Anxiety or alcohol withdrawal?

[chase27]

Hi. Two years ago I was drinking a pint or more of whiskey 5 to 7 times a week. A year ago I stopped doing that and started drinking only on the weekends. I would drink on Friday and sometimes Saturday night. Occasionally I would drink one day also during the week. Each time I drank I would drink approximately 1 pint of bourbon. I always had several days of being sober between drinking. The week of Christmas I drank three times with one or two days of being sober in between. The last time I had anything to drink was on Sunday when I was intoxicated. I had nothing to drink since Sunday. Since that time I have felt very anxious and had a headache. I've also had dizzy spells. I am wondering if this is alcohol withdrawal or if this is simply anxiety. I have been on the Internet and have looked up with withdrawal and it has freaked me out. I saw stuff about DT And seizures. I think part of this is in my head
that this will happen to me and I'm freaking out. However I've also read that one has to drink every day for several months for this to happen. The anxiety I feel now comes and goes but when I do feel it it lasts for a while. Back when I was drinking heavy I decided one day to stop. Two days later I suffered a massive panic attack and went to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack. Anxiety I feel now is nothing close to that but it is constant. This sounds weird but I just feel off. I guess my question is is this alcohol withdrawal or do I have anxiety? Maybe this question is impossible to answer but I wanted to put it on this form. I'm glad I found this forum as I am going to try to stop drinking. Thank you and God bless.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Hi!  This is an old thread.  If you need to talk, need help ... anything to do with substance abuse...please go to the top of the page and click on the green box that says Ask a New Question.  Once you've done that our members will be aware and you will get some advice.

Thanks!

[Alino74]

Hi all, been a very heavy drinker whilst also working out a lot ... I quit working out lately and the boozing up became intensely heavier ... what upset me the most is the weird **** I would do while drinking ... I just stopped drinking yesterday and trying to quit smoking as well (very heavy smoker) ... I know it s not gonna be an easy ride but i find that intense cardio (twice a day) can immensely help ... I am shaking a lot and the anxiety is killing me ... just wanted to thank you for all your comments and advice, appreciate it!

[chase27]

Two and a half weeks now without booze.  I tried AA in the past and didn't like it.  However, I am weening myself off my boozy friends and hanging out more with folks who either don't drink, or drink very little.  SEems to help.

[dlab674]

drank everyday for 15 years, been sober now 10 years. i was a blackout drinker. withdrawal is different in every case. i also did not have d.t.s nor did i go through withdrawal. i did have anxiety. it did not last that long either. i do go to aa several times a week. it is without exception a MUST if you want to quit drinking and ENJOY being sober

[weaver71]

9 days is awesome. It will get easier. I formed a little library of recovery books. When I have dead time, or don't know what to do, I pull out a book and focus on growing and being a better person. I went to AA meeting 7 days a weeks for the first 60 days and tried to spend time with my new, sober friends. I read a lot of posts here as well. As time passes, it's amazing how we can forget all the bad stuff and remember any of the good times. I don't think I would make it without help from other people in recovery. Just like drinkin and drugin is a lifestyle, so is recovery.

[chase27]

Been almost 9 days with no booze. Feeling pretty good. Got on some anxiety medication that has helped. Hope I can keep it up. I live alone and used to drink when I thought I was bored. Been watching movies and trying to exercise to help. What did you all do to keep your mind occupied?

[weaver71]

Yeah, I remember when I finally decided that I could never use again. I've used most drugs every kind of alcohol over my 30 yr drug career. Pills where the final straw, it probably would have been alcohol if pills weren't available. It's like letting a loved one go. I had a long conversation with all my favorite drugs and alcohol, and said goodbye forever. It sounds wierd, but I felt a shift in my thinking. I had tried to drink and drug like my normie friends. I always did more than I planned, and maybe a few things I hadn't planned. Changing my thinking and defineing my options, that's been a big part of this for me. I meditate everyday. I will sit under a tree at work and empty my mind. I find that it gives me a break, like I just woke up and the day is new. I can feel it when I don't get to stop in the middle of my day. I have problems with overthinking things and they tend to accumulate over time. I think meditation is something all recovering addicts end up doing eventually, even if they don't realize it. I think it would be good for your anxiety.

[chase27]

Thanks. I agree with you that it's not DT or anything. I think you hit the nail on the head. Deciding to stop has me thinking too much. Plus my job is pretty stressful...probably why I binge drink. Have some anxiety mess I am starting and started taking multivitamin a week ago.  Have been told meditation can help. Anyone tried that ?
Thanks do much for your opinion and post! Hope you and your dad are doing well. Never had a problem with pills but knew folks who had. It's all a battle! Stay strong!

[weaver71]

It's impossible for someone to diagnose on the internet, but I can share my opinion. If you can stop drinking, the anxiety comes and goes, and this has gone on for a week now, I think you are experiencing anxiety. True Dilirium Tremens last about a week or less and there would be more symptoms that anxiety. Maybe coming to terms with your problem and deciding to quit are causing you to feel this way. I know I would go into opiate withdrawal when I ran out of pills while I was still high. Just knowing I was out made me ill. My father and many friends have gone through DTs. I knew a guy who drank close to a gallon of tequilla a day. He was shaking with cold sweats. He could barely see and the anxiety was at panic level. He seemed like he was going to die. Before he decided to quit, he woke up with the shakes and couldn't really talk until he had a drink or two in the morning. I don't think periodic binge drinkers get that level of dependence, at least I've never seen it. I would take b vitamins, multi vitamins, and try to get enough good food and lots of water. There are definciencies that drugs and alcohol create, even with a good diet. Cardio exercise is the other thing that helps with healing. I'm glad you are ready to stop the madness, it will get worse. I'm no doctor, but alcohol DTs are freaked me out. You're already a week in, have you thought about AA? I would suggest getting the AA big book and start reading it at least.

[Bubulous]

Yeah it's definitely a process.  I wish I knew about alcoholism.  It is something I can't advise about.  The withdraws, from what I have seen, are different from pain pill addiction which is where all of my addiction knowledge comes from.  Good Luck and be patient, I promise someone will be able to help.

[chase27]

Thanks. I long journey ahead but hope with help can conquer it.

[Bubulous]

Hello and welcome to the forum,

I have no experience with long term drinking so I wouldn't try to help with this but you will find a lot of people who can relate and will get a lot of support on here.