Jillian2563

I know tiredness and fatigue are common in early sobriety but dang, it’s 6:00pm and I want to go to bed already. I already go to bed early (since stopping drinking), sometime from 7:30-9, depending on the situation - I think I stayed up until 10:30 one night in the past week. I get so tired from 4-6. I’m trying to eat healthy and I have been walking a mile and half, after dropping son off at school. I know I’m still super early in recovery but just wondering when it gets better??

VikingGF

Everyone is different, but it can take a couple of weeks to get your energy up, but every day won't be like today. It's very possible you're just tired! Good job on your sober time and keep up the good work!!!

dustyfox

Jillian, I am still tired and I am about 3 months in. I notice you say you have a son, I think having to recover and be a parent is very exhausting, don't underestimate how this will be taking it's toll on you.
I am less tired than I was, but I am accepting that my full recovery may take months.
You are doing amazingly well, being there for your kids and doing this takes some doing!

Thesaviour

Would it be feasible for you to fit in an early afternoon nap?

Just closing the eyes and switching the brain off for 20 minutes can be a nice transition into
the evening.

Resetting mental energy.

Jillian2563

Thank you! I have two sons at home, 17 and 4. The 17 year old is self sufficient. The 4 years old is definitely not of course and also has adhd; total opposite from my first son. He definitely wears me out! Lol

Jillian2563

I wish I could! My 4 year old wouldn’t have it lol. He goes to school from 9-1, so I could try during those hours but I’ve been walking and going to AA during that time. Maybe I can switch it up a little though.

Scd619x

It depends how long you drank for and how much you dran. If i had stopped for a week and still felt as you do i would have gone for a blood test just to see if i needed any additional vitamins etc.

Mizz

Fatigue was a thing for me initially. You will get better. Time. Patience. Time. In time.

Anna

I hope you can be patient and allow your body the time it needs to heal.

Jillian2563

I’m trying to be. And I’m listening to my body and restring when needed. Just wondering how long it lasted for other

SouthernSober

For me--well it seems to be what the general consensus is: your liver burns up a huge amount of energy, especially when it's repairing itself. There's also the rebalancing of various neurotransmitters, hormones, etc. Your body works very hard to return to natural homeostasis.

Again, that's just me, and it seems to follow a common paradigm. After 4-6 weeks of no alcohol, I can work out hard 90-180 min a day 6 days a week. Night and day.

Gabe1980

Yep, that sounds about right! I am shattered all the time too just now. Exercising a lot more but really tired and falling asleep in the afternoons, if I sit down for a bit.

I think that is okay though. My productivity is so much better now I am sober that I can give myself permission to sleep when I need it.

It's just your body telling you what it needs. Go with it!

alphaomega

I had bone crushing fatigue for the first month - could hardly function at a minimal level. It was all consuming and pervasive and there was just no taking no for an answer.

My body demanded deep restorative sleep.

As the days wear on, some are worse than others, but there is abundant cellular level healing going on, and therefore that requires energy.

Stay strong and rest whenever and whereever you are able to.

16YearsDrunk

This happened to me. I tend to advise people to prepare for a month of ups and downs. For me I felt very tired early on, which then turned into insomnia. When I felt sleepy I just slept through it.

Jillian2563

Good to know!! Very much needed repairs going on I’m sure.

Jillian2563

Ive been feeling pretty good since stopping but today definitely felt the downs….worrying about my health. Made an appt with a specialist today and seeing my regular doc next week. Hopefully that can ease some of the anxiety and worry.

Robbie64

I had a 6 month run of sobriety earlier this year and I had really bad fatigue for the first 4½ months and then it vanished almost overnight. However I had a really bad spell of insomnia and a number of health problems during that time and those two combined with my age (57) probably meant that my body was taking longer to heal. The one thing I ddn't do was to get too despondent about it as I guessed it would ease up at some stage.

ThatWasTheOldMe

Sleep extra.
It's good for you.
When you were abusing alcohol, your brain likely didn't get much healthy sleep since it was really in fight or flight mode the whole time trying to keep your brain chemistry stable.

Kaptn

I agree with the suggestion to talk to your Doc about possible labs to check your nutrient levels. I had a similar experience, found out I needed to bump up my B12 but it can be many things so start with Doc.

Jillian2563

I see my primary care doctor next week so I will bring it up to her.

but on day 11 today and I actually feel like I might stay up past 7:30 tonight 🤣