From the article: Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Most people experience some kind of withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit drinking alcohol. What were the toughest parts of withdrawal for you? Please share what you experienced and how you dealt with it. Post Your Answer
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- I wrote the book and then some. I have detoxed both medically in a facility and at home with nothing. I wouldn't recommend the latter of the two, it can be dangerous. However, if you must detox yourself from a mild dependence, at least have a Valium or perhaps a beer around to sip small sips if seizures occur. I was prone to seizure due to the amount that I drank on a daily basis. When I first went through withdrawal in my early years, The worst I suffered were seeing things and never sleeping for days. My brain did not know what to do for it was so used to alcohol putting me to sleep. It takes me about 5 to 7 days to detox from alcohol. because of my seizures, I have Ativan around. I am alcohol free and have been for a year. Cold turkey! Wasn't that hard this time because my drinking habits were much, much less than usual. I also was only drinking beer and not the heavy stuff. I craved sweets and since have gained some weight. I really didn't eat much while drinking.
- —Guest peggy
Blaming it on the flu
- Like many, I started drinking in college. After graduating, I continued to party and drink. At some point it became habitual drinking -- my choice of poison being whiskey. My husband can have one drink and watch the late news then go to bed. I start drinking about noon and continue until I go to bed in the evening. Then I can sleep hours. Without the alcohol, I can't sleep. If I go without the alcohol for a few hours, I get hand shakes, rapid heart beat, vomiting. I don't have an appetite. I tell people it's my age which has a "shred" of truth. I'm also experiencing bloating. I know I have a problem but haven't been able to face it.
- —Guest Bayard
Worst for me is no appettite
- I've been drinking probably 4-12 beers a day for over 30 years. Always functional, never a problem. Finally got stopped for DUI, decided right then and there, never again. I've quit a couple of times before, but back then had a wife to help me through it. My last wife, and the only one I ever truly loved, left me during a sober stint, and it bummed me out so much I started up again. Four years later, here I am. I am six days sober now cold turkey, only real symptoms are sweaty palms and just am not hungry. It was nearly four days before it even occurred to me that I hadn't eaten! There is booze in the house, but I have no desire to even look at it. That and I am really bored. That was the problem last time too, the boredom. I need to find something else to do.
- —Guest Not Hungry
Sick and Tired Update - Day 4
- Well - it has been a painful and gut wrenching 24 hours. Literally. I went to "urgent" care yesterday after stomach cramps from hell all night and then throwing up green bile yesterday morning. (sorry if TMI) Anyway - the Dr. thinks it was food poisoning. I am wondering if anyone else has had this severe of a reaction after quitting? I mean it seriously felt like I was going to have a baby those cramps were so bad! I am now holding down clear liquids, which is awesome. If this was not food poisoning, and was withdrawal symptoms - oh wow. I am never going to go through that again! Oh, and no cigarettes in the past 24 hours either. Has anyone here heard of a "herxheimer" reaction - and if it relates to alcohol and nicotine withdrawal? Sorry for being so scattered in my thoughts, I must be having a "mind is racing" episode. Just glad to be alive today! Best to you all - and hang in there!
- —Guest Sick_and_Tired
Admire all you
- Reading these messages I admire all of you who are going through this and not giving up. I have been a heavy drinker for almost 30 years and have not had any alcohol in 7 weeks now. I did not have some of these very difficult withdrawal symptoms that some of you had and I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but don't give up because you are courageous and strong and if you don't succeed at first don't give up trying. Quitting is hard! And sometimes it will take practice to get it right, just like everything else in life. My panic attacks are getting worse and worse. Did anyone else find that? On Monday they lasted all day and it was exhausting. My eyes were sore from crying for 16 hours. Some things that helped me: the first couple of days, near beer with hot sauce, hot milk with a teaspoon of vanilla extract (not appropriate for folks that cannot tolerate any alcohol as both these have very small amounts), Apple cranberry herb tea, very hot, good books, spoiling the pets.
- —Guest Allie
A slap in my face
- I am 47 years old. I started drinking in college. Met the most wonderful woman four years ago. Been living with her for two years. Got to the point I would stay in the garage after work tinkering and drinking. I would come up drunk, she would withdraw. The more she withdrew, the longer I stayed in the garage. I was drinking 12+ beers a night. My blood pressure is very high despite five pills every morning. I was sweating and hand tremors every morning. Face was always red. Five weeks ago we separated and who knows what will happen. I tried to tell myself I could slow down. A good personal friend is an alcohol conselor and suggested a limit each day. It worked but I really think it was just slowly dragging out the inevitable. I realize now it destroyed my marriage. Day two here. Who knows what day three + will bring? Right now losing my wife and marriage hurts 10 times as much. I have lost 32 lbs in five weeks from no appiette and worry. I hate what I let alcohol do to me.
- —ALMSM
4 days sober
- I usually drink a few glasses of wine which turned in to a bottle every other night. I started putting on weight. I look really puffy and always feel bad. I got tired off it. I stopped Monday> I don't feel bad just know I can't do this any more. I am having problems sleeping, but other than that I'm fine, thank God.
- —Guest loving life
Who Knew - Add
- Just an add to the pain of hot poisonous blood running through my veins, and those invisible ants another post mentioned. One Tylenol PM and rocking slightly back and forth in bed took my mind off focusing on the pain, and allowed me to get to sleep last night. I really though this was for 80 proof, gallon a day drinkers. Boy was I wrong!
- —Guest had no idea
Who Knew
- For the past two years I have been drinking the equivalent of 1, sometimes 2, bottles of wine (or (beer or hard alcohol) most nights. A couple months ago I drank much less than normal and awoke to pain all through my body, like hot poisonous blood running through my veins at 2 am. My heart pounding, maybe even a heart attack. I had to stay home from work for 2 days as I thought I must have food poisoning from tomatoes (but no vomiting). I lay awake in bed for 16 hours praying for God to take the pain away. Since it was food poisoning I continued my habit once well. Then it happened again two nights ago (not near as bad). I got up and looked up the symptoms and found this site. I began to cry and pray. I had no idea I was physically addicted. Two days dry and now struggling to accept the reality of it all. Not another drink for the rest of my life? These stories scare the crap out of me. Thank you for them. Time to be the mother and example to my 2 year old that I wish I had.
- —Guest had no idea
Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired
- Woman, age 48. Started drinking 30 years ago. Past decade has been at least a six pack of MGD a night, usually more. I am a smoker also. I finally have reached the point where I do believe that the fun "Party Girl" is now officially considered a tired old DRUNK. I am an alcoholic. I am on day 2 of not drinking. I have had 2 cigarettes in the past two days - can't quit everything at once, but am really trying to quit smoking as well. Symptoms: Dehydration, Low back ache, eating a LOT (must be not smoking winning the food battle here?) stomach pains off and on, head feels strange, and tired as can be. I hope to put an end to this foolish lifestyle I have been leading for good this time. You can't win if you don't enter. Good luck to everyone else out there who is batteling their demons.
- —Guest Sick_and_Tired
Day 3
- The first day wasn't bad - some anxiety and wretching in my guts. Day 2 was terrible. I barely made it through work That night I went to the clinic. They said I was doing pretty well gave me a script for Adivant. Now I feel a whole lot better, but I'm really tired. Funny thing is I never really thought I had it that bad but boy do I know now! Best of luck to everyone in their recovery.
- —Guest big don
It's time
- Day 2 here. This is awful. The shakes have subsided a bit and was able to eat this morning. Lost my job cause I passed out drunk at work (again). Have no health insurance and have allowed drinking to force me to declare bankruptcy to clear the huge credit debts I can't pay. I went on a huge bender over the weekend, then had one beer yesterday and vomited blood. I then passed out shaking and having panic attacks. I can't live this way anymore, It's destroying my life and my sanity. I take Zoloft but not sure if it's going help me through this. I am going to join AA and also resume my addiction counseling. Glad I found this website, best of luck to everyone!
- —here_it_goes
Hallucinations and Pink Elephants too
- I'm a 45-year-old woman that has had a drinking problem for 22 years. I'm a binge drinker so the "normal" withdrawals I knew how to deal with. This last binge I ended up doing drugs as well and went through hell for the next 36 hours. At first I didn't even KNOW I was hallucinating, I thought there really were people trying to break into my home, I heard voices in the vents and started looking for the "people" who were hiding in my house. Then there were all the really cute birds and cats and bunny's in my back yard the next day. At that point I began to understand what I was seeing was not there. Now three days later I understand this extremly serious, I could have hurt myself or if out in public maybe someone else. I have never been "out of my mind" before. Back to AA for me, this is not a game to me anymore. I need help. Lucky I didn't get locked up somewhere.
- —1oregonlady
Almost died
- I've struggled with alcoholism for 35 years. It's cost me marriages and money. The worst withdrawal bout I had was in Hawaii and I almost didn't make it. I drank 2 half gallons of vodka and was so sick my friends wanted to call an ambulance. I eventually did go into a program. And for a couple of years my life got real good again until I thought I could start drinking again and control it. Now my life is in the dumps again.I'm thinking of going back to the program I finished before. Well good luck to all out there who are suffering with this problem.
- —Guest pancho
Alcohol is a horrible drug.
- I am struggling with the alcohol withdrawals right now. Headache, fever, general just feeling like crap. I drank a few tall boys and like 8 or 9 shots of vodka last night and I told myself it is the last time I touch the stuff. My doctor has given me Librium for the withdrawals, It helps a lot. I wish everyone here good luck because I know we need it.
- —Guest Kenny
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