Timeline of your quitting experience

[dontlookbackinangerr]

I'm on day 5 and I've had constant headaches which are finally fading, but now have so much bloatededness. Everything else seems okay, just getting used to sleeping sober... I was drinking 1+ bottle of wine a night for a long time. Weirdly not having cravings. I'm not tempted one bit which is different to past attempts.

I know everyone is different but for the people who have quit, either recently or for a long time... what did you experience physically or health ways over days/weeks/months? What should I expect?

My life and body needs freedom back without the damaging effects of alcohol. Time to heal.

@dontlookbackinangerr - I was a binge drinker so could go weeks/months AF before drinking again so my experience is probably different to daily/nightly/regular drinkers.

First couple of days after a bender are hell on earth. Physical pain, vomiting, anxiety, shaking. Puffy/bloated face, huge under eye bags, red eyes, grey complexion. Hiding in my bedroom, unable to eat and unable to face anyone. Complete insomnia so up all night just watching the clock as unable to read/watch tv. Feel mentally better anxiety wise (though the shame and guilt still there) by day 3 and physically by about day 5. Look “normal “ after about a week.

Then feel great for about 2 weeks - aka pink clouding. Genuinely feel “this time this is it! This time I will remember how hellish that was and I won’t buy that booze. This time will be different!” and I start walking/going to gym/healthy eating.

sail along like this for another few weeks then the sadness/depression kicks in. Start to miss “normal drinking” (not the binge drinking) and feel sorry for myself that I can’t have a glass of wine after work or an Aperol spritz on holiday like everyone else. Then maybe a week later, give in to the compulsion to drink and the cycle repeats.

I’m currently weeks AF - I’m not counting this time as I am focussing on me being a non-drinker rather than getting sober, if that makes sense. So it’s into the months now but I’m not charting it.

So for me, it’s dealing with the later cravings after a few weeks/months AF that is the big challenge.

How are you getting on now?