Alcohol withdrawals....how long do they last? A question about alcoholism

If you haven't had a drink since you first started this thread then your physical symptoms should be almost gone. Now get yourself to AA if you haven't already because you need support to stay stopped. Very hard to do alone if you truly are an alcoholic. Give it your best!

Hang in there - that friggin Cymbalta could easily be draining your energy. My doc had me try Celexa...I was on it for a month and couldn't stand it...made me totally tired all the time.

Staying dry gets easier by the day...I've made through 3 Christmas seasons, countless other holidays and vacations...can be a bit boring sometimes, but I'd rather be bored than tied up in knots after a binge.

You can do it.

Back in the 60's Doctors were handing out valium like it was candy. They did the same with Heroin, Cocaine.

There is a difference between medecine and drugs.

Leave the drugs behind, all drugs, even if they come with prescription.

Great job on your decision to straighten out your life! You should be really proud of yourself. I have some advice. Two things: Tell your parents. You say that they will worry about you, well, they worry anyway. And it's not just about the booze, it's about what in you, in your life that is creating the need for the booze. Tell your parents because they can help you, if you want help. Next, where is the country that you want to live in? I don't think this is a great idea. This is coming from someone who lived overseas nearly 15 years. 75% of the other expats you will be in regular contact with will have moved overseas to run away from problems. There will be plenty of drinking there. You are seeking stability, and when you move somewhere where everything, and depending on where the job is,it could be everything that is different. It could rattle you and test you. You need support. You need as much stability and straightening out as possible.

Its in Australia. I've lived there before. For about 7 months. I loved it.

Ok. That's good to hear.

Today is a struggle. I am going to find a group. Its been lonely.

I am going to stop taking cymbalta. I think its making me unmotivated and tired.

Great job so far. Which state in oz?

At my peak, a 26-ounce bottle of vodka every day (half in the morning and half in the evening), plus two very big gin and tonics before dinner and about a half bottle of wine with dinner. Needless to say I was a mess.

Jeff Gordon wrote:

To any that have replied. How much were/ are you drinking daily?

sydney.

I haven't heard back from the interview yet. Am currently applying to all types of jobs over there.

If anyone has any connections let me know. I'm a badass salesman and great at marketing.

tomorrow is three weeks!

3 weeks today!!!!

Alcohol and anti-depressant free.

Runners World wrote:

The problem is all that shit, the booze, the anti-depressants; all a crutch, you don't need any of it.

Get a job, run, take vitamins, go to mass, pray to the Lord. Done.

Isn't religion a crutch?

To the OP, keep it up my man, you're doing great! I am pulling for you.

Preciate it.

Live has been pretty boring though. I go out to dinners/bars with buds but leave early before the party crowd arrives.

I did get some tail the other day. I've met/hooked up with girls when I wasn't drunk, but this was the first time in a while that alcohol played absolutely zero role on any of the interactions. It was a rush, almost made me feel drunk, but it was a genuine happy/healthy.

I am traveling to Cali in a bit for about 5 days. I'm going alone for a job interview. I recently bought a video camera. I love getting into adventures and innocent trouble, like just getting into weird and fun situations. I have considered filming all the adventurous and putting them on YouTube to show young dudes like myself that you can hang out, hook up with girls, go out on the town, and do crazy and wild stuff even when sober...and you can even hang out with your buddies when they are drunk and it not be a big deal.

Props man! You've got a lot of people behind you on this and who know you will succeed. Continue to enjoy your new life and focus on it's reality, not the lingering reality of your old life. Best of luck!!

The next step wrote:

Alcohol is hell of a drug

No, Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

Although its only been three weeks I have come to realize a few things. The most important thing I have noticed is the difference between real confidence and fake confidence. I know it sounds strange, but for some reason I have been watching Penn and Teller interviews and shows. I really was drawn to Penn and after some research I noticed the guy doesn't drink at all. He comes off very confident, admittedly he can be obnoxious, but confident and generally polite most of the time.

I have always considered myself a very confident, take control and lead type of person. But from being sober I have concluded that for me, and I think many others, alcohol gives a very false sense of confidence. In fact it made me LESS confident because I was constantly doing things I thought was proper but then the next morning I am embarrassed and drink more to forget about it. Now that I have been sober everytime I make a mistake it is easy to come to terms with it because I can easily remember the situation and say to myself "i may have been pissed off or whatever at the moment, but perhaps I should have handled that differently" or "i know how I felt then and I am sticking to my guns." This type of thinking is way better than saying "It really doesn't matter if I was right or wrong...I was drunk and sloppy so I look dumb anyway."

Also, the adrenaline rush of doing something confident and simple, such as telling a random girl at the coffee shop that she is beautiful or explaining in my large class how I disagree with the professor's point of views and can articulate my argument. These small, yet significant actions really make life fun and fulfilling.

I understand it sounds strange...but I have been watching this magic show. All these performers are so confident! Seeing as they are magicians, they, like runners, fit into the "nerd" category...but they totally embrace it and are confident. I LOVE THIS. This is what makes people happy. This is one of the major reasons why they attract women, can have solid relationships with men, and are happy.

Check out the interaction in this video. Two nice and stereotypically nerdy dudes but they ooze confidence and happiness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ2ebs9F1ek

Today is four weeks!

Congratulations! Keep it up!

AA really helped me a lot.