rockstar1234
06-26-2010, 06:03 AM
i'm a 28 year-old male, with a not-unusual-for-my-age history of alcohol use over the past 5 years (around 5-7 drinks 1-3 times a week). I also have, twice in the past, suffered from bouts of anxiety disorder, and infquent problems sleeping. Problem is, I have a tendancy to drink in response to problems sleeping, to stave off the problem continuing for more than one night.
Recently, in response to problems sleeping, work stress, stress from moving, and quitting-smoking stress (on the patch for two months--so far very successful) I responded by having 4-6 drinks every night for almost four weeks. During the last week of this episode, I started having problems with waking too early--a not uncommon occurence with alcohol abuse, certainly compunded by the summer months bringing early-morning sunlight streaming into my room. I stopped the drinking for three nights, had some mild insomnia, then had drinks both nights over the weekend, and then have not had drinks over the past two nights, and have no plans to have any until i'm sure it's safe to do so.
I have had problems sleeping over the past two nights; my mind is way too overactive as I lay down, I finally fall asleep after about an hour, and then awake four-to-five hours later and am unable to get back to sleep (i have dealt with the sunlight problems [thick curtains]). As well, I had problems with an unusual amount of sweating both nights.
Doing a little reading, it occured to me that i'm going through mild alcohol withdrawal.
My question in this -- have I ruined drinking permanently for myself? I have no intention of going back to drinking in response to stress ever again (as I get older i'm realizing how dangerous that kind of pattern is), but don't want to have to abstain for the rest of my life. I don't think i'm alcoholic (i don't have any problems not drinking for extended periods of time, no problem stopping drinking after i've had a couple, no issues with relationships, work, or responsibilities due to alcohol), but when I go out to a club or a party, I want to be able to have a few and not worry about insomnia and sweats for days afterwards.
Does anyone have any thoughts/advice on this problem? I have a work function coming up -- it will be five days since my last drink -- and would like to be able to have a few without having problems for days afterwards.
If anyone has any questions, i'll be monitoring the thread and can supply answers.
__________________
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Recently, in response to problems sleeping, work stress, stress from moving, and quitting-smoking stress (on the patch for two months--so far very successful) I responded by having 4-6 drinks every night for almost four weeks. During the last week of this episode, I started having problems with waking too early--a not uncommon occurence with alcohol abuse, certainly compunded by the summer months bringing early-morning sunlight streaming into my room. I stopped the drinking for three nights, had some mild insomnia, then had drinks both nights over the weekend, and then have not had drinks over the past two nights, and have no plans to have any until i'm sure it's safe to do so.
I have had problems sleeping over the past two nights; my mind is way too overactive as I lay down, I finally fall asleep after about an hour, and then awake four-to-five hours later and am unable to get back to sleep (i have dealt with the sunlight problems [thick curtains]). As well, I had problems with an unusual amount of sweating both nights.
Doing a little reading, it occured to me that i'm going through mild alcohol withdrawal.
My question in this -- have I ruined drinking permanently for myself? I have no intention of going back to drinking in response to stress ever again (as I get older i'm realizing how dangerous that kind of pattern is), but don't want to have to abstain for the rest of my life. I don't think i'm alcoholic (i don't have any problems not drinking for extended periods of time, no problem stopping drinking after i've had a couple, no issues with relationships, work, or responsibilities due to alcohol), but when I go out to a club or a party, I want to be able to have a few and not worry about insomnia and sweats for days afterwards.
Does anyone have any thoughts/advice on this problem? I have a work function coming up -- it will be five days since my last drink -- and would like to be able to have a few without having problems for days afterwards.
If anyone has any questions, i'll be monitoring the thread and can supply answers.
__________________
short sale homes in orlando (http://www.townsrealty.com)
Window washing Portland Oregon (http://www.windowandguttercleaningportlandoregon.com)