Sudden crash after 19 days sober

[Toomuchwine89]

Just whyyyy?! I was on such a high after first giving up (after the first couple of days, anyway).

But now I feel depressed, anxious, and yep, in need of wine!

I'm dreading the summer holidays more than ever before. I have six young children and all I see and hear is people saying "you'll need all the gin!" "sending buckets of wine!" etc which isn't helping.

Is this sudden low normal? It's been a couple of days now at least...

[Dogpatch45]

I'm sure you know alcohol is a natural depressant so no wonder you're feeling low. I drink once every blue moon at weddings or a party which isnt often and feel like crap for days after. I'm usually T total It's really not worth it. Back in the day I drank all the time and I was in a right state. My life was a mess and everything seems so much worse with a hangover.
I drunk for the first time in 2 years last Saturday( cocktails) and I'm just starting to feel normal today! It effects sleep and everything. I also look like shite but my tolerance is is really low. It will be another 2 years for me least!!

[Toomuchwine89]

Oh wow! Well done for cutting down so much. I hope I feel better soon. Trying to keep busy and drink iced coffee instead 🤷

[Dollface213]

Don't beat yourself up OP. Can I ask if you have a drink problem or just enjoy a drink?

[Toomuchwine89]

I was having most of a bottle of wine nearly every night before x

[Cozytoesandtoast00]

Have you tried the Janey Lee Grace podcast for support?
She's really good at talking about the lows.
What makes you feel good instead of alcohol? A nap, exercise, Netflix binge. Whatever it takes.
It's still early days remember.

[Motherofcatsanddog]

It's completely normal for you feel low or more stressed or worried about the future at times. Everyone does. It's just that your brain is still telling you that wine will make it all better. It'll take a while to reprogram it so wine isn't the go to when you feel down. Well done for getting so far and powering through these difficult emotions. I find it hard getting past day 5.

Have you been substituting wine with any treats or other routines/habits?

[Singleandproud]

You've gone cold turkey, like any drug your body is craving it.

Once you get through this really tricky patchy you'll feel much better.

It takes atleast 30 days to change a habit.

[Geansai]

Look into naltrexone, it stops giving you the happy endorphins that alcohol gives. In turn you eventually don't want it. It does require willpower to give up which you seem to have. Might be worth a try if you have gone sober for nearly 3 weeks. It might be hard to get it prescribed but it is not impossible

[WinterMusings]

(((HUG)))

I can't imagine how difficult it must be.

you're doing very well, 19 Days is great! I'm sure your body must be craving the hit. But not have the sense to know it'll crash after!!

I have a very restricted diet due to a medical condition. It's bloody boring & very hard & despite feeling better esting this way, my body often craves the stuff I'm not meant to eat. If I give in & eat it, I feel crap afterwards, both physically and about myself for not having more sense.

you know you'll feel bad letting yourself down and having to go through the first few days again.

be strong, you've got this!!

treat yourself to something nice, get the kids in bed, order a takeaway, watch a good film, nice shower & early night?

(6 kids 😳😳. What age are they??)

[HumourReplacementTherapy]

Well done for posting on here instead of reaching for the wine.
Can you reward yourself? Be honest with yourself re how much you were spending and save it up in a separate 'pot' many banks offer sub accounts.
Set some goals but make your first one fairly soon.
List the benefits:
Better sleep
Better health
Longevity of life
Patience
Energy
Skin
Hangover free
Money
Mental health.... 😊

[Toomuchwine89]

Thanks for your kind words everyone :) it really helps.

The kids are 13, 11, 9, 6, 3 and 15 months.

The baby makes it very difficult to do much for myself! She still breastfeeds, co sleeps and is very clingy. I don't mind too much because she's my last baby but I'm a bit limited hobby wise 😂

I did make a list of the positives of stopping and there were LOADS.

[Toomuchwine89]

I'm also rewarding myself with lots of chocolate 😬

[Vgtasd]

I am on day 14 of no alcohol and have felt very depressed and anxious tonight, I'm not sure why this has happened?

[Caminante]

When you stop drinking you find out why you were drinking 😄
Those issues haven't gone away so it might be time to think about some self help or professional help.

A bit of chocolate is a good thing! Your body is craving the sugar you were getting from the alcohol. Be kind to yourself and your body, what you're doing isn't easy but the rewards are great.

[Maisa45]

I'm on week 6 of sobriety now. Week 1 I experienced mental cravings but felt a bit better physically due to no hangovers. Weirdly though the physical withdrawal was actually worse on weeks 2-3. I kept waking up at 5am and felt like a zombie. I felt a huge improvement on weeks 4-5 so stick with it OP!! I think a look a lot better now too, less wrinkly and fuller face if that's any motivation for you?

As a PP pointed out drinking doesn't make your problems go away but I actually find things somewhat easier to deal with now that I'm not battling hangovers and intense alcohol cravings. I still get stressed but I try to take a deep breath and tell myself "this isn't a big deal, it won't even matter in a couple of hours/days" if what I'm getting stressed about is something silly like a whingy child or a broken cup.

I've developed an iced coffee habit as I think it feels like a treat! I put coconut milk and hazelnut protein powder in it and it tastes like Ferraro Rocher and gives me the energy boost that alcohol once did (or I thought it did anyway). You can do this!!

[SunscreenGetsInYerEyes]

In my experience, listing the benefits of sobriety doesn’t keep you sober (at least long term) when you really fancy a drink.

If you were drinking a bottle of wine a night, you’ve got a problem. Get help. You don’t have to do it alone. This idea that we should all be tackling alcohol issues on our own with a few self help books doesn’t sit well with me. Alcohol is a powerful drug. There’s no shame in admitting you’ve got a problem and seeking some proper support.

[GotTheTshirtx1000]

Hi I'm on day 18, join AA asap, they do zoom if you can't make meetings in person. Listen to podcasts, read books, I have bought a few AA books but also been to the library. I can't explain how good AA is, trust me it's a game changer and even if you do relapse you can still be welcomed back with open arms however I'm trying my hardest not to let that happen. Everyone has been so friendly and supportive, so many total strangers gave me they're number to call anytime. They know how this feels they know how to solve it but more importantly they give you a connection and hope and eventually if not immediately you will want what they have.

[onedayiwillflyaway1]

@Toomuchwine89 you've had lots of really good advice. I just wanted to say well done on 19 day that's amazing. I remember feeling exhausted at times during the first few months. I now think I was craving sugar, I had to take one day at a time it gets better.