day 4

[hamlet]

This is my 4th day AF, days are going fine, evenings were very hard for the first two nights then day three realized the urge was coming later in the evening.

Tempted today to risk "just one" but went to the gym instead.

Finding the nights much more difficult, still clammy and sweaty all night - not very attractive - but probably much more attractive than me drunk! Keep having the same very vivid dreams which I could well do without.

Any ideas on dealing with the nights would be welcome as would any support to keep me going.

M:heart: couldn't have got here with out your help, many, many thanks.

[Dolly Sunshine]

day 4

Have you tried Melatonin at night? I found after about day 4 everything got better.

[satori]

day 4

Hi Hamlet,

The nights will get easier with time.

The vivid dreams are happening because alcohol interferes with REM phase sleep (the time when we dream) and suppresses dreaming.
With no alcohol in your system, your dreams are free to happen normally.

At the moment - there are other things going on in your body that mean your sleep is light - so you tend to wake and remember the dreams.
We all dream a lot while sleeping - but usually sleep deeply enough that the dreams do not intrude / are not remembered when we wake.

As time goes on - you will sleep more deeply, and the dreams will not be so well remembered when you wake.

This is all a GOOD thing by the way - most sleep experts agree that REM phase sleep is vital to health, laying down of memories, real rest etc.

It means your brain is getting back to normal .

You are on the way!

Love

Satori

xxx

[GottaChange]

day 4

Day 4 for me too!

Hi Hamlet,

Day 4 for me and counting. I have decided to follow another poster's advice and change my life habits as a way of helping with drinking. If you still have the same routine at nights that you did when you were drinking, the same triggers will still be there. These are some things that I am doing and some added suggestions to keep the evenings at bay.

-Looking for a sewing class(once I learn some basics it can lead to projects or sewing groups)
-Gym at night instead of the day
-See if the Gym has a class during the night that you could add to your schedule
-Local night activities: I found a paint your own pottery store and am trying to get together a group to do bi-weekly evening parties.
-Book clubs
-sports clubs
-chess
-volunteering
-adult education classes(think of something that has been of interest and take it up)
-journaling
-walking the dog
-go to the movies

These are just a few thoughts and will need to be tailored to your interests, but I hope they help.

I am also doing things different like. Instead of wolfing down a cup of coffee while trying to get my daughter out the door for school, I start making the pot 5 minutes before she leaves. This allows me to drink my daily 2 cups in peace, which has helped a lot.

Hang in there. Try just one little change daily and see what works.

-GC

[hamlet]

day 4

hi gotachange,

I too have been changing the routine and agree it really helps, I have been going to the gym each night, my legs and back hut in the morning but at least my head doesn't!

How are you finding things? I have had a few pieces of wondering if one wouldn't hurt, actually thats not true I probably thought it ten times or more the first two nights, but generally it hasn't been to bad.

I can remember ten years or more ago when I drank nearly every lunch time, I haven't done that for years and don't miss it one bit. I get confused between what is addiction and what is habit and what the heck the difference is.

Clearly the physical symptoms show addiction as does the feelings associated with withdrawal but the change in the need to drink at lunchtime and the distancing further and further into the evening of my wish to drink make me wonder?

Still staying clean and good, wish you, and everyone else on this path, well, Satori and Dolly thanks for your word of wisdom and your support.

M

[GottaChange]

day 4

Hi Hamlet,

I have to admit I have been getting the itch, but I think it is part withdrawl and part habit. I haven't been making a big enough effort to change things at night. It is just so easy to be lazy. Plus if you are like me you don't want to announce, "I am going to the movies so I don't get drunk tonight." Want to keep my problem and my solutions to myself at this point.

I am trying to find a sewing class, thought I may just drag my stuff out and just do it. I am working on a few other things, but I am afraind once they get going I will be drinking again and my motivation will be gone. I guess we all have to do what we can.

My goal would be to find a few morning activities for my 3-year old-thus motivation to not be hungover and a few night activities for me to get me through the itchy period. I am going to keep working on it.

How are you feeling?

-GC