Quitting Alcohol - physical side effects?

[abcdabcd]

I started drinking about a half liter of vodka a day around 2 years ago. 3 months ago I decided I want to stop, but I decided I should cut-down to avoid any withdrawls, so I stopped drinking vodka completely and now I drink 3 - 24 oz. cans of beer a night, a 6 pack.

I read that if you stop cold turkey, you can go through DT's and seizures.  The thought of this makes me feel like having a panic attack.  Is your body dependant on the amount of alcohol or alcohol period?

Should I continue to cut-down since I'm having success with this method? Maybe cut down to two beers, for a week, and then 1 beer, and then stop? Is cutting down slowly a good way to avoid side effects? Is my body getting used to not having alcohol? My stomach now feels better, less gas, and my apetite has increased.

I'm not going to have any psychological withdrawls, I feel good without drinking, I'm just worried about the physical withdrawls.

I know some people are going to mention to go to a hospital, but I have a thing about hospitals and don't like them, besides I'm broke and unemployed.


Thanks

[Ilovekitties]

Hi everyone, i'm in need of advice. I am a 28 year old bartender as well as an exotic dancer. I have been drinking a liter almost everyday for around 6 or 7 years. I am 106 pounds and I can feel my health fading. Everyday I wake up and with swollen eyes and the pressure in my brain is unberable! I feel dizzy and confussed and my eyesight is very blurry. It's also hard for me to have conversations with anyone because it is hard to think or comprehend. I have been put on blood pressure medicine since last december. Does anyone know what causes this feeling in my head? Also, what is a good way to quit safely at home? I don't like to drink but it is the only thing that helps me to somewhat function throughout the day.

[possitive]

Hi im ok thanks . How are you ? im drinking sad to say but hay that the truth  To be honest this is harder than i thought and i know ive been kiding myself . i have rang aquarious today to get seen sooner the lady is going to ring me in the morning to try and get me seen asap tomorrow ie today . For the time being i am not going to try giveing up on my own i just dont have the tools . i hope you are doing well and are ok i wish you well your one of the good guys :-)  will post how i get on

[Twosandbits]

Hey Possitive, How are you doing? I'm glad you have an appointment on Thursday :-)

[possitive]

Hi i have siged up to smart recovery im haveing trouble activating it thow . Im going to a sorport group thursday

[Twosandbits]

Hey, don't beat yourself up too much for having a drink, I have 3 serious attempts of stopping drinking and thank goodness I got it on my 3rd time as I'm not sure if I would still be alive today and I DEFINATELY would not be trying to help you! At least you posted you had a drink and not run away like many many people do and yes today is another day!

Do you know when your referral to the aquarious group will come through. Like Randy I cannot stress enough how important it is to have support from others in your situation! I go to a drug and alcohol centre called CODA, I have my own personal counsellor who I used to see every week, more if I needed too and I attended a group everyday where we would learn how to deal with life without drinking. Seeing how I am unemoyed I have turned my recovery into my job and I wok hard at it everyday, forcing myself to attend group even if I don't feel like it. I have made lots of new friends with very similar problems to me and I can now meet up with my friends or pick up the phone if I have a problem instead of drinking all alone in my flat. I do actually have a family and friends but I did used to spend an awfull lot of time alone just drinking by myself so I know where you are coming from Possitive.

So please please please try your best to get more support if you are still serious about stopping drinking, I do not think you can do it alone!

Take care and speak soon :-) oh hope you do take a look at the SMART Recovery website, they run meetings too if AA doesn't float your boat (sorry Randy!) The website has only been up and running for a couple of months and they have already 800 members, so you are not alone with this :-)

[possitive]

iknow iknow i have let myself down. But on a good note i brought 8 cans of beers and by 12.30 i had drank 5 then said thats it and through the other 3 cans away so 3 days without drinking must have done me good because normally i would stay up drink them all then go get more . After the phone call i had i felt my heart pounding and i was so restless after a hour of haveing a head fight with myself i gave in . Yes you are right i need to find otherways to deal with problems drinking is just not the way forward. But yes today is a new day and im not going to dwell on haveing a drink last night to much .