I’m one week sober from alcohol as of an hour ago. I’m really struggling and feel miserable. I have constant headaches. I’ve been waking up with a worse headache than a hangover every day this week. My anxiety spikes every evening to the point of anxiety attacks. It’s so hard to thing of this all possibly lasting weeks or months. How I keep going when drinking would knock the pain and anxiety down (at least short term)? I saw my doctor today and she didn’t want to change my existing meds. She didn’t have much to offer for the headaches. She prescribed Naltrexone for the cravings. I’m depressed and crying all the time. Everything feels awful.
2 Likes
Be careful w that naltrexone. I got that one time and started it after a week of no alcohol and it made me so sick. It was because my body still hadn’t gotten rid of all the alcohol toxins I guess. I took it too soon.
1 Like
Karen, what are you doing to support your sobriety? The physical ailments should pass once the alcohol gets fully out of your system. I’m glad you talked to your doctor. If you aren’t participating in a sobriety community, I would do that asap. You can do online meetings. The opposite of addiction is connection with others in recovery. This would help you tremendously in those difficult early days. I’m 19 months sober and attend meetings almost daily.
8 Likes
That’s Antabuse. Naltrexone will not cause that.
2 Likes
Have you consulted a mental health professional?
1 Like
It was my psychiatrist I saw today. I’m on meds for depression and anxiety. I’m also in therapy. Until last week I hid my drinking problem from them so we’re just starting to address that.
4 Likes
Yea you could be right. I think it was
1 Like
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS ON A WEEK!!! 
Secondly, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. I get headaches too almost daily, coffee helps me.
Or magnesium, or chamomile help too.
Here’s a link with some natural remedies
But if they’re really bad you can ask your doctor about imitrex that helped me a lot, but I couldn’t afford it after a while…
Hope you start to feel better soon 
No advice for anxiety, as I deal with it daily and aside from just being anxious, I haven’t found much to prevent it. Sending you hugs 
1 Like
It will get better. Im at 63 days myself and the first few weeks got tough but Im telling you its worth it. Keep going and you got this!!
3 Likes
It does get better, im currently 57 days but i remember the very early days werent fun at all, well done for getting this far tho your doing really well. I too have depression and anxiety which is further exacerbated by the alcohol then the withdrawal…it helped me to think that it was that that was causing it so kept the faith that once the body begins to cope without the alcohol it will get better and it absolutely does, the mental part is the hardest to deal with, i felt scared, really scared of how i was going to deal with anything without my ‘friend’ alcohol but the truth is its nobodys friend and never will be, without it u give yourself the opportunity to deal with things properly and have your life back, right now your body and mind are both craving what will hurt you the most, keep fighting it and dont let it win because much better days are coming if you do
1 Like
I would also highly recommend listening to allen Carrs easy way to stop drinking, it goes alot into why we drink and the reasons we continue…dispelling alot of the myths that we believe it it helps and supports us, its very good to change your thinking, i listened to it on audio book through amazon. Another good tip i got on here is to stop looking for easy fixes…alcohol gives you a quick easy fix that us drinkers get used to…in sobriety things take time and perseverance to work through but can be worked out in the end… they are always still there after any quick fix. Try and be super kind to yoursrelf at the moment…drink plenty of fluids, eat well, reach out and dont be ashamed, be your own best friend. I think once you start being honest with your therapist and those around you youl find great relief because hiding things all day everyday is exhausting in itself, love and hugs to you
1 Like
Thanks for the encouraging words! It helps to know I’m not alone. I get what you are saying about no easy fix. I’ve always looked for the easy way out of dealing with stress or my emotions. In the past it was Xanax (haven’t touched that in about 7 years). More recently alcohol. Despite therapy I’ve never really gotten good at dealing with my emotions. I’ll keep working on that!
4 Likes
Are any of us ‘good’ at it though? I know im not but ive found dealing with things with a clearer more logical brain alot easier lol the quick fixes simply dont work so ive stopped trying with them
2 Likes
I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety as well, and if you stick to your sobriety it will help you so much with your symptoms. I’ve also found that being sober makes it a lot easier (I mean, it’s still difficult for me, but less difficult lol) to sort through feelings and pin down what’s causing them so I can manage my anxiety better and in a healthy way. Alcohol was a source of anxiety and depression, and it seems obvious now that makes it a less thatln ideal solution to depression and anxiety but it took a while to figure that out.
4 Likes