Drug Rehab Options Blog

Hello,
I am not sure if I just perpetually abuse alcohol or am an alcoholic, either way I want to stop.
I think it is linked to stress, I get stressed I drink, mind you sometimes I feel good so I drink, or tied so I drink.
I have done so many silly things while drunk. Is it the drink or just my stupidity released by the drink? It came close to ending my marriage eighteen months ago, and I got in fight over nothing a couple of days ago that could have ended my career.
Whatever, even after a bottle of wine I still want more and usually add another bottle of wine or some spirits.
I have stopped for 2 days, part of me still wants a drink and I have lost my appetite for food but no shakes.
I stopped for six months last year but started Sept again, this time!
Thanks for listening.
Thanks,
Rob

sorry its long, at least read the bold print.

So this is my 2nd detox.
Ive only been drinking a lot for the last 2 years... mostly in the last year. leading up to a binge weekend in August.. then a detox that lasted 6 days.

then it happened again, I was drinking socially/regularly for a month or so, then drinking every night again, then heavier leading up to ANOTHER binge 3 day weekend with some friends, leaving me where I am now on Detox2. Both times had the usual dry heaves, night sweats, not eating, ANXIETY, no DTs or anything worse just the standard stuff I guess.

dont worry I went to the doctor both times, got some Rx's to help, etc.
I've been on here, around long enough to know all the stories and Ive even been the advice-giver on here. but:


heres where i need reassurance.
last time i was fine by day 7. this time im on day 11 and im not doin so well.
Physically symptoms are over, appetite is fine, eating is fine, stomach is fine.
BUT I CANT GET RID of this ANXIETY, INSOMNIA, and DEPRESSION.

I feel like I'm never going to feel normal. Drink craving is not a problem, never really is. I dont want to drink at all I dont even think about drinking... I just wanna feel normal. I cant sleep til like 4am (and thats with the ativan the Dr gave me) sleeping isnt very quality, im just not myself, im okay-ish during the day but come 8pm my nerves skyrocket and i cant sit still.. i feel hopeless and sometimes I cry. I dont want to be alone but I am not social. Nothing keeps my attention and I feel like im GONNA LOSE MY MIND. it makes it hard for me to work so I have to take half of an ativan to get through it.

please somebody tell me that im not the only one who has had it like this, and tell me its gonna go away. its been 11 days! Even my dad cant understand why its so bad for me when I didnt drink as much as some people, and they dont even have withdrawals when they stop! I want this to be done with and not have to take the ativan cause Ive read how addictive that can be too, so I usually tough out the anxiety all evening until RIGHT before I know I'll be able to fall asleep with its help (like 2am). Someone reassure me that this isnt completely abnormal.

thanks, oh and happy holidays everyone.
bj

Hello, this is my first post here. Been looking at the boards forever. I've been experiencing extreme withdrawal symptoms the past few days. I drink most days, not everyday, but 4 or 5 days of the week. Once I start, i usually cant stop til I pass out. Most times close to a fifth of vodka a night. I have been a heavy drinker since I was about 20/21. Now am 24.

I've called out of work for 3 days, because the symptoms just seem unbearable. I didn't want to go to work, because I'm usually shaking too badly with muscle spasams. Since I'm required to have a doctor's note for work, my mom wants to take me in a little bit. I'm unsure if she's aware that I'm suffering from withdrawal or just plain sick.

My question is, is there a reason to be nervous going to see the doctor? Is he going to recommend me somewhere for rehab after seeing how I'm reacting? Is this a normal thing for a doctor to see?

I have tremors, muscle spasams, anxiety, increased heart rate, and my stomach is making really loud noises. Also have barely an appetite, and insomnia, so I know that can't healthy.

Thanks for any and all support

Hey All- Today is day 9..feeling a lot better physically...getting an appetite back. A lot of people have been asking what happened. Without getting into it too much it was pretty much what happens every time to all of us..nothing unique or special about it...same old tapes,rationalizations, un-dealt with emotions and resentments..you know the drill. Trying to stay in one day at a time...emotions all over the place. I've been here before

I've been sober almost 10 months after 7 years of very heavy drinking. I went through a horrible 10 day medical detox, DT's, seizure (while on ativan), and then 30 day residental treatment. The entire time I never slept more than 2 or 3 hours a night, and after detox we weren't able to even take naps during the day because we were always in classes.

Anyway, It's been hard since January, and I still haven't got my sleep or appetite back yet. It hasn't even really improved at all. I am usually awake for 24-48 hours straight, then sleep for 6-8 hours, then I'm awake for another 24-48. It's been taking a major physical toll. I went to see my dr. while I was still employed and he gave me trazadone. It didn't phase me. Then I lost my insurance and can't even afford to see a dr., let alone fill a prescription.

Something I remember from recovery is HALT. Hurt, angry, lonely, and tired. I still struggle to not drink every day but each day my resolve becomes stronger. I know taking a drink will not help me only make things much worse.

I'm just, well, exhausted, all the time. All my other withdrawl symptoms are gone but this one. How long until my brain goes back to normal? Has anybody gone through this and have any advice to offer?

I've tried routines, herbal teas, melatonin, relaxation exercises... I don't know what to do.:praying

As most of you know, I was hit on the head during a robbery earlier this month.

Instead of giving me "plenty of hours" at work on 2nd shift (3rd shift no longer exists), my hours were cut and 3 more people were brought back, or transferred in and giving the hours.

I've been going to workman's comp dr's, because I am still VERY scatterbrained. After finding out that they think this is a mental issue (PTSD) and they don't DEAL with that, I went to my dr. I was put on an anti-d, which hopefully will get my brain back to working okay. I have an appt. with the neurologist on the 19th.

I've been struggling with money, nausea, no appetite, but I turned over the money issue and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I've applied for numerous jobs, and will continue to do so. I just got a check, today, for work that I had done for a friend of dad's and can pay my bills. I am applying for reinstatement of my nursing license and am, now, ready to jump through whatever hoops they want me to jump through. I am also applying for gov't jobs and am probably going to take a course online.

On the 9th, I will have 20 months in recovery. I won't deny that when the robbery happened, I thought it was a darn good excuse to get numb. But instead, I came here and clung tight to my friends at SR.

To those of you who have loved ones still struggling, don't give up hope. It's taken me 3-1/2 years to get to this point, and I made some stupid choices along the way. Four years ago, I was homeless, jumping into cars with strange men, and could think of nothing but crack.

Today, I realize that I am learning valuable lessons from my struggles, and my friends, family, and my faith keep me moving forward.

Hugs and prayers!

Amy

will try and post this again for the 3rd time ,
long story and will write it again,

i have been friends with a man for 3yrs now who i would believe is an alcoholic,
he drinks 2 and a half bottles of vodka a week (neat i may add)
i've only recently noticed what he drinks the pst few months as i have been spending alot of time with him after his mum and dad passed away this yr.
he works in the pub trade and lives there aswell as working there.
his family arnt aware of his problems.

i approached him a few weeks ago about his constant drinking in the daytime and evening,
at first he said he didnt have a problem and then he then said he could pack up drinking in the daytime if he wished,
well think that was to pasify me as i regulary caught him out,
in the morning he would sometimes sweat and shake,
he appears not to look drunk as he does not stagger around.

the thing that is bothering me at the moment is his behaviour towards me,
sometimes at night time when he sits alone having a drink he can send the most nasty texts and emails,
saying that im not the person he thought i was,
that i would be better off without him goodbye,
you have just lost your best friend (not suicidal just saying i had lost him as a friend)
he had booked a holiday for us for xmas as my bday is then and he cancelled it just being nasty.
etc etc
we recently got involved together which makes his hurtfull comments even more painfull.

i care about this person and have tried to be there for him at his mum and dads funeral and just generally trying to help him and it breaking my heart,
as i know he can be the loveliest man , but then changes,i presume when hes had abit too drink.
what do i do,? we normally speak everyday and its been 3days since we spoke.
it's effecting my wellbeing my appetite has reduced and i'm constantly thinking and worrying about him and hoping he's okay.

any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
thankyou.

Here's the latest on my robbery-induced stress.

Went to one of the clinics listed on our approved workman's comp poster, and it was a waste of time. I told her, from the beginning, that I was a recovering addict, and that I felt all my physical symptoms are from the mental stress I am dealing with.

I might as well have talked to a brick wall. They did a zillion xrays (all fine), she said I was suffering migraines due to stress, and gave me tylenol and alleve. Set me up with PT for the general back, neck aches.

I started crying. Told the nurse that the dr. had totally disregarded the issue I came there for....inability to focus or concentrate, crying at the drop of a hat, decreased appetite, insomnia, etc. She said "we don't deal with that".

Had to talk to PT, and started bawling again. They were much more sympathetic, took me in a back room, gave me water and a candy bar:) and let me talk. I'm not going to PT, I know I don't need it.

Calmed down, got to my car, called my stepmom and was bawling and almost hysterical. Was ready to park my butt in an ER and demand some help, but calmed down again (BTW...I'm pms'ing too, which does NOT help).

Finally calmed down, and went by work and talked to Derek. He finally pulled it out of me that I'm suffering from "post robbery stress"...I'm still embarrassed to admit it. He told me who I need to see. The paper from the clinic said I could go back to work, but I told him I wasn't until someone addressed my problems.

I will call my workman's comp case worker tomorrow, as she is very nice and understanding. These dr's are 50 miles from my house (work is 40), and I'm not driving all the way up there if I'm going to get the same BS. I will go to my own dr. and make sure he documents, thoroughly, and he will. He knows me, and will get me the help I need if they don't.

I understand, now, what Chino felt like when her daughter was being "treated" by the trauma unit.

I will not let this go. I don't reach out for help until I've tried everything I know. Derek told me to go home and relax and I told him if I could relax myself back to normal, I damned sure wouldn't be going to doctors!!!

I kept thinking, "just get home to your laptop and SR, you'll be okay", and I am. I had thought about buying a BIG bottle of vodka, but it only took a minute to realize that wouldn't solve anything.

I stopped, on the way home, got my favorite chicken dinner and when my appetite comes back, will try to eat it if Elvis will leave me alone:)

My dad had an initial appt. with a kidney specialist today...blood work has shown decreasing kidney function. The main thing they are checking him for is cancer. He survived colon cancer almost 30 years ago, and this scares me. He has a renal ultrasound and more bloodwork scheduled for Nov. 6th.

Derek was going to give me the $165 they owe me for the locksmith, when the robbers took my keys, but "someone" has lost the receipt. I will get a copy of my credit card receipt.

On a ?good note. I also met with the detective working the robbery today. They recovered the van used and a gun, have some possible leads.

This hasn't been my best month, but I'm still clean and I know where to come for support, so as far as I'm concerned, life is still good.

Hugs and prayers!

Amy

Hi, I just found you all last night as I could not sleep. Been taking Tramadol 2 years for back pain it gradually creeped up to 10 a day...I knew I had to stop. The cold sweats is my biggest symptom, and the flu like feeling. My husband and two elementary age children do not know about my problem. They think I have the flu. I guess I will tell people at work the same. I'm so ashamed, I have never been addicted to anything in my life. My body is weeping right now, screaming it's discomfort. And I have to hide my real problem.

I was glad I ran out, now not so sure if I should not have tried a taper like I have read about. Writing my feelings out really makes me feel better. I distracted myself today, went for a walk with my son, the activity warmed me up and seemed to lesson the symptoms. Definitely night is worst, alone and thinking about how your body feels. Today at Wal-mart, I looked at all the people and wanted to scream, they looked so comfortable and I was freezing, burining up, sweating and aching all at once.

I don't know if I'm doing this right, or if I can do it, can't tell my doc he is also my next door neighbor, my kid has spent the night at his kid's house! I live in a very affluent neighborhood. I'm a teacher! I've been taking hot baths, no appetite but I muscled down a half a banana and ahalf slice whole grain bread.

I keep thinking of that Dori character on finding Nemo singing "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" That's me only two days in, God i'm so jelouse of you guys who have been so brave. Any encouragment or advice is appreciated