Alcohol's effects last longer than I realized
Hears The Voice
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Alcohol's effects last longer than I realized
For most of my life I thought the effects of alcohol were out of my system in 24 hours. 48 hours at the most. I was stunned to find out a few years ago that the effects of persistent alcohol use last WAY longer than I realized.
For decades I would go through this cycle of drinking for 3 weeks then taking a day or 3 off. I always meant to go longer, but I would feel so darn awful I would always drink again. I thought well, all the alcohol is out of my system and I feel like crap. I'm anxious, I am not sleeping well, and I can't stop thinking about alcohol. I don't want to feel this way forever, so I might as well drink again.
The problem was, the effects of the alcohol were most definitely NOT out of my system. All of the unpleasant symptoms I was having were a DIRECT RESULT of the alcohol I had been drinking.
When I knew I had to give up drinking no matter how I felt I was stunned (and very happy) to discover that my insomnia went away at 8 days. My anxiety abated over a couple of weeks (finding new things to do really helps with that). And on day 84 I was getting into bed and realized I haven't thought about drinking all day today.
Other members here report different timelines, but nearly all report similar results. So... word to the newbies - stick with it. The way you feel on day 93 is very likely to be dramatically different than the way you feel on day 3. Alcohol messes with your body and mind for a lot longer than you realize.
You can do this!
For decades I would go through this cycle of drinking for 3 weeks then taking a day or 3 off. I always meant to go longer, but I would feel so darn awful I would always drink again. I thought well, all the alcohol is out of my system and I feel like crap. I'm anxious, I am not sleeping well, and I can't stop thinking about alcohol. I don't want to feel this way forever, so I might as well drink again.
The problem was, the effects of the alcohol were most definitely NOT out of my system. All of the unpleasant symptoms I was having were a DIRECT RESULT of the alcohol I had been drinking.
When I knew I had to give up drinking no matter how I felt I was stunned (and very happy) to discover that my insomnia went away at 8 days. My anxiety abated over a couple of weeks (finding new things to do really helps with that). And on day 84 I was getting into bed and realized I haven't thought about drinking all day today.
Other members here report different timelines, but nearly all report similar results. So... word to the newbies - stick with it. The way you feel on day 93 is very likely to be dramatically different than the way you feel on day 3. Alcohol messes with your body and mind for a lot longer than you realize.
You can do this!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 927
Yes, day 38 for me and I totally agree.
I would never have imagined I could feel so "normal" already.
It's a welcome surprise, and I love going to bed sober and I love waking up sober. 2 such simple things but I am still relishing them : ))))))
I would never have imagined I could feel so "normal" already.
It's a welcome surprise, and I love going to bed sober and I love waking up sober. 2 such simple things but I am still relishing them : ))))))
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE Arizona
Posts: 1,099
My experience has been the same. Much improvement over the first week and then gradual improvement for, perhaps, the next year. For me, the first day I went to bed and realized I hadn't thought about alcohol all day was a major milestone. Thanks for this post.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,472
Amen to this! It took about a week and suddenly I was sleeping normally again. The anxiety got better after a couple of weeks for me. Now, over a month in, I'm approaching the first weekend where I don't feel terrified of having to "make it through without a drink" and instead I'm planning what other things I'm going to do.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Norway
Posts: 194
I used to drink myself to blackouts to get some peace. Now, at 102 days, this wonderful calm feeling is starting to feel like the norm. Like you, I never realized alcohol caused a lot of the turmoil, I thought I was drinking to drown it out for a while. 
D♭7♭9♯9♯11♭13
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 336
It's been about 10 weeks or so now, and my sleeping is still jacked up. I craved and ate nothing but pizza, ice cream and candy for about 8 weeks (that's not an exaggeration either; that's all I ate).
I never had any classic withdrawals because I did a taper, and that may have thwarted cravings because I haven't had any real to speak of, but everything else I was drinking to silence has been magnified 10x since quitting. I kind of expected as much, but when you've buried it for so long, it can be intense.
Last couple of weeks have been running each morning, eating nearly vegan, and things are improving... just takes time, and I dropped about 5 or 6 pounds of the ~30 pounds I put on in the first 2 months of quitting. Soon I'll be back to running 50 miles a week but without drinking a ****ton of vodka each day... should be nice to see the effects of that without the negatives of the booze countering the positives.
I never had any classic withdrawals because I did a taper, and that may have thwarted cravings because I haven't had any real to speak of, but everything else I was drinking to silence has been magnified 10x since quitting. I kind of expected as much, but when you've buried it for so long, it can be intense.
Last couple of weeks have been running each morning, eating nearly vegan, and things are improving... just takes time, and I dropped about 5 or 6 pounds of the ~30 pounds I put on in the first 2 months of quitting. Soon I'll be back to running 50 miles a week but without drinking a ****ton of vodka each day... should be nice to see the effects of that without the negatives of the booze countering the positives.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
I saw a consultant a few days ago for a particular prescription. My last drink had been about 11.00 PM the previous night and I saw him at 2.30 the following afternoon when as part of my consultation he breathalysed me (to make sure I wasn't telling lies about my pattern of drinking I suspect). Anyway the point is that by then there was no alcohol to be detected in my system by that means.
What does happen though it is increasingly clear to me, that alcohol hijacks certain receptors in the brain concerned with pleasure, satisfaction and contentment and that if you use alcohol for a long period that system takes longer and longer to recover its 'normal' brain chemistry. It does seem to be one reason why relapse is so frequent - the normal brain chemistry which regulates mood is damaged and the default setting is low/depressed etc. and we can feel so crap going back to drinking offers 'relief'.
The longer one drinks the greater the damage it seems. Another reason to quit asap!
What does happen though it is increasingly clear to me, that alcohol hijacks certain receptors in the brain concerned with pleasure, satisfaction and contentment and that if you use alcohol for a long period that system takes longer and longer to recover its 'normal' brain chemistry. It does seem to be one reason why relapse is so frequent - the normal brain chemistry which regulates mood is damaged and the default setting is low/depressed etc. and we can feel so crap going back to drinking offers 'relief'.
The longer one drinks the greater the damage it seems. Another reason to quit asap!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
So true Nonsensical. Once thing that is persistent here however is people posting, weeks into abstinence, that they still feel physically bad. I would just recommend to any newbie who is really serious about recovery to get blood work done and to tell their dr. that they have been drinking heavily so the right markers are tested for. Finding out about vitamin deficiencies and other issues can help speed up the physical and psychological damage done by long term drinking. Why suffer needlessly?
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 9,029
Nice post Non. Before I truly understood withdrawal and the effects of alcohol, I always got frustrated with how I felt a week or two after not drinking. The anxiety lasted a while, made worse by sporadic drinking. Prolonging the agony. It's much better now. Once I quit completely the anxiety stopped after about a week.
Do your best
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Originally Posted by Nonsensical 
For most of my life I thought the effects of alcohol were out of my system in 24 hours. 48 hours at the most. I was stunned to find out a few years ago that the effects of persistent alcohol use last WAY longer than I realized.
For decades I would go through this cycle of drinking for 3 weeks then taking a day or 3 off. I always meant to go longer, but I would feel so darn awful I would always drink again. I thought well, all the alcohol is out of my system and I feel like crap. I'm anxious, I am not sleeping well, and I can't stop thinking about alcohol. I don't want to feel this way forever, so I might as well drink again.
The problem was, the effects of the alcohol were most definitely NOT out of my system. All of the unpleasant symptoms I was having were a DIRECT RESULT of the alcohol I had been drinking.
When I knew I had to give up drinking no matter how I felt I was stunned (and very happy) to discover that my insomnia went away at 8 days. My anxiety abated over a couple of weeks (finding new things to do really helps with that). And on day 84 I was getting into bed and realized I haven't thought about drinking all day today.
Other members here report different timelines, but nearly all report similar results. So... word to the newbies - stick with it. The way you feel on day 93 is very likely to be dramatically different than the way you feel on day 3. Alcohol messes with your body and mind for a lot longer than you realize.
You can do this!
For decades I would go through this cycle of drinking for 3 weeks then taking a day or 3 off. I always meant to go longer, but I would feel so darn awful I would always drink again. I thought well, all the alcohol is out of my system and I feel like crap. I'm anxious, I am not sleeping well, and I can't stop thinking about alcohol. I don't want to feel this way forever, so I might as well drink again.
The problem was, the effects of the alcohol were most definitely NOT out of my system. All of the unpleasant symptoms I was having were a DIRECT RESULT of the alcohol I had been drinking.
When I knew I had to give up drinking no matter how I felt I was stunned (and very happy) to discover that my insomnia went away at 8 days. My anxiety abated over a couple of weeks (finding new things to do really helps with that). And on day 84 I was getting into bed and realized I haven't thought about drinking all day today.
Other members here report different timelines, but nearly all report similar results. So... word to the newbies - stick with it. The way you feel on day 93 is very likely to be dramatically different than the way you feel on day 3. Alcohol messes with your body and mind for a lot longer than you realize.
You can do this!
Sober since 1st January 2016
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 58
Great post mate. Day 84 is a long way off for me, but I think noting these milestones and not taking them for granted has to be part of the process. I'm determined not to fall short this time. Thanks so much.
Good luck buddy!
Good luck buddy!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 199
I'm only a little over a month in and you are right non ... alcohol still crosses my mind but the chemical reaction that triggers in my head when I think about it is dissapating dramatically. Now when something brings the thought of alcohol to my mind it's not much different than hearing a schoolbell and reminding me of school or seeing leaves change color and thinking of fall. It's becoming more like a normal thought and not attached to a ravenous urge like it was in the past.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Yep... Alcohol - the chemical - was probably out of my system within a few days or weeks.
Alcohol - the impact, the stunting, the emotional numbing, the physical response, the anxiety, the stress, the masking - well heck, nearly two years on and I'm still finding ways the alcohol left its mark and I'm still growing free.
Alcohol - the impact, the stunting, the emotional numbing, the physical response, the anxiety, the stress, the masking - well heck, nearly two years on and I'm still finding ways the alcohol left its mark and I'm still growing free.
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