Alcoholism discussion thread v. 5.0

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

Its my 36th sober day.
any tips for insomnia?
Its really hard to fall a sleep and I always feel tired.

thanks

Get into meditation, don't take any naps during the day, and get into doing cardio exercise at least 3X a week for 20-30 mins at a time.

Also if you're a very light sleeper and noises wake you up put in some earplugs.

 

[korjusk]

Get into meditation, don't take any naps during the day, and get into doing cardio exercise at least 3X a week for 20-30 mins at a time.

Also if you're a very light sleeper and noises wake you up put in some earplugs.

im doing cardio exercises and meditate(for5min) atleast 5x a week. I dont drink coffee 7h before bedtime. and drinking warm milk/taking hot shower before bed dosent help.
edit: and I dont take naps.

seem like Im doing it right? maybe I should wait for another month and then go to see a doc If things wont get better.

edit3: but im using GBL and weed for 2x per week.

 

[Sepher]

Korjusk, you usually have trouble sleeping, or does this feel like a withdrawal symptom type sleeping disturbance? Just asking cos my sleeping pattern was completely messed up, real bad insomnia and restless when I did manage to nod off for pretty much the first month sober, part of a package of other symptoms that suddenly disappeared overnight about day 30. Still have the occasional sleepless night but mostly the pattern's back to normal. Don't think the GBL and weed is gonna be doing you any favours. Weed tends to keep me awake no matter how stoned I am, totally counter-productive. Maybe get yourself some Melatonin, see if that helps. Would be preferable to tranqs / sleepers at this stage anyways I think, so long as it helps you get nearer a normal sleeping pattern again.

JungleJuice, congrats on the day 61 thing. Feels like some achievement don't it? Good feeling. I make it day 75 here for me. These sober days just piling up behind me at a ferocious pace at the minute. Need to be careful I don't get too complacent with how plain sailing the thing is at the minute, keep some guard up for the day the cravings fire up out of nowhere ready to try and bite me on the arse. I'm ready for those fuckers though, bring it on if they think they got game enough! Imma put them cravings down, you watch!

 

[korjusk]

for as long as I remember I have had some sort of small sleeping problems. but as long as I remember I have drunk alcohol. So I not sure but I think that my insomnia is post WD symptom.

edit: insomnia has gotten lot worse when I stopped drinking

 

[blahman8000]

Hey everyone. I thought I'd check in.

I'm still drinking. Not as much as I used to when I had so much time on my hands, but still excessively. The prospect of mitigating my drinking and becoming just another 6-beers-a-weekend social drinker is obviously not within reach, yet the pervasive cultural attitude at my age is to enjoy some beer and live it up. I'm pretty sure I've fucked that up solid for myself, but just don't want to accept that I'm an alcoholic and can't enjoy alcohol. What's different now is that, being occupied with work and classes, it isn't some perpetual state of drunkenness that is preventing me from getting through the day. It's that most of the day, I have to be relatively sober, and the anxiety of having to sit still, be productive, and just exist leads to desperation for some kind of relief. The relief is being able to let that weight off at the end of the day and drink. The thoughts and anxiety build up, and yet now I feel more like it's okay to drink, because at least I'm not sitting in a room drinking between passing out. But I'm still struggling through each hour of sobriety. On my lunch break, I generally have a beer or two to take the edge off. In the morning, I have some beer because these thoughts and waves of anxiety invade as soon as I realize I'm awake.

Alcohol, being so cheap and accessible, was such an easy option. A part of me does feel like I'd much rather have a different drug to resort to, to put a distance between me and those thoughts and that subtle panic of sobriety. But it's not like I know or understand heroin addiction. I do want to switch to something else, like some visceral need, but with any logic I know I'll be in the same spot.

 

[michael]

try getting some exercise during the day - wear yourself out.

 

[polymath]

Here's a page about an ongoing clinical trial where the researchers are investigating the effects of single-dose ketamine on people who have both alcohol dependence and major depression:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01551329

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ketamine in reducing depressive symptoms in subjects with a comorbid major depressive episode and alcohol dependence. The investigators hypothesize the following for the present study:

A single dose of ketamine will induce a rapid, robust and sustained reduction in depressive symptoms in subjects with a comorbid major depressive episode and alcohol dependence relative to placebo as defined by change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total scores at 72 hours post infusion.

A single dose of ketamine can be delivered safely, with minimal adverse events or complications, in subjects with a comorbid major depressive episode and alcohol dependence.

The effects of ketamine on both depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption will be evaluated.

Has anyone here noted that dissociatives like ketamine or DXM would reduce alcohol cravings? Has anyone been addicted to K and alcohol at the same time?

Note that I'm not recommending anyone to try quitting an addictive drug by using another one.

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

I had two beers and when they wore off I became a manic, suicidal, depressed and angry insomniac. Help.

 

[jspun]

Sephr

Sobriety partners it is then. Do we get to go on adventures and stuff? Matching outfits, anything like that? I'm probably thinking more along the lines of Batman and Robin, or Men In Black there than crime partners maybe. Never was a very good criminal and from what I've seen of Goodfellas and Mean Streets and Pulp Fiction and what have you crime partners tend to have the most appalling dress sense. I'm not wearing a shiny suit for anybody, I'll tell you that for free!

Will get drab suits in honor of drab Northern England. So when do we get fitted Sobriety Partner? Hahaha- Just kidding. How are you? Decaying cities aside, it must be hard to get sober in your part of the world- the beer tastes too good. Lucky for me, its not the same once it makes the journey across the border.

Are you doing good. Realized my count was off. Instead of the 83 days I had, its up to 87. Sobriety date is 7/12.

Blahman Thanks as always for the insightful and honest report. As always meetings after work (and I work 12 hour shifts) helped as did excercise per Michael.

Polymath Wish I lived in New haven.:D Never got a proper ket high. But its nice alternative are being explored in the puritanical USA of all places.

Ho-Chi-Minh You can try hitting yourself over the head with a malet. Just kidding. Avoid EtOH and see a psychiatrist. Maybe an Rx for benzos is warranted or something else. Just dont tell then you drink and don't use both in combination. But you've been around for a while. Feel you probably need our support more than my advice. Hope things get better for you.

Meet with my sponsor latter. Was at an AA meeting because its near my work last night full of elitist hipster wannabees. HA is infested with them down here. NA is refreshingly devoid of these fucks. And this is AA in the central San Diego area/ As opposed to AA North County which is alot more egalitarian.

Think I'm gonna start an insurgency, call it the FSA (Free Sobriety Army).

Vaya, hope all is going well. Hope veryone else is doing well on this forum.

 

[herbavore]

J-spun, I don't have personal experience with meetings but Caleb always used to tell me about the ones he went to. He was a hysterical story teller and mimic and he used to love to regale me with all the different cultures that different meetings had. He finally decided that the only one he could stomach was the one downtown where all the people that lived on the streets went. He loved that group. He said that it was the safest room he ever sat in (referring to not being judged).

Have you ever heard of Noah Levine or Dharma Punx? You should see if they have any meetings in SD. I'd be interested to hear what you think.

Hope everybody else is doing well. The days are getting shorter and darker and I know that can be a hard time. If you want a handknit beanie from Herby, send me a PM. (And for those that aren't American, what do you call those kind of hats?)

 

[Tarnum]

^Its not a perfect option for everyone, but could you try subs or methadone maybe? Some people just need that chemical assistance in one form or another, and its probably better to get it from a doctor than scoring on the streets or going back to the booze. Anyway, just a thought. Good luck.

I agree i need a chemical assistance. it fucking sucks but no use crying about it...better to deal with it and get moving to make up for the wasted years...(very fun though i will admit)
Thanks alot for your caring
I actually havent touched the H in almost 2 weeks but i was still miserable so today i received kratom and I think im just going to drink that because it doesnt get me high but it keeps me from craving too much.
I know im essentially trading addictions but its way better than an H addiction because of factors like drug tests, and costs, plus just the negative stigma...I feel like there isnt anything wrong with doing H but its just not the best choice to live in this society, or atleast being able to grow financially while dependent on it

 

[jspun]

Herby

I looked into Noah Levine's website. There are meditation meetings is various cities. The nearest being the LA area which is 1.5- 2 hours from where I live. Perhaps I shall check it out because meditation is a whoefully laking part of my spiritual walk and trying to incorporate new spiritual philosophies/ disciplines. Sounds like he has specific experience in our condition (and I'm sure those associated with him).

Now prayer I use extensively- trying to get away from the SOS prayers and good give me (God as a great Cosmic Santa Claus) type prayers to how I could be useful and to make me an instrument of his will. Would be nice to have a cosmic sugar daddy every now and then though if I must be honest.

As for the meetings, there is a thursday NA in PB were everyone is made to feel welcome. Same holds true for most mens meetings, North county AA, CA, and alot of NA meetings period. I went sunday to a HA mtg were I was kinda ignored (not like the friday north county). And went to a 7:30 NA meeting afterward in La Jolla, younger crowd were when I walked in people turned and smiled welcoming- Bizzare.

The main culprits are dawn patrol 7:00 am Pacific Beach (unless a girl- you get swooped on- otherwise ignored), Gong show- down the street PB alano house. And drunks only. Some La Jolla meetings, Drunks Only noon (bad but ok) and North Park 8:15 pm area eletist lame. Not sure why. SD spekers tuesday 7:30 can be cliquish. But 8:15 AA Ocean beach meeting is soul. Luckily I only go when I work down there and the NA meetings are mostly golden.

What pissed me off about Dawn Patrol is that people act the way they do and it is associated with a recovery home and well known church not to mention names (but the later that rhymes with sock). I'm prety sure that hitting on new comer chicks is not in line with any christian teachings but i'm no new testament biblical scholar. But that pisses me off more than anything. By the way the guy that runs the recovery house, his name rhymes with "slave towers". An El Duce if I've ever seen one but with a small mans complex like Adolph.

Solution. Work steps, get sponsees, and make them reach out to anyone who needs help, don't care how they smell, look, or how uncool the sponsee thinks they are. this aint highschool for fucks sake. I can start the insurgency, the underground resistance by reaching out and saying hi to those that seem uncomfortable- making them feel welcome- lack of feeling comfortable and included is a major reason we drank.

Again this is southern SD AA mostly and just certain meetings are culprits- albeit hip, influential look good ones.

Where are you from Herby. It wouldn't happen to be a democracy in Asia on the med?- I could then answer your question about the beanie more intellegently. Is Caleb still posting?

Tarnum Opiates are physically safer than alcohol (I'm refering to opioid replacement therapy like methadone and sub.) Careful with sub, though, the narcan they inanely formulate it might cause hepatic toxicity so check your LFts (Liver enzymes) before initiating and during therapy if you choose this therapy,

You never have to drink though. Its a pain in the ass but involves finding a new way of life. I did it, took a week to get through the shakes- no cushy rehab, so calling in sick for work, just meetings and slowly taking suggestions. It took me 6 months of hard drinking prior to that to taper off of and blow through the sub PAWS. What ever you do, I hope you get the clarity to do the right thing. Good luck and keep checking in- lots of love on this forum.

 

[jspun]

Herby I looked into Noah Levine's website. There are meditation meetings is various cities. The nearest being the LA area which is 1.5- 2 hours from where l live. Sounds like he has specific experience in our condition (and I'm sure those associated with him). Perhaps I shall check it out because meditation is a whoefully laking part of my spiritual walk and trying to incorporate new spiritual disciplines.

Now prayer I use extensively- trying to get away from the SOS prayers and good give me (God as a great Cosmic Santa Claus) type prayers to how I could be useful and to make me an instrument of his will. Would be nice to have a cosmic sugar daddy every now and then though if I must be honest.

As for the meetings, there is a thursday NA in PB were everyone is made to feel welcome. Same holds true for most mens meetings, North county AA, CA, and alot of NA meetings period. I went sunday to a HA mtg were I was kinda ignored (not like the friday north county). And went to a 7:30 NA meeting afterward in Lajolla, younger crowd were when I walked in people turned and smiled welcoming- Bizzare.

The main culprits are dawn patrol 7:00 am Pacific Beach (unless a girl- you get swooped on- otherwise ignored), Gong show- down the street PB alano house. And drunks only. Some La Jolla meetings, Drunks Only noon (bad but ok) and North Park 8:15 pm area eletist lame. Not sure why. SD spekers tuesday 7:30 can be cliquish. But 8:15 AA Ocean beach meeting is soul. Luckily I only go when I work down there and the NA meetings are mostly golden.

What pissed me off about Dawn Patrol is that people act the way they do and it is associated with a recovery home and well known church (the later that rimes with sock). I'm prety sure that hitting on new comer chicks is not in line with any christian teachings but i'm no new tetament biblical scholar. But that pisses me off more than anything. By the way the guy that runs the recovery house, his name rhymes with "slave towers". An El Duce if I've ever seen one but with a small man's complex like Adolph- but he aint small in stature.

Solution. Work steps, get sponsees, and make them reach out to anyone who needs help, don't care how they smell, look, or how uncool the sponsee thinks they are. this ainy highschool for fucks sake. I can start the insurgency, the underground resistance by reaching out and saying hi to those that seem uncomfortable- making them feel welcome- lack of feeling comfortable and included is a major reason we drank.

Again this is southern SD AA mostly and just certain meetings are culprits- albeit hip, influential look good ones.

Where are you from Herby. It wouldn't happen to be a democracy in Asia on the med?- I could then answer your question about the beanie more intellegently. Is Caleb still posting?

Tarnum Opiates are physically safer than alcohol (I'm refering to opioid replacement therapy like methadone and sub.) Careful with sub, though, the narcan they inanely formulate it might cause hepatic toxicity so check your LFts (Liver enzymes) before initiating and during therapy if you choose this therapy,

You never have to drink though. Its a pain in the ass but involves finding a new way of life. I did it, took a week to get through the shakes- no cushy rehab, so calling in sick for work, just meetings and slowly taking suggestions. It took me 6 months of hard drinking prior to that to taper off of and blow through the sub PAWS. What ever you do, I hope you get the clarity to do the right thing. Good luck and keep checking in- lots of love on this forum.

 

[Sepher]

Have you ever heard of Noah Levine or Dharma Punx?

Another one for the Xmas list I'm slowly building up of your recommendations. We don't have anything like that as a group I don't think here, but the book looks right up my street.

The days are getting shorter and darker and I know that can be a hard time. If you want a handknit beanie from Herby, send me a PM. (And for those that aren't American, what do you call those kind of hats?)

Ummmm . . . . . . beanie hats!? I'd have one but you'd probably need to know how big to make it, and so I'd have to run a tape measure round me bonce, and then you'd be all like 'That can't be right, you sure you measured it properly?' and I'll be all like 'Yup, no, it's right, honest.' and then you'll be all like 'Damn. I wasn't planning on using that much chuffin' wool. and then I'll be like and you'll be like 'Well that's not what I had in mind at all, wish I'd never bloody offered now, but damn, you've sure got a big 'ead Sepher! Best not go there Herb, best not go there. It will end in tears for both of us! 8)

SephrWill get drab suits in honor of drab Northern England. So when do we get fitted Sobriety Partner? Hahaha- Just kidding. How are you? Decaying cities aside, it must be hard to get sober in your part of the world- the beer tastes too good. Lucky for me, its not the same once it makes the journey across the border.

Are you doing good. Realized my count was off. Instead of the 83 days I had, its up to 87. Sobriety date is 7/12.

Congrats on the 87 days Jspun. Drab suits it is. And matching flat caps, in tweed, like a pair of proper northern 1930s depression era vagabonds. Hmmmmm, the thread seems to be developing a headwear theme all of a sudden. And yes, I maybe have to be a little careful about the triggering rule here but for drinkers of real ale we have some really excellent (micro-)breweries in Yorkshire. I used to drink cheap vodka and Stella to get drunk ASAP but it's the craft beers that I'm gonna miss most and will find most difficult to resist in the future.

Still good here. Just popped in to get my day count ( day 79 I think? ) for a thread elsewhere where someone I've not always really got on with over the years used a Xmas wishlist type thread to wish nothing for himself but me a continuing recovery. I'm really quite touched. Not entirely sure how to respond, except of course, very gratefully and graciously. Will come back for a longer chat a bit later on. 'Bout time I got some work done.

 

[gman2008]

Day 20 of soberism
Day 20 drug free
Day 20 gyming
Day 20 of

 

[herbavore]

gman, that is absolutely wonderful. Here's to many more days of

j-spun--sending you a PM.

Ummmm . . . . . . beanie hats!? I'd have one but you'd probably need to know how big to make it, and so I'd have to run a tape measure round me bonce, and then you'd be all like 'That can't be right, you sure you measured it properly?' and I'll be all like 'Yup, no, it's right, honest.' and then you'll be all like 'Damn. I wasn't planning on using that much chuffin' wool. and then I'll be like and you'll be like 'Well that's not what I had in mind at all, wish I'd never bloody offered now, but damn, you've sure got a big 'ead Sepher! Best not go there Herb, best not go there. It will end in tears for both of us! 8)


.

HAHA!! I almost fell out of bed laughing, Sepher. If you only knew that my husband was actually excused from wearing a hat in the U.S. army when he was drafted because they actually couldn't find him one that was big enough. He has a huge head and mine is kinda small so we joked that we would have a shot at producing a normal child. I once tried to make up a hat pattern and it came out gigantic--it was hilarious! It was even too big for him--maybe I should just send you that one?

 

[michael]

one time my mother went to florida for the phillies spring training and i asked her to bring me back a clearwater threshers hat - i meant the el cheapo adjustable kind but she thought she'd be nice and get me a fitted cap.

for some reason she thought a 6 1/4 would fit me. it might have fit me at 14. i wear a 7 1/2.

 

[Sepher]

Day 20 of soberism
Day 20 drug free
Day 20 gyming
Day 20 of

Good job Gman. %) How you feeling? I'm guessing the 's a clue? My first month was rough but surprisingly easy since this time round once I got past it. Think my head's in the right place for it at last, not feeling deprived and resentful like I was which is a big help. My mood's unrecognisable from what it was, and noticeably so I think when I look back at some of my posts here and elsewhere from a few months back compared to more recent ones. Not perfect by a long way but a damn sight better than it was. Stay strong dude, best of luck moving forward!

HAHA!! I almost fell out of bed laughing, Sepher. If you only knew that my husband was actually excused from wearing a hat in the U.S. army when he was drafted because they actually couldn't find him one that was big enough. He has a huge head and mine is kinda small so we joked that we would have a shot at producing a normal child. I once tried to make up a hat pattern and it came out gigantic--it was hilarious! It was even too big for him--maybe I should just send you that one?

Ha! Herby, if you can be arsed knitting something that would keep the dark side of the moon warm on a cold night, I'd love one. It's getting damn cold here already. I don't tend to look very good in hats cos of the size of me swede thing but I'll even model it on the TDS photo thread for you, how's that? The ferrets are rampaging through the kitchen at the minute so I'll dig out a tape measure later. Not sure how accurate it'll be though, think the one I've got only goes up to 3 metres?

EDIT: Right, I have just this minute measured my 'ead. I told you it was big. 24 inches dead. Pulling the tape really, really tight I just about managed 23.5" but I was in danger of cutting off the blood flow to the top 'alf of the cerebral cortex doing that, which I am led to believe would be a bad thing! Pffffft! Damn, the tape measure I've got and the hat sizing guide I found only go up to 25" between 'em FFS. If my hair was half an inch longer we'd be in the realms of total guesswork. 8)

 

[gman2008]

Thanks herbavore Been here before no room for failure this time!! Just home there is plenty of smiles more to come

 

[gman2008]

Good job Gman. %) How you feeling? I'm guessing the 's a clue? My first month was rough but surprisingly easy since this time round once I got past it. Think my head's in the right place for it at last, not feeling deprived and resentful like I was which is a big help. My mood's unrecognisable from what it was, and noticeably so I think when I look back at some of my posts here and elsewhere from a few months back compared to more recent ones. Not perfect by a long way but a damn sight better than it was. Stay strong dude, best of luck moving forward!

Thanks sepher feeling great man the gyming is helping alot am already seeing results after 3 weeks
I will stay strong as i wish the same to you
tc buddy