Safe way to self detox ?

[eoandrew]

I started drinking at 14, not heavily until 17... now I am 37. I don't really want to stop but lately I've been tired all the time and have episodes of having anxiety to the point of sometimes when I am walking I feel like I am drunk without drinking. I usually start right after work until about 8:00pm. Then go to sleep, I have very rarely been late to work or has it affected my work. In the last week however my kidneys hurt and I just feel like ****. I have all the signs of physical addiction, but I am in the military and don't want to raise any flags. I, been to Kosovo and Iraq where I was dry for months on end and it did not bother me. This deployment I've been hammered every night and now I want to quit, without Medical attention..........without not waking up the next day

[ferilkid]

i did it without help..it sucked for 2 days, and then gets better..chest pain, dizzy, shallow breathing....take aspiren, cuz your blood is used to being thin..

[Bob_D]

If you can gradually reduce your consumption, you should be able to spare yourself the dangerously high blood pressure that often ensues from a cold turkey approach. You will still have to deal with extended insomnia and the emotional instability that almost always follows quitting.

At any rate, best of luck.

[Amphitrite]

Hi!

It sounds like your in a very difficult position. You've been drinking for a long time, absolutly enough time to develop physical dependance.
When you were dry in Kosovo?Iraq how long ago was that? Was it recently?

Alcohol withdrawls are very dangerous without having medical support or supervision. Even if you were dry just a month ago your bodies tolerance builds up very quickly and you may be dependant again within two weeks after you start up again.

Can you go speak to a doc in confidence? Or will that info be privy to anyone who's above you?
I'd be very concerned about you if you decided to cold turkey yourself because you risk having fatal seizures with alcohol withdrawl. And there's no way to tell who will have them and who won't because everyone runs the same risk.

I would really, really suggest that you go see your doc and ask him for some support meds because you want to quite drinking. Military docs are usually pretty understanding when it comes to alcohol use within the military. PTSD, depression...I'm sure they've seen and heard it all and will be able to help you, hopefully confidentially.

If your physically dependant and try to do this yourself, forget the seizures for a moment your going to be very, very ill. Alcohol wothdrawls like all others are torcherous. I just want you to be prepared so that you can make sure tou do this for yourself safetly.
Sending red flags up would suck I'm sure but not being able to because you suffered a fatal seizure would be 100 times over worse.

Think about it before you make your decision and make sure you put yourself and health first with what you decide.
Even if we did give you the names of some medications you would have to get them from your doc and they would need to know what they're for.

Amph