Post your stories and words of encouragement. This is about the most sensible, relatable, and encouraging community that I know of, so I can think of no better place to post.
My story isn't nearly as bad as some of those who have prevailed, but:
I had boozed here and there before, but starting around June of '13 I started drinking pretty much every day. Anywhere from 2 or 3 drinks on a given night the getting blacked the fuck out. This went on until right around the end of last year. By November/December of last year I had begun slowing down, wasn't getting blacked the fuck out anymore.
Took a few days off completely before NYE and before work (I work in a bar, and was working that night) I had a panic attack while I was working out. I'd never had a panic attack before and it scared the living fuck out of me, I thought I was dying.
First couple weeks of January I was drinking 4 or 5 nights a week, but only 2 or 3 drinks max. Then on one night I got wasted, woke up, and said that was it for a little bit. Had another anxiety attack the next day and it occurred to me that that's what probably caused the first one I had.
After that, I went to the hospital for a couple days just to make sure I wasn't having any dangerous withdrawal symptoms. I went into my decision to quit with moderation in mind; the plan being to still be okay with having a couple beers on occasion here and there down the road as opposed to (what I see as a potentially unrealistic and extreme option) never drinking again. My anxiety was awful for the first week or so. Had a recurring fear of having a seizure, had trouble sleeping, didn't want to drive my car, etc.
The second week I had anxiety but it wasn't nearly as extreme as the first week.
Two weeks after being discharged from the hospital I had one beer one night as per a tradition of a weekly get-together. Had increased anxiety the next two days (the second day was terrible!) and then last week, keeping to goal of moderation in mind I did the same thing. One beer again, and shame on me. Really shitty anxiety the next day.
After that I decided that it's just time to stop drinking completely for a little bit. Which, honestly, is easier than I thought it'd be. I work at a bar that I used to get drunk at all the time (both on and off the clock and I don't have any problems doing work sober while everyone around me drinks.
Forwent the beer at this week's get-together. My anxiety still sucks, but it gets better by the day. Shit is like an elephant: you ain't gonna eat the whole thing in one day but you'll cut that motherfucker up and every day you'll eat a little more.
From everything I've read the anxiety fades away. The mind & body have to relearn how to deal with stress (which I've got plenty of!) without booze to just suppress the stress.
I've found that whenever I start to feel anxious, it comforts me to go onto ICmag and read shit that will make me a better grower. Growing is something that I really enjoy, and doing anything productive for my upcoming grow this year makes me feel better.
My story isn't nearly as bad as some of those who have prevailed, but:
I had boozed here and there before, but starting around June of '13 I started drinking pretty much every day. Anywhere from 2 or 3 drinks on a given night the getting blacked the fuck out. This went on until right around the end of last year. By November/December of last year I had begun slowing down, wasn't getting blacked the fuck out anymore.
Took a few days off completely before NYE and before work (I work in a bar, and was working that night) I had a panic attack while I was working out. I'd never had a panic attack before and it scared the living fuck out of me, I thought I was dying.
First couple weeks of January I was drinking 4 or 5 nights a week, but only 2 or 3 drinks max. Then on one night I got wasted, woke up, and said that was it for a little bit. Had another anxiety attack the next day and it occurred to me that that's what probably caused the first one I had.
After that, I went to the hospital for a couple days just to make sure I wasn't having any dangerous withdrawal symptoms. I went into my decision to quit with moderation in mind; the plan being to still be okay with having a couple beers on occasion here and there down the road as opposed to (what I see as a potentially unrealistic and extreme option) never drinking again. My anxiety was awful for the first week or so. Had a recurring fear of having a seizure, had trouble sleeping, didn't want to drive my car, etc.
The second week I had anxiety but it wasn't nearly as extreme as the first week.
Two weeks after being discharged from the hospital I had one beer one night as per a tradition of a weekly get-together. Had increased anxiety the next two days (the second day was terrible!) and then last week, keeping to goal of moderation in mind I did the same thing. One beer again, and shame on me. Really shitty anxiety the next day.
After that I decided that it's just time to stop drinking completely for a little bit. Which, honestly, is easier than I thought it'd be. I work at a bar that I used to get drunk at all the time (both on and off the clock and I don't have any problems doing work sober while everyone around me drinks.
Forwent the beer at this week's get-together. My anxiety still sucks, but it gets better by the day. Shit is like an elephant: you ain't gonna eat the whole thing in one day but you'll cut that motherfucker up and every day you'll eat a little more.
From everything I've read the anxiety fades away. The mind & body have to relearn how to deal with stress (which I've got plenty of!) without booze to just suppress the stress.
I've found that whenever I start to feel anxious, it comforts me to go onto ICmag and read shit that will make me a better grower. Growing is something that I really enjoy, and doing anything productive for my upcoming grow this year makes me feel better.
I hope you find relief.
