I’ve been drinking quite a bit since I was 21. I’m now in my mid 40’s and COVID really pushed me over the edge - lots of day drinking. I’ve tried to stop drinking a number of times now, but the most I usually ever made it was a couple days or at most a week. I got to the point where I think I was getting on the edge of DT’s when I tried to stop sometimes. I made it a few weeks (not consecutively) this summer. I slipped the week before last and was drinking quite a bit from about 10AM/2PM until I passed out later in the evenings. On Monday (July 24) I thought I’d try to stop again. I quit drinking sometime in the early afternoon. I wasn’t feeling too bad when I went to bed, but then I started to feel the dread/doom creeping over me. I spent the night not being able to sleep and feeling like I was going to die until about 2AM when I felt I had to break into my “emergency stash” I had gotten in case this were to happen. I drank 3/4 of bottle of wine by 4AM Tuesday morning and felt I’d see what would happen. I was able to fall asleep for a few hours. I woke up later that morning and worked, did my normal routine for Tuesday. That night I had the same experience, but it wasn’t quite as bad. I couldn’t sleep and still felt the impending doom, but I managed not to drink any. I held strong on Wednesday, and was actually able to get a good night’s sleep (thank goodness!). Now it’s Thursday. I was feeling pretty good which of course my brain was telling “just a few drinks tonight won’t hurt anything”. I was able to ward it off though and I’m looking forward to another good night of sleep tonight! Stay strong friends!
When I quit drinking it was the worst. There are a few things that helped me. If any of them help you at all, I will be glad.
- Alcohol is converted to sugar by the body, sleep disruption is a natural consequence of drinking. Especially as you get older.
ii. There are many consequences to drinking. If it helps, write them down as you notice them and make yourself a little contract. Whenever you want to buy booze, make yourself read your personal list of consequences.
C. Don’t bring the devil home. It’s a lot easier to say no when it’s not right in front of you.
IV. There a book called “This naked mind” it’s a fantastic read (or audiobook) when your trying to quit drinking. It does a great job of shining a light on the BS of excuses we give ourselves to drink.
Nice work! I’m proud of you!
Sleep is self-correcting. If you have a few bad nights you’re gonna have some good ones. And the good ones can sneak up on you (I feel good, just a night cap, etc). Great job surfing the urges even when things seem more chill.
Keep it up - you got this.
Great job! Sober sleep and waking up feeling normal are worth everything you’re going through!
Nothing new to add here, just want to add my voice and also say I’m proud of you and wish you all the best in your journey :)
If you have insurance, talk to your doctor and be honest about what you are going through. They will not judge you and can help you.
Drinking chronically causes your body to not absorb certain vitamins. Often it is Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. When you quit drinking, you should at least start taking a multi vitamin.
Often, getting on an anti depressant is very helpful. They can take 6 weeks to start working, so keep taking them while you attempt to quit or cut back.
Naltrexone is a drug that often help with the urge to drink. It helped me.
Goodluck and if you need to talk to anyone, people in this community have a lotnof experience in what you are going through.
