debdeb60

Hi - I am new to recovery - haven't had a drink in 24 days. While I know that is an accomplishment in and of itself; I wonder when I will start to feel better and not have such strong desires for a drink. I am feeling very anxiious, have difficulty sleeping, can't concentrate at work - deos it ever get better? Thanks

Nuudawn

Why did you quit drinking?

ANGELINA243

If you are experiencing PAWS, it could take awhile. Here is a link.

Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
.

ScottFromWI

I had many of the same issues for at least the first month, probably even a little longer Debdeb. If the sleep problems and anxiety are affecting your work and heath, you may want to see a doctor.

It does definitely get better though. Sometimes I still think the same thing several months in, but when I look back at how much I have improved it's amazing. Keep it up and welcome to SR.

Lifewillgetbet

Hey,

Everyone has different reactions. I'm at 3 + months and I still have anxiety. My healthy sleep pattern has returned but I'm still suffering from other things closely associated to post acute withdrawal.
In 2011 I quit drinking for the entire year, so I know what to expect, and I know I don't rebound 100% very quickly.
The mush brain takes awhile to solidify as well. I graduated with a Masters In Business Admin 5 years ago and now I'm thinking at a grade 8 level at most.
We just have to be patient. It does return.

mecanix

Everyone is different .

For me 6 weeks was quite a watershead and i felt better after it ,

then 3 months was a dip but better than 6 weeks and i felt far better after ,

6 months was far better than 3 months but had a little dip around then, after a depression i didn't realize i had lifted and it was far better than 3 months ..

Around the 11 month to 1 year aniversary was when my AV gave a last hurrah and it's been kinda peaceful since

Stick with it ,

Bestwishes, m

Greensleeves

My first month was really hard, but at six months I'm doing much better. My worst fear was not getting enough sleep early on, and I can report to you that after the first two weeks or so, I started getting the best sleep of my life. I still wake up and am thankful--sober sleep rocks. If that were the only reason to get sober, I'd do it.

Hang in there and stay close to SR. We're rooting for you.

laana

I am on day six (yay i can't believe it!) but i am so tired, extremely lethargic and its making me a bit sad but sticking to it, I am sure it will get better
Keep it up

tomsteve

it got better for me when I put in the footwork to change me and my attitudes.

visch1

For me it lasted for a short period as I immersed my self into 2 AA meetings a day with a great sponsor for help. It was suggested to work on my self honesty and having a more positive attitude++++ I kept coming without a lot of rationalization along with listening to the people with experiences such as I was going through. Bottom line it works if we work it.
BE WELL

DisplacedGRITS

If it didn't get better do you think any of us would stay sober? different people recover physically in different times. I noticed my mental fog really lifting around the 2 week period. By a month, i felt as normal physically as i was ever going to feel. Mentally, the longer i'm sober, the better i feel. I'm more aware of things now. I still have frequent memory lapses but they're fewer and far between. I'm more in touch with my emotional, mental and physical health. I'm learning to listen to myself and others again. It gets better and better the longer you stay sober. Eventually, i found that the frantic state of fear i lived in went away. I am better able to exist in the world sober. I have to stay in constant practice though. I have to recognize when my AV is speaking up or when my alcoholic thinking is clouding my judgment. For me, that means i often have to seek outside council from other sober alcoholics.

Keep at it and remember that you don't have to do this alone. You never have to feel the pain of detoxing again. You can be free.

LadyBlue0527

debdeb60,

Nuudawn's question is key. It really helps to reflect on the reasons that you made the decision that you did. Sometimes just remembering can be of great assistance.

Louise82

Welcome to SR debdeb60 and congrats on 24 days. I'm only on day 11 myself but I trust the good people here when they say it definitely does get better. I guess it's different for all of us how long it takes, but the fact that there are so many people here and around the world who are still sober shows that it really is worth sticking it out, which is exactly what I plan to do.

instant

After years of soaking myself to the bone it took while. It takes what it takes. The trick was learning how to deal with life and myself in the meantime.

It is worth it. It gets progressively easier and better

Notmyrealname

This time around I'm trying to do things in sobriety that I've wanted to do for years but never did because my drinking was a higher priority. Drinking always had me in conflict because my acts were inconsistent with my values; I was doing things I shouldn't be doing, and not doing things I should be doing, and putting off things that need to get done sooner rather than later.

That's what's "better" for me, just being able to lead a better, more fulfilling life with self-respect and even a little pride.

(that's just for the summer, though--I'm sure you know that pride goeth before the Fall)