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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mattsit on August 3, 2004, at 7:04:40
Help!
Has anyone else expierenced this? I am now 26. From age 21 to 24 I drank heavily....probably 30-40 drinks a week. At 24 I stopped. Now it seems if I drink even 10-15 drinks a week, and then stop drinking, for the next 3 days after that I am incredibly anxious. Guilt over past wrongs creep up, and I find my mind racing wildy.
It seems to go away after 4-5 days. Is this a normal thing, having to do with alcohol withdrawal?
Posted by partlycloudy on August 4, 2004, at 19:42:36
In reply to Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious, posted by mattsit on August 3, 2004, at 7:04:40
For me the withdrawl was mostly physical. The anxiety and guilt are spiritual responses - and they are not all bad. If it results in you taking a closer look at yourself, then that's a good thing! I'm 42, so I have a head start on you : ) Are you seeing a therapist or getting any other treatment for anything?
pc
Posted by DrunkTone on August 5, 2004, at 19:34:08
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious » mattsit, posted by partlycloudy on August 4, 2004, at 19:42:36
That is wicked normal. The anxiety is part of the flood of stimulant-like neurotransmitters flooding your body during withdrawl. They are the same little chemicals causing the lack of sleep, flushing, jitters, and rapid heartbeat you are prolly feeling as well.
Partlycloudy is dead on. These are good things if they get you thinkin'. If you need help, or just wonder if you do, talk to a therapist or go to an AA meeting. Just listen. Make up your own mind.
I wish you the best, friend.
Posted by mattsit on August 9, 2004, at 16:14:44
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious, posted by DrunkTone on August 5, 2004, at 19:34:08
Yeah, thanks guys. Im checking back in. Its odd. I drank heavy two weeks ago (3-5 drinks for 5 days straight after work, weekend). Last monday it hit me like a ton of bricks. Anxiety, worry, scared to go home, scared to not be home....contradictory worries! Then, like a charm, thursday rolled around and I was embarrassed I felt that way monday-wednesday, because I realized everything i was worried about was ridiculous and not real problems. I probably shouldnt drink ever I've realized, but its really tough at a picnic or party or something.
Posted by RH on August 26, 2004, at 23:47:53
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious, posted by mattsit on August 9, 2004, at 16:14:44
"It's tough not to drink at picnics or parties"
I used to have that issue. Especially if I was being dragged to an event I didn't want to be at. That fuzzy warm feeling from the alcohol numbed the resentment I felt at having to do something against my nature.
Here's a little something to help you stop drinking: Drinking is for stupid people.
Did that help?
See, drinking is a response to stress. Lab rats have proven this, but really, this has been known since before the rat tests. Identify the stress, deal with it, and the thought to drink goes away.
I love my booze free mind now. I have clarity like never before. How foggy I was when I was drinking 7-10 beers/week.
I say live everyday like you will have to repeat it endlessly. So if you want to be eternally foggy, drink, else, don't drink.
RH
Posted by partlycloudy on August 27, 2004, at 6:39:10
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious, posted by RH on August 26, 2004, at 23:47:53
You give this advice as if it's a choice. As an alcoholic, I can tell you that it is not that simple, at least, not for me.
Posted by SAW on August 27, 2004, at 7:27:48
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious » RH, posted by partlycloudy on August 27, 2004, at 6:39:10
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 27, 2004, at 10:41:21
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious, posted by RH on August 26, 2004, at 23:47:53
> Here's a little something to help you stop drinking: Drinking is for stupid people.
>
> Did that help?Thanks for trying to help, but please don't post anything that could lead others to feel accused or put down.
If you or anyone else has questions about this or about posting policies in general, or is interested in alternative ways of expressing oneself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Also, follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by RH on August 27, 2004, at 23:42:57
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious » RH, posted by partlycloudy on August 27, 2004, at 6:39:10
PartlyCloudy:
But wouldn't you agree that it is always stress of some kind that starts the drinkng. That's how it was for me. Even just the stress of having nothing to do - a drink always made that better.
RH
Posted by partlycloudy on August 28, 2004, at 6:04:03
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious, posted by RH on August 27, 2004, at 23:42:57
I've never heard of a life without stress. It's not like I'd come home and say, I've had a bad (or long) day, I going to have a drink. It was more like - hey, it's after 6pm! I can have a drink!!
Like it was a celebration, you know? Except it was a wake for my brain cells.
Posted by RH on August 28, 2004, at 22:14:46
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious » RH, posted by partlycloudy on August 28, 2004, at 6:04:03
PartlyC:
That was exactly my situation. And as one drink felt like I hadn't even had a drink, it seemed logical to go to a second or third. The stress of the day was erased temporarily, but I became very gradually, over years, less alert, less interested in life, and more depressed. It was so gradual over a 10 year period that it was totally unseen to me.
So I've learned to identify stresses and avoid them, and the unavoidable stress I alleviate with meditation, which I never would have thought would work before I was coaxed into trying it.
One big stressor that meditation has helped with is spinning thoughts. My spinning thoughts are virtually under control now. After getting a handle on that I became aware of how much energy, literally, spinning takes up - it is totally draining.
I don't know if it's the meditation, the reduction in drinking (I have a couple a month, socially, often don't finish the glass)or the reduction in spinning, but more and more I hear people saying how much bluer my eyes seem and how clear. I don't know if there is a physiological explanation for that, or if has something to do with the eyes being the window to the soul.
How do you deal with stress?
RH
Posted by partlycloudy on August 29, 2004, at 9:48:04
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious » partlycloudy, posted by RH on August 28, 2004, at 22:14:46
RH - here's what I do to deal with stress. I purposefully took a low-stress job. I work out at a gym 3 times a week - I hadn't done this since 1986. I meditate every day. I take my medicines. I try to learn new things, like teaching myself how to make jewellery. I sing at the top of my lungs in the car. I write a lot. I don't listen to the news every day. I hug my cat. I love my husband.
I have a fundamental problem in how I see my value to the world. That I'm not and never will be enough. No matter how many times I'm told that I'm loved, I am still an undeserving wretch. The tears stream down my face now; sober. When I'm drunk, at least I don't have to feel it any more.
Posted by SAW on August 30, 2004, at 2:47:28
In reply to Re: Alcohol Withdrawal, anxiety, guilt, anxious » RH, posted by partlycloudy on August 29, 2004, at 9:48:04
Posted by partlycloudy on August 30, 2004, at 11:00:53
In reply to PartlyCloudly - I SALUTE YOU! (nm) » partlycloudy, posted by SAW on August 30, 2004, at 2:47:28
To this thread, it was interrupted elsewhere on the board:
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040729/msgs/383973.html
Take care,
pc
This is the end of the thread.
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