After the initial withdrawals

[MlovesD]

Just wondering if this is normal....

My boyfriend has a job that keeps him away from me weeks at a time, and so I have a hard time seeing the entire picture. His mood changes on the dime, and I don't know if it's to be expected or not. Usually it happens on the weekends when he's not working. He used to drink the most at this time, and I am guessing that boredom had a lot to do with it. I just wonder if it's common for him to be more depressed and irritated during this time. It's just so frustrating at the moment, and I'm trying really hard to be patient and not take anything personal, but it's like one moment he's happy as can be, life is great, and then the next, he's shutting me out.

I also have read that a lot of you have been more tired during recovery. During the week, his sleeping habits don't change. I know that he sleeps more on the weekends, but he seems to often have problems sleeping through the night. Is this common for anyone? And when does it start to get better?

A friend of mine told me that the shakes could last a few months. Is this common? Hers lasted about three months.

Lastly, his appetite has increased to where he's always feeling hungry. When does that taper off?

Any other symptoms or things to expect?

Thanks, Mel

[ibizan]

well good he's 2 months sober.....i recall u saying in a prior post that he said some pretty mean insulting things to u that is verbal abuse.....hope this has stopped......hate to see ppl put up with this from their partners.After detox a lot depends on what he does for his recovery.....does he go to AA?is he around sober ppl?is he around men with good sobriety who can be a role model?in counseling?honestly admit what AA tells us r our character defects?take responsibility for how we have hurt others and make amends to them?ppl can be in whats called a dry drunk......the alcohol is gone but if they don't repair their minds,hearts and souls in terms of how alcohol destroyed these......they will still b miserable ppl.I had so much repair to do on myself and the key was to take responsibility for my actions and words....still hafta do that to this day after 24 years!its called taking a searching fearless moral inventory and when i'm wrong.....i gotta admit it!

[MlovesD]

I forgot to mention he's two months sober. And I never said he's abusive. He shuts me out and withdraws into himself. My question really had to do with what to expect from someone in the coming months after detox.

[ibizan]

hey i remember u!did this guy stop drinking?stop the insults towards u?does he have a concern for these issues?or is it you as usual caring more about his hopeful recovery than him?not meaning to be mean here but i recall this guy had ur head twisted up good and was was quite verbally/mentally abusive 2 u.....no one takes advantage of u minus ur consent....that from Eleanor Roosevelt....so i hope u got to Al-Anon for urself!

[working dog]

it's tough for relationships to stay healthy when your only together for weekends....i guess your sure he has stopped drinking because if he hadn't then i would say he's just missing his drink...on the other hand  he could have withdrawal symtoms for a year or more...the trouble sleeping is common for months sometimes...i had real bad symptoms for 3 months and still not much better for the first 6 months...at one year i felt a lot better..my appetite is still messed up..i still don't drink enough water and that effects energy level....i'm always hungry now...some people eat more when their depressed and alcohol withdrawals can make you depressed....but right after i quit drinking i wasn't a big eater....to help with the uptight stuff i would get heart rate exercise..or maybe he needs some drugs...alcohol is such a drag..it takes so long to get over...i think what i had a lot of trouble understanding is theres two problems when you drink...one is physical and one is mental...and sometimes both physical and mental symptoms come out together while other times it seems to be only one or the other..i don't know if that made sence...good luck...billy