have not drank since Wednesday morning...late last night i was feeling very odd. I see colors that arent there or if they are there, they are a different color. I was flipping through a book last night and swore i could see yellow highlight on some of the pages, but they werent there. Ive also been confused about what day it is. I was unprepared for being like this. I thought i might get a cold sweat and be on edge for a couple days, but not this. How long will this last exactly? Im sure it varies, but i cannot be hallucinating with dilated pupils for my French final on Monday! Thanks for listening guys. I will keep coming back and read your sage advice.
Dodsworth
Hey Dodsworth congratulations on 36 hours. I am so glad to know you are giving sobriety a chance. The colors you speak of ,I used to get them when I had a bad hangover. I used to see red blotches on the road when I was driving or on the floor etc, The strange thing is I didn't have that with the withdrawal when I came off the booze. Actually I didn't even think about that until your posts reminded me.Maybe it will go away in a day or so.Withdrawal for me was the shakes,skin crawling,nausea,off balance ,weird dreams and lets not forget the horrible powerful cravings. Be prepared for the cravings ,that is when you are going to need your strength and will power. They do however subside and eventually go away.Oh and stay away from mouthwash or anything that has alcohol as an ingredient in it because it can bring on even more cravings. Even some toothpaste has alcohol in it. I know about the mouthwash because I learned the hard way of what kind of cravings it can bring on. Please check ingredients on some things before you buy. Wish I could be of more help but probably others on here have experienced it in withdrawal. I am so happy for you that you have gone 36 hours without booze. It's a good start. keep adding up those hours and before you know it you will have a week ,then 2 then 3 and on and on. Be proud of your decision. You owe it to yourself to live life to the fullest and that can't be done through a bottle. God bless dodsworth and take care and good luck.
Hi Dodsworth,
Your more than likely will not feel good. Feel odd even flu like symptoms during the first 5 days. The acute phase is 3-5 days. Yes, I saw weird colors, diarrhea, nausea, shaky, heart racing, elevated blood pressure, I even puked, I was really cold at times. I was pretty irritable, anxiety and depressed. You will have to ride the storm out to get to the sunny days that are waiting for you. If it gets worse get to the ER immediately.
Your body, brain are slowly, but surely are beginning to heal. Congrats, on your first 36+ hours. Keep it up! Don't put more poison in your body. Alcohol is poison, ethyl like gasoline. As us alcoholics have a physical allergy and mental obsession. Once we start we can't stop. The craving begins, we have to have more poison.
Try eating some protein and keep chocolate, or candies around. Sugar is very high in alcohol and your body is missing it. Drink water, lots of it. Flush out and cleanse. Are you taking any vitamins and minerals? Did you go to a meeting last night with your friend? Get to another one asap. Or do re-hab. I did out patient re-hab.
There are many folks who can get sober on their own. There is no wrong way to get sober. As for myself and many others we needed help from a power greater then ourselves. AA is a spiritual program not a religious one. I tried with my own strength and will power to get and stay sober. It didn't work for myself for any great amount of time. I'm not saying you don't have a choice at all times to stay away from that first drink. But, my best thinking was keeping me drunk.
If you have a problem with the HP thing go read dsam's post on Pain Pill board. Started by Mjer, titled back in the game. She uses a really good analogy, metaphor to describe to agnostics, atheists how to find something more powerful then ones self.
Also on the pp forum started by Angela, titled Is there anything else. Bullwinkle1011 posts hits the nail on the head in my opinion. I've been to Smart recovery meetings as well. They are good for CBT and practicing mindfulness. I've met some 12 steppers there to. However, for myself it was my HP who restored my sanity, removed the obsession to drink. I still have thoughts sometimes and occasional cravings. But, I know what to do with them and I usually know why one came about. They leave really fast. But, I'm no longer obsessing about it! There was a time I thought about alcohol 24/7, I'm not joking.
Know that if you honestly want your life back, there is a way back to sanity. God knows if a hopeless case like I was can make it back from the brinks of what I call a living hell. You can to. If you want it and are honestly willing to get into action where the solutions can be found and applied to your life.
I hope you call your friend and get to a meeting. You can ride out the Shi**y way you feel, but your going to probably need to work on that thinking problem. If your already passing French with C just think you can't be that dumb.
You can do this Dodsworth, your not a hopeless case. Sending you some positive energy from the Great Pacific North West. Please let us know how your doing. I usually don't post on the weekends, but I'll check the board to see how your doing. I think Val is out of town. She is another good one as is everyone else here to get support and advice from.
Remember you only have to not drink today, this hour this minute. It's 24- program. Don't drink even if you a** falls off and sit on your hands if you have to.
Good Luck, on Monday with your French test! Let us know how else we can be of service to you Adam
Take Care Of You! First Things First! Easy Does It!
Chris
Your more than likely will not feel good. Feel odd even flu like symptoms during the first 5 days. The acute phase is 3-5 days. Yes, I saw weird colors, diarrhea, nausea, shaky, heart racing, elevated blood pressure, I even puked, I was really cold at times. I was pretty irritable, anxiety and depressed. You will have to ride the storm out to get to the sunny days that are waiting for you. If it gets worse get to the ER immediately.
Your body, brain are slowly, but surely are beginning to heal. Congrats, on your first 36+ hours. Keep it up! Don't put more poison in your body. Alcohol is poison, ethyl like gasoline. As us alcoholics have a physical allergy and mental obsession. Once we start we can't stop. The craving begins, we have to have more poison.
Try eating some protein and keep chocolate, or candies around. Sugar is very high in alcohol and your body is missing it. Drink water, lots of it. Flush out and cleanse. Are you taking any vitamins and minerals? Did you go to a meeting last night with your friend? Get to another one asap. Or do re-hab. I did out patient re-hab.
There are many folks who can get sober on their own. There is no wrong way to get sober. As for myself and many others we needed help from a power greater then ourselves. AA is a spiritual program not a religious one. I tried with my own strength and will power to get and stay sober. It didn't work for myself for any great amount of time. I'm not saying you don't have a choice at all times to stay away from that first drink. But, my best thinking was keeping me drunk.
If you have a problem with the HP thing go read dsam's post on Pain Pill board. Started by Mjer, titled back in the game. She uses a really good analogy, metaphor to describe to agnostics, atheists how to find something more powerful then ones self.
Also on the pp forum started by Angela, titled Is there anything else. Bullwinkle1011 posts hits the nail on the head in my opinion. I've been to Smart recovery meetings as well. They are good for CBT and practicing mindfulness. I've met some 12 steppers there to. However, for myself it was my HP who restored my sanity, removed the obsession to drink. I still have thoughts sometimes and occasional cravings. But, I know what to do with them and I usually know why one came about. They leave really fast. But, I'm no longer obsessing about it! There was a time I thought about alcohol 24/7, I'm not joking.
Know that if you honestly want your life back, there is a way back to sanity. God knows if a hopeless case like I was can make it back from the brinks of what I call a living hell. You can to. If you want it and are honestly willing to get into action where the solutions can be found and applied to your life.
I hope you call your friend and get to a meeting. You can ride out the Shi**y way you feel, but your going to probably need to work on that thinking problem. If your already passing French with C just think you can't be that dumb.
You can do this Dodsworth, your not a hopeless case. Sending you some positive energy from the Great Pacific North West. Please let us know how your doing. I usually don't post on the weekends, but I'll check the board to see how your doing. I think Val is out of town. She is another good one as is everyone else here to get support and advice from.
Remember you only have to not drink today, this hour this minute. It's 24- program. Don't drink even if you a** falls off and sit on your hands if you have to.
Good Luck, on Monday with your French test! Let us know how else we can be of service to you Adam
Take Care Of You! First Things First! Easy Does It!
Chris
Dodsworth,
There was one more thing I wanted to share with you before I sign off for the day.
I really didn't like it for along time when people said I had a thinking problem and thats what was keeping me drunk.
I'm smart a** who likes to think I know it all. But, when I reached the jumping off point. That means can't live with, or without alcohol. I had to asses myself. Perhaps all these other people knew something I didn't. After all they had figured out how to stay sober and I hadn't.
My best thinking was effecting my behavior, which was keeping me drunk. AA along with other recovery tools I've chosen. Tested and tried. Tossed some and kept some. AA has provided myself with steps of action that lead to a new set of thinking skills. These new thinking skills have a direct effect on how I choose to react to life. Which then has direct effect on my behavior.
I'm just sharing with you the message of hope that was freely shared with me. I hope something clicks in your head.
Have the best, as possible sober evening. Try to be positive as attitude is a big part of success in recovery. Remember millions have gone through what your experiencing. You can do this to. You can be successful. One day at a time.
Think Recovery,
Chris
There was one more thing I wanted to share with you before I sign off for the day.
I really didn't like it for along time when people said I had a thinking problem and thats what was keeping me drunk.
I'm smart a** who likes to think I know it all. But, when I reached the jumping off point. That means can't live with, or without alcohol. I had to asses myself. Perhaps all these other people knew something I didn't. After all they had figured out how to stay sober and I hadn't.
My best thinking was effecting my behavior, which was keeping me drunk. AA along with other recovery tools I've chosen. Tested and tried. Tossed some and kept some. AA has provided myself with steps of action that lead to a new set of thinking skills. These new thinking skills have a direct effect on how I choose to react to life. Which then has direct effect on my behavior.
I'm just sharing with you the message of hope that was freely shared with me. I hope something clicks in your head.
Have the best, as possible sober evening. Try to be positive as attitude is a big part of success in recovery. Remember millions have gone through what your experiencing. You can do this to. You can be successful. One day at a time.
Think Recovery,
Chris
Hey Dodsworth just checking in to see if you posted last night and how you are doing. Just want you to know that I am thinking of you and hoping that the withdrawal symptoms aren't too bad for you. Hang in there buddy,you can do it.God bless and take care.
Hey Dodsworth,
Well done you. You're surrounded by sages here, some of them are pains in the arse but unquestionably sage.....lol....so keep listening and letting your better self guide the way by taking away from each post what you need right now to enable you to do the next right thing........that's what brought you here and that's what's going to help you create for yourself the beautiful life you deserve.
Best wishes,
Martin
Well done you. You're surrounded by sages here, some of them are pains in the arse but unquestionably sage.....lol....so keep listening and letting your better self guide the way by taking away from each post what you need right now to enable you to do the next right thing........that's what brought you here and that's what's going to help you create for yourself the beautiful life you deserve.
Best wishes,
Martin
