what to do know?
 

Hi everyone! ** newbie looking for help}

I have been on antabuse for 3months.Hence I have been sober for 3months.
All that time I have never felt like myself.I feel very tired all the time,I can't think straight or make decisions.My memory plays tricks on me.
I feel worse mentally and physically than i did when i was drinking.
The long and short of it is.......I feel as if I am not myself anymore....and I don,t like it.Does it get better? Or is this it?
All help gratfully recieved.......

Have you been getting any help/support other than the antabuse Slipstich?

Everything you have mentioned sounds pretty close to my experience, though I was feeling better than when I was drinking. I think it is natural not to feel ourselves, especially if we've been drinking a long time. I think it is vital to get some support and learn some new coping strategies though too...

Welcome to SR x

It does get better. Much better. The antabuse may be making you feel bad.
I've never taken it but my life is so much better now it's unbelieveable. I love every new day. And I was a chronic drunk.

You can do it. Think how drinking made you feel, and if you're tempted, think that first drink through to the end. All your hard work will disolve and the misery will return.

Maybe find a support group so you can be with others who understand.

Don't pick up that first drink! And best to you, I hope you feel better soon.

Hi Slipstich,
What else are you doing beside Antabuse? I needed a program and a support group to stay sober. Are you isolating yourself? Tell us a little more about yourself and circumstances so we can better advise you.

All the best
CaiHong

Well congrats on the 3 months :)


But seems to me that your learning all about its not just bout not drinking. You see drinking is but a symptom. Now you have to learn to live sober and why.

I personally would recomend a program any one( I use AA and it works for me ) . And grab hold of it , so you can live joyus, happy, and free. :)

Hi Slipstich,

Good going, I hope I can say the same thing three months from now. I've only been sober for about 36hours but I did get to 4 days a couple of months ago and I was having trouble sleeping and having bad dreams. I talked with a counselor at work and she said this was normal as my body changed from the lack of alcohol. She said it could go on for a few weeks. Hang in there!!!

Sounds like early recovery to me. Those of us who drink a lot often get stimulated by drinking where a non-alkie gets a bit tired when drinking....

Your body is healing and you are bored as you don't have your "quick fix" to help you out with the dopamine rushes. Your brain needs to normalize.

These feelings of yours are because alcohol has interfered with normal brain functioning and it doesn't know how to get natural pleasure, it's been relying on alcohol rushes......

It DOES get better. Give your body and brain time to heal; give time time.

Stay strong and stay stopped!

Hello Slipstich,

I am on antabuse as well and have the exact same symptoms. A lot of this caused by the medication. Do not worry about it - you are doing exactly the right thing by quitting.

:welcome

:)

I had those same symptoms and I wasn't on antabuse. It's your body healing from drinking, at least for me it was. And it changes! (it gets better and better)

When I used Antabuse my doctor insisted I come in montly
for blood work. Also the drug warnings insert suggested
it works best when combined with a program of recovery.

I did not have an adverse reaction...until I drank a single split
of champagne 18 hours after my maintance doese
Became so violently ill....I quit the antabuse

Finally stopped again 4 months later without Anatbuse and got
serious with my AA program...:yup:.

I'm in the U.S. so not a clue about health care in Scotland
but I hope you will discuss this with a doctor.

Welcome...:wave:

I found sobriety and recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. Might just be the ticket for you as well.

All the best from a Scot in Canada.

Bob R

what i've come to learn is that sobriety isn't about not drinking. sobriety is about learning to live without drinking. it sounds like you're not learning how to live. have you tried meditation? exercise? are you doing things you enjoy sober you are you just plodding along not drinking for the sake of not drinking? Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can last up to a year and includes that mental fog you're describing. it's normal. it does get better at different rates for different people. what's key right now is to be accepting of where you are right now in your recovery and keep moving forward. reading has seemed to help me a lot with my focus. play around with a few mental puzzles too. work out your brain. you can't expect your brain to just jump right back into full function after it's been under such stress for so long. just don't rush recovery. we all have our own timeline. don't glorify your drinking. you were not more mentally or physically capable when you were drinking. you may think you were but it was false and not lasting. glorifying your drinking days, even in that small way, is a big warning sign. beware of it and rearrange your thinking. we want to see you on the sober side of life!

Have you tried diet, exercise and vitamins? I am near 3 months out and those 3 things have changed the way I fell significantly. It didn't happen overnight, but I am now a much happier, more energetic person now.

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for the encouragement, and the ideas you put forward.
Sunday night I was at my wits end. Depression, mood swings,I definately new
"THIS WAS NOT ME".
I am a person who needs to find answers to problems and I knew I was not myself.
Thinking .thinking..... a little spark came into my mind.I remembered way back
when I researched Antabuse,some one said they were told to take half a tablet or
one every other day. Being so low that I would try anything, I took half a tab.
Next day ......I was a perfectly fuctioning human being. The clouds lifted. my mood was
great I was happy to be alive and sober.This is the first time I have felt ..yeh life is going
to be good.
I went to my doctor today and told her what i had done...she looked up her little book of
symptoms and said that i was one of the "very rare symptom "
Sorry to post such a long post
and thank all you guys for your kindness....:thanks

Glad you're feeling better. I know for me, simply not drinking didn't fix anything in my life, I had to work on myself a LOT. How else are you working on your recovery?

Hi flutter,
At the beginning I tried AA, it was an overwhelming experience.I was blown away
with the friendship and kindness everyone in the group showed me and their fellow members.I was afraid to go at first......[of what I don't know],my hubby went with me to my first meeting , then i went to more meetings on my own.
I think everybody should give AA
a chance and see if its for them.It wasn't for me.
I chose the antabuse way.I detoxed at home with a member of the addicion team
recommended by my doctor and then went on antabuse.
I have had counsilling in departments of the drug and addiction center but as I said in my first post Something wasn't right with me... I hope all is well now xx