I am having cravings, my body feels uncomfortable and I don't want to go to the convivence store

[Maraya1969]

to get some liquor. It's funny but a lot of the side effects I was having went away with the alcohol and now they are back with a vengeance. Restless legs is a big one.

But it has been over a week since I touched alcohol. I've actually been taking Advils and I am not supposed to take that shit because it hurts my stomach.

[BWdem4life]

1. PAWS sucks

https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. As a 50 year alcoholic, I think you are on the right track.

I manage my consumption these days....except when I fuck up which happens at least once a year.

[Maraya1969]

15. So you drink but you just make sure you don't drink alcoholically? That is kind of what I did for a long

time. After I had gastric bypass my friend told me to be careful because after 1 or 2 years 20%
of the patients will have started drinking alcoholically. And it really pisses me off.

I did what you did for several years and then I had a bad reaction to the gastric bypass

[brewens]

3. Gut it out! It's not worth it. I had to quit because of a medication I'm on. The anti-depressant Celexa. I wasn't

drinking very often anyway but no more as long as I'm on this stuff. What is interesting is they prescribe it for alcoholics too. It supposedly helps with the urge to drink. I can report that I realized after a couple months that I was due for the urge to hit my favorite bar, but it never happened. I'd say it works but I was prescribed it solely for depression.

I don't think I could handle even going back to my decades old stopping off for beers all the time and getting drunk every weekend just because of the expense. Just being a moderate alcoholic has to run at least $800 a month these days. I can't swing that.

[Maraya1969]

8. Medical Marijuana, (Indica) is now making me look like I am drunk.

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2024, 08:59 AM - Edit history (1)

I always ask for the stuff that leads to relaxation. Now I also realize that it was the mixing of the pot and the alcohol that really messed me up a couple weeks ago.

EDIT: I just learned a couple days ago after I stopped drinking but took the MM. MM has not had that effect on me (getting dizzy etc drunk behavior)I didn't keep falling over and over like when I just take the Indica, (+Tequila)

[marble falls]

4. It does get easier, but not quickly. I found warm baths and showers helped me a lot. The trick is to pass the time by ..

... by concentrating on something you enjoy. And knowing at all times of the day there's someone on DU who understands and is ready to talk you through the rough spots without judging, It really is one day at a time process. Each day is a victory.

[Maraya1969]

9. I love to take baths with Epsom Salts in it! I have lost a lot of blood and they are saying that is why my legs feels

I am so tired and my legs get so tired! About a year ago when I was there with all my family well I started to get stabbing like pains all in my abdomen. I kept trying to slow it but the guy was on my back. I was not in a city


And actually I have medicine that can help when my body is just freaking out. So thank God I have become a little less gung ho!

[marble falls]

12. You can do this, be sure to be taking care of yourself. Keep reaching out. We'll keep reaching back.

[Karadeniz]

5. My restless legs stopped with diurex. I had a bit of fluid reyention.

[Maraya1969]

10. Did it stop right away?

[Karadeniz]

11. Yep!

[viva la]

13. Magnesium spray helped me.

I spray It right on my calves.

[yonder]

6. Hang in there! The first week or so is the toughest. After that it gets easier,

at least for the MANY times I stopped for a bit.

The last time ‘took’ for me and I can proudly say I’ve been sober now for a year and a half. Laying off weed was easy, not so with much beer. I just wish it hadn’t taken 40+ years to discover the many benefits of being sober. Identify your personal triggers, learn to deal with them and continue down the path you just started. Getting back to the truck after a long hike, sitting down with friends to watch a favorite team play or a simple reward beer after mowing the yard are all triggers for me. They still are but manageable now.

Maybe go down to that convenience store you mentioned but walk instead. Bring back something else beside booze? Open that book you’ve been meaning to dive into that’s just been sitting on the shelf. Learn a new fiddle tune? Don’t play? Learn it on your guitar in DADGAD tuning. Don’t have a guitar? Borrow one from a friend, learn the tune and give the guitar back still tuned to DADGAD. It won’t hurt the guitar and your friend might learn something new too. THEN learn to play the fiddle. You and your guitar friend could start a band. 🎻🪕 Take up a new hobby — something you always wanted to try, but haven’t yet. The last several months I’ve been learning how to saddlestitch leather. There’s plenty of YouTube videos to get you started on whatever sounds fun.

I know, kind of cheeky suggestions but my point is, there’s a big world out there and plenty of ways to contribute to it while seeing how sobriety might fit your future. Good luck on your new path and if you stray, tomorrow’s another new day. 🙂

[Skittles]

7. you did the right thing reaching out here

come up with a plan for when you have cravings......if you can, take a walk....even if you cannot get out, do a walking video from youtube where you pretty much march in place.....do something to take your mind off the craving

get the idea of going to get liquor out of your head - if it becomes overwhelming, post here first about it and give us the chance to guide you

[GPV]

14. I'm white knuckling over food cravings. Not hunger, just the urge to escape the tension of now, knowing

full well that it'll only make later worse.

I hope we both keep choosing now!

[Skittles]

16. see my post #7

remember those cravings can be overwhelming but it feels like they last WAY longer than they actually do

when it hits you, think of it as a demon come knocking and you're gonna REFUSE to answer - yes indeed