Health questions

xSTEVEx · Member

Health questions

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hi Steve,

Congrats on going cold turkey. I don't think we have any Doctors in here so I doubt you'll get any medical advise. Those body temps are in the normal range. At 6 days, you're mostly past the physical withdraws or DTs
so taking valium (which is not recommended) shouldn't be necessary at this point. If you're goal is to stay sober, drinking non-alcoholic beer is not a good idea as it's reinforcing the image of drinking and will likely be replaced by real beer at some point.

No need to be "shy" about going to a meeting. Just look up AA in the phone book and ask if someone would take you to a meeting. You're chances of staying sober will increase exponentially if you go to meetings. I started drinking at 8 years old and also had the desire to stop drinking at the age of 27. It's a good time to move on and get going with the rest of your life.

Good luck in your new journey!

Dean

xSTEVEx · Member

Thanks, lots of my shyness comes from what I believe is social anxiety disorder, which I always self-medicated myself with alcohol to overcome, even when I am hanging out with my closest friends I would feel the need to drink to not be nervous. I always thought I would need to get actual medication for that if I ever quit drinking, but I seem to be slowly overcoming that on my own so hopefully that will continue and one day I'll feel comfortable going to a meeting.

Also I am worried about meeting up with the wrong crowd at a meeting and sorta falling off the wagon together, I hear that happens a lot or is that only on TV? :)

Ugggh, to top it off I am planning on quitting nicotine as well, but don't think I can go through both at the same time...well, it's nice to have some place to talk about this..

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hi Steve,

I quit drinking and smoking at the same time, and it was a great shock to my system. I wouldn't recommend it.
I don't know much about SAD, but it's common for alcoholics to feel withdrawn in social atmospheres. It's discussed in several places in the AA "big book", and the "Twelve steps & Twelve traditions of AA". While you're summoning up the courage to go to your first meeting, go to amazon.com and order these two books and start reading them.

I felt very withdrawn and isolated, in my youth, myself which caused me to be lonely and feel depressed. How I felt was best described as always being "on the outside looking in" like life was a fishbowl and I had my face pressed up against the glass". The AA literature mentions "feeling alone in a room full of people". I've been sober a good deal of time now, as well as married and my son is in his 3rd year of college and those feelings are always just around the corner if I let my thinking take me there. We need to have a balanced life with friendships and regular social encounters. It's akward but becomes more comfortable to us the more we make ourselves engage.

-- Edited by StPeteDean at 21:00, 2007-11-25

Phil · MIP Old Timer

Symptoms Can Range from Mild to Life-Threatening
When heavy or frequent drinkers suddenly decide to quit "cold turkey" they will experience some physical withdrawal symptoms -- which can range from the mildly annoying to severe and even life-threatening.
The severity of these withdrawal symptoms is usually dependent upon how "chemically dependent" the chronic drinker has become. Those who drink heavily on a daily basis of course have developed a high level of dependency, but even those who drink daily, but not heavily and those who drink heavily but not daily, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.

When someone who has become "alcohol dependent" decides to stop drinking, they will experience some level of physical discomfort. For this reason, it is extremely difficult for them to merely stop drinking "on their own" without assistance and support.

'Never Again'
The scenario has been played over and over many times.

After a particularly damaging or embarrassing binge, the hungover person will make an oath to himself and others to drink "never again" and quite often is sincere about quitting.

But with the onset of withdrawal symptoms, also comes the "craving" for more alcohol. The body is telling the drinker that it "needs" alcohol. As the physical symptoms of withdrawal begin to increase, taking another drink simply becomes less painful than not taking one -- or so it seems at the time.

For those who have committed themselves to not drinking again, or forced by circumstances to not have access to alcohol, the struggle to fight the withdrawal symptoms can become a dangerous battle, one that can actually become life threatening.

The Shakes

For some, who are less chemically dependent, withdrawal symptoms might be as "mild" as merely getting the shakes, or the sweats -- or perhaps nausea, headache, anxiety, a rapid heart beat, and increased blood pressure.

Although these symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating, they are not necessarily dangerous. But they are often accompanied by the "craving" for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence much more difficult to make.

Even the "morning after" hangover of someone who only occasionally drinks to excess, is actually a mild form of alcohol withdrawal from the excesses of the night before, as the alcohol content of their blood begins to drop. The symptoms can appear within a few hours after not drinking.

The DT's

However, within six to 48 hours after not drinking, hallucinations may develop. These usually are visual hallucinations but they can also involve sounds and smells. They can last for a few hours up to weeks at a time.

Also within this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures can occur, which is the point at which alcohol withdrawal can become dangerous, if not medically treated. The symptoms may progress to delirium tremens (DT's) after three to five days without alcohol. The symptoms of DT's include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity, and extreme cardiovascular disturbances.

Once DT's begin, there is no known medical treatment to stop them. Grand mal seizures, heart attacks and stroke can occur during the DT's, all of which can be fatal.

Getting Treatment

The good news for those who are extremely alcohol dependent, and who wish to quit drinking, all of these symptoms can be alleviated and even eliminated with proper medical treatment.

Typically, for those who are mildly dependent doses of vitamins (Thiamin) and a proper diet will prevent most of the mild withdrawal symptoms from occurring. For the severely dependent, medication can be administered, but only by a physician. One approach is to substitute Valium for alcohol and gradually reduce the dosage until the patient is drug free.

If you are a heavy drinker and want to quit, consult a trained medical professional, and be honest about your usual alcohol intake. The psychological withdrawal is enough to deal with, without also having to fight the physical symptoms.

You don't have to do it "on your own" to prove anything to anyone. Help is available, take advantage of it.

Withdrawal Symptoms:

Mild to moderate psychological symptoms:

Feeling of jumpiness or nervousness
Feeling of shakiness
Anxiety
Irritability or easily excited
Emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes
Depression
Fatigue
Difficulty with thinking clearly
Bad dreams

Mild to moderate physical symptoms:

Headache - general, pulsating
Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Insomnia, sleeping difficulty
Paleness
Rapid heart rate (palpitations)
Eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
Skin, clammy
Abnormal movements
- Tremor of the hands
- Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

Severe symptoms:

A state of confusion and hallucinations (visual) -- known as delirium tremens
Agitation
Fever
Convulsions
"Black outs" -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode.

ChicknLittle · Senior Member

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum! I can't help as far as the detoxing, because for me I didn't have physical withdrawal once the hangover was gone.... but I can relate to the social anxiety... my first week going to meetings I was taking xanax before each meeting (prescribed by my doctor because I had actually been diagnosed with social anxiety). After the first week it got a little easier, and like you, I didn't want to trade one addiction for another. My doctor was very careful with prescribing it to me, he'd only call in 4 pills at a time on an as needed basis and I was told to cut them in half... and it did help, but once I got over that initial nervousness and talked to a few people at the meeting I was going to, it got much easier.

I still occasionally might have a panic attack before a meeting or during a meeting, sometimes I have no idea why, sometimes it's because it's a bigger meeting than usual. But over time it has gotten much easier. I don't take any medication at all for it now and try to deal with it in other ways - deep breathing, going outside for a bit and relaxing and then going back in. There are times I have left a meeting early because of it but I try not to.

I still have the anxiety in crowds or large groups, but it has gotten easier to talk to people one on one, and I can share in meetings now without much if any anxiety. It took me 4 months going to the same meeting every day before I'd share, but it's not so bad now. Meetings wound up being a "safe place" for me, where I feel comfortable, and I have less anxiety at meetings, even a new meeting with new people, than anywhere else.

Hang in there, when you're ready, give it a try... and even if you get anxious, keep going and it will get easier.

as for the nicotine... it was suggested to me to not quit till I had a year sober. I have 7 months now, and it's gotten to the point that I need to quit smoking for health reasons but still not quite ready and just a bit scared to give it up yet. I've heard people say they quit everything at once and it was tough but it can be done.... but for me personally, I'd rather take it one thing at a time.

good luck, and keep posting here!

Lisa

xSTEVEx · Member

Hi! Thanks for all the responses folks. I have tried an anti-depressant that my doctor described me a long time ago, can't remember the name but I really did not like the way it made me feel, it actually seemed to make the problems worse, so I think I might be better off working on it on my own. I'm wary of most medications and doctors in general. I used to be a lot more anxious in High School, I accepted a C in English class for the year when I would have gotten an A because I refused to give a speech in front of the class, haha. So I guess it has gotten a lot better over the years but then again I kept drinking more over those years as well.

I have a history of depression in my family, my father actually jumped off the golden gate bridge in 2003. That actually helped me a lot in many ways though because I had somewhat of a life changing Religious experience that day, not really sure if I want to go into that here but sufficed to say I have been a new man since that day as far as enjoying life and not feeling down all the time. Unfortunately i kept up my drinking and such if not accelerated it, and when you wake up not remembering what happened the night before or if you ruined a friendship or something, I couldn't help but feel...helpless, glad those days are over.

As far as that list of symptoms, I had a lot of the mild to moderate ones, but the only severe one I have is AGITATION...The littlest things just bug me to death now, but I really don't think that is a symptom as much is it is a part of my personality, I always had a short temper, except when I was drunk, which was all the time, then I was all smiles and laughs. I guess that is just another thing I am going to have to work out on my own. I'm too shy to go to anger management class :)

Quetzal · MIP Old Timer

Hi Steve,

Welcome to MIP. Well done on quitting cold turkey. That's a great achievement.

If you are worried about any side-effects from quitting you could always mention it to your GP. My GP is very supportive of my decision not to drink and I needed her advice in the early days when I quit cold turkey.

I couldn't have stayed sober without the help of AA and the people in the rooms. You will meet some super people who all want to help you if they can. Don't worry about being shy as nobody 'expects' anything from you in AA. We all just meet up on a regular basis and try to help keep each other sober one day at a time.

Here are a few links that might help you:-

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/bigbookonline/en_tableofcnt.cfm

That is a copy of Big Book on-line and it's a book that I still read on an almost daily basis.

http://www.aabangalore.com/suggested/livingsober.html

That is extracts from a book called Living Sober. That book really helped me in the early days.

I do hope that you'll stay around and keep posting. Please let us know how it goes for you, won't you?

Take care,

Carol

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

xSTEVEx wrote:

Hi! Thanks for all the responses folks. I used to be a lot more anxious in High School, I accepted a C in English class for the year when I would have gotten an A because I refused to give a speech in front of the class, haha. So I guess it has gotten a lot better over the years but then again I kept drinking more over those years as well.

I have a history of depression in my family, Unfortunately i kept up my drinking and such if not accelerated it, and when you wake up not remembering what happened the night before or if you ruined a friendship or something, I couldn't help but feel...helpless, glad those days are over.

As far as that list of symptoms, I had a lot of the mild to moderate ones, but the only severe one I have is AGITATION...The littlest things just bug me to death now, but I really don't think that is a symptom as much is it is a part of my personality, I always had a short temper, except when I was drunk, which was all the time, then I was all smiles and laughs. I guess that is just another thing I am going to have to work out on my own. I'm too shy to go to anger management class :)

Hi Steve,

Those feelings that you describe about shyness, agitation, short temper etc... are common amongst us alcoholics and are described in the books I mentioned. That's why alcohol "worked" so well for us (in the beginning) as it got rid of those inhibitions. The trick to staying sober is learning to work through those feelings without alcohol. "Alcoholics are riddled with a thousand types of fear..." , and anger is just a dysfuntional way of dealing with fear. The AA program is full of tools to deal with fear and anger. Alcohol does a good job of relieving stress but it handicaps us so that we can't deal with any stress without it, so
you are going to be "agitated" easily until you learn how to deal with it. It's all in the book.

Fear and Anger is our #1 problem, and we discuss these issues, and how working the steps helps us LIVE without them and alcohol, in our meetings regularly.

Many of us also have a "family history of depression" but (Imo) I think that it's learned rather than inherant. And with that said, it can be unlearned. It certainly was that way for me. My mother (also an alcoholic now sober 32 years) had 2 nervous breakdowns requiring hospitalazation and decades of psychotherapy ,till she got sober, and it all seemed to go away. I suffered from depression as well. I delt with it by medicating with drugs and alcohol, starting at age 8 (and other additions). Luckily I had my mother for a great example. If getting sober could straighten her out, it could work for anyone.

One of the biggest things I had to do first though, was to stop feeling sorry for myself and get busy solving my problems. I ask myself on a daily basis "Am I living in the Problem, or am I living in the Solution"? It is a choice and most of us suffered from "terminal uniqueness" till we started going to AA meetings daily and found out that millions of others had gone through all of our painful experiences, suffered all of our maladies (and much more), got sober and live happy, good, and worthwhile lives today. I hope you'll join us, we do have a lot of fun with it.

Dean

-- Edited by StPeteDean at 06:12, 2007-11-26

Newbie

Question for St PeteDean,
Dear Dean,
Having not as yet read the Big Book myself, what do U think of the On-line version at http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/bigbookonline/
Is there an on-line version of the other book U mentioned?
Thanks for the info
T

Newbie

Phil wrote:

Symptoms Can Range from Mild to Life-Threatening
When heavy or frequent drinkers suddenly decide to quit "cold turkey" they will experience some physical withdrawal symptoms -- which can range from the mildly annoying to severe and even life-threatening.
The severity of these withdrawal symptoms is usually dependent upon how "chemically dependent" the chronic drinker has become. Those who drink heavily on a daily basis of course have developed a high level of dependency, but even those who drink daily, but not heavily and those who drink heavily but not daily, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.

When someone who has become "alcohol dependent" decides to stop drinking, they will experience some level of physical discomfort. For this reason, it is extremely difficult for them to merely stop drinking "on their own" without assistance and support.

'Never Again'
The scenario has been played over and over many times.

After a particularly damaging or embarrassing binge, the hungover person will make an oath to himself and others to drink "never again" and quite often is sincere about quitting.
But with the onset of withdrawal symptoms, also comes the "craving" for more alcohol. The body is telling the drinker that it "needs" alcohol. As the physical symptoms of withdrawal begin to increase, taking another drink simply becomes less painful than not taking one -- or so it seems at the time.
For those who have committed themselves to not drinking again, or forced by circumstances to not have access to alcohol, the struggle to fight the withdrawal symptoms can become a dangerous battle, one that can actually become life threatening.
The Shakes
For some, who are less chemically dependent, withdrawal symptoms might be as "mild" as merely getting the shakes, or the sweats -- or perhaps nausea, headache, anxiety, a rapid heart beat, and increased blood pressure.
Although these symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating, they are not necessarily dangerous. But they are often accompanied by the "craving" for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence much more difficult to make.
Even the "morning after" hangover of someone who only occasionally drinks to excess, is actually a mild form of alcohol withdrawal from the excesses of the night before, as the alcohol content of their blood begins to drop. The symptoms can appear within a few hours after not drinking.
The DT's
However, within six to 48 hours after not drinking, hallucinations may develop. These usually are visual hallucinations but they can also involve sounds and smells. They can last for a few hours up to weeks at a time.
Also within this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures can occur, which is the point at which alcohol withdrawal can become dangerous, if not medically treated. The symptoms may progress to delirium tremens (DT's) after three to five days without alcohol. The symptoms of DT's include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity, and extreme cardiovascular disturbances.
Once DT's begin, there is no known medical treatment to stop them. Grand mal seizures, heart attacks and stroke can occur during the DT's, all of which can be fatal.
Getting Treatment
The good news for those who are extremely alcohol dependent, and who wish to quit drinking, all of these symptoms can be alleviated and even eliminated with proper medical treatment.
Typically, for those who are mildly dependent doses of vitamins (Thiamin) and a proper diet will prevent most of the mild withdrawal symptoms from occurring. For the severely dependent, medication can be administered, but only by a physician. One approach is to substitute Valium for alcohol and gradually reduce the dosage until the patient is drug free.
If you are a heavy drinker and want to quit, consult a trained medical professional, and be honest about your usual alcohol intake. The psychological withdrawal is enough to deal with, without also having to fight the physical symptoms.
You don't have to do it "on your own" to prove anything to anyone. Help is available, take advantage of it.
Withdrawal Symptoms:
Mild to moderate psychological symptoms:
Feeling of jumpiness or nervousness
Feeling of shakiness
Anxiety
Irritability or easily excited
Emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes
Depression
Fatigue
Difficulty with thinking clearly
Bad dreams
Mild to moderate physical symptoms:
Headache - general, pulsating
Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Insomnia, sleeping difficulty
Paleness
Rapid heart rate (palpitations)
Eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
Skin, clammy
Abnormal movements
Tremor of the hands
Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
Severe symptoms:
A state of confusion and hallucinations (visual) -- known as delirium tremens
Agitation
Fever
Convulsions
"Black outs" -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode.

Dear Phil,
This is quite a complete explanation. Thanks.
I just want to add tha fr the insomnia, Melatonin 3 mg (available over the counter) works very good. Non habit forming. Although is still good to watch out for substituting one addiction with another.
T

xSTEVEx · Member

That's another thing I am kinda wary about, the whole 12 step, big book, higher power thing, I'm not sure if I'm into all that, I already have my own Higher Power, and not in any way in need of another...Right now I think I just need folks like you to talk about this with until I learn more about that other stuff.

Oh and I have another Health related question, I have read that those quitting alcohol should eat all these certain foods, protein from legumes or something, avoiding processed sugar and candy. I am doing the exact opposite, after I eat a meal I crave candy like never before. I would usually maybe have a brownie or something for desert, now I have 2, then a cookie, then an entire bag of skittles, then any other sweets I can find. I don't want to stop, luckily now I am out of candy and hopefully will resist buying more :)

Is this common, my body wanting to replace the sugars I got from beer and liquor with something else? Why do they say not to have candy and such while withdrawing? I couldn't really figure out why they recomended that from the article I was reading...

Phil · MIP Old Timer

Hi our friend..:)

It all comes down to whatever works for you...

AA meetings....?

Just a bunch of ex drunks...holding each others hand and staying sober, one day at a time...you never have to be alone again...

Could never do it on my own.....tried it..

As for candy and Sweets?

Everthing in moderation....

Its better then picking up a drink..:)

You will find that a lot of us, are obsessive people..

Why have one candy bar, when 5 is better...(smile)

When I first got sober? I gained 30 lbs in six months...doh!

I am qualified re: addictions and to suggest advice...but I try not to do it on here....

I will add...that Pure juices, such as orange juice, with vitamin c does help...and all other vitamin suppliments..

I also suggest seeing a doctor that has a good knowledge of alcoholism..,..and taking it one day at a time from there...

We didnt get the way we were overnight....and healing the body...spititually, physically, mentally and emmotionally...takes time..

Onward and Upward!!

xSTEVEx · Member

I actually have lost about 35 pounds in the last 6 months, I am not so much worried about gaining the weight back as I am getting Diabetes, which also is quite prevalant in my family, damn I have a lot of issues. :)

For Lunch I am going to try to eat so much KFC that I won't have any room left for desert! Wish me luck! Haha

Phil · MIP Old Timer

one issue at a time...enjoy the chicken!! :)

lani · MIP Old Timer

Hey Steve:
Welcome... I find your postings very interesting! Glad youre here because the friends I met on here have alot of great advise!!!
As far as, "I already have my own Higher Power, and not in any way in need of another..." if you do read the Big Book, you will discover that your higher power is the one of YOUR choosing. AA is not a cult or a religious thing where we all worship the same higher power! It is a book full of suggestions to keep you sober and as far as Im concerned a way to a better life! There is nothing at all scary about learning to be honest or with helping others! Read it if you will and see for yourself.
As far as meetings are concerned, you dont need to share unless you want to. Actually, it was suggested to me to just listen and learn. I think they say ninety meetings in ninety days so you begin to learn a thing or two. You will learn to love yourself and learn to open up to others. The greatest thing is, like on here, you will discover that people accept you as you are and truly want to help you. If you can "feel the love" just from posting on here, imagine what it would be like to actually meet people in person who want to be your friend. I know you said your shy but trust me, the more people just like us that you meet the more open you will become!
You'll also be amazed to learn that perhaps your not as messed up as you think you are. There are alot of people going thru the same, if not worse things than you are. I gave it a try and am so glad I did. Its seems to me that alot of people I met once were introverted and felt so alone until they starting going to AA. Just my two cents but what have you got to lose!! Give up the fear and excuses (I had alot of those) and give it a chance!! Best of luck, Lani

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

T wrote:

Question for St PeteDean,
Dear Dean,
Having not as yet read the Big Book myself, what do U think of the On-line version at http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/bigbookonline/
Is there an on-line version of the other book U mentioned?
Thanks for the info
T

Hello Mr. T

As far as I can tell, it's the full version enjoy.

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hey Steve,

alcohol is a sugar! so yes your body is used to getting large doses of it. The human brain uses glucose as fuel. When an alcoholic drinks daily, over time, they tend to skip meals and according to the book "Staying Sober" the brain is forced to (and accepts) alcohol as its fuel. So when that happens the brain actually starts telling the body to get alcohol! That's another of many factors that works against us when we try and stop drinking.

-- Edited by StPeteDean at 19:52, 2007-11-26

xSTEVEx · Member

I managed to only eat 1 brownie after lunch!!! But I think if I had some skittles nearby I would have devoured them...I will give reading that online version of the book a shot, and I think maybe I would be more comfortable going to a meeting with a friend, my sister used to go, not sure if she does anymore, I'll ask her next time I see her. Maybe I could go with her. There is a meeting held right down the street from my house every Sunday night at the Church, I might actually see a lot of people I already know there, that could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who I meet. Not sure if I should go to another area where I wouldn't know anybody.

My father was a rehab counselor, that's how he met my mother, she was his patient >_> Anyways he always talked about his belief in a higher power and kind of looked down on the way my mother was bringing me up, Christianity. My parents were divorced when I was 2. Well his beliefs didn't seem to work out so well for him in the end and that is all the experience I ever had with that. I know it's not a cult and the last thing I want to do is put down other people's beliefs here...I just don't know much about it.

I work at home so I have a lot of free time just sitting around, in the past doing lots of drinking. but I have plenty to occupy my free time, I am totally addicted to xbox live, in particular Halo3 and COD4 right now, and I listen to Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge everyday day on Sirius, that's a 10 hour project...lol

My best friend was my main reason to decide to quit drinking, I would get sick and puke in front of her, and black out what seemed like once a week. She told me she doesn't want to see me like that anymore, so I quit. I didn't care enough about myself to do it for me, but her friendship means so much to me I would do anything not to throw that away. She still drinks, and has been coming over less lately, probably because she doesn't want to be drunk in front of me while I'm going through this. But I actually want to hang around all my drunken friends right now to know that I can handle it and still be strong, I can't hide from drinking, everyone's a drunk around here :)

But as the days go on, and I am feeling a lot better physically and emotionally, (except for my temper) I am starting to think I can do this for myself, I have to care about myself as much as I care about others or I will always be at risk of being affected by them and not what I feel is right in my heart.

I'm still a child, I never really grew up, never really wanted to, but now I do and hope this is the first step to doing so. That's enough rambling for now,
TTYL -Steve

-- Edited by xSTEVEx at 22:57, 2007-11-26

ChicknLittle · Senior Member

Steve, I'm glad you're posting here, it takes me back to a lot of things I thought when I came into AA...

one thing from one of your earlier replies, saying your family has a history of depression.... mine does too although mostly not diagnosed or medicated or anything. There is no other alcoholism in my immediate family, although the longer I'm sober the more I question the possibility of my dad being alcoholic but that's not for me to judge or decide on. I was put in day treatment when I was 15, for depression and self-injury, and medicated from then on until this past January. I hid my drinking from most people, but the therapists and shrinks knew and it was ignored in all those year. I am now 24, 7 months sober, and off all medication. I had 6 months sober (the last time around) when I went off the meds, and it was because I couldn't afford them, and the meds had never seemed to help, I thought maybe being sober, i could handle it. After I'd gotten married when I was almost 21, my diagnosis of clinical depression was switched to a diagnosis of bipolar, because of the mood swings and stuff. But my drinking had increased when I got married, and getting married had been a "drunk thing" and really it was over before it started, so the trying to adjust, and us actually living together increased the mood swings (and drinking) also. Come to find out, I'm not bipolar, I've been so much more stable since getting off the meds than I ever was in all those years medicated and in therapy. I will never tell anyone to get off their meds, especially someone in the program, but for me, it was a misdiagnosis due to my drinking. Being sober has helped the depression tremendously. I still have bad days, I still have bad *weeks* even, but have come to realize that is usually when I'm not working the program to the best of my ability, when I'm slacking off, when I'm not staying in touch with people in the program or not going to meetings. Like I said in an earlier reply, the anxiety has gotten much better with more time sober also, and seems like it just continues to get better... maybe one day I'll be "normal" LOL

As for sweets, my first sponsor suggested to always keep hard candy around to help with cravings...

Your last reply.... as far as wondering if you should go to another area for meetings... I started out getting sober in a big city, and was not too worried about running into people I might know. Surprisingly at my homegroup there, my husband's uncle walked in one night, we were both surprised to see each other. I knew he was an alcoholic, but he lived further out of town so I never expected to see him there. But it wasn't a big deal, I enjoyed seeing him at meetings, he never spread it around the family that I was there. The way I see it, is that whoever you run into that you know there, they have the same problem as you and they won't judge you for it. Also, if you're in a small town or something, I'd bet that more people than you think know that you have a problem with alcohol, and they would probably be happy to see you at the meeting. Just my opinion. But if it worries you that much, there is nothing wrong with going to another area for meetings.

I'm on disability, and at home alone a lot of the time, so I know what it's like finding stuff to keep busy. for me, it's staying on the internet quite a bit lol There is a pretty good chat room I go to, if you're interested I'll give you the link. Some sicko's in there that ya don't wanna mess with... but tons of good people there, and I've made some (hopefully) life long friendships in that chat room, some I even talk to on the phone on a regular basis. they don't do any online meetings, it's just sorta a "coffee before the meeting" type room, just chit chat and joking around, but we get serious in there if anyone needs to talk about a problem.

I've always heard you have to get sober for yourself... but whatever gets you into AA and around sober people is good... and people always told me "we'll love you until you can love yourself" and it's true. As for still wanting to hang around friends that are drinking... it's said a lot in AA to find new people places and things... but I do still have some friends that drink, but they respect me enough to not drink around me, though I can finally handle to be around *some* drinking now. But don't tempt yourself putting yourself around drinking this early in sobriety. And don't let yourself get too upset if you find out that some of those drinking friends won't want to be friends if you're sober... because that does happen, I've heard it from several recovering alkies, and it has happened to me also... you'll find out who your real friends are.

I'm glad you're starting to feel better, it will only keep getting better as long as you don't pick up a drink :)

Lisa

Sobrietyspell · MIP Old Timer

Welcome to MIP you two, Steve & T! Lovely to have you here. I'm glad you're feeling some benefit from what has been shared already. I hope you keep coming back & sharing with us. Love in fellowship, Danielle x

xSTEVEx · Member

I also supposedly have bi-polar, well my sister has it, my dad had it and I exhibit the same symptoms, but I have never been officially diagnosed or anything. Everyone has ups and downs and in today's world it seems lots of doctors will just pass out prescriptions for things we should deal with on our own if at all possible. My friend came over last night and drank with me, well next to me, I had a bottle of champagne I was saving for a special occasion and I let her drink the whole thing, never once felt like having a glass, it felt good! I was drinking the Non-Alcoholic beer though, but I really need that stuff right now anyway and at least I am not getting drunk from it, but I love the taste of beer.

There was a glass of champagne left when I woke up this morning next to my bed and ugggh, just the smell of it wafting over to me was disgusting, I dumped it out the window. I was going to attempt to eventually be able to have a drink or two here or there on special occasions, like New Year's, I was saving the champagne for then, but I know that is a bad idea and I don't even want to try that anymore. I just thought if eventually I managed to enjoy a drink from time to time, it would somehow prevent me from sometime just having a really bad day and falling off the wagon completely. I love Rockstars now, drink em like water, not sure how good that is for me but a lot of people drink a ton of coffee :)

I don't really like hard candy, I'm all about the sour gummy worms and skittles, yesterday after a spaghetti dinner though I managed to once again only have 1 brownie, well it was the last one anyways but still...lol

I was about 160-170 for most of my teens and 20's, then this year used a diet of Brandy to get down to 126. It really helped my self-esteem and lose much of my self-conciousness getting in better shape. Now since quitting I'm up to about 132 in a little over a week, but the magic weight machine thing at the mall said my ideal weight range is 126-139, so I am still doing fine.

Some of my agitation and frustration is going through the roof now though, and I think a lot of it of a sexual nature. They always say liquor kinda increases your sex drive but for it seems the exact opposite. I have been single for 4 years, and yea, I am shy and don't get out much or am very good at meeting new people. But somehow I could for what seems like forever with liquor, now after a week sober I think I am going to explode.

So to sum up,
Liquor, doctors and meds: Bad
Rockstars, sour gummy worms and sex: Good

Somehow figuring a way to work through all these issues: Priceless!!!

-Steve

-- Edited by xSTEVEx at 17:59, 2007-11-28

-- Edited by xSTEVEx at 17:59, 2007-11-28