sleeping a lot after quitting alcohol

I drink mainly on weekends to the point of getting drunk, anywhere from 4-6 drinks on a Friday or Saturday. I don't think I'm a classic alcoholic, but I think I'm a less traditional one albeit still an alcoholic. I drink mainly to alleviate social anxiety when I'm out on the town. During the week I often have a glass to two glasses of wine in the evening and a few nights I won't drink at all. My question is, I have stopped drinking for  few days now and I'm definitely craving "just a glass of wine" but I know I shouldn't. My main withdrawal symptoms have been depression and the desire to sleep a lot. I should mention my husband is a terrible alcoholic and hasn't worked in months and we are in serious financial distress because of it. I know part of my desire to drink is to forget about our predicament and to forget about my husband's problems. Now I know I am only enabling and worsening things for the both of us. I'm confused that my anxiety is actually subsiding a lot and I am feeling the urge to sleep at least nine hours a night. I'm not sure if this is alcohol withdrawal or depression. I guess a little bit of both. I'm really considering going to AA and Alanon also. Why am I not suffering sleeplessness though from alcohol withdrawal, or is that yet to come?  

[Jacker]

Last summer I cut my consumption by about 80% and I slept a lot.  At this stage, I think 9 hours of sleep per night is probably what your body needs.  Alcohol can break up your sleep cycle (at least in excess) - after initially passing out, it can keep you from sleeping as deeply as you should.  If you stay away from it for a longer period, I think your sleep pattern will return to normal.  It takes a few months for your body to acclimate to a lack of alcohol if you've been drinking it for years.  I didn't stop completely till late december, and I'm only beginning to normal this month.  

[Omusicgame]

you know, i think the reason for your depression is mainly because of alcohol.  I mean alchohol is what led to doctors telling me im bipolar or depressed.  See what alcohol does to us is it causes this Dr. Jekyl Mr Hyde affect to us, in which we're calm one minute then after a couple of drinks we're a whole different.  It's pretty funny if you think about it because there really is a dr jekyl mr hyde alcohol i saw at the store the other day.  But thats a perfect example.  And what else is like is an example of moods changing rapidly.  Bipolar.  If know anyone whos constantly depressed or bipolar, you'll see that most of them have consumed much alcohol in their life.  This is the truth.  See what I would do in my addiction is I would go a week without it, and deal through the pain and the frustrastion and the hate and just realize, this was all inside of me.  Then go two weeks.  I might get a little harder.  You might still get mentally attacked, hateful thoughts, anxiety, the works, everything might come at you, but just stay strong, and just let yourself know its been 2 weeks.  Then try going 2 more.  All Im saying is try this.  It'll help.  You keep track of how good youre doing, and alot of bad **** that you feel will disappear.  And you learn a little more about yourself.  You'll sleep better, and then maybe  your husband can do the same thing.  This is how I delt with a drinking problem, or drug problem, or lust problem.  I just didnt give into it, and I let myself know how long its been that I didnt give in, and then I just realized you know what "IM INNOCENT"  You can do it too.

[boozler]

hi there i was reading your story and the i realised that maybe im not a alcoholic but bordering on the lines of becoming one, i drink red wine (a bottle) on fri sat and sun evenings i work and have three chilldren i love to wind down with a wine but on the nights that i dont drink i hate it because i cant sleep and have night sweats red wine is all i think about but i manage to stay off it mon to thurs thats all i can manage i dont have a stressfull job or debt or misery i just love red wine maybe someone could help me too woozy as i know were your coming from ... keep your chin up xxx

[Jacker]

Speaking as a guy who fell into the bottle, I can honestly say that that's the way I started.  What you should do, is lay off for awhile - say 90 days.  It will be difficult at first, but it will give you a chance to learn to live without it.  After all, 90 days isn't much in the grand scheme of things, right??
Anyway, after that time period, see if you can limit it to a sane amount on Friday & Saturday - say a 2 drink maximum.  If you're unable to limit your consumption, you probably have your answer.  

[working dog]

what a great time for you and your husband to quit drinking...someday looking back on these tough times you will be able to say that you accomplished so much...if you have trouble making money right now and get phone calls on credit stuff and even loose a house thats nothing compared with giving your life to alcohol...you can always start up making money again...but you can't always get a new liver or new brain cells not to mention all the other organs affected...why don't you set a goal..like jacker says but i would say your husband for sure should just stop all the way so you should too...i would go 1 year and and see how both of you feel..if one of you decides to go back to being an alcoholic then maybe it's time to split up...on the other hand you may find a new confidence and strenght and will look back at these tough financial times as a new and exciting begaining..make sure you get some help through this...stay on the forum and ask questions.......good luck...billy

[denine2566]

This has been very helpful to me . My husband is in week 2 and is angry with me and sleeps a lot. I figured it is part of the detoxing and effects of stopping drinking. I"m trying to be patient and giving him space . He come from a large latin family and there is a history of mental illness, depression and other types also. This seems to be somewhat what im seeing in him now . The dr is treating him with some medication for nerve pain which coinsidentely can be use for depression. He is also in a program for alcohol due to the fact we did intervention with him and kids and I gave him some choices. He chose family  which I am grateful. He just not himself right now and its sad . He is very full of lfe and happy normally but hes just suffering during this time . Thanks for your advice and experience