alcohol wildrawl

Hi- i have been drinking about 1/2 to 1 bottle of wine a night for years, i recently quite and am having what i think are withdrawls.  its been eight days since my last drink.  the first 2 days were ok, but during the last 5 days ive been feeling anxious and sick to my stomach.  the anxiety is so bad when i lay down to sleep that i feel like im going to jump out of my skin and my adrenalan just keeps pumping, ive been having really strange dreams and just cant relax.  does this sound like it could be from the lack of alcohol or could it be a coincedence and maybe i have something else going on?  im not prone to anxiety and havent felt like this before?

Thank you

Gina- age 36

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Gina, it may be withdrawal, or it may be that your drinking was a form of self medication that kept your anxiety in check, and now it is being exposed.  Don't go back to drinking, but before you consider anti-anxiety medication, try to make use of this opening up process and come to understand what is bubbling up for you at this time of your life...its a part of you begging to be heard, and if you can't do it alone, find a counselor.