Thiswasyourlife

Momma,
Hi, I'm Marilyn, an alcoholic. I see you want to stop drinking and have some questions. I think I can answer some if not all of them. Alcoholics, once they start, cant stop after one or two drinks. When you say you dont drink enough to get sick, I am assuming that you mean you dont vomit, yet you are sick the next day with a hang over, shakey, dazed out, etc.
Detoxing from alcohol can be very dangerous. It's the only drug that you can die from while detoxing. Thats why people seek medical attention while detoxing. Here are the symptoms:

Withdrawal Symptoms:Mild to moderate psychological symptoms:

Feeling of jumpiness or nervousness
Feeling of shakiness
Anxiety
Irritability or easily excited
Emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes
Depression
Fatigue
Difficulty with thinking clearly
Bad dreams

Mild to moderate physical symptoms:

Headache - general, pulsating
Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Insomnia, sleeping difficulty
Paleness
Rapid heart rate (palpitations)
Eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
Skin, clammy
Abnormal movements
Tremor of the hands
Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

Severe symptoms:

A state of confusion and hallucinations (visual) -- known as delirium tremens
Agitation
Fever
Convulsions
"Black outs" -- As when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode
Source: National Institutes of Health
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Scary stuff huh? I detoxed at home, by myself and was scared to death. I do not reccomend it. I had most of the symptoms, no convulsions thank goodness. There is a questioniar on line that you can take about your alcohol comsumption. From what you have already said, I think you may have your answer. You ask if the WD's are worth quitting drinking. I am not sure what you mean by this. I can say that your kids, health, life etc are worth more than the drinking. I can speak from experience that if you continue on the road your on, your drinking will progress, you will drink in front of your children and they will loose respect for you. You will loose respect for yourself, if you havent already. Your life will become unmanagable and you will be all consumed in chasing the bottle. If you progress to where I was, you will have to drink to maintain. You will cut off your family, friends and become a prisioner in your own home. You will self loath. You may be thinking, that wont happen to me. I thought the same thing. Alcohol does not discrimintate. Trust me.
Alcoholics dont drink because its a "habbit" as you posted for yourself. And, it doent have to be YOUR way of life as you meantion. Its an addiction. A progressive addiction. Its also not a sin per se. Some call it a disease. Google for some information to educate yourself.
I hope you do some soul searching for yourself. There truly is a better way of life and I am living proof of it.
I'd be happy to chat with you more if you like. I'd like to know a little more about you because believe it or not, I care deeply for you and what your going through. It's a horrible situation but YOU can stop drinking if you truly want to. Take care.

**I am responsible......
Whenever anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there.
And for that; I am responsible**
Your Friend,
Marilyn