Chronic fatigue and exhaustion since being sober

[CharlieBubbles88]

All blood tests have so far come back as normal so no iron difficiency/thyroid issues etc

Im so tired all the time to the point of feeling weak and ill. I’m just over two months in. Could this be related to giving up alcohol? Anyone else?

I'm not sure on the science of the dopamine deficiency, but I know you said you have given up the yoga. 20k steps is a pretty chunky number, have you considered putting some lower intensity yoga in maybe just once or twice a week (assume you like it was you were doing it daily). I'm back out the habit at the moment, but I really notice the benefit when I'm in the habit of doing yoga even weekly.

Yes, I want to ease myself in with something a bit more gentle to begin with. I think because I felt so weak and drained, I associate yoga with feeling like that. But I used to love it, and I found active yoga a better way to clear my mind than meditation strangely. I might give myself another week off as my schedule is a bit abnormal next week, and then get back on it

Maybe some gentler yoga and cut back on the steps to 15k? I really loved this book on a holistic way of living

www.amazon.co.uk/Pillar-Plan-Relax-Longer-Healthier/dp/0241303559/ref=asc_df_0241303559_nodl?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310823491886&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8487425458020821168&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007377&hvtargid=pla-413196551995&psc=1&dplnkId=b29935ad-e6d8-4629-beb3-fd255d355f96

you can get it second hand really cheaply

Also, I had counselling to help me deal with some of what I had been self medicating. I sound similar to you with fixations/intense (wonder if I have some ASD traits as I am very noise sensitive- I’m still working in that and may get CBT)

good luck!

Sometimes drinking alcohol is self medicating for an underlying issue so if you stop drinking but don't address the underlying issue things won't be great.

Do you suffer from anxiety or something else that you were perhaps unconsciously self medicating for OP?

I used to do two hours of yoga and 20k while drinking!

I do struggle with this slightly but weirdly also with silence so I constantly have to be listening to something, music doesn’t do the trick so it’s pods and audio books. As a result I’m very well read! 😂

Will definitely check out the book, someone else recommend a podcast too

It’s only really the physical issues I’m struggling with at the moment, but as posted above I have had a hard few years. I lost my dad, found out my partner who I had a mortgage with had a huge gambling issue then his suicide attempt with all that followed, while my mum was undergoing cancer treatment at the same time. She was then diagnosed with a terminal, and secondary life limiting, illness. But the alcohol abuse began before this. Learned behaviours became an addiction and therefore coping mechanism. I’m strangely self aware of all of this but until recently had no desire at all to stop. It was if alcohol was my ‘thing’ and part of who I was

Yes, you are right, I am sure. I am just finishing a book on sobriety and I am so tired and achy. I touched upon dopamine deficiency in the book, but so cheered to see others thinking along the same lines thank you.

You may wish to do some research on PAWS

Post
Acute
Withdrawal
Syndrome

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) Symptoms & Timeline (addictiongroup.org)

i think it's pretty normal at that level of drinking. I definitely don't think you need medical supervision after 3 months of sobriety - it will be well out of your system by now, and if your bloods are ok it'll 'just' be a question of time.

It took ages for my sleep to settle down. I got myself a sleep headband and listened to hypnosis tracks in bed, and that really helped. Craig Beck is good (and free with a trial of Audible), but there are lots out there. Either 'quit the booze' ones or insomnia ones might help.

Making sure being in bed is a positive experience even if you are awake is a good tip, too. I got essential oils and matching bath oil from Aromatherapy Associates, and had a warm bath every night before getting into a (made) bed in a scented room, watching a bit of TV (find a loooong series that doesn't take much concentration - I watched all of Downton Abbey then all of Stella) until I was ready to sleep, then put on the headband and listened to the hypnosis. The ritual helped, and it was all so much nicer than falling into a crumpled bed in a state of collapse. Even if I didn't go straight to sleep I enjoyed being there. After a while (ages) the number of episodes got shorter and eventually I got to the point where now I only watch TV occasionally. I still like the oils, but I no longer listen to hypnosis - I prefer 'soundscape'-type noise these days.

Don't give up - just take it slowly, and you'll start to feel better eventually. Your body will be healing already.

Thanks for the PAWS note; that is exactly what I was arguing the PAWS and Covid are a really bad mix with regard to dopamine!