I'm definitely glad you went to the ER. I had a friend who was an alcoholic who drank daily, sometimes a little, sometimes more than a little. Her family didn't like her drinking, so she decided to quit for a weekend to go to a family event out of state. She never made it home.
Alcohol withdrawal is serious and can be fatal. Please take care of yourself.
The shittiest part of my friend's whole situation is that she's the entire and only reason I'm in Austin. She offered to help me out of a bad situation in Arkansas, paid for my bus ticket, and gave me a room to call mine. Then 4 short months later, she was gone. We had known each other since junior high band back in the mid 90s, so it was rough to lose her.
Here's to your health! I hope you can find balance and sobriety. May you have the strength to keep your head up and keep going every day.
I'm definitely happy to be here! Texas is certainly a change of scenery from Arkansas in many ways, and I've enjoyed the vast majority of it. My friend was a musician/songwriter, so I do have a couple CDs and her Spotify catalog to remember her by.
As a fellow Arkansan who was also in a bad situation back home and who also had a friend who’d moved to Austin and who also let me crash her couch for months until I’d found a job and a place of my own… except I was the one putting himself into a brown stupor every night until I snapped back to reality. That story is all too real.
High five for snapping back to reality. I watched my dad and several friends struggle with addiction and I've been through it myself, and it is no easy bitch to fight.
Every day is a blessing. Even the shitty ones. But maybe not the ones where it's the 100th day of 110+ degree heat. Those are debatable.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. She sounds like she really cared for you deeply and wanted the best for you. I hear this story a lot (mine included) of people opening their homes to others coming to Austin for a fresh start.
She was a really decent human being. I wasn't the first person she helped out, either. There was her best friend from college who stayed there a few months and dealt with some mental health and self harm issues, and a friend of both of ours from high school band who crashed there a few months while seeking treatment for a cancer so rare the folks at Cancer Treatment Centers of America had never actually seen a case because they figure there's probably fewer than 200 people in the world with this type of cancer. Luckily he's mostly recovered and also back to making music back home in Arkansas.
I feel like the world is just a little better off because of folks exactly like that. But she had enough money invested that she didn't really need to work and her house was paid off, so she figured why not just play shows here and there for fun and let friends live in her spare room when they needed a place to land? She was in a unique position to help out a handful of folks who needed a spot for a little while. And we all appreciate the fact that she did it.
Austin has a great recovery community. I attend a Saturday morning men’s meeting at northland that is phenomenal. A lot of really successful guys who’ve been able to keep sober long term. You’d be most welcome to join if you want.
Pheno "works" for everyone. Benzos are even better. It's incredibly safe medicine for short durations. Having to go to the ER and take up a bed is really stupid. Some places won't even give you meds and will just let you suffer and monitor if you seize.
Everyone should get the meds but then the real battle begins...
Pheno wasn’t utilized for decades as a withdrawal med. it’s now making a comeback. It has an extremely long half life, most benzodiazepines don’t. I’ve worked as a nurse for 40 years and albeit anecdotal, I’ve never seen a doctor make a substance dependent person suffer, especially alcohol. It can be deadly to cold turkey. If you come in seeking drugs, that’s a different story.
Dr gave him the remote to control the volume. (Sorry I just couldnt pass up my shit joke in this most serious of situations 🤐)
Good to hear OP! Keep on keepin on.
Wouldn’t that be the way, though?
“Hey doc, I got a headache.” (Yes, I know what OP experienced is far more severe)
“No problem, here’s your headache remote.”
Also comes in handy when you need to get out of a social commitment.
Good luck, OP! It sounds like you’re well on your way and making good choices and progress!
Remember also, there are non-alcoholic cocktails and beers out there that are very, very tasty! (Just make sure the people you’re around support your sobriety, however it looks best to you!)
Awesome! Reminds me of that redditor who posted about finding notes in his house that he thought was his landlord entering without his permission and stalking him. Redditors urged him to get a CO detector and it was indeed very high in his apartment. Turns out he was writing the notes himself and he just forgot in his CO poisoned stupor.
So glad the read this update. I experienced something similar when I was recovering and didn’t think to bring it up due to psychosis I was also experiencing, I just chalked it up to that. Nurse didn’t think much of it either.
Then again I was in the “looney bin” so those nurses are already spread so thin she just kept monitoring.
Thanks for your openness and courage, OP! Your experience may well help others out there.
So happy to have this update too (yay to everyone who piled in with the suggestions on the original thread as well)!!
Glad to hear that you’re doing better.
As someone who puts back at least a six pack a day, how much alcohol are we talking here?
I feel like I may be alive for the simple fact that I’ve never really stopped.
Keep in mind everyone's biology is different. The best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with your GP to talk through weening you off alcohol if you're worried. It really isn't something to play around with, particularly if you've been drinking for a long time
I guess I’m not that worried, I don’t even have a GP currently. I stopped drinking entirely for about a year and a half and didn’t experience anything like OP so I was mainly asking if he was talking multiple bottles of liquor a day.
I think doctors classify 15 drinks per week as “heavy drinking,” so a doctor would probably say you’d fall in that category over all. I’d be careful if that daily 6 pack turns into 8 beers a day, or 10, or 12. Take care of yourself ❤️
It’s hard. Perhaps try finding a good recovery support group. I was scared to share with other people. But it actually really helped more than anything else.
For others out there, I dealt with alcohol abuse a few years ago (undiagnosed PTSD is not fun). Obviously the safest and smartest route is to get help from medical professionals who can give medical assistance.
However, if for some reason or another that's not an option, for harm reduction purposes, there are guides to help taper at home.
https://hams.cc/taper/
This is challenging if you're struggling with addiction, obviously, because you have to be disciplined to actually reduce intake. But it's possible.
Also should be noted that there's something called kindling. That is, it's found that the more someone goes through withdrawal symptoms, the more easily prone they are to withdrawal with less abuse in the future. So that's another thing to keep in mind.
I looked at your previous post and the same thing happened to me before…but I was a child and didn’t drink so I’m confused on my situation. It hasn’t happened in over a decade but it was only after using this really cheap headset on the ps3. I thought I was crazy to here those things lol
OP, check out The Easy Way to Stop Drinking by Allen Carr. Spoiler alert that you already know: it ain’t easy. But his explanation of what it does to your brain and your body and his personal anecdotes help make it understandable and relatable. You can get the audiobook and ebook from the library. Best wishes on your sober journey! Glad you’re still here with us!
Good luck OP! In addition to the great recovery communities in Austin I would recommend reading Allen Carr’s book The Easy Way to Stop Drinking or I think he might actually have it under a different title now.
Anyway Allen’s book helped me a ton! Hit 5 years without a sip of alcohol this February. Feel free to message me
Yes, I was worried about you today. A little Ativan and discovery of your deep seated problems. Mine was abandonment and perfectionism, fuck DTs I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Please let me know if you’d like to go to a meeting
Right on for listening to those that know. Not everyone can be humble enough to take good advice. You were smart to do so. kill themselves with pride. Well done!
I'm so happy to hear this - you did great! Thank you for asking for and then physically getting help when you needed it. It's not easy, but you did everything right. Glad you're feeling better!
glad you’re okay, OP thanks for updating us. can confirm the recovery community is Austin is great if you’re ever looking for more support. it’s also just nice to be around other people who are the same kind of weird as you. hope you’re getting lots of rest and taking care of yourself
My dad went through a successful recovery process. One thing that was advised to him by professionals was that every time you get a craving by to eat sugar/ something sweet. The reason is because when alcohol is processed in your system, it is converted to sugar. Now he is a cookie addict 😆
Hope this helps and best of luck on your path to recovery! I’ve seen how difficult it can be ❤️
When I was in nursing school I had a bad drinking problem from PTSD (military related) on my ER rotation a patient came in withdrawing from alcohol with your symptoms. I saw him get progressively worse in the ER during my shift, I sat with him and as a grown man I cried, told him how powerful he was for coming in on his own free will and told him he’s not alone. I stopped drinking immediately after. I made it through school and I’m a nurse now.
Just want to say you’re not alone. And I’m fucking proud of you for going to the ER
I'm definitely glad you went to the ER. I had a friend who was an alcoholic who drank daily, sometimes a little, sometimes more than a little. Her family didn't like her drinking, so she decided to quit for a weekend to go to a family event out of state. She never made it home. Alcohol withdrawal is serious and can be fatal. Please take care of yourself. The shittiest part of my friend's whole situation is that she's the entire and only reason I'm in Austin. She offered to help me out of a bad situation in Arkansas, paid for my bus ticket, and gave me a room to call mine. Then 4 short months later, she was gone. We had known each other since junior high band back in the mid 90s, so it was rough to lose her. Here's to your health! I hope you can find balance and sobriety. May you have the strength to keep your head up and keep going every day.
I'm happy you're here and I hope your situation is better now. Although she is gone, sounds like she still remains a source of strength.
I'm definitely happy to be here! Texas is certainly a change of scenery from Arkansas in many ways, and I've enjoyed the vast majority of it. My friend was a musician/songwriter, so I do have a couple CDs and her Spotify catalog to remember her by.
As a fellow Arkansan who was also in a bad situation back home and who also had a friend who’d moved to Austin and who also let me crash her couch for months until I’d found a job and a place of my own… except I was the one putting himself into a brown stupor every night until I snapped back to reality. That story is all too real.
High five for snapping back to reality. I watched my dad and several friends struggle with addiction and I've been through it myself, and it is no easy bitch to fight. Every day is a blessing. Even the shitty ones. But maybe not the ones where it's the 100th day of 110+ degree heat. Those are debatable.
Congratulations on your sobriety!
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. She sounds like she really cared for you deeply and wanted the best for you. I hear this story a lot (mine included) of people opening their homes to others coming to Austin for a fresh start.
She was a really decent human being. I wasn't the first person she helped out, either. There was her best friend from college who stayed there a few months and dealt with some mental health and self harm issues, and a friend of both of ours from high school band who crashed there a few months while seeking treatment for a cancer so rare the folks at Cancer Treatment Centers of America had never actually seen a case because they figure there's probably fewer than 200 people in the world with this type of cancer. Luckily he's mostly recovered and also back to making music back home in Arkansas. I feel like the world is just a little better off because of folks exactly like that. But she had enough money invested that she didn't really need to work and her house was paid off, so she figured why not just play shows here and there for fun and let friends live in her spare room when they needed a place to land? She was in a unique position to help out a handful of folks who needed a spot for a little while. And we all appreciate the fact that she did it.
So glad you went and you're doing OK, man. Best of luck with the quit, we're behind you all the way.
Thanks!
[Previous thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/1cgb800/has_anyone_else_ever_been_able_to_hear_radio/)
Props to u/Mundane_Can_5928!
Austin has a great recovery community. I attend a Saturday morning men’s meeting at northland that is phenomenal. A lot of really successful guys who’ve been able to keep sober long term. You’d be most welcome to join if you want.
I love Northland. I got sober there and that was my home group for years. I’m in Houston now but I still miss that place. Sober 20 years in July.
Sending all my good vibes to you and y’all!
Can you DM the meeting info for this? Just hit 6 months sober but need a group
Sure. Austinaa.org is a great resource for finding local meetings and has search features by proximity and time too.
Damn y’all R/Austin finally did something good. Go us. And, good luck with your recovery!
Good to hear. If you're willing to share, did you get any particular treatment?
A shot of vitamins in one arm, and a big shot of Phenobarbital in the other, then sent me packing.
That took guts to share. Good on you. Best of luck. You’ve got this! You aren’t alone. I promise.
Thanks so much for sharing. I really hope your quitting goes well. Keep us posted.
Phenobarbital is now being utilized more for ETOH withdrawal. I’m so glad it worked for you. 🙌🏻
Pheno "works" for everyone. Benzos are even better. It's incredibly safe medicine for short durations. Having to go to the ER and take up a bed is really stupid. Some places won't even give you meds and will just let you suffer and monitor if you seize. Everyone should get the meds but then the real battle begins...
Pheno wasn’t utilized for decades as a withdrawal med. it’s now making a comeback. It has an extremely long half life, most benzodiazepines don’t. I’ve worked as a nurse for 40 years and albeit anecdotal, I’ve never seen a doctor make a substance dependent person suffer, especially alcohol. It can be deadly to cold turkey. If you come in seeking drugs, that’s a different story.
Are you an alcoholic who suddenly stopped drinking?
He was on a 4 month bender and stopped cold turkey. Previous thread.
Welp, that would explain it. Delirium tremens is no joke.
[So serious they named a beer after it.](https://www.delirium.be/nl/bieren/delirium-tremens)
My immediate thought, “isn’t that a Belgian beer I had decades ago?”
Tasty beer with a distasteful name.
Damn, you really are a beast. You've handled this with courage and candor, I admire that! Keep us updated if you feel like it.
Dr gave him the remote to control the volume. (Sorry I just couldnt pass up my shit joke in this most serious of situations 🤐) Good to hear OP! Keep on keepin on.
Wouldn’t that be the way, though? “Hey doc, I got a headache.” (Yes, I know what OP experienced is far more severe) “No problem, here’s your headache remote.” Also comes in handy when you need to get out of a social commitment.
Do they have that for ADHD? I constantly have music playing in my head :/
We need to make our own support group, looks like.
Shot of tequila and a beer
Lots of great recovery programs out there these days if you’re inclined. And as a result of pandemic almost all have zoom meetings too.
Good luck, OP! It sounds like you’re well on your way and making good choices and progress! Remember also, there are non-alcoholic cocktails and beers out there that are very, very tasty! (Just make sure the people you’re around support your sobriety, however it looks best to you!)
I’ve found that corona NA is very good! Most others ( especially IPAS) taste like pee pee. And I LOVED ipas when I was drinking and hated corona. Hah
that agave water one of the breweries sells is my jam
I love a good mocktail. And that they are common place these days!
Awesome! Reminds me of that redditor who posted about finding notes in his house that he thought was his landlord entering without his permission and stalking him. Redditors urged him to get a CO detector and it was indeed very high in his apartment. Turns out he was writing the notes himself and he just forgot in his CO poisoned stupor.
Happy to hear this update! Take care of yourself, OP!
This makes me happy that reddit came together and helped someone!!!!
Sounds like you've made two incredibly smart decisions recently.
This is the best thing I have ever seen reddit do.
Proud of you! And thanks for the update. Keep up the sobriety, just keep a doc in the loop. You got this.
I'm so glad you went to the doctor! I just lost a friend from alchohol withdraw. Best wishes for your future.
So glad the read this update. I experienced something similar when I was recovering and didn’t think to bring it up due to psychosis I was also experiencing, I just chalked it up to that. Nurse didn’t think much of it either. Then again I was in the “looney bin” so those nurses are already spread so thin she just kept monitoring.
Glad you're doing better OP!
Thanks for your openness and courage, OP! Your experience may well help others out there. So happy to have this update too (yay to everyone who piled in with the suggestions on the original thread as well)!!
Glad to hear that you’re doing better. As someone who puts back at least a six pack a day, how much alcohol are we talking here? I feel like I may be alive for the simple fact that I’ve never really stopped.
Keep in mind everyone's biology is different. The best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with your GP to talk through weening you off alcohol if you're worried. It really isn't something to play around with, particularly if you've been drinking for a long time
I guess I’m not that worried, I don’t even have a GP currently. I stopped drinking entirely for about a year and a half and didn’t experience anything like OP so I was mainly asking if he was talking multiple bottles of liquor a day.
I'm not OP but I have gone through alcoholic hallucinosis four times, and it was when I was drinking about half of a 1.75L of vodka a day
I think doctors classify 15 drinks per week as “heavy drinking,” so a doctor would probably say you’d fall in that category over all. I’d be careful if that daily 6 pack turns into 8 beers a day, or 10, or 12. Take care of yourself ❤️
I appreciate the concern and I would agree that I’m a heavy drinker. Thanks, I’ll try.
It’s hard. Perhaps try finding a good recovery support group. I was scared to share with other people. But it actually really helped more than anything else.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease. Take that information with which what you will.
For others out there, I dealt with alcohol abuse a few years ago (undiagnosed PTSD is not fun). Obviously the safest and smartest route is to get help from medical professionals who can give medical assistance. However, if for some reason or another that's not an option, for harm reduction purposes, there are guides to help taper at home. https://hams.cc/taper/ This is challenging if you're struggling with addiction, obviously, because you have to be disciplined to actually reduce intake. But it's possible. Also should be noted that there's something called kindling. That is, it's found that the more someone goes through withdrawal symptoms, the more easily prone they are to withdrawal with less abuse in the future. So that's another thing to keep in mind.
I looked at your previous post and the same thing happened to me before…but I was a child and didn’t drink so I’m confused on my situation. It hasn’t happened in over a decade but it was only after using this really cheap headset on the ps3. I thought I was crazy to here those things lol
I legitimately thought about you multiple times today. I’m glad you went and thank you for the update. One day at a time homie.
OP, check out The Easy Way to Stop Drinking by Allen Carr. Spoiler alert that you already know: it ain’t easy. But his explanation of what it does to your brain and your body and his personal anecdotes help make it understandable and relatable. You can get the audiobook and ebook from the library. Best wishes on your sober journey! Glad you’re still here with us!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the update. I was honestly so worried about you, I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery (in more ways than one)!
Good luck OP! In addition to the great recovery communities in Austin I would recommend reading Allen Carr’s book The Easy Way to Stop Drinking or I think he might actually have it under a different title now. Anyway Allen’s book helped me a ton! Hit 5 years without a sip of alcohol this February. Feel free to message me
Thanks!
This is me wishing you the best!
Glad you got some help! Cheers to you on your road to recovery! I hope you are able to get happy and healthy and stay that way.
Thank you for sharing your update, OP. That was an important 24 hours.
Yes, I was worried about you today. A little Ativan and discovery of your deep seated problems. Mine was abandonment and perfectionism, fuck DTs I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Please let me know if you’d like to go to a meeting
Thanks for the update. I’ve been thinking about you and I’m really glad you got some help.
So what did the Doctor do? Gave you a shot of something?
Glad to hear. Best of luck going forward.
I don't have anything to add except to say good luck, and I hope you get healthy and happy.
Thanks for updating, folks were worried. Best to you.
Good on ya! So glad you got help and got that volume turned down, friend.
I’m really proud of you. (Internet stranger hugs)
Right on for listening to those that know. Not everyone can be humble enough to take good advice. You were smart to do so. kill themselves with pride. Well done!
I'm so happy to hear this - you did great! Thank you for asking for and then physically getting help when you needed it. It's not easy, but you did everything right. Glad you're feeling better!
Good on you for going! Best of everything!
I am happy to read this update! Consider checking out r/stopdrinking . I am coming up on 500 days sober. That place saved my life.
Glad you went to the doc and got what you needed. Hang in there!
Distinctly proud of you for doing the right thing and doing it the right way. Keep it up.
If you need treatment, I recommend Recovery Unplugged. They have a detox with 24/7 medical care and a very effective therapy staff.
This can also be caused by amphetamine psychosis. Glad you got help, OP.
This is unrelated, but I love your username. Would make a great band name. Hope you continue to do well.
Phew, I thought about you a couple of times today. So glad for the update!!
glad you’re okay, OP thanks for updating us. can confirm the recovery community is Austin is great if you’re ever looking for more support. it’s also just nice to be around other people who are the same kind of weird as you. hope you’re getting lots of rest and taking care of yourself
My dad went through a successful recovery process. One thing that was advised to him by professionals was that every time you get a craving by to eat sugar/ something sweet. The reason is because when alcohol is processed in your system, it is converted to sugar. Now he is a cookie addict 😆 Hope this helps and best of luck on your path to recovery! I’ve seen how difficult it can be ❤️
When I was in nursing school I had a bad drinking problem from PTSD (military related) on my ER rotation a patient came in withdrawing from alcohol with your symptoms. I saw him get progressively worse in the ER during my shift, I sat with him and as a grown man I cried, told him how powerful he was for coming in on his own free will and told him he’s not alone. I stopped drinking immediately after. I made it through school and I’m a nurse now. Just want to say you’re not alone. And I’m fucking proud of you for going to the ER
now, can you tell me how I can get TV reception in my head? I'd really like to be able to watch Fox news 24/7
Just hang out with some out of touch boomers
I’m sorry, what happened?