahead of most people who quit drinking.
most of us went through hell and then some....
please be very grateful for your loving wife and family.
you dont realize what a blessing that is.
good luck to you and please know that alcohol will take all that you have now ,and leave you with absolutlety nothing
most of us went through hell and then some....
please be very grateful for your loving wife and family.
you dont realize what a blessing that is.
good luck to you and please know that alcohol will take all that you have now ,and leave you with absolutlety nothing
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