I've stopped drinking alcohol. Anxiety and sleep problems, please help

[1GreenBottleSittingOnTheWall]

Ive frequently over the years drank more and more in the evening due to stress and othe problems, I've got to a point where I want to stop as I know it's not healthy and I'm worried I won't be able to stop if I don't do something about it now.

I came from a family history of alcoholics/heavy drinkers.

I'm not missing the wine, replaced with tea, some fizzy and lots of chocolate for now but I'm having horrible anxiety and haven't slept for 4 days straight now.

I've suffered anxiety during the day for nearly a year now and was using cbt skills to manage it but now I'm not having a drink to help me pass out sleep I just can't get to sleep and have really vivid thoughts and sweats that leave me awake all night on & off.

I'm hoping to see my GP today and tell him about the anxiety and sleep but I'm embarrassed to tell him I have being use drink to help me sleep and now I'm having this problem.

I could really do with a hand to hold, I'm so tired it's making me tearful, no one at work can know and I panic at the thought of telling anyone in RL.

I have tried all the normal things to try and drift off, warm drinks, music, warm bath, reding etc. will the doctor be able to help me start to get over these anxiety attacks or are they just a phase that will pass in a day or two

Sorry it's so long and for any typos, I'm so tired!

I'm sure your GP would be supportive. If you're having a form of withdrawal (whether physical or psychological) they need to know to be able to help you best. Diazepam is rarely prescribed as a sleeping tablet (unless for pain - I had it after a car accident) but it also does get used for alcohol withdrawal.

I can't guess at what your GP will say but I'm sure their advice will be different if you offer full disclosure. Suck it up, get the right advice/treatment and move on with your life.

You've already done the hardest bit! Well done for that and good luck with this bit.

Just want to say well done & good luck 1GreenBottleSittingOnThe
I too have some issues with alcohol and just yesterday posted a thread about how people manage to drink responsibly as I can't do it. I don't drink during the week unless socialising as both my parents are heavy drinkers & drink every day & my grandfather was an alcoholic so I'm really aware that I probably am susceptible to alcoholism but then when I go out I binge.
I agree with other poster that you should be completely honest with your GP. They can only go on what information you give them & if not honest the medication they may prescribe could have adverse reactions to your body withdrawing from the alcohol. The GP will not judge you & will try to help. It may also feel good to say out loud what has been going on.
Good luck

WaitingForMe is right - your GP will best be able to advise you if you are completely honest about it (and your best hope for staying off the booze long term is to be completely honest about that with the people in your life, btw).

I used to find when I had nights off alcohol that I was like you - thoughts racing, unable to sleep until gone 2 a.m. Bizarrely, since giving up alcohol completely I have had no trouble getting to sleep - even in the early nights when I expected to experience symptoms like you. I think this may partly have been the complete exhaustion of my body due to the amount of damage I had done, but I did sleep at very odd times of the day and night for several weeks - which if you're still having to go to work in the day won't be possible for you.

if you can, I would take some time off work so you can sleep whenever you're most tired - and to take the pressure off the situation somewhat. If the sleeplessness is primarily caused by the anxiety then this means it can now be treated rather than masked by the alcohol. If it relates to the withdrawal, it will get better but you probably need some support whilst you get through this period.

Keep on going - you're doing the right thing.

Thank you for your replies it really does help having some support.

Even though my family has a history I was hoping I. Old h against the grain but I've realised I'm an all or nothing.

Should I be weaning myself off gently instead of all in one go maybe? I really do feel dreadful today so wondered if I should have just 2 glasses instead of a bottle tonight and see if that helps with the anxiety and sleepless night?

Im hoping I can an appointment for today.

Would think if you've decided to stop then don't go back on it. .. can you get out for walk before bed or swim. . Good luck you're doing right thing

I really don't advise you to have 'just two glasses' - the chances are not high you actually will just have two, and you put yourself back to the beginning of your withdrawal from alcohol. If your body is avoiding sleep because it's craving alcohol, giving it some is not going to help because it can only escalate.

There are safer ways to medicate in order to cope with sleeplessness but you really need a doctor's opinion on this.

My doctor's view, btw, was that if I was going to have physical withdrawal symptoms they would have started within 24 hours of my last drink (they hadn't). Psychological symptoms can take longer - some information here and here - try not to worry that these are addiction sites, you may find the term 'problem drinker' is more appropriate to your situation than alcoholic, but much of the advice is still relevant.

Thank you all again, I will read the links when I get back from dropping DD at school for her first day at big school, so glad I'm not hungover!

I have a dr's appt for 9.40 and I will tell him I have been drinking in the evenings to get over my anxiety during the day and stress at work.

Time off isn't an option but I plan to eat well and get back on track, I'm hoping my dr will understand - gulp-

ohclutter I binge drink as well but it has gone from weekends to every night, it really creeps up on you doesn't it?

1GreenBottle your trying to cope with so much, little girl starting big school & stop drinking. Really hope you find ways to get thru this & hope you get on ok at doctors and yep alcohol really does creep up on you but the fact your aware of it & not happy shows you want to make changes & think that's half the battle. My dm has major issues with alcohol but in deep denial I phoned in sick to work yesterday due to heavy night in Saturday & have already been told my sickness level heading towards low level & the only time I ever phone in sick is due to alcohol. Massive good luck to you

Thanks oh don't get me started bout my mother I have had to instance myself over the years because she wants to lean on me and have me at her becon call day and night and is also in massive denial.

She has been sectioned and now has careers coming in as she is an alcoholic who doesn't self care, I have an awful relationship with her and it's all due to alcohol, I can't bear the thought of my little girl being me in years to come.

My dad is no better and I have stopped them seeing DD because he was driving with DD in the car after drinking, he said it wasn't an issue because he is used to drinking and then driving, never had an accident so it's apparently fine

I think DD starting school has made me see I can't go n dealing with anxiety by drinking it away and after reading the links up thread it seems the alcohol is probably a major cause of the anxiety.

I like the doctor I am seeing today and I've planned what I'm going to say, I hope he can help, I don't think I can do another day in knots with my heart pounding at the thought of another sleepless night. I really thought a couple of lasses tonight will help and I could wean myself to none but I don't think that is the answer.

You must be starting to see that phoning in sick for hangovers is going to lead to no good for you, your work will be keeping a record, do you keep a record so you can see the pattern?
It is so hard, I wish you lots of luck too.

You will have seen the GP by the time you read this, I hope it went really well.

I am so impressed that you have made the decision to cut out the alcohol and have admitted to yourself that the amount was too much and for the wrong reason. Your DD will benefit so much.

Are you taking a vitamin supplement? The alcohol may have reduced certain vitamins that could be making sleep harder. I found one containing magnesium really helpful.

Also too much chocolate might not be helping.

Good Luck

Thank you hope I don't feel impressive mind!

I will look into some extra vits and I only eat 2 or 3 squares of chocolate after my dinner so that should be ok please say it is cause I lure my chocolate

GP was great and let me have a waffle about how Im feeling and has prescribed 10mg citalopram once in the morning and 5mg of Diazipam to help me sleep for a few nights whilst waiting for the citalopram kicks in.

I'm on small doses because I can't be a zombie for the school run or for work and I will see him again in 2 weeks.

I've had a muller breakfast corner and one citalopram and now getting ready to collect DD as she is doing half days this week.

I'm really looking forward to going to bed tonight, do diazepam work well? DH will get up for DD although she very rarely wakes once asleep.

I'm glad your GP was supportive. Good luck with your first fortnight.

congratulations on taking this step
one thought: with lots of tea, chocolate and poss coke-type fizzy drinks, you might be taking in a lot of caffeine - worth thinking about as can contribute to headaches, sleeplessness, racing thoughts

best of luck

Glad the GP has been helpful - mine told me to take folic acid as well as a good multi-vitamin, I can't actually remember why now, although I'd reached the stage of being almost unable to eat as I recall.

Lemon and ginger tea might be a nice alternative to real tea - or redbush perhaps? I swear by my white noise generator app on my iPhone as well - soothing sea noises (or rain - or indeed Tibetan bowls if you fancy that!). Stay off the booze if you can and hopefully this will soon pass.

Great news.

Just a word of warning, citalopram might make you feel as if you have a hangover in the morning. It's quite normal. It lasts only a week or so

Jkk is right about the caffeine, eat the 3 bloks of chocolate (that's will power!) and change to decaf drinks in the evening

I thought of the caffeine too- definitely watch your intake.
I had crippling anxiety and sleeplessness and got into a cycle of drinking too much to alleviate it and then worrying about the drinking. It's now 2.5 years since I had a drink and I've been anxiety free 99% of the time since I stopped.
The only times I get anxious now are when I've had too much coffee and if I have a late night.
The boring truth is that fresh air and exercise do help.
You probably don't feel 'AA eligible' but given your family history and the way your drinking crept up and the fact that you're now wondering whether a couple of glasses might help it might be a good idea.
You definitely qualify for Al-Anon and would also get help there.
Good Luck!

Thank you for all the tips, I have a box of red bush tea at work unopened so I will try to swap onto that. The coke and chocolate was to replace the sugar rush I was missing from wine but I can see where they wouldn't mix with the diazipam.

I collected DD and then we snuggled up for her to watch a film and for me to catch some sleep, feeling light headed now but have a nice dinner and an early night with some sleep.

help how do you find not drinking at all, what do you drink instead?

hope the sleepless nights feel like a hangover although nots as bad as a late night and lots of wine. I'm just hoping the anxiety will ease and stop me feeling like I'm on the edge of a major disaster waiting to happen.

Off for a lazy afternoon and to build up the energy to make dinner (one pan chicken yum yum)

Oh forgot to add, I downloaded the white sounds app last night and listened to heavy rain fall and the beach which was different to falling asleep to the ending credits of night cops

Not drinking is absolutely no problem. I enjoy it! I can honestly say that the thought of never having another drink in my life is a great relief.

I drink diet coke, tea, coffee etc. If I have to spend a long time around drinkers, I get a bit fed up of sugary alternatives. It's strange but it seems only women obsess about substitutes- man seem to be much more accepting of the fact that for all the bouquet, mouth feel etc, talk it's just a liquid that gets you drunk.

Have you found the Brave Babes yet? They're great and full of non drinkers, cutter downers, not ready yets.

Good luck with the sleep- everyone's different, but having not slept through the night ever (literally my earliest memories are being awake when my parents and siblings slept) I know invariably sleep through and it's amazing!

Well done 1greenbottle hope things work out for you. Be careful on the citalopram. I was started on this last year for anxiety & it really didn't agree with me but everyone's different & sounds like your gp's really supportive.
I just met dm for lunch, had to pick her up & she seemed like she had had a couple mixed with hangover. She paid for lunch which was lovely but sent me to the bar 3x for v. Large glasses of wine. Then she was pretty gone. Not really then able to have a conversation & anything I did try to say she put down. She then asked me to drive her to shop so she could ask if they had some packing boxes & she came out with 2 boxes plus litre of vodka & big bottle of cider. Also in soft play she started crying due to drinking on hangover I just find being around her more & more depressing. I used to really respect her. Seeing her made my resolve to give up wine a wee bit stronger but sure if I wasn't working tomorrow or didn't have to drive would probably have been tempted to have one too...I'm so weak!
Good luck for tonight, really hope you get a good nights sleep

oh I moved away a few years ago because I couldn't handle those sort of situations when DD came along, I watched my mum try and stop her mum from "falling off the wagon" nan used to set fire to things in her flat to stop us going on weekends away without her

Mum then moved on to slurred phone calls which she never remembered making so she would call again and repeat herself, so sad but after a many more few years of not helping herself and expecting me to come running at every call I stopped trying to help her.

I call her now, when DD isn't around and I don't answer when she calls me.

Sounds harsh but it's the way I have to be to deal with it.

So sorry you are going through it and thanks for the support.

How did you sleep, 1GreenBottle?

I slept!

I went to bed at about 1030, the diazipam didn't make me feel all woooo which I thought it would and that's why I wasn't keen on taken it but it really helped my head stop thinking. I listened to the white music app (rainstorm this time) and slept to 5 and then on and off till 7.

Feel a lot better than I have the last couple of days, hope you all have a good day and thanks for all the support.

So pleased for you!