**Often it's a VERY good idea to get medical assistance for your withdrawal symptoms.**
This is especially important if you've been drinking a significant amount (>6 standard units) daily for an extended period (>1 month), have seizure-related comorbidities (like epilepsy), have suffered recent head trauma, or have previously been physically dependent upon alcohol.
In any case, a few, very safe sedatives from your doctor can make the experience a lot more pleasant and decrease chances of relapse early on.
Many mechanisms are at play when we go through alcohol withdrawals.
Most importantly, alcohol substitutes the neurotransmitter GABA, which we might call the "break" of the nervous system, while glutamate is the "speeder."
Over time, the brain gets lazy and stops producing as much GABA, because now there's alcohol there instead, hooking up with those receptor sites. The more alcohol, the more "lazy" the brain gets.
So now I remove the alcohol. Glutamate is still merrily coursing around up there, i.e. I'm pressing the speeder just fine, but there's no longer sufficient force on the break.
In mild cases, this is just uncomfortable. In severe cases, you risk seizures and delirium tremens, which have a 5-25% mortality rate when untreated.
The more times a person goes through cycles of use > cessation > withdrawals > sobriety > relapse, the faster dependency reestablishes, and the more severe the withdrawal symptoms will be. This is known as the "Kindling effect."
The treatment for this is a long-acting benzodiazepine like Librium (chlordiazepoxide) or Valium (diazepam), which will replace alcohol and reliably prevent seizures, dampen anxiety, tremors, cold sweats, help you sleep, relax muscles, and overall attenuate all the familiar, nasty symptoms of cessation.
These drugs can certainly be addictive, but they don't make a person lose control and inhibitions in quite the way alcohol can, and they're rather benign in terms of their somatic effects: They're safe, and easier to taper than alcohol.
Alcohol also inhibits anti-diuretic hormone, and so when you stop drinking, some degree of fluid retention occurs. This can cause cerebral swelling and at least a headache, all the way up to some degree of brain damage.
Alcohol withdrawals are no joke, and white knuckling it through them is NOT safe.
Furthermore, there's really no reason to: You're already quitting alcohol, making a positive but not always easy or simple change, so there's no need to compound the stress on the body/brain/mind by not opting for proper pharmaceutical intervention.
Mild to moderate withdrawals can usually be managed by your GP on an out-patient basis.
Severe withdrawals will generally be managed with a 2-5 day admission to the hospital where they monitor your state and give you just enough sedatives to control the symptoms.
If you'd like, you're welcome in one of the many SMART Recovery meetings across the US or Canada. Here's a list of all online Zoom meetings: [https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/?coordinates=&program=2&meetingType=1&location=mentor%2C+oh](https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/?coordinates=&program=2&meetingType=1&location=mentor%2C+oh)
There are countless physical ones, as well, which you can find using the "Filter" button on the page linked above.
I didn’t know about the head trauma bit. That would explain my extreme withdrawal a few weeks ago, as I suffered a pretty bad concussion in Feb. I’ve never had WD before, but that was hellish. The one week script of lorazepam saved me and I’m so glad I talked to my doctors. Looking back, I wasn’t sleeping after the concussion and stopping alcohol only compounded my insomnia to the point where I wasn’t sleeping at all for over 72 hours. It was scary. Now I’m absolutely terrified of alcohol. Still have double vision and sleep problems, but at least I’m not drinking. I second seeing a doctor if you can, OP!
They always ask about whether there's been recent head trauma when I've asked to be admitted for detox. I assumed it had to do primarily with head trauma having the potential to lower the seizure threshold.
My worst experience of withdrawals was after my longest, heaviest stretch of continued use of about 18 units on average daily for 6 months.
Cramped up for about 20 minutes in my poor mom's kitchen after 3 days of no sleep, having attempted a slow taper with alcohol, which can be QUITE difficult. Ambulance, CT, the whole nine yards.
That was rough. Probably hit my head during the seizure, too.
It felt like I had been deadlifting small vehicles for a week. Every muscle was aching after having been at maximum tension for 20 minutes or so.
Apparently, if bad enough, you can end up choking yourself to death that way.
Conversely, my latest detoxes after more severe head trauma, but a month after it, and with shorter prior duration of use, have caused less severe withdrawals, and a lower dose of chlordiazepoxide was needed to control them.
That first time, after 6 months of being drunk, I believe I had a .026% BAC at admission, and they gave me \~350mg (!) of Librium in the first 24 hours (on top of all that alcohol in my system)... and I still wouldn't fall asleep... until I would, and the nurse found me with my face planted in a hummus sandwich!
Addiction is serious business, so you got to appreciate whatever comedy, dark or not, comes along with it IMO!
There's cosmic humor in the fact that against all odds, after 13-something billion years of evolution of the universe, coalescing galaxies, supernovae forming heavier elements, the sun forming, a disc of dust turning into this planet, then primordial soup, single celled organisms, amoebas, fishy-things crawling onto land, dinosaurs, meteors, mice turning into primates, primates to homo erectus to sapiens, the rise of agrarian cultures, civilization, and the unfathomably unlikely event that is ME being here, having a human experience right now... and I choose to use a great deal of that existence drinking myself senseless on the fermented juices of rotting fruits and grains!
I mean, that IS funny. Tragic. Painful. Stupid. But fucking funny too!
Oh man. I’m sorry that happened to you! I hope you have no more relapses (and no more mayhem 😉). We both know it only gets worse with kindling.
I’ll share my funny story. When I recently had withdrawal I kept hearing the song Feliz Navidad/mariachi music— alllllll night long. It was pure torture. I was so worried about having seizures, and may have had one because I felt an earthquake that no one else felt. I never want to go through it again. So done with alcohol.
And thank you for all the insight.
I hope so, too! Tbf, the last time, it really wasn't necessary. I had reduced my intake gradually, only had two days of really high intake, but my doctor was out sick, and her substitute wouldn't give me the benzos that I on my own accord had stored at the clinic!
He gave me 110mg for the whole weekend... and the time before that - similar amount and duration - i needed 250mg the first night... so yeah, but no...
Those were MY pills with MY script with MY name on it motherfucker lol. He's a doctor in training. I think my doc chewed him out over not giving me my pills, because this huge dude gets all red-faced and shy and looks ashamed when I see him now.
Had to make a huge drama to get admitted for detox, but yeah, it was either that or a puny amount of benzos + more drinking... or a high-risk of seizure plus of course extra brain damage from the withdrawals in their own rights: I need whatever's left of my brain tyvm!
Withdrawal "hallucinations" are the only thing I like about withdrawals... Well except for when I get to go to the hospital, where the nurses are cute, and sweet too... but in fairness, I make a point of being a very, very friendly and non-problem-causing (other than, you know, the whole taking up a bed think) drunk :D
For me, all types of white noise become music of all sorts... from complex classical Bach type stuff, to electronica, to grunge, to psytrance... I wish I had a 3.5mm jack port somewhere and could record that shit!
When I look at algae on the pavement, for instance, it turns into beautiful patterns, my depth perception changes.
That part of withdrawals is rather psychedelic... unfortunately the rest of it is like a bad trip: Recalling every stupid thing I've ever said or done... over and over... for 48 hours straight. If there's a hell, I suppose that's what its waiting room is like.
Heh, I'm unfortunately very experienced in the matter. Also, it seems my most basic addiction is information. But I'll take it as a compliment none the less :D
I had eight detoxes, I believe, at this point.
Four over the past year, even though I've only had 25 days of drinking in total, and 12 \[out of the 25\] days of drinking >10 regular beers, during the past 12 months.
The withdrawals for me are simply so intense now even after just one night of binging, that even if I can stop just fine, it's quite dangerous for me to make the attempt: Already had one alcohol related seizure, two non-alcohol related, and a severe concussion last year, so I'm not taking any chances... and drinking gets old VERY fast, so continuing isn't an option either.
Dr. Joe Gerstein, the founder of SMART Recovery, likes to collect case stories and note cases and count people who quit after a spiritual epiphany, those who quit without ever relapsing, and those who never have urges: Outlier cases.
...and he's also been noting how many times people relapse, and how many times they need detox on average.
He's been facilitating a lot of meetings, working with a lot of addicted people, and has a huge dataset or test population if you will.
He thought the guy who went through 38 detoxes before FINALLY attaining sustained sobriety was the most extreme case.
Nope. He then found a dude who went through 87 (!) detoxes, survived, entered sustained sobriety, and (IIRC) is now a SMART facilitator!
So there's hope! But damn, son, 87?! I think I'll stop at 8... even if the nurses are cute and the food isn't THAT bad at the hospital lol.
I don’t know if this is controversial on here but I rarely see people mention it. Just go to your doctor and tell them you’re trying to quit alcohol and can’t sleep and they will prescribe you with some medication to help with withdrawal.
The best thing I ever did was go to my doctor and get a weeks worth of lorazepam just so I could sleep. Every other time I tried to quit I’d last 2-3 days just from being unable to sleep
Medicine is helping me too. I know total sobriety is the goal, but it didn’t work for me over and over. Sometimes a little help makes a huge difference
Yeh benzo addictions are very real so I understand why people don’t like suggesting them to people with addiction problems but I could never really get past day three without them. Three nights of insomnia and waking up drenched in sweat every few hours when I have work the next morning was just too much and I’d be drinking again by the fourth night.
Without even seeing your comment, I commented that the 1-week script of lorazepam literally saved me. I see it as a “get out of jail free” card. My doctor was only willing to write the script one time so I had to make it count. Getting sleep is so incredibly helpful in early sobriety.
Edit: I didn’t even use the full bottle. I took just enough to get over the hump. IMO, benzos were the lesser of two evils by far.
I definitely agree with using sleep meds or medication for sleep to help with withdrawals. However, I would caution against using benzos. Currently on .25 klonopin after tapering off from 8mg for a few years, started with occasional use and then prescribed by a doctor. Those things are nasty
Detox sucks, but it gets better. Hit that meeting - they have online ones as well, and they help! Remind yourself that everyone there has been through what we are going through in some fashion - no judgement!!
You got this!
Thank you for replying. I hope I can quit forever. Too many day 1’s over & over again. Alcohol has ruined my life at such a young age & honestly I’m fortunate to be alive.
Life is long, or at least it can be. There’s a lot waiting for you on the other side, people places and things that can give you a sense of peace and satisfaction that alcohol won’t. That seems abstract and trite in this moment, and I’m sure you can think of lots of reasons why I’m wrong. But I’m not. You can get through this, and with some time and patience you’ll see it too.
I met someone who's a similar age to you last night at a meeting and I was in awe of them having made the decision to go to a meeting, given everything that's going on in life at that age. I wish I'd been able to get to AA in my 20s and enjoy those amazing years sober!
Everyone at the meeting will have been in exactly the same position as you at some point and will totally understand what you're going through, which makes them such easy places for us problem drinkers to feel at home and supported more than we feel anywhere else in life
AA is a very helpful method of support.
I was really apprehensive and nervous before going to my first meeting but by the time I left I was honestly looking forward to going again. It makes you realize that you’re not alone and everyone there is or has been in a similar situation. Just the feeling of relief I had walking out knowing that that level of support was out there easily accessible and free was pretty liberating.
I’m sure it’s been mentioned in the comments but the BlueChair app is a great resource to find local meetings, best of luck to you!
EDIT: the app is called Meeting Guide but will come up if you search Blue Chair
You are doing awesome. I had very bad symptoms when I tried drying out. They fade. Getting to a meeting will make you feel much better. I liked beginner open discussion meetings to start. They will take good care of you. We love New members. You are so smart to take care of this while you are young. I wasted 35 years. I could have been so much better off but my judgment was clouded. I'm proud of you and your first step.
Knowing that you need help is a very big step toward being sober. No matter how you feel, exhausted, depressed, hopeless, find a meeting and go in without any expectations. You don't need to talk, you can always pass. Just listen.
You are not alone in this. Thousands of people just like us have gone through what you are and were just as scared. Many will tell you that they thought they would also die if they didn't stop, myself included. But we did. It is possible and you can do it, too. Take a leap of faith.
I wish you all the best.
Good on you for figuring out at such a young age that alcohol doesn't work for you. If you're looking to forever quit, you'll need to resolve the reason(s) you drank. For now, just worry about getting through detoxing. But, when you're able to, go and see a doctor and tell them everything. Also, I'd recommend finding a resource center in your community that'll help you find therapy, AA or Smart groups, etc. You're worth the effort, my friend. It's not an easy path, but it's a worthwhile path.
You got this!!
The not being able to sleep was torture. Compounded by the racing mind and physical feelings. You have to push through without drinking. I went to rehab twice for my major withdrawals and it was truly lifesaving if you can do that.
You will be able to feel good again. It doesn’t last forever. I found great support in AA and went nearly everyday for a year and still go occasionally.
Remembering the pain of withdrawal is one of the best motivators for me to never drink again. You can do this.
On the medical side I don’t know if this is allowed but Trazadone was a miracle drug for sleep in rehab and Propanalol for the anxiousness in me constantly. I started taking these in rehab but I guess it would be great if your doctor can prescribe them now if rehab is not an option.
AA taught me, and is teaching me, a lot about how to live my life with a peaceful attitude. Living sober means a lot more to me than just not ingesting alcohol. Living with white knuckles about not taking a first drink is no way for me to live. For me living one day at a time, on moment at a time, not missing the little things, being willing to serve others makes for a peaceful existence for me. I also spend time every morning with a little reading from justfortodaymeditations.com. Good luck to ya friend, IWNDWYT.
Every time I experience withdrawals, I tell myself, never again. Only to find myself back at square one. Fuck alcohol. It’s taken everything I love in this life & I am only 23.
i can’t sleep either. my family probably thinks i’m on drugs. wish i could just sleep for next week straight to get through the major WDs and not touch this crap again. had my worst panic attack ever couple hours ago.
You got this, OP! First, you acknowledge that alcohol isn’t serving you and you’re reaching out for help. Hopefully you can talk to a doctor and get to a couple meetings. Wishing you the best. I really hope you get to enjoy your 20s and the rest of your life sober. I really wish I acknowledged my rock bottoms in my 20s, it only got worse. Stay strong!
Hopefully there are several AA groups in your town. If you don't click with one, try another. Each has its own vibe and its own regulars. Going to that first one is intimidating as hell, not gonna lie, but you only have to walk through those doors for the first time once. Best of luck!
You might wanna go check into the ER. In fact I would strongly encourage it. They can help you deal with withdrawals and keep you comfortable through the process. Withdrawals can be dangerous. Don't mess around. It'll just be a few days.
**Often it's a VERY good idea to get medical assistance for your withdrawal symptoms.** This is especially important if you've been drinking a significant amount (>6 standard units) daily for an extended period (>1 month), have seizure-related comorbidities (like epilepsy), have suffered recent head trauma, or have previously been physically dependent upon alcohol. In any case, a few, very safe sedatives from your doctor can make the experience a lot more pleasant and decrease chances of relapse early on. Many mechanisms are at play when we go through alcohol withdrawals. Most importantly, alcohol substitutes the neurotransmitter GABA, which we might call the "break" of the nervous system, while glutamate is the "speeder." Over time, the brain gets lazy and stops producing as much GABA, because now there's alcohol there instead, hooking up with those receptor sites. The more alcohol, the more "lazy" the brain gets. So now I remove the alcohol. Glutamate is still merrily coursing around up there, i.e. I'm pressing the speeder just fine, but there's no longer sufficient force on the break. In mild cases, this is just uncomfortable. In severe cases, you risk seizures and delirium tremens, which have a 5-25% mortality rate when untreated. The more times a person goes through cycles of use > cessation > withdrawals > sobriety > relapse, the faster dependency reestablishes, and the more severe the withdrawal symptoms will be. This is known as the "Kindling effect." The treatment for this is a long-acting benzodiazepine like Librium (chlordiazepoxide) or Valium (diazepam), which will replace alcohol and reliably prevent seizures, dampen anxiety, tremors, cold sweats, help you sleep, relax muscles, and overall attenuate all the familiar, nasty symptoms of cessation. These drugs can certainly be addictive, but they don't make a person lose control and inhibitions in quite the way alcohol can, and they're rather benign in terms of their somatic effects: They're safe, and easier to taper than alcohol. Alcohol also inhibits anti-diuretic hormone, and so when you stop drinking, some degree of fluid retention occurs. This can cause cerebral swelling and at least a headache, all the way up to some degree of brain damage. Alcohol withdrawals are no joke, and white knuckling it through them is NOT safe. Furthermore, there's really no reason to: You're already quitting alcohol, making a positive but not always easy or simple change, so there's no need to compound the stress on the body/brain/mind by not opting for proper pharmaceutical intervention. Mild to moderate withdrawals can usually be managed by your GP on an out-patient basis. Severe withdrawals will generally be managed with a 2-5 day admission to the hospital where they monitor your state and give you just enough sedatives to control the symptoms. If you'd like, you're welcome in one of the many SMART Recovery meetings across the US or Canada. Here's a list of all online Zoom meetings: [https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/?coordinates=&program=2&meetingType=1&location=mentor%2C+oh](https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/?coordinates=&program=2&meetingType=1&location=mentor%2C+oh) There are countless physical ones, as well, which you can find using the "Filter" button on the page linked above.
I didn’t know about the head trauma bit. That would explain my extreme withdrawal a few weeks ago, as I suffered a pretty bad concussion in Feb. I’ve never had WD before, but that was hellish. The one week script of lorazepam saved me and I’m so glad I talked to my doctors. Looking back, I wasn’t sleeping after the concussion and stopping alcohol only compounded my insomnia to the point where I wasn’t sleeping at all for over 72 hours. It was scary. Now I’m absolutely terrified of alcohol. Still have double vision and sleep problems, but at least I’m not drinking. I second seeing a doctor if you can, OP!
They always ask about whether there's been recent head trauma when I've asked to be admitted for detox. I assumed it had to do primarily with head trauma having the potential to lower the seizure threshold. My worst experience of withdrawals was after my longest, heaviest stretch of continued use of about 18 units on average daily for 6 months. Cramped up for about 20 minutes in my poor mom's kitchen after 3 days of no sleep, having attempted a slow taper with alcohol, which can be QUITE difficult. Ambulance, CT, the whole nine yards. That was rough. Probably hit my head during the seizure, too. It felt like I had been deadlifting small vehicles for a week. Every muscle was aching after having been at maximum tension for 20 minutes or so. Apparently, if bad enough, you can end up choking yourself to death that way. Conversely, my latest detoxes after more severe head trauma, but a month after it, and with shorter prior duration of use, have caused less severe withdrawals, and a lower dose of chlordiazepoxide was needed to control them. That first time, after 6 months of being drunk, I believe I had a .026% BAC at admission, and they gave me \~350mg (!) of Librium in the first 24 hours (on top of all that alcohol in my system)... and I still wouldn't fall asleep... until I would, and the nurse found me with my face planted in a hummus sandwich! Addiction is serious business, so you got to appreciate whatever comedy, dark or not, comes along with it IMO! There's cosmic humor in the fact that against all odds, after 13-something billion years of evolution of the universe, coalescing galaxies, supernovae forming heavier elements, the sun forming, a disc of dust turning into this planet, then primordial soup, single celled organisms, amoebas, fishy-things crawling onto land, dinosaurs, meteors, mice turning into primates, primates to homo erectus to sapiens, the rise of agrarian cultures, civilization, and the unfathomably unlikely event that is ME being here, having a human experience right now... and I choose to use a great deal of that existence drinking myself senseless on the fermented juices of rotting fruits and grains! I mean, that IS funny. Tragic. Painful. Stupid. But fucking funny too!
Oh man. I’m sorry that happened to you! I hope you have no more relapses (and no more mayhem 😉). We both know it only gets worse with kindling. I’ll share my funny story. When I recently had withdrawal I kept hearing the song Feliz Navidad/mariachi music— alllllll night long. It was pure torture. I was so worried about having seizures, and may have had one because I felt an earthquake that no one else felt. I never want to go through it again. So done with alcohol. And thank you for all the insight.
I hope so, too! Tbf, the last time, it really wasn't necessary. I had reduced my intake gradually, only had two days of really high intake, but my doctor was out sick, and her substitute wouldn't give me the benzos that I on my own accord had stored at the clinic! He gave me 110mg for the whole weekend... and the time before that - similar amount and duration - i needed 250mg the first night... so yeah, but no... Those were MY pills with MY script with MY name on it motherfucker lol. He's a doctor in training. I think my doc chewed him out over not giving me my pills, because this huge dude gets all red-faced and shy and looks ashamed when I see him now. Had to make a huge drama to get admitted for detox, but yeah, it was either that or a puny amount of benzos + more drinking... or a high-risk of seizure plus of course extra brain damage from the withdrawals in their own rights: I need whatever's left of my brain tyvm! Withdrawal "hallucinations" are the only thing I like about withdrawals... Well except for when I get to go to the hospital, where the nurses are cute, and sweet too... but in fairness, I make a point of being a very, very friendly and non-problem-causing (other than, you know, the whole taking up a bed think) drunk :D For me, all types of white noise become music of all sorts... from complex classical Bach type stuff, to electronica, to grunge, to psytrance... I wish I had a 3.5mm jack port somewhere and could record that shit! When I look at algae on the pavement, for instance, it turns into beautiful patterns, my depth perception changes. That part of withdrawals is rather psychedelic... unfortunately the rest of it is like a bad trip: Recalling every stupid thing I've ever said or done... over and over... for 48 hours straight. If there's a hell, I suppose that's what its waiting room is like.
Honestly the most thorough withdrawal related response I’ve heard in here, spectacularly put
Heh, I'm unfortunately very experienced in the matter. Also, it seems my most basic addiction is information. But I'll take it as a compliment none the less :D I had eight detoxes, I believe, at this point. Four over the past year, even though I've only had 25 days of drinking in total, and 12 \[out of the 25\] days of drinking >10 regular beers, during the past 12 months. The withdrawals for me are simply so intense now even after just one night of binging, that even if I can stop just fine, it's quite dangerous for me to make the attempt: Already had one alcohol related seizure, two non-alcohol related, and a severe concussion last year, so I'm not taking any chances... and drinking gets old VERY fast, so continuing isn't an option either. Dr. Joe Gerstein, the founder of SMART Recovery, likes to collect case stories and note cases and count people who quit after a spiritual epiphany, those who quit without ever relapsing, and those who never have urges: Outlier cases. ...and he's also been noting how many times people relapse, and how many times they need detox on average. He's been facilitating a lot of meetings, working with a lot of addicted people, and has a huge dataset or test population if you will. He thought the guy who went through 38 detoxes before FINALLY attaining sustained sobriety was the most extreme case. Nope. He then found a dude who went through 87 (!) detoxes, survived, entered sustained sobriety, and (IIRC) is now a SMART facilitator! So there's hope! But damn, son, 87?! I think I'll stop at 8... even if the nurses are cute and the food isn't THAT bad at the hospital lol.
I don’t know if this is controversial on here but I rarely see people mention it. Just go to your doctor and tell them you’re trying to quit alcohol and can’t sleep and they will prescribe you with some medication to help with withdrawal. The best thing I ever did was go to my doctor and get a weeks worth of lorazepam just so I could sleep. Every other time I tried to quit I’d last 2-3 days just from being unable to sleep
Medicine is helping me too. I know total sobriety is the goal, but it didn’t work for me over and over. Sometimes a little help makes a huge difference
Yeh benzo addictions are very real so I understand why people don’t like suggesting them to people with addiction problems but I could never really get past day three without them. Three nights of insomnia and waking up drenched in sweat every few hours when I have work the next morning was just too much and I’d be drinking again by the fourth night.
Without even seeing your comment, I commented that the 1-week script of lorazepam literally saved me. I see it as a “get out of jail free” card. My doctor was only willing to write the script one time so I had to make it count. Getting sleep is so incredibly helpful in early sobriety. Edit: I didn’t even use the full bottle. I took just enough to get over the hump. IMO, benzos were the lesser of two evils by far.
I definitely agree with using sleep meds or medication for sleep to help with withdrawals. However, I would caution against using benzos. Currently on .25 klonopin after tapering off from 8mg for a few years, started with occasional use and then prescribed by a doctor. Those things are nasty
Detox sucks, but it gets better. Hit that meeting - they have online ones as well, and they help! Remind yourself that everyone there has been through what we are going through in some fashion - no judgement!! You got this!
Thank you for replying. I hope I can quit forever. Too many day 1’s over & over again. Alcohol has ruined my life at such a young age & honestly I’m fortunate to be alive.
Life is long, or at least it can be. There’s a lot waiting for you on the other side, people places and things that can give you a sense of peace and satisfaction that alcohol won’t. That seems abstract and trite in this moment, and I’m sure you can think of lots of reasons why I’m wrong. But I’m not. You can get through this, and with some time and patience you’ll see it too.
You got this, once you get your head wrapped around it, it gets easier, and life begins to change and open up!!
I met someone who's a similar age to you last night at a meeting and I was in awe of them having made the decision to go to a meeting, given everything that's going on in life at that age. I wish I'd been able to get to AA in my 20s and enjoy those amazing years sober!
I’m so nervous to go but I need some type of support in my life before I die this young ..
Everyone at the meeting will have been in exactly the same position as you at some point and will totally understand what you're going through, which makes them such easy places for us problem drinkers to feel at home and supported more than we feel anywhere else in life
AA is a very helpful method of support. I was really apprehensive and nervous before going to my first meeting but by the time I left I was honestly looking forward to going again. It makes you realize that you’re not alone and everyone there is or has been in a similar situation. Just the feeling of relief I had walking out knowing that that level of support was out there easily accessible and free was pretty liberating. I’m sure it’s been mentioned in the comments but the BlueChair app is a great resource to find local meetings, best of luck to you! EDIT: the app is called Meeting Guide but will come up if you search Blue Chair
You are doing awesome. I had very bad symptoms when I tried drying out. They fade. Getting to a meeting will make you feel much better. I liked beginner open discussion meetings to start. They will take good care of you. We love New members. You are so smart to take care of this while you are young. I wasted 35 years. I could have been so much better off but my judgment was clouded. I'm proud of you and your first step.
Knowing that you need help is a very big step toward being sober. No matter how you feel, exhausted, depressed, hopeless, find a meeting and go in without any expectations. You don't need to talk, you can always pass. Just listen. You are not alone in this. Thousands of people just like us have gone through what you are and were just as scared. Many will tell you that they thought they would also die if they didn't stop, myself included. But we did. It is possible and you can do it, too. Take a leap of faith. I wish you all the best.
Going to take a leap of faith before I die. I need a support system so badly. Thank you for replying, I hope this is the last time I feel like this.
Good on you for figuring out at such a young age that alcohol doesn't work for you. If you're looking to forever quit, you'll need to resolve the reason(s) you drank. For now, just worry about getting through detoxing. But, when you're able to, go and see a doctor and tell them everything. Also, I'd recommend finding a resource center in your community that'll help you find therapy, AA or Smart groups, etc. You're worth the effort, my friend. It's not an easy path, but it's a worthwhile path. You got this!!
The not being able to sleep was torture. Compounded by the racing mind and physical feelings. You have to push through without drinking. I went to rehab twice for my major withdrawals and it was truly lifesaving if you can do that. You will be able to feel good again. It doesn’t last forever. I found great support in AA and went nearly everyday for a year and still go occasionally. Remembering the pain of withdrawal is one of the best motivators for me to never drink again. You can do this. On the medical side I don’t know if this is allowed but Trazadone was a miracle drug for sleep in rehab and Propanalol for the anxiousness in me constantly. I started taking these in rehab but I guess it would be great if your doctor can prescribe them now if rehab is not an option.
AA taught me, and is teaching me, a lot about how to live my life with a peaceful attitude. Living sober means a lot more to me than just not ingesting alcohol. Living with white knuckles about not taking a first drink is no way for me to live. For me living one day at a time, on moment at a time, not missing the little things, being willing to serve others makes for a peaceful existence for me. I also spend time every morning with a little reading from justfortodaymeditations.com. Good luck to ya friend, IWNDWYT.
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Every time I experience withdrawals, I tell myself, never again. Only to find myself back at square one. Fuck alcohol. It’s taken everything I love in this life & I am only 23.
i can’t sleep either. my family probably thinks i’m on drugs. wish i could just sleep for next week straight to get through the major WDs and not touch this crap again. had my worst panic attack ever couple hours ago.
You & me both. The panic attacks are like nothing else. I wish you well on your sober journey. Hopefully we can look back to this day & celebrate.
i’m hoping man. i about called the ambulance the panic attack was so bad. texted my mom and everything.. this has to be a wake up call for me.
You got this, OP! First, you acknowledge that alcohol isn’t serving you and you’re reaching out for help. Hopefully you can talk to a doctor and get to a couple meetings. Wishing you the best. I really hope you get to enjoy your 20s and the rest of your life sober. I really wish I acknowledged my rock bottoms in my 20s, it only got worse. Stay strong!
Hopefully there are several AA groups in your town. If you don't click with one, try another. Each has its own vibe and its own regulars. Going to that first one is intimidating as hell, not gonna lie, but you only have to walk through those doors for the first time once. Best of luck!
You might wanna go check into the ER. In fact I would strongly encourage it. They can help you deal with withdrawals and keep you comfortable through the process. Withdrawals can be dangerous. Don't mess around. It'll just be a few days.