The silver lining of the pandemic. When the bars and restaurants were shut down, I said, “I’m taking advantage of this” Heavy heavy drinker for 20 years prior, never missed a day. My last drink was 4-28-20. Today is 4-11-23. 😊 sleep is there, focus is there. I can’t think of a reason to ever drink again.
Alcohol withdrawl is true spiritual torture. A prisoner in your own body and mind. I felt a truely dark and malevolent presence inside of me through my alcoholism. 15 months sober now. 🎉
Been sober 77 years now and I still won't even touch NyQuil or Scope. If I have to go through the day with bad breath, so be it. Alcohol is scary. Creeps up on you and before you know it your drinking yourself under the table. Hasn't happened to me since May 3rd 1946. Can't be too cautious with the liquid demon. In fact, if I see some guy walking down the sidewalk with a Budweiser cap on. I'll cross the street just to get away from it.
I went through the DT's. I was in the hospital for over a week. I was mad. I broke straps, thought there was a flood coming in the room, and saw dead people everywhere. They were even lying in the bed with me. It was horrible and I'm lucky to have lived. I quit for a few months then ended up in the hospital again, then again, and four more times. It was bad. I had to want to stop living that way. To do that i had to get away from my family and friends that are all drunks. By God's grace i did. Five years later i have a new home, a thriving business, and a wife. She was my girlfriend while i fought that demon. I never thought it could get better. It did. I've never been happier in my life.
wow. That was intense thank you for sharing. When i was in the hospital detoxing after not sleeping for ten days i thought the whole city of Berkeley had an earth quake and crumbled everyone to death. The reason i had not slept for ten days was because demons would electricute me or tickle me in inappropriate areas if i slept so i would be exhausted get zapped and be forced to stay up for choosing to quit drinking. I ended up in the hospital bc i felt my life was in danger i was being chased by multiple witches from other lifetimes that wanted me dead.
My brother is going through similar situation. He decided to get clean after at least two decades of heavy drinking… Had hallucinations, delusions, paranoia… was great when he was sober for 2 months… Had a drink and then is experiencing symptoms again but way less. It’s so hard on my parents. 😵💫😫 Did anything help you when you were in this state?
@Neski22 My religion, my responsibility to my girl and to my pets in a nut shell. When I would go through a drinking binge, then try to stop drinking, then get sick and go to the hospital, then come back to the world, all my responsibilities were still there. I had neglected my animals that depend on me for food, water, and to keep them clean. I neglected my woman who loved me no matter what and suffered seeing me drunk and then sick in a hospital and dying. My shame, the guilt, and knowing I had to do better is what made me see the way to sobriety. I prayed and felt the pain I was putting into this world. Alcohol is a demon. It takes over and turns you into it, and not you. Jesus was my only way. My strength was nothing against it without Him. My shame and His forgiveness got me through it.
No hospital ever understood this. When I was an alcoholic, they dismissed me from A & E despite tremors, hallucinations, and sweats. They said "You can't be in withdrawal" because I'd still had a drink that day. They used to calculate your withdrawal based on time. They couldn't understand how I could be in withdrawal within a few hours or with alcohol still in my BAC. I was a liquor-drinker and a severe alcoholic. I also had kindling due to previous withdrawals. By the end, I couldn't even keep enough alcohol down to stop the withdrawal. Thank you for spreading awareness. I had to do dangerous cold turkey a number of times because hospitals told me to go home. I had seizures and DTs as a result and all alone, too ill to call an ambulance when it got horrific. All care providers need to understand this, and also stop seeing alcoholics as a bother or waste of resources. 10 years sober but I nearly died to achieve that. It needn't have been the case.
They should've been fired and charged for neglect. Had you died, they should've been charged for manslaughter. That was terribly cruel of them to kick you out when you were in a life threatening situation.
Two years sober and counting! I'll never forget my withdrawal symptoms! I did it on my own, while living alone, and it was certainly not something I would ever want to experience again! I miss having a drink every once in a while to make me feel better (depression etc) but I'm wise enough not to do it.
Hey, some can stay and say doing alone, we can't. And even you may need more help, go to meetings (AA). Me myself been of for three years and what happened, I began social experience and somehow started experimenting what I did before, little by little it can bring illness back. Stay off your first drink.
Good for you man! I started down that path in 2018 while working a real stressful job. Was becoming more of an emotional crutch than anything else. But I did notice my tolerance beginning to rise, so I cut it out before it became a struggle to do so. it truly does sneak up on you though. Woke up one morning with 5-6 beer cans on my bedroom window sill (which seems like a light night for some), but I sat there thinking...just a few months ago I had needed half that to get the buzz I had the night before. Decided I was done before I got too far down in to it.
I come from a family of heavy drinkers and had been one myself most of my life. I'm presently 53 years old. My first encounter with alcohol, I was very young, 5 or 6 years old. By the time I was 13 or 14 I was drinking pretty regularly. Then at 16 or 17 I was getting into big parties with lots of booze of all kinds and drugs of all kinds. Long story short, I gave up the hard drugs along the way but always drank. My poison of choice was Vodka and then later on Tequila and beer. By the time I quit drinking, I was consuming a 26oz bottle of booze and between 6-12 beer a day. That had been going on for about 8-10 years straight. How could I drink that much and work, you ask. My mother had a small stroke in 2012 and developed dementia. I became her sole caregiver in 2014 as the rest of my living family didn't give a shit, so it fell to me, the ultimate black sheep of the family. That pressure and indifference did not help with my drinking. It actually compounded the problems which led me to drink in the first place. I had to put her in a home in 2019 and for the first time in years, I realized I had a very huge drinking problem, but still kept drinking. She passed in January of 2020, just before the whole world fell apart. This may sound cold but I finally felt free, unburdened for the first time in years and quit drinking cold turkey, alone, in a run down Motel I had been staying at. Talk about a reason to drink. My living conditions were very depressing as that flu started shutting everything down. But I did it. It was 10 days of pure hell!! All the symptoms that were described in this video were present. The headaches, the heart rate, the shakes, loss of sleep, restlessness and hallucinations. OH LORD!! THE HALLUCINATIONS!!! There were neon bright larvae and maggots crawling in and out of my skin, all over my body. They would jump off me then turn into multi-coloured wisps of smoke as they rose towards the ceiling. Then they'd morph into demon-looking butterflies, moths and dragons before disappearing through the roof only to pop up again on my skin. It was terrifying. At one point, I saw a bright light coming through the closed door and I stood up to walk through it when my dead brothers' silhouette stepped in front of me, blocking the way. I couldn't see his face but knew it was him from his outline in the light. (I don't believe in ghosts or the supernatural in any way!) I felt warmth and peace, like I knew everything was going to be ok, so I stepped towards my brother and he said four things I'll never forget: "You're not ready yet Rob. Go back to bed. Stop drinking. Get better". I did as I was told, went back to bed and woke up 3 days later. That was 3 years, 1 month and 6 days ago and I haven't touched a drop since. Funny thing is, I ended up homeless about a month after I got sober. For almost 3 years, it was the scariest, most F'd up situation I had ever been in. Living in shelters surrounded by drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally unstable would give anyone reason to drink and there were times when I was tempted. Then I'd remember what my brother had told me and what I went through and would start to feel ill at the thought of drinking. As I mentioned I don't believe in the supernatural, but something was and still is looking out for me. I can honestly say I count myself fortunate that I was able to stop drinking completely after my first real attempt to quit. Lots of people I've known over the years tried and failed many times before they found their success. If you are reading this and are trying to stop drinking, drugs or anything addictive you CAN do it. It's hard, it hurts and the worst thing for me was getting over the boredom of being sober. Find something to occupy your time and keep your mind busy. Try to surround yourself with positivity, positive people and situations, volunteer somewhere, help a neighbor. These things are very cliche but they work if you really want them to. That's the key: YOU need to do this for YOU and YOU alone. Like I said, it's hard...but it's more than worth it. Thanks for the video and taking the time to read my little slice of life. To those of you who are thinking of or trying to get sober, I have one more thing to say to you all: YOU CAN DO IT!! JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF... Peace.
@@JK_Clark Thank you! Things are getting a a little bit better everyday. I have moments of weakness but now I think them through, instead of drinking them through. Thanks again. Take care of you and yours.
@@robocook01 your story resonated with me personally (many hard drinkers in the family, experimented with other stuff along the way but my drinking continued, and older generations passing on). The one thing, I think, that prevented me regularly consuming a bottle+ of spirits a day was sleeping pills - rather than drinking to pass out, I take a pill. Now the sleeping pills are so important to my overall health and wellbeing, that I have never abused them in over 10 years - not even once. I have tried many different types as I work overseas and different countries allow different medicines, and I find some work better than others. I still drink too much, and will be 50 next year so I'm thinking of quitting for good now, hence watching these videos. Rereading your post, maybe seeing all of those people so down on their luck and in the grips of addiction made you more determined to quit? I might've actually been a good thing to go through - although very tough! Best of luck, friend!
@@JK_Clark By the time I was on the street, I had quit drinking for about 4 months, but you're right, seeing those people wrapped up in their personal hells and addictions made me not want to drink even more. Also, I was never s social drinker. One beer was too many and 15 wasn't enough. As I mentioned in my post, the boredom of getting sober was the hardest part. Mixing booze with pills, be they sleeping pills or pain pills is never a good idea. When I was younger I used to love that drunk, head nodding, no pain, don't give a crap about anything feeling and was very lucky I didn't OD. Fentanyl wasn't around back then, but heroin and Oxy were and I took them all. To be honest, you're body will tell you when it's time to quit. It's just that most people ignore all those little signs your body is screaming at you. That's what happened with me. My kidneys, liver, bowels, lungs and stomach were all giving me pain and I listened. Again, I was lucky when I got a medical that nothing was seriously damaged by my drinking and smoking. Just high blood pressure. And the little damage that had been done has long since repaired itself. My doctor was even more surprised than I. She told me that lots of people who drank as much as I did for as long as I did end up dying if they quit cold turkey without medical assistance. Once you stop drinking(when you are ready) you'll find that you feel better and sleep better and may not need those sleeping aids as much, if at all. You can do it my friend. Stay true to yourself and your convictions and you'll get through this with little to no problems. Stick with it. Good luck.
I'm heading toward the end of day 3! First day, had a huge headache, severe anxiety to the point I had a full blown panic attack at work, fought through it by reciting some childhood prayers I remembered. Later that day I felt a bug fall on me and I smacked my arm hard and my coworker looked at me all weird...I was like bruh wtf is going on...high heart rate and high blood pressure, like I could literally feel my blood pressure being high Day 2 Headache turned to a severe migraine to the point I couldn't get up, talk, or think, rush of cold chills throughout the day, lasted all day. Still had high blood pressure, but heart rate was calm. Day 3, felt the headache but I could tell it was fading away, started to feel a bit happier, and now I'm actually proud of myself and can see light at the end of the tunnel....thank you Lord 😭
Thank Jesus indeed. I didn't realize I was withdrawing I thought I was just going crazy 😂🤣 I'm praying. I'm on day 2 (relapse after 5 days). Mxm were gonna be fine.
@@rethamaieane585 when you thank a fictional entity instead of yourself you don't account that success to yourself and thus are not "proving" that you are stronger than you had originally anticipated. so no, thank yourself, not the "lord"
Wow I had all the same symptoms you had and the panic attacks headache anxiety fast heart beat and lasted few weekends very scary I went to ER few times thanks god I’m much better I’m 6 months free of alcohol and will be forever
Back in the mid-nineties, I had serious drinking problem. In '96 I decided that it was getting to a really stupid level, so I slowly tapered off on the amount of drinks per day. I started at a limit of 3 and after 2 or three weeks I limited it to 2, then after two weeks it was only 1 drink a day for about 3 weeks and after that, no drinking at all. I never suffered from any physical withdrawal symptoms. It was just a case of strong willpower and dedication.
A family member went through severe withdrawal and with a massive case of pancreatitis, in 2005-6. They had to induce a coma to control the agony (which is indescribable), fever and pancreas infection. He was in the coma in ICU for two weeks. When he awoke, he finally had had enough. He's still sober to this day.
@@AndrewKimMD Pancreas has so many issues. I work in addiction medicine and am in recovery myself. I have seen people have their pancreas rupture and become instantly type 1 diabetic. Even living through that is rough. Then life has a whole new list of things to deal with
@@Buffalosabskis Yes, diabetes for the rest of your life, if you survive the Pancreatitis that is. And this nightmare is just from beer. Not hard liquor - just drinking beer every other day. Eventually a six pack doesn't cut it, and you end up drinking at least twice that on the regular. It turns your insides into goo.
Twenty three years ago my girlfriend left me. I had grown aware that her drinking was preventing her from being successful at the community college where she was trying to gain job skills. She had been unable to hold down a regular job but I didn't realize that the underlying cause was alcoholism. We stayed friends in part because she was always having financial issues and she needed my financial support. To cut to the chase, about 4 years ago, even though we were no longer in a relationship she moved into my home. I quickly realized she was in the final stages of alcoholism. There was no stopping her drinking at this point and her appearance was gastly. She not only refused help but she denied that drinking a liter of gin everyday was the root cause of her rapidly diminishing health and appearance. And heavy smoking from the age of 9 years old had also caused COPD. The cirrhosis of her liver caused ascites where she would bloat up with retained fluids making her look 10 months pregnant. And she lost the ability to assimilate protein so she was suffering malnutrition. It was terrible. She needed to get the fluid drained from her abdomen every couple of weeks while still denying she had an alcohol problem. Because she couldn't drink at the hospital while being treated she would load up prior to going to the hospital. She got so drunk she fell off the porch causing additional injuries. I took her to the hospital where they tried to treat her injuries, cirrhosis, COPD, and malnutrition. Her prolonged alcoholism had driven away her family and friends (other than her alcoholic friends) so there was nobody but me to see to her needs. She lingered for four weeks where she was mostly sedated. I was able to stay with her after she was transferred to the hospice wing of the hospital. She lasted about 30 hours before she passed away while I held her hand. I'll never be the same. And the hospice manager was a real butt hole demanding to know when a mortuary would be picking up her body because they didn't want the additional cost of sending her body to the hospitals morgue. All at 3:00 AM after I'd been awake for several days. Even though I had her medical power of attorney she tried to stop me from taking her clothing and personal effects at 3:00 AM. Fortunately the other hospice nurses helped me as I tearfully packed her things and I was able to leave before security arrived. Now my friend of 35 years is sitting in a cardboard box decorated with a giant stamp saying "HUMAN CREMAINS". I want to have a service and burial but there is no one to come to the service. One small consolation is her cat still lives with me and she is a real help when I'm depressed by my friends death.
That's such a sad story... im so sorry... I hope you're feeling better by now. My mother died four months ago of alcoholism and me, at 39, I had to come back to my home town from abroad to stay with my dad who claims he "just can't live alone". He drinks every day and refuses to go get treatment. So what I am trying to say is those people (your friend and my parents and all alcoholics) are extremely selfish creatures! They put a burden of their addiction on us. I also have some issues with alcohol, but I would never imagine being a burden for anyone like that. I just go through this alone, or with a doctor, or ask for help. Your friend and my parents destroyed our mental health.
Dear Loyal Friend, I am so, very sorry for your loss. Thank you for loving the essence of her and not judging her by her illness. Tolerating such behavior, probably being accused of enabling was, undoubtedly, confusing and very difficult. Perhaps your close connection with her, forwarned you of how this was going to play out? Your friend fought her demons but she is past that now and despite the cold box departure, she was not alone and was loved until her very end. Sad, to hear of the unsympathetic treatment you had to deal with in your time of sorrow and grief. That is surprising to learn, and I wonder if she was a "true" hospice nurse or just an rn placed on that unit. Most often they are the most compassionate souls on the planet. Thanks for sharing your story. Keep sharing it. It will not only help you with your loss and grief, it may just give someone else, who is abusing alcohol an insight of how seriously their own self abuse may be devastating the people they care for most. Maybe your story, will enable another drinker to seek help before it is too late or to point out the seriousness of drinking and to stay vigilant unto our friends. We may want to tell them we love them. Help them feel worthy and not ashamed to ask for and seek help. For they could slip away from us so easily, at any age, from this very treatable illness.
This really hits me to my core. I’ve become an alcoholic about 3 years ago and also smoke cigarettes and used to smoke weed. All these vices I have been hooked on for over 15 years. Occasionly did some other drugs like trying schrooms, XTC and coke, I live in the Netherlands. My boyfriend of 1 year dumped me 2,5 weeks before the holidays. My mom killed herself and I have gone No contact with family due to multiple kinds of abuses I suffered by them. My mom’s birthday is on Christmas… Him and I have been fighting even now it’s over and it’s taking a toll on my mental Health. It still all hurts badly. This message makes me realise that this dude doesn’t love me at all. He’s making my situation even worse. I will wane myself of all this toxicity.
I was a functional alcoholic for many years in my early twenties,I drank at least a fifth every day for about three years and I'm also an epileptic...went through DTs 3 times trying to go cold turkey, and it damn near killed me. Seizures, hallucinations, I vividly remember laying on my bed, unable to move, knowing what I was seeing wasn't really there but it seemed very real; every single person I had ever met, former girlfriends, coworkers, family members, they were all lined up outside my door and one by one they would come into the room, walk up to the bed and look down at me, and then tell me every single thing I had ever done that let them down, how terrible I was , all my faults, and how I was a piece of shit essentially, then they would walk out through another door, and the next person would enter and the process would repea, for what felt like days. It was a nightmare. Truly. That was over a decade ago now, eventually I was able to get sober and I feel very grateful for that, and lucky to be alive,
May I ask what their goal was telling you all those things at that point in your withdrawal instead of when you weren't physically unstable? What was their expectation? Just seems like a later time or different method of telling you would've been more effective at getting the point across rather than what seems like just an attack.
@danielwatts199 It wasn't real, I was hallucinating the entire thing, sorry I should have been more clear about that, I suppose I could still answer that question though in a way..I imagine it was my own psyche trying to come to grips with the repressed feelings of guilt and self loathing that I had been using alcohol to try and repress, but by doing so I really was just creating a negative feedback loop of self destructive behavior, and all the harm I had done to myself and others came bubbling up to the surface at that point. I should also point out that I knew I was hallucinating for the most part, because when I say I saw everyone I had ever known, I mean everyone...my dead grandparents, old friends from school who I hadn't spoken to in years, estranged members of my family who live across the country, even random people who I had been in drunken brawls with...so I knew logically these confrontations weren't really happening despite the fact that it seemed quite real...
I guess you could call it an imaginary little self intervention. And it most certainly sucked, like sleep paralysis except the entity is just calling you out on your bullshit...but I also think I needed it...because it made an impact, you know? Wouldn't wish that on anyone but it is something that helped
I had a similar experience trying to go cold turkey, the hallucinations were terrible. I also felt like I would collapse or was just frozen. I found that sipping on beer to ween off helped a lot even though I wanted to just stop it likely saved me from having a major meltdown and seizure. The human body is truly wild. Glad you are alive and safe!
I think you are a hero Dr Kim. I am just in my 6th day since I started detox. 1 full bottle of whisky a day for 7 years... and I am 70 years old. 3 doctors said it is a miracle I am still alive. I am now off all medication and cleared of detox . I can drive again, my mind is clear and I have a new jest for life! , my vitals are those of a healthy 20 year old. I am thankful for those who helped me through the detox and for people like you.
I'm around 3 months sober and it gets easier every week. I drank in combination with smoking weed for years, on a daily basis. I wouldn't consume alcohol without weed, and vice versa. It always had to be both together for a stronger hit. Honestly if I could, I'd do it forever just because of how good it felt, but around 3 months ago I wanted a change. Life was becoming too repetitive, and there's a quote I read once which always comes to mind “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change”. I'd quit cigarettes many years ago so I knew if I put my mind to it, I could do it, and it's all mental at the end of the day. I was lucky in that i didn't experience any serious withdrawals or issues from going sober. I just really miss it and some weekends it's tempting to just drive to the store and get a bottle of whiskey and just enjoy myself for that weekend alone and go back to sobriety on Monday. I think that's the real test. Because I know that weekend will come one day, I'm not aiming to stay sober for life, I'm aiming to be able to control it and not make it a daily thing where it consumes me again. But I still want to be able to enjoy a joint and a drink of good scotch once in a while and have the self control to put them away come Monday. One big change I have noticed in the past 3 months is I've started to dream a lot again, like every night almost. Whereas when I was boozing I would rarely remember a dream. I read that it's due to alcohol and weed closing up or clogging a lot of the receptors in our brain and when we go sober they open up again so we're influxed with dreams all over again. I even had a dream around a month into sobriety that I got wasted drunk, and while it initially felt good in the dream, I remember I just ruined my sobriety and was super disappointed in myself, only to wake up and realize it was all a dream. Good luck to everyone out there on the sober train. Remember, the mind leads, the body follows
If you had alcohol abuse disorder you cannot occasionally go back. Alcohol addiction is a brain disorder. There is no cure and is subject to relapse due to the brain. This disease is insidious and deadly. Ask God to remove all cravings.
Dr Kim.. you are a hero.. I watched this with a drink in front of me.. I pushed it aside. I have been through detox and my wife went on a 4 week holiday... I relapsed and have been drinking a bottle of whisky a day since my wife has been gone. My family and friends were 'proud of me' for getting through detox. I lied... I was not ready (or smart enough?) to stop drinking. I am not young and strong, I am 69 years old. It would break her heart to come home and know I haven't changed a thing.. She is home in 10 days. I am not going to drink until then because I thought I could *bull**** my way through this. Now I am worried about the sudden non drinking. .. Not sure I will survive this.. I could die.. but worse, I break my families hearts.. Its not an easy trek and you young people reading this, please, please do not get to my stage... One day - it's becomes too late...
Prayers and love to you, friend. Don't give up. I'm fighting right along with you. You are not alone, and there is a reason (likely MANY) why you're still here. ❤
Almost got me. I had to be put in an induced coma for a week. They gathered my family and told them to prepare, had a 12% shot at surviving. I went in because I had jaundice from liver failure. 7 years sober now, was drinking for a decade. Had absolutely terrifying coma dreams too, amnesia when I woke up, was in the hospital for a month altogether.
My younger brother died at 29 because of alcohol abuse and self withdrawal. He needed to get professional help, but was in a bad place where he wasn’t able to … or wanted to. He thought even after potentially going to rehab, he could “socially drink.” If you need help. Get it. Don’t think you can do it on your own.
I started drinking heavily when I got out of the Army because I was injured and didn't see any options on what to do with my life at the time. I got really depressed and anxious. Fast forward a DUI and just stupidity on my part for over 12 years. I started having health problems and decided to try and stop drinking. To say that I went though extreme withdrawal is putting it lightly. All the physical stuff like sweating, cramping, and a bunch of other stuff was bad, but the worst part was when I started to have auditory and visual hallucinations. I ended up in the hospital for 3 months, 11 days of which were in a medically induced coma. From the day I got out, I try to spread the word on how dangerous withdrawals can be.
I will be one year sober tomorrow. Everything that you said resonated with me as I can attest to the symptoms you mentioned, the auditory and visual hallucinations, hiccups for days, I had a seizure at the hospital, my feet and hands curled inward and got stuck for hours, I couldn’t speak but I was wide awake, five horrible days in the hospital plus another week alone at home afterward that was the real challenge, every night was something different, no sleep for 6 days. thankfully with help from the dr’s and the meds they gave me I started to get better after two weeks and a month later I was back at work. Thanks to the incredible dr’s for their amazing help, I don’t know where I’d be without them. and thank you for this video had I watched it then it would’ve been so helpful but I’m still glad to know that it wasn’t just me.
I’ve been sober for probably 5 years. The last time I was in rehab I had the most insane hallucinations. The room I was in turned into the holodeck . I was outside in the rain walking around my home town with my mom. It was really crazy. The hallucinations were rock solid. They where not transparent.
As a recovering alcoholic (8 years c&s) this hits home. I spent 5 days in a detox facility under close supervision. It was critical in my success entering a 3 month intensive inpatient facility. I'm beyond blessed to be where I am today.
I'm retired , but my last job was as an admissions coordinator for a residential treatment facility. I chose to work there because I lost my younger sister to alcohol. Alcohol withdrawals were scary to witness. Some of the clients came close to death within the first twenty four hours of entering treatment. The sad part is alcohol is legal, even celebrated and socially acceptable. Alcohol is a killer. We didn't even talk about drunk driving fatalities. If someone you love is struggling, get them help immediately.
I’ve lost a bunch of friends from drinking, I knew it would get them eventually but I’d hoped it wouldn’t be so soon. It’s hard shaking your buddy’s hand for the last time and losing them at 40.
I had my first drink in 3rd grade...the grain alcohol used in the ditto transfer machines at school (the "good kids" got to make the copies for the class in the seventies). I spent decades drinking, my final years at over a 5th a day starting with three shots before leaving the bed. I was certain that I was going to drink myself to death and couldn't do much about it. I was lucky. When I quit, I did so cold turkey and managed to do so without major physical withdrawal symptoms. I was inspired by someone I cared about in addiction recovery. It did take a good solid two years to learn how to function emotionally without alcohol. I've had a few isolated "research" sessions in the years since then, but have thankfully remained sober and appreciate the clarity it has brought me. I've often wondered how much of mental illness can be attributed to short term alcohol withdrawal present in daily drinkers who abstain through their work responsibilities.
I'll never forget when I was 17, and at a local rehab, a girl ran into my room all excited and said, "The lady in detox is hallucinating!" I ran down and sat with her while she told us all about the birds outside the window... there was no window. This was in the 70s. I haven't drank since.🤷♀️
Alcoholic Hallucinosis is terrifying. Voices coming from outside the window shouting your name over and over and telling you that they're gonna break the front door down and come up the stairs to kill you. Just as real and clear as the man's voice in the video. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Go to hospital straight away if you're experiencing this because it's almost always a precursor to a seizure. As Diazepam kicks in the voices sound further and further away until they're pushed back into the hell they came from. It's not permanent.
Thank god is not permanent, because I’m going through it rn, and I’m scared, but it comforting knowing I’m not the only one, and the hallucinations will eventually go away
Been there brother - they are awful and fall into the catastrophic category. I was in A&E and the vending machines turned into speakers and blasted out my ringtone and it wouldn’t stop. I was rushed into the ward and sedated after curling up into a ball on the floor.
@@SushiTime1981 oh yes the phone ringing and nowhere to be found... and also hearing whole songs with actual lyrics in shower noise because your brain makes a thing out of everything being overactivated
Hey Doc. Great vid. I’m a severe alcoholic and I know it’s not directly related to the withdrawal phase but I think it’s important that people know this one. Every time I come back to the bottle the first feeling of mental relief is delusions of grandeur. All of the sudden I feel like I understand the world and society entirely. It might just be me but it’s peculiar. And then since I don’t feel pain anymore and I feel that… it just makes me okay again. I hate this.
Yeah, everyone has different reinforcing effects from alcohol, for you, there may be a sense of calm, relief, improved mood, ego boost, etc. And thats what can make it so tough. But, I hope you can find other healthier means of feeling that way. If anything you know it's possible to feel better, the question is, how to achieve that via other means and not alcohol. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for uploading this. I needed to hear this and be reminded exactly how terrifying alcohol withdrawal is. I lived through this more times then I would be able to count but have been sober now For five and a half years. All of these symptoms are very real and most people have no idea how bad they can be.
I didn’t have no idea the this actually happens my grandpa died from Alcohol, 2 Of My uncle i remember they would say they Would see things it was horrible until they died from It
I feel like a jerk giving my own personal stats on alcohol but giving it up was the hardest thing I ever did. Even after I got chronic pancreatitus and type 1 diabetes, I kept going. I've been medically withdrawn from alcohol on 16 occasions. Many of those were ICU stays. I've been through DTs and seizures while on large amounts of Benzodiazapine. They had to use Phenobarbital mixed with dilauded (pain from pancreatitus) to get me through on all but 1 occasion. I shouldn't be alive and was sure that I would die. It's kind of like the "real me" was trapped at the back of my brain, so scared all of the time. I hated drinking but was being controlled by another part of my brain, which I had little control over. It was all about sacrificing my future for my present, then just die. The whole 14-year period of my life between ages 18 - 32 was a nightmare. I'm 38 now and lost, but I haven't gone back to the bottle.
Don't feel like a jerk, that's just you telling your life story as it is. I know you're not saying life is perfect, and you're feeling lost. We're all there with you, we're all lost and struggling with purpose, identity, etc to some degree, people who don't admit that are not aware or deluding themselves to some degree. But, it's better to be lost, and have clarity and lucidity to help you find your way; vs having that clouded with alcohol. I hope you find a clearer direction and sense of purpose sooner rather than later. Thank you for sharing Chris.
After having 25 years of sobriety, I THOUGHT...I could drink......it took FOUR AND A HALF YEARS...TO HIT BOTTOM.... I was so sick, I had to take several shots to even eat... I for sure had DT's.... and even lost my hearing, and then passed out... A MIRACLE I LIVED! I had night sweats for weeks, I should have been hospitalized...... SO GRATEFUL THAT I LIVED....almost 10 years Clean and Sober.... Please seek HELP! LIFE IS WORTH LIVING SOBER! Thank you Doctor
@user-dc2pj8rp2y I remember the difficulty eating! That was horrible. Almost no water intake, and very little food. Never lost weight, though. I was red, bloated, puffy, and crusty, with bloodshot eyes. I'm so glad you got past it, but yes, you should've sought medical treatment. Very dangerous and awful experience without medical aid. My hats off to you!
Videos like these are great. I can see in the comments it’s helping a lot of people. I can’t imagine how many people of just a generation or two ago died just from lack of readily available information like this. Combined with social acceptance of alcohol over the past millennia, the numbers are probably scary.
Your video really impacted me. I stoped drinking since last night. My health condition seems deteriorating, seen sign of them. Thank you so much. No more Alcohols.
Day 9. I've been long term sober in the past. I've experienced everything you described except dts. There are also longer term impacts that can take more than a year to recover from. When I decided to quit, I had oneore beer and 100mg pf gabapentin, and ti lower seizure chances, and immediately checked into the ER. Intravenous Ativan, K, mag, saline. I have a couple AA chips, and I aim for more :)
A mountain of AA chips won't keep you sober, until you're willing to do the footwork. "Many meetings, many chances, few meetings, few chances, no meetings...insanity followed by death. I wish you all the best Jeremy. Mark 5/8/1994
I can't thank you enough, Doc. this video may very well change the course of my life...thank you...for the best...i am in the 7th day of NO alcohol consumption...I'm am experiencing much of what you addressed...finally today, i feel better
You are a good man for how you presented this from a no shame no nonsense approach. I can tell you truly want to help people. The world needs more people like you.
I almost lost my life to alcohol withdrawal. It was the worst experience I've had in my life. Severe alcohol use disorder, severe dehydration, my liver was damaged, my kidneys and other organs were starting to shut down from lack of nutrients because the only thing i was putting into my body was alcohol. I survived. Sober for 1 year and counting.
Thanks for this great video. Im struggling with sobriety with alcohol but Im feeling genuinely hopeful this time that Ill finally turn it around because I cant hold down a job anymore , have my piece of mind, or my health if I dont get my drinking under control. I can relate too a lot of everyone s comments.
So I drink. Every day. And more than a little too much. I just learned today at work why I'm dripping in sweat all the time, without even feeling that hot or tired, and why I had to go to the bathroom and puke halfway through the shift, (I googled it) and why I was so on edge and anxious. I knew that the anxiety and shakiness was from booze WD, but now I know why i feel nauseous, or sweat so much compared to my other co workers even when I hadn't done that hard of labor and wasn't hot. My family knows I drink, and think my drinking is too much at times (like if and when I overdo it), but they don't realize I almost constantly have some level of it in my blood. Ever since I finally quit the 4 years of abusing benzodiazepines, (which IMO caused much more memory issues and EASILY more hardcore withdrawal) I have drank instead. I learned this is extremely common for ex-benzo addicts. My quality of life is definitely better, and I'm more functional and happy, but will get worse if I don't cut this shit out. I'm 4 years completely clean from benzos, but now I'm 4 years into moderate/moderately high alcoholism. I don't even get super trashed or anything, but the side effects and withdrawals have really held me back. I'm extremely terrified of telling my family and want to solve this issue quietly and independently. Just how hard would it be to achieve this goal, and what tactics should I use? Cold turkey is not an option for me. Please help if you have any advice!
I say start tapering off! I'm in a similar situation and even had a xanex addiction around 8 years ago that i think is still impacting me through the alcohol abuse... throwing up at work, being unhygienic, mental issues from being so hard on my brain.. my first goal tomorrow is to schedule therapy and a Dr appointment, maybe even ask to be seen asap if they can. I need 2 teeth pulled so I can stop being in pain constantly. I need therapy for the constant burdensome thoughts, and I think I'm going to try to find an AA meeting. If I can get to 2 weeks I'm going to join the free yoga classes in my area to give me something to look forward to. Good luck to you♡
Statistically speaking, most people who get off of xanax end up being alcoholics, because both xanax and alcohol affect your gaba receptors. Best of luck to you ❤️
I almost drank me to death last year. I came out of a very toxic relationship last year juni the 15th. Due to this relationship I lost my pension money and my life in Holland. I live now in Hungary. I started to drink extremely and every day more and more until I drank 2 bottles of wine and 1 bottle of wodka a day. I had more and more thoughts of wanting to die and being a total worthless human being living in a strange country. Until the 6th of January 2023. There I experienced a severe pain in my chest to my left arm. That day I came home and sat on my couch and started to talk to myself. After a long emotional conversation with myself I never drank anymore and also quit smoking. The next day I started sports daily and since then I already lost 8kg. I started at 114 and want to go to 95kg. Not only my body heals now but also my mind. I'm still alone but not lonely anymore. I still am broke and poor, but not in my mind. I live now for myself and my sport and will walk the earth alone till I die, free of any addiction.
That is amazing.. thank you for sharing.. so glad you're doing well, it's really inspiring! Exercise is the best medicine ever, even if just walking 🏃🏼♀️
Proud of you! 22 months sober today, I had all of those symptoms, and the rest of the crap, lack of hygiene, pushing family away….all of it, it’s such a horrible disease
I’m an alcoholic with 8 years sobriety. The last two weeks of my drinking was “maintenance drinking” so that I could get into a out patient facility for proper detox. I was so worried of my kids seeing me have a seizure or possibly dying. But I was well cared for and supported by a great team and I haven’t had a drink since! One day at a time.
Thank you, Andrew. I’ve stress/sadness drank for a while and went cold Turkey. I think it’s time to test the waters after making a repeat mistake. Time to see what my mindset is worth with the right precaution
Thank you for speaking about this. When people think about withdrawal, they immediately think about drugs. But alcohol withdrawal can kill you, and so few do know. I work in healthcare, and in a country (Italy) where the wine and spirits business is considered "culture" by many. So sad. I wish there were more initiatives like yours in my country.
I had a day of sadness, just thinking about how much time I wasted drinking, but yet for some reason it made me feel like drinking. I also did not drink. Well done to us both.
thank you for touching base on the true reality of withdrawals from alcohol. unfortunately i have been through many heavy states of psychosis and near death trying to come down off my extreme excessive use of booze through the years. i have seen spiders crawling all around me... demons speaking to me telling me to do crazy things... the universe opening up on the ceiling revealing ancient myans dancing.... wildly graphic dreams of unimaginable stuff. it would trail on for days...obviously the beginning stages more extreme. i have no mental illness either. its just amazing the power booze has over your bodily functions. not many people talk about or have experienced it. after 15 years of drinking hard not missing a day, thinking i was fine. taking the booze away puts your body in a frenzy, booze is a slow destroyer. im 31 now... a lot of my intense detoxes where many years ago. im much better at drinking tea and smoking cannabis rather than waking up at 6am and pounding half a pint of 100 proof vodka just to stop shaking. stay classy everyone
I have a friend who's been a heavy hard liquor drinker for more than years, he stopped drinking a few days ago, he's breathing heavily and is shaking very badly I don't know what to do😭
Had a bad problem with binge drinking. At some point I had to stop each time for physical reasons. When that would clear up I'd be right back at it. Finally ended up in the hospital with a heart pumping at 18%. Still didn't quit. After each binge I'd pray to God to take away my desire for alcohol. Last time I did He answered it. Over night my desire for it was gone.
Wow, that was a really good video. My father had the hallucinations and the seizures. A lot of people who haven't been around a severe alcoholic are not aware of this stuff. I wish I had seen this video 42 years ago. Having access to people like you on TH-cam is something that wasn't available then. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
So much of this i can relate to. I would start shaking and cold sweating within 4 to 6 hours after my last drink. The anxiety and sleep deprivation was insane. Heart murmurs and difficulty breathing. I had 4 seizures within 24 to 36 hours after my last drinks. I was desperate to distance myself from alcohol. Everything that was said here, i went through.
trying to put myself in my fathers head space. i watched him have 3 seizures when he was stopping cold turkey. takes a drink every now and again and i’m very proud of him.
Wowsers. Found this on day 2 of home detox after drinking 20 to 30 drinks a day for the last 5 years. Scared me a little and now I Want a beer haha. Maybe I should be doing this with the supervision of a doctor as I have underlying heart issues (brugada syndrome)
Doing this under medical supervision is recommended. Especially if someone already has underlying heart issues. Withdrawal can make your heart beat much faster and make your blood pressure go all over the map, these are things you wouldn't want to deal with, especially with underlying heart conditions.
I just want acknowledge all of the people who’ve opened up about their experiences here in the comment section. It’s takes great courage to share one’s stories and/or personal experiences and I appreciate that so many have shared.
Dude you hit it on the head you just said everything I went through when I got sober. I also got pancreatitis. This is all dead on. I went through all of it. I feel so goof watching this sober today.
At this moment, I am in the hospital with alcohol withdrawal and complications associated with long term use. I'm glad I'm done with Ethyl. She's a terrible and tyrannical mistress!
As a recovering alcoholic, I can attest all these. I never had the super hardcore reaction when I abstained. However I had really really bad insomnia. I mean I will be dog ass tired and still could not go to sleep. Yeah if I did go to sleep, it would be for a few hours and then I wake up. Quitting, Indian of itself, was already hard enough. The symptoms you can get when you quit, do to your body trying to get to back to homeostasis, is a pretty wild ride on its own. Don't just discouraged if this is you. Eventually your body will learn to deal without the alcohol. Never give up, work very closely with your doctor, and lean on those who truly care about you. As a man who drunk almost every day for 10 years, you will get through it.
Thank you for this video Dr. Kim. Before seeking inpatient help to quit drinking I was always afraid of having a seizure or dying if I stopped drinking. My withdrawal symptoms were so scary. My husband never understood what I was going through but that’s okay because I needed to make the decision to seek professional help on my own and not because he was telling me I was a drunk. I’ve been sober for 2.5 years and have absolutely no desire to ever pick up a drink again.
Agree. It's not easy on your own, and if you are a moderate to heavy drinker, like I said in the video, it could be very dangerous as well. I think we take it for granted, because alcohol is legal, and we don't think of it as a hardcore drug, so how bad withdrawal can be often shocks people.
I started having seizures from alcohol withdrawal...Absolutely brutal, life changing to say the least...I didn't really have the confusion of DT's (only confusion after a seizure) and very vivid dream like hallucinations or memories. If you drink HEAVILY, tend to space out a lot or randomly drop your glass; it could be an indication of an epileptic type event. I came very close to dying MANY times. My advice to any of you is to put the damn bottle down, seek treatment and use weed instead.
It has been over two years since my last drink, and I still have cravings. It's very difficult to even remember exactly what the time was like when I did stop drinking. Its one of the things that I most wish I could go back in time and never start doing.
Actually rather helpful. I gave myself pancreatitis due to drinking. I thought it was just the pain. But the DTs described pretty much what I went through. Not all that fun. But the hallucinations were rather trippy.
I got delerium and was put under at the hospital. They gave me too much medication and ended up on a ventilation machine for 3 days. All because i stopped alcohol I was experiencing hallucinations , hearing and visually didn't know what was happening scary at time. I now have better understanding after watching your video. So thanks for that.
I love how everyone of these videos tells you to consult your doctor physician before making decisions but I live in America and I don’t have insurance so that’s not really a fucking option and is the entire reason why I’m here on TH-cam in the first place
My ex had the seizures. Worst one was in the shower while i was at work. Broke 6 ribs and woke up in the bath with the water up to her chin. She nearly drowned. Scary 10 years i spent with her, she eventually left me stating that i was controlling. I just encouraged her to get help.
Decided today to be sober after a rough run w it, starting a little before pandemic to now. It is definitely the worst it’s ever been. Reading these comments gives me a lot of hope, and makes me feel like it’s possible. 💘
Desperation, the lowest human emotion, is one that I don't miss... Being scared of having another seizure and hospital stay,I finally hit rock bottom when my son was taken away by social services, and I called an ambulance.Been sober ever since and still suffering repercussions legally, emotionally, and financially.
My DT's were pure hell. Not that I could sleep but when I did I was experiencing constant nightmares of random aggressive strangers shouting in my face.
Thanks! My dad has a drinking problem and i struggled myself for awhile. This is probably what brought me here. Alcohol is a big deal and is socially acceptable so its easy for bad things to happen as a result.
I have to say thank you for this video because I’m going through this with my dad and I’m sure he’s gonna go through all this that you talked about. I’m very concerned.
My husband is at 24 hours alcohol free right now and I think now I’m going to be up all night checking on him to make sure he doesn’t have a seizure 😞 I don’t think he’s feeling too bad so I probably should try to not worry too much but it is scary to hear what could happen. Important information though!
I battled severe hard drug use when I was younger playing music professionally. Somehow I kicked it all and never looked back. But the biggest mistake I've ever made was picking up the bottle. I've burnt more bridges, destroyed more relationships, and ruined my life several times over because of that decision. The literal one thing if I could take back, I would.
alcoholic hallucinosis is what im going through im trying to quit after that. feels like people are touching me all over my body. i keep telling myself its not real.the fucked up thing is im only 25
How are you now? Luckily for you, you have youth on your side. The liver has the ability to heal slowly. Eating super healthy, whole foods and lots of greens can help the liver too
I was a binge drinker at nights and when off work. I was very fortunate because I never had bad withdrawal symptoms. I was able to quit which I am a much better person now
Thank you for this video, I am trying to help a family member withdraw from alcohol and this was very helpful for me to understand what they will go through and how to discuss it with them.
I went cold turkey, was the worst experience of my life, can’t begin to describe how bad it was, can’t even describe it as it was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.
Few weeks back I was woken up to my partner having a withdrawal seizure. One of the more traumatic experiences I’ve encountered. She’s back to drinking and I have been as well. I still wake up in the middle of the night in a panic and check on her if she’s still breathing. If you want to have a drink…just don’t do it.
3 days sober...i was able to quit hard alcohol about 5 months ago, and weened myself off with beer, until 4 days ago, when i had my last beer(hopefully ever) I've quit a few times before, but always relapse after a few weeks or a month i heard a saying today i like "quitting drinking won't open up the gates of heaven and let you in, but it will open the gates of hell and let you out" P.S.: last year when i quit, i had severe DTs and one of the audio hallucinations i had was hearing Taylor Swift songs that were "coming out of the walls" and honestly that was the worst part...jokes aside, it is extremely weird to hear songs like they're stuck in your head, but it sounds like they're coming through a speaker that doesn't exist
I am 3.5 years clean from a form of either legal and illegal opiates in the last 15 years of my life- half of my life… I thought I was detoxing from heroin but it was fentanyl. It was the hardest time I’d ever had and always was and always will be. Every single time withdrawal hurts and we cause it. We use to feel normal and no harm intended, but we all deserve a chance to get out of the fog, and then make a real choice for life instead of drugs. My roommate in rehab was detoxing from alcohol and he was in the worst pain I’d imagined and I was shocked… I had no idea it was so bad but it’s short
I was or am an alcoholic. At my highest consumption, I drank about a liter of scotch a night.. week nights, more on weekends.. I was a 'functional' alcoholic with a full-time job. I quit cold turkey the first time from 1 liter of liquor a night. For at least a month afterwards, if I thought of alcohol then my stomach would growl like a freight train. I literally didn't know the difference between alcohol and food. Glad I quit, don't miss it at all. All the best, you can make it.
I'm of Irish and Scottish ancestry living in Australia, alcohol affects everyone different it's addictive qualities are the same on anybody not just indigenous people who are new to heavy alcohol spirits, it can be a burden on anybody
I lost a friend to alcohol withdrawal. I love him very much. I wish I was by his side when he had left, I feel like maybe I could have taken him to the hospital before he left us.
Im late to the party, however ive tried to get help many times. it hasn't worked for myself unfortunately. i have got down to drinking two days a week now. (I cant push past day 4-5). For the other 5 days its horror and i totally relate to what you say in this video. Seizures sweats hallucinations, hospital many times. I just wish it was faster im ready to go. Thankyou.
😭😭😭😭😭 I love this guy. I'm a bottoming out alcoholic. I was in AA sober for 6 years. I'm not anymore my biggest fear is a seizure and I hate auditory hallucinations they suck
I had a family member who died from stomach cancer due to years of drinking. I was six and he was my favorite person. It was hard to understand at the time so I was mostly just hurt by the loss. After learning what caused it when I got older, I had a hard time being a drinker at all. I've drank in my life of course, sometimes quite a bit, but I never got into a bad habit with it...thankfully. Old grandad at least taught me that one lesson with his death. I'm glad he was sober the entire time I knew him though. I have a lot of people tell me what a great guy he was and they somehow can tell that I'm related to him by my looks. It's funny to have someone walk up to you to tell you what they think of your grandfather when you've never met them before. Anybody who has problems with booze or lost someone because of it, I hope you can learn to move on and have a better life. Even if it's not today, someday things can be better if you want it to be.
The silver lining of the pandemic. When the bars and restaurants were shut down, I said, “I’m taking advantage of this”
Heavy heavy drinker for 20 years prior, never missed a day. My last drink was 4-28-20. Today is 4-11-23. 😊 sleep is there, focus is there. I can’t think of a reason to ever drink again.
Awesome Nathan! Pinned your comment to give people hope! Love hearing it. Thank you for sharing
Keep up the good fight brother
Good for you, my friend!
Good job man
Congratulations! Keep up the good work. 08/10/13 for me. Feels great.
Alcohol withdrawl is true spiritual torture. A prisoner in your own body and mind. I felt a truely dark and malevolent presence inside of me through my alcoholism. 15 months sober now. 🎉
Hi Zach, was your consumption high on a daily basis ?
Are your demons gone now when you are sober or do you have to do drugs now without alcohol?
Been sober 77 years now and I still won't even touch NyQuil or Scope. If I have to go through the day with bad breath, so be it. Alcohol is scary. Creeps up on you and before you know it your drinking yourself under the table. Hasn't happened to me since May 3rd 1946. Can't be too cautious with the liquid demon. In fact, if I see some guy walking down the sidewalk with a Budweiser cap on. I'll cross the street just to get away from it.
You sound like a drama queen.
They don’t call them “spirits” for nothin
I went through the DT's. I was in the hospital for over a week. I was mad. I broke straps, thought there was a flood coming in the room, and saw dead people everywhere. They were even lying in the bed with me. It was horrible and I'm lucky to have lived. I quit for a few months then ended up in the hospital again, then again, and four more times. It was bad. I had to want to stop living that way. To do that i had to get away from my family and friends that are all drunks. By God's grace i did. Five years later i have a new home, a thriving business, and a wife. She was my girlfriend while i fought that demon. I never thought it could get better. It did. I've never been happier in my life.
wow. That was intense thank you for sharing. When i was in the hospital detoxing after not sleeping for ten days i thought the whole city of Berkeley had an earth quake and crumbled everyone to death. The reason i had not slept for ten days was because demons would electricute me or tickle me in inappropriate areas if i slept so i would be exhausted get zapped and be forced to stay up for choosing to quit drinking. I ended up in the hospital bc i felt my life was in danger i was being chased by multiple witches from other lifetimes that wanted me dead.
That is awesome praise God
@@merylmcconnachy1920 I do. He was my strength when I felt there was no way out.
My brother is going through similar situation. He decided to get clean after at least two decades of heavy drinking…
Had hallucinations, delusions, paranoia… was great when he was sober for 2 months…
Had a drink and then is experiencing symptoms again but way less. It’s so hard on my parents.
😵💫😫
Did anything help you when you were in this state?
@Neski22 My religion, my responsibility to my girl and to my pets in a nut shell. When I would go through a drinking binge, then try to stop drinking, then get sick and go to the hospital, then come back to the world, all my responsibilities were still there. I had neglected my animals that depend on me for food, water, and to keep them clean. I neglected my woman who loved me no matter what and suffered seeing me drunk and then sick in a hospital and dying. My shame, the guilt, and knowing I had to do better is what made me see the way to sobriety. I prayed and felt the pain I was putting into this world. Alcohol is a demon. It takes over and turns you into it, and not you. Jesus was my only way. My strength was nothing against it without Him. My shame and His forgiveness got me through it.
No hospital ever understood this. When I was an alcoholic, they dismissed me from A & E despite tremors, hallucinations, and sweats. They said "You can't be in withdrawal" because I'd still had a drink that day. They used to calculate your withdrawal based on time. They couldn't understand how I could be in withdrawal within a few hours or with alcohol still in my BAC. I was a liquor-drinker and a severe alcoholic. I also had kindling due to previous withdrawals. By the end, I couldn't even keep enough alcohol down to stop the withdrawal. Thank you for spreading awareness. I had to do dangerous cold turkey a number of times because hospitals told me to go home. I had seizures and DTs as a result and all alone, too ill to call an ambulance when it got horrific. All care providers need to understand this, and also stop seeing alcoholics as a bother or waste of resources. 10 years sober but I nearly died to achieve that. It needn't have been the case.
Horrifying
No want WANTS an ALKOHOLic i learnt..
They should've been fired and charged for neglect. Had you died, they should've been charged for manslaughter. That was terribly cruel of them to kick you out when you were in a life threatening situation.
I’m so proud of you and look up to you
I’ve had this happen before and then I took a seizure at my folks home. Thank god I made the decision to go there as I think I’d have been dead ❤
Two years sober and counting! I'll never forget my withdrawal symptoms! I did it on my own, while living alone, and it was certainly not something I would ever want to experience again! I miss having a drink every once in a while to make me feel better (depression etc) but I'm wise enough not to do it.
That takes a lot of strength, good for you.
Our prayers to you you’re amazing look at yourself on mirror and tell that image in the mirror, how proud are of yourself 🙏🏼
Hey, some can stay and say doing alone, we can't. And even you may need more help, go to meetings (AA). Me myself been of for three years and what happened, I began social experience and somehow started experimenting what I did before, little by little it can bring illness back. Stay off your first drink.
Awesome proud of y’all what help me was god and his word now I feel free from alcohol I don’t crave it I’m good and I happy 😃
Good for you man! I started down that path in 2018 while working a real stressful job. Was becoming more of an emotional crutch than anything else. But I did notice my tolerance beginning to rise, so I cut it out before it became a struggle to do so. it truly does sneak up on you though. Woke up one morning with 5-6 beer cans on my bedroom window sill (which seems like a light night for some), but I sat there thinking...just a few months ago I had needed half that to get the buzz I had the night before. Decided I was done before I got too far down in to it.
I come from a family of heavy drinkers and had been one myself most of my life. I'm presently 53 years old.
My first encounter with alcohol, I was very young, 5 or 6 years old. By the time I was 13 or 14 I was drinking pretty regularly. Then at 16 or 17 I was getting into big parties with lots of booze of all kinds and drugs of all kinds.
Long story short, I gave up the hard drugs along the way but always drank. My poison of choice was Vodka and then later on Tequila and beer.
By the time I quit drinking, I was consuming a 26oz bottle of booze and between 6-12 beer a day. That had been going on for about 8-10 years straight.
How could I drink that much and work, you ask.
My mother had a small stroke in 2012 and developed dementia. I became her sole caregiver in 2014 as the rest of my living family didn't give a shit, so it fell to me, the ultimate black sheep of the family.
That pressure and indifference did not help with my drinking. It actually compounded the problems which led me to drink in the first place.
I had to put her in a home in 2019 and for the first time in years, I realized I had a very huge drinking problem, but still kept drinking.
She passed in January of 2020, just before the whole world fell apart.
This may sound cold but I finally felt free, unburdened for the first time in years and quit drinking cold turkey, alone, in a run down Motel I had been staying at.
Talk about a reason to drink. My living conditions were very depressing as that flu started shutting everything down.
But I did it.
It was 10 days of pure hell!! All the symptoms that were described in this video were present. The headaches, the heart rate, the shakes, loss of sleep, restlessness and hallucinations.
OH LORD!! THE HALLUCINATIONS!!!
There were neon bright larvae and maggots crawling in and out of my skin, all over my body. They would jump off me then turn into multi-coloured wisps of smoke as they rose towards the ceiling. Then they'd morph into demon-looking butterflies, moths and dragons before disappearing through the roof only to pop up again on my skin. It was terrifying.
At one point, I saw a bright light coming through the closed door and I stood up to walk through it when my dead brothers' silhouette stepped in front of me, blocking the way. I couldn't see his face but knew it was him from his outline in the light.
(I don't believe in ghosts or the supernatural in any way!)
I felt warmth and peace, like I knew everything was going to be ok, so I stepped towards my brother and he said four things I'll never forget:
"You're not ready yet Rob. Go back to bed. Stop drinking. Get better".
I did as I was told, went back to bed and woke up 3 days later.
That was 3 years, 1 month and 6 days ago and I haven't touched a drop since.
Funny thing is, I ended up homeless about a month after I got sober.
For almost 3 years, it was the scariest, most F'd up situation I had ever been in. Living in shelters surrounded by drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally unstable would give anyone reason to drink and there were times when I was tempted.
Then I'd remember what my brother had told me and what I went through and would start to feel ill at the thought of drinking.
As I mentioned I don't believe in the supernatural, but something was and still is looking out for me.
I can honestly say I count myself fortunate that I was able to stop drinking completely after my first real attempt to quit. Lots of people I've known over the years tried and failed many times before they found their success.
If you are reading this and are trying to stop drinking, drugs or anything addictive you CAN do it. It's hard, it hurts and the worst thing for me was getting over the boredom of being sober.
Find something to occupy your time and keep your mind busy. Try to surround yourself with positivity, positive people and situations, volunteer somewhere, help a neighbor.
These things are very cliche but they work if you really want them to.
That's the key: YOU need to do this for YOU and YOU alone. Like I said, it's hard...but it's more than worth it.
Thanks for the video and taking the time to read my little slice of life.
To those of you who are thinking of or trying to get sober, I have one more thing to say to you all:
YOU CAN DO IT!! JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF...
Peace.
Great story, many thanks! I hope you're doing better now, friend.
@@JK_Clark Thank you!
Things are getting a a little bit better everyday. I have moments of weakness but now I think them through, instead of drinking them through.
Thanks again.
Take care of you and yours.
@@robocook01 your story resonated with me personally (many hard drinkers in the family, experimented with other stuff along the way but my drinking continued, and older generations passing on). The one thing, I think, that prevented me regularly consuming a bottle+ of spirits a day was sleeping pills - rather than drinking to pass out, I take a pill. Now the sleeping pills are so important to my overall health and wellbeing, that I have never abused them in over 10 years - not even once.
I have tried many different types as I work overseas and different countries allow different medicines, and I find some work better than others.
I still drink too much, and will be 50 next year so I'm thinking of quitting for good now, hence watching these videos.
Rereading your post, maybe seeing all of those people so down on their luck and in the grips of addiction made you more determined to quit? I might've actually been a good thing to go through - although very tough! Best of luck, friend!
@@JK_Clark By the time I was on the street, I had quit drinking for about 4 months, but you're right, seeing those people wrapped up in their personal hells and addictions made me not want to drink even more.
Also, I was never s social drinker. One beer was too many and 15 wasn't enough.
As I mentioned in my post, the boredom of getting sober was the hardest part.
Mixing booze with pills, be they sleeping pills or pain pills is never a good idea.
When I was younger I used to love that drunk, head nodding, no pain, don't give a crap about anything feeling and was very lucky I didn't OD.
Fentanyl wasn't around back then, but heroin and Oxy were and I took them all.
To be honest, you're body will tell you when it's time to quit. It's just that most people ignore all those little signs your body is screaming at you.
That's what happened with me.
My kidneys, liver, bowels, lungs and stomach were all giving me pain and I listened.
Again, I was lucky when I got a medical that nothing was seriously damaged by my drinking and smoking. Just high blood pressure.
And the little damage that had been done has long since repaired itself.
My doctor was even more surprised than I. She told me that lots of people who drank as much as I did for as long as I did end up dying if they quit cold turkey without medical assistance.
Once you stop drinking(when you are ready) you'll find that you feel better and sleep better and may not need those sleeping aids as much, if at all.
You can do it my friend. Stay true to yourself and your convictions and you'll get through this with little to no problems.
Stick with it.
Good luck.
exactly, for me those hallucinations are made of neon lines that dance on the walls and make figures of people, faces, animals, quickly changing form.
I'm heading toward the end of day 3!
First day, had a huge headache, severe anxiety to the point I had a full blown panic attack at work, fought through it by reciting some childhood prayers I remembered. Later that day I felt a bug fall on me and I smacked my arm hard and my coworker looked at me all weird...I was like bruh wtf is going on...high heart rate and high blood pressure, like I could literally feel my blood pressure being high
Day 2 Headache turned to a severe migraine to the point I couldn't get up, talk, or think, rush of cold chills throughout the day, lasted all day. Still had high blood pressure, but heart rate was calm.
Day 3, felt the headache but I could tell it was fading away, started to feel a bit happier, and now I'm actually proud of myself and can see light at the end of the tunnel....thank you Lord 😭
God bless you we can do this! I'm on day one I hope youre doing better! :)
Thank Jesus indeed. I didn't realize I was withdrawing I thought I was just going crazy 😂🤣 I'm praying. I'm on day 2 (relapse after 5 days). Mxm were gonna be fine.
@@rethamaieane585 when you thank a fictional entity instead of yourself you don't account that success to yourself and thus are not "proving" that you are stronger than you had originally anticipated.
so no, thank yourself, not the "lord"
Wow I had all the same symptoms you had and the panic attacks headache anxiety fast heart beat and lasted few weekends very scary I went to ER few times thanks god I’m much better I’m 6 months free of alcohol and will be forever
Yeah man, I spoke out loud to Jesus the whole time, turned it all over to Him and he came through bigtime.
As an alcoholic who really want to quit, I thank you so much for your sincere advice.
I believe that you can 🫶 be safe
One hour at a time, or one minute. Wishing you strength and courage with making a plan to change your life by quitting drinking.
Back in the mid-nineties, I had serious drinking problem. In '96 I decided that it was getting to a really stupid level, so I slowly tapered off on the amount of drinks per day. I started at a limit of 3 and after 2 or three weeks I limited it to 2, then after two weeks it was only 1 drink a day for about 3 weeks and after that, no drinking at all. I never suffered from any physical withdrawal symptoms. It was just a case of strong willpower and dedication.
Thanks for the post. Can you tell me about how much you were drinking per day when you decided that it was at a stupid level?
@@bricaaron3978he is probably social drinker that just quit 😂
Doesn't sound like alcoholic behavior having 3 drinks a day. Us alcoholics have 3 drinks in an hour for 10 hours a day.
I drink 2 to 3 a day and I’m scared I’m an alcoholic 😂 legit scared with 3 beers a day
It's so crazy I just can't believe how alcohol still can be legal the most dangerous drug
Natural selection
It used to be illegal but all it did was give the Mafia more power. Prohibition doesn’t work at all.
Money money money.!!!
Your possibly right, sad that the suffering caused by glamorous alcohol advertising.
A family member went through severe withdrawal and with a massive case of pancreatitis, in 2005-6. They had to induce a coma to control the agony (which is indescribable), fever and pancreas infection. He was in the coma in ICU for two weeks. When he awoke, he finally had had enough. He's still sober to this day.
God... yeah, I didn't even mention the potential of flaring up pancreatitis. Terrible stuff. Glad to hear they are ok and sober to this day.
@@AndrewKimMD Pancreas has so many issues. I work in addiction medicine and am in recovery myself. I have seen people have their pancreas rupture and become instantly type 1 diabetic. Even living through that is rough. Then life has a whole new list of things to deal with
Alcohol sucks
@@keithgordon4153 Absolutely.
@@Buffalosabskis Yes, diabetes for the rest of your life, if you survive the Pancreatitis that is. And this nightmare is just from beer. Not hard liquor - just drinking beer every other day. Eventually a six pack doesn't cut it, and you end up drinking at least twice that on the regular. It turns your insides into goo.
Twenty three years ago my girlfriend left me. I had grown aware that her drinking was preventing her from being successful at the community college where she was trying to gain job skills. She had been unable to hold down a regular job but I didn't realize that the underlying cause was alcoholism. We stayed friends in part because she was always having financial issues and she needed my financial support.
To cut to the chase, about 4 years ago, even though we were no longer in a relationship she moved into my home. I quickly realized she was in the final stages of alcoholism. There was no stopping her drinking at this point and her appearance was gastly. She not only refused help but she denied that drinking a liter of gin everyday was the root cause of her rapidly diminishing health and appearance.
And heavy smoking from the age of 9 years old had also caused COPD. The cirrhosis of her liver caused ascites where she would bloat up with retained fluids making her look 10 months pregnant. And she lost the ability to assimilate protein so she was suffering malnutrition. It was terrible. She needed to get the fluid drained from her abdomen every couple of weeks while still denying she had an alcohol problem. Because she couldn't drink at the hospital while being treated she would load up prior to going to the hospital. She got so drunk she fell off the porch causing additional injuries.
I took her to the hospital where they tried to treat her injuries, cirrhosis, COPD, and malnutrition. Her prolonged alcoholism had driven away her family and friends (other than her alcoholic friends) so there was nobody but me to see to her needs. She lingered for four weeks where she was mostly sedated. I was able to stay with her after she was transferred to the hospice wing of the hospital. She lasted about 30 hours before she passed away while I held her hand. I'll never be the same.
And the hospice manager was a real butt hole demanding to know when a mortuary would be picking up her body because they didn't want the additional cost of sending her body to the hospitals morgue. All at 3:00 AM after I'd been awake for several days. Even though I had her medical power of attorney she tried to stop me from taking her clothing and personal effects at 3:00 AM. Fortunately the other hospice nurses helped me as I tearfully packed her things and I was able to leave before security arrived.
Now my friend of 35 years is sitting in a cardboard box decorated with a giant stamp saying "HUMAN CREMAINS". I want to have a service and burial but there is no one to come to the service. One small consolation is her cat still lives with me and she is a real help when I'm depressed by my friends death.
That's such a sad story... im so sorry... I hope you're feeling better by now. My mother died four months ago of alcoholism and me, at 39, I had to come back to my home town from abroad to stay with my dad who claims he "just can't live alone". He drinks every day and refuses to go get treatment. So what I am trying to say is those people (your friend and my parents and all alcoholics) are extremely selfish creatures! They put a burden of their addiction on us. I also have some issues with alcohol, but I would never imagine being a burden for anyone like that. I just go through this alone, or with a doctor, or ask for help. Your friend and my parents destroyed our mental health.
Dear Loyal Friend,
I am so, very sorry for your loss. Thank you for loving the essence of her and not judging her by her illness. Tolerating such behavior, probably being accused of enabling was, undoubtedly, confusing and very difficult.
Perhaps your close connection with her, forwarned you of how this was going to play out?
Your friend fought her demons but she is past that now and despite the cold box departure, she was not alone and was loved until her very end.
Sad, to hear of the unsympathetic treatment you had to deal with in your time of sorrow and grief. That is surprising to learn, and I wonder if she was a "true" hospice nurse or just an rn placed on that unit. Most often they are the most compassionate souls on the planet.
Thanks for sharing your story. Keep sharing it. It will not only help you with your loss and grief, it may just give someone else, who is abusing alcohol an insight of how seriously their own self abuse may be devastating the people they care for most. Maybe your story, will enable another drinker to seek help before it is too late or to point out the seriousness of drinking and to stay vigilant unto our friends. We may want to tell them we love them. Help them feel worthy and not ashamed to ask for and seek help. For they could slip away from us so easily, at any age, from this very treatable illness.
This really hits me to my core. I’ve become an alcoholic about 3 years ago and also smoke cigarettes and used to smoke weed. All these vices I have been hooked on for over 15 years. Occasionly did some other drugs like trying schrooms, XTC and coke, I live in the Netherlands. My boyfriend of 1 year dumped me 2,5 weeks before the holidays. My mom killed herself and I have gone No contact with family due to multiple kinds of abuses I suffered by them. My mom’s birthday is on Christmas… Him and I have been fighting even now it’s over and it’s taking a toll on my mental Health. It still all hurts badly. This message makes me realise that this dude doesn’t love me at all. He’s making my situation even worse. I will wane myself of all this toxicity.
That's just her body in there, not her soul. She's either in heaven, hell, or purgatory.
Also it sounds like you enabled her unfortunately.
I was a functional alcoholic for many years in my early twenties,I drank at least a fifth every day for about three years and I'm also an epileptic...went through DTs 3 times trying to go cold turkey, and it damn near killed me. Seizures, hallucinations,
I vividly remember laying on my bed, unable to move, knowing what I was seeing wasn't really there but it seemed very real; every single person I had ever met, former girlfriends, coworkers, family members, they were all lined up outside my door and one by one they would come into the room, walk up to the bed and look down at me, and then tell me every single thing I had ever done that let them down, how terrible I was , all my faults, and how I was a piece of shit essentially, then they would walk out through another door, and the next person would enter and the process would repea, for what felt like days. It was a nightmare. Truly.
That was over a decade ago now, eventually I was able to get sober and I feel very grateful for that, and lucky to be alive,
May I ask what their goal was telling you all those things at that point in your withdrawal instead of when you weren't physically unstable? What was their expectation? Just seems like a later time or different method of telling you would've been more effective at getting the point across rather than what seems like just an attack.
@danielwatts199 It wasn't real, I was hallucinating the entire thing, sorry I should have been more clear about that, I suppose I could still answer that question though in a way..I imagine it was my own psyche trying to come to grips with the repressed feelings of guilt and self loathing that I had been using alcohol to try and repress, but by doing so I really was just creating a negative feedback loop of self destructive behavior, and all the harm I had done to myself and others came bubbling up to the surface at that point. I should also point out that I knew I was hallucinating for the most part, because when I say I saw everyone I had ever known, I mean everyone...my dead grandparents, old friends from school who I hadn't spoken to in years, estranged members of my family who live across the country, even random people who I had been in drunken brawls with...so I knew logically these confrontations weren't really happening despite the fact that it seemed quite real...
I guess you could call it an imaginary little self intervention. And it most certainly sucked, like sleep paralysis except the entity is just calling you out on your bullshit...but I also think I needed it...because it made an impact, you know? Wouldn't wish that on anyone but it is something that helped
I had a similar experience trying to go cold turkey, the hallucinations were terrible. I also felt like I would collapse or was just frozen. I found that sipping on beer to ween off helped a lot even though I wanted to just stop it likely saved me from having a major meltdown and seizure. The human body is truly wild. Glad you are alive and safe!
I think you are a hero Dr Kim. I am just in my 6th day since I started detox. 1 full bottle of whisky a day for 7 years... and I am 70 years old. 3 doctors said it is a miracle I am still alive. I am now off all medication and cleared of detox . I can drive again, my mind is clear and I have a new jest for life! , my vitals are those of a healthy 20 year old. I am thankful for those who helped me through the detox and for people like you.
I'm around 3 months sober and it gets easier every week. I drank in combination with smoking weed for years, on a daily basis. I wouldn't consume alcohol without weed, and vice versa. It always had to be both together for a stronger hit. Honestly if I could, I'd do it forever just because of how good it felt, but around 3 months ago I wanted a change. Life was becoming too repetitive, and there's a quote I read once which always comes to mind “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change”. I'd quit cigarettes many years ago so I knew if I put my mind to it, I could do it, and it's all mental at the end of the day. I was lucky in that i didn't experience any serious withdrawals or issues from going sober. I just really miss it and some weekends it's tempting to just drive to the store and get a bottle of whiskey and just enjoy myself for that weekend alone and go back to sobriety on Monday. I think that's the real test. Because I know that weekend will come one day, I'm not aiming to stay sober for life, I'm aiming to be able to control it and not make it a daily thing where it consumes me again. But I still want to be able to enjoy a joint and a drink of good scotch once in a while and have the self control to put them away come Monday.
One big change I have noticed in the past 3 months is I've started to dream a lot again, like every night almost. Whereas when I was boozing I would rarely remember a dream. I read that it's due to alcohol and weed closing up or clogging a lot of the receptors in our brain and when we go sober they open up again so we're influxed with dreams all over again. I even had a dream around a month into sobriety that I got wasted drunk, and while it initially felt good in the dream, I remember I just ruined my sobriety and was super disappointed in myself, only to wake up and realize it was all a dream.
Good luck to everyone out there on the sober train. Remember, the mind leads, the body follows
If seek God
He will
Removed all those cravings his the key trust me
❤
If you had alcohol abuse disorder you cannot occasionally go back. Alcohol addiction is a brain disorder. There is no cure and is subject to relapse due to the brain. This disease is insidious and deadly. Ask God to remove all cravings.
Dr Kim.. you are a hero.. I watched this with a drink in front of me.. I pushed it aside. I have been through detox and my wife went on a 4 week holiday... I relapsed and have been drinking a bottle of whisky a day since my wife has been gone. My family and friends were 'proud of me' for getting through detox. I lied... I was not ready (or smart enough?) to stop drinking. I am not young and strong, I am 69 years old. It would break her heart to come home and know I haven't changed a thing.. She is home in 10 days. I am not going to drink until then because I thought I could *bull**** my way through this. Now I am worried about the sudden non drinking. .. Not sure I will survive this.. I could die.. but worse, I break my families hearts.. Its not an easy trek and you young people reading this, please, please do not get to my stage... One day - it's becomes too late...
I hope everything is going well for you
Prayers and love to you, friend. Don't give up. I'm fighting right along with you. You are not alone, and there is a reason (likely MANY) why you're still here. ❤
Hang in there mate. I did exactly the same thing (see my post above). It's never too late... don't give up!!!
Almost got me. I had to be put in an induced coma for a week. They gathered my family and told them to prepare, had a 12% shot at surviving. I went in because I had jaundice from liver failure.
7 years sober now, was drinking for a decade.
Had absolutely terrifying coma dreams too, amnesia when I woke up, was in the hospital for a month altogether.
I pray you for your totally recovery and healing.
My younger brother died at 29 because of alcohol abuse and self withdrawal.
He needed to get professional help, but was in a bad place where he wasn’t able to … or wanted to. He thought even after potentially going to rehab, he could “socially drink.”
If you need help. Get it. Don’t think you can do it on your own.
I just passed up rehab for the second time in less then a week, because of cravings.. I’m 30 and really needed to read this. Thank you
I started drinking heavily when I got out of the Army because I was injured and didn't see any options on what to do with my life at the time. I got really depressed and anxious. Fast forward a DUI and just stupidity on my part for over 12 years. I started having health problems and decided to try and stop drinking. To say that I went though extreme withdrawal is putting it lightly. All the physical stuff like sweating, cramping, and a bunch of other stuff was bad, but the worst part was when I started to have auditory and visual hallucinations. I ended up in the hospital for 3 months, 11 days of which were in a medically induced coma. From the day I got out, I try to spread the word on how dangerous withdrawals can be.
I will be one year sober tomorrow. Everything that you said resonated with me as I can attest to the symptoms you mentioned, the auditory and visual hallucinations, hiccups for days, I had a seizure at the hospital, my feet and hands curled inward and got stuck for hours, I couldn’t speak but I was wide awake, five horrible days in the hospital plus another week alone at home afterward that was the real challenge, every night was something different, no sleep for 6 days. thankfully with help from the dr’s and the meds they gave me I started to get better after two weeks and a month later I was back at work. Thanks to the incredible dr’s for their amazing help, I don’t know where I’d be without them. and thank you for this video had I watched it then it would’ve been so helpful but I’m still glad to know that it wasn’t just me.
I’ve been sober for probably 5 years. The last time I was in rehab I had the most insane hallucinations. The room I was in turned into the holodeck . I was outside in the rain walking around my home town with my mom. It was really crazy. The hallucinations were rock solid. They where not transparent.
As a recovering alcoholic (8 years c&s) this hits home. I spent 5 days in a detox facility under close supervision. It was critical in my success entering a 3 month intensive inpatient facility. I'm beyond blessed to be where I am today.
Encouraged to hear where you are at in your journey Cody, thank you for sharing so others can see there is hope.
@@AndrewKimMD thank you! Hope is very powerful tool!
I'm retired , but my last job was as an admissions coordinator for a residential treatment facility. I chose to work there because I lost my younger sister to alcohol. Alcohol withdrawals were scary to witness. Some of the clients came close to death within the first twenty four hours of entering treatment. The sad part is alcohol is legal, even celebrated and socially acceptable. Alcohol is a killer. We didn't even talk about drunk driving fatalities. If someone you love is struggling, get them help immediately.
I’ve lost a bunch of friends from drinking, I knew it would get them eventually but I’d hoped it wouldn’t be so soon. It’s hard shaking your buddy’s hand for the last time and losing them at 40.
I had my first drink in 3rd grade...the grain alcohol used in the ditto transfer machines at school (the "good kids" got to make the copies for the class in the seventies). I spent decades drinking, my final years at over a 5th a day starting with three shots before leaving the bed. I was certain that I was going to drink myself to death and couldn't do much about it. I was lucky. When I quit, I did so cold turkey and managed to do so without major physical withdrawal symptoms. I was inspired by someone I cared about in addiction recovery. It did take a good solid two years to learn how to function emotionally without alcohol. I've had a few isolated "research" sessions in the years since then, but have thankfully remained sober and appreciate the clarity it has brought me. I've often wondered how much of mental illness can be attributed to short term alcohol withdrawal present in daily drinkers who abstain through their work responsibilities.
I'll never forget when I was 17, and at a local rehab, a girl ran into my room all excited and said, "The lady in detox is hallucinating!"
I ran down and sat with her while she told us all about the birds outside the window... there was no window. This was in the 70s. I haven't drank since.🤷♀️
Alcoholic Hallucinosis is terrifying. Voices coming from outside the window shouting your name over and over and telling you that they're gonna break the front door down and come up the stairs to kill you. Just as real and clear as the man's voice in the video. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Go to hospital straight away if you're experiencing this because it's almost always a precursor to a seizure. As Diazepam kicks in the voices sound further and further away until they're pushed back into the hell they came from. It's not permanent.
Thanks for sharing with the community. Hope you are in a better spot now, vs what you’ve described experiencing in the past.
Thank god is not permanent, because I’m going through it rn, and I’m scared, but it comforting knowing I’m not the only one, and the hallucinations will eventually go away
Been there brother - they are awful and fall into the catastrophic category. I was in A&E and the vending machines turned into speakers and blasted out my ringtone and it wouldn’t stop. I was rushed into the ward and sedated after curling up into a ball on the floor.
@@SushiTime1981 oh yes the phone ringing and nowhere to be found... and also hearing whole songs with actual lyrics in shower noise because your brain makes a thing out of everything being overactivated
Hey Doc. Great vid. I’m a severe alcoholic and I know it’s not directly related to the withdrawal phase but I think it’s important that people know this one. Every time I come back to the bottle the first feeling of mental relief is delusions of grandeur. All of the sudden I feel like I understand the world and society entirely. It might just be me but it’s peculiar. And then since I don’t feel pain anymore and I feel that… it just makes me okay again. I hate this.
Yeah, everyone has different reinforcing effects from alcohol, for you, there may be a sense of calm, relief, improved mood, ego boost, etc. And thats what can make it so tough. But, I hope you can find other healthier means of feeling that way. If anything you know it's possible to feel better, the question is, how to achieve that via other means and not alcohol. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for uploading this. I needed to hear this and be reminded exactly how terrifying alcohol withdrawal is. I lived through this more times then I would be able to count but have been sober now
For five and a half years. All of these symptoms are very real and most people have no idea how bad they can be.
I didn’t have no idea the this actually happens my grandpa died from
Alcohol,
2
Of
My uncle i remember they would say they
Would see
things it was horrible until they died from
It
I feel like a jerk giving my own personal stats on alcohol but giving it up was the hardest thing I ever did. Even after I got chronic pancreatitus and type 1 diabetes, I kept going. I've been medically withdrawn from alcohol on 16 occasions. Many of those were ICU stays. I've been through DTs and seizures while on large amounts of Benzodiazapine. They had to use Phenobarbital mixed with dilauded (pain from pancreatitus) to get me through on all but 1 occasion. I shouldn't be alive and was sure that I would die. It's kind of like the "real me" was trapped at the back of my brain, so scared all of the time. I hated drinking but was being controlled by another part of my brain, which I had little control over. It was all about sacrificing my future for my present, then just die. The whole 14-year period of my life between ages 18 - 32 was a nightmare. I'm 38 now and lost, but I haven't gone back to the bottle.
Don't feel like a jerk, that's just you telling your life story as it is. I know you're not saying life is perfect, and you're feeling lost. We're all there with you, we're all lost and struggling with purpose, identity, etc to some degree, people who don't admit that are not aware or deluding themselves to some degree. But, it's better to be lost, and have clarity and lucidity to help you find your way; vs having that clouded with alcohol. I hope you find a clearer direction and sense of purpose sooner rather than later. Thank you for sharing Chris.
After having 25 years of sobriety, I THOUGHT...I could drink......it took FOUR AND A HALF YEARS...TO HIT BOTTOM.... I was so sick, I had to take several shots to even eat... I for sure had DT's.... and even lost my hearing, and then passed out... A MIRACLE I LIVED! I had night sweats for weeks, I should have been hospitalized......
SO GRATEFUL THAT I LIVED....almost 10 years
Clean and Sober....
Please seek HELP!
LIFE IS WORTH LIVING SOBER! Thank you Doctor
@user-dc2pj8rp2y I remember the difficulty eating! That was horrible. Almost no water intake, and very little food. Never lost weight, though. I was red, bloated, puffy, and crusty, with bloodshot eyes. I'm so glad you got past it, but yes, you should've sought medical treatment. Very dangerous and awful experience without medical aid. My hats off to you!
Videos like these are great. I can see in the comments it’s helping a lot of people. I can’t imagine how many people of just a generation or two ago died just from lack of readily available information like this. Combined with social acceptance of alcohol over the past millennia, the numbers are probably scary.
Your video really impacted me. I stoped drinking since last night. My health condition seems deteriorating, seen sign of them. Thank you so much. No more Alcohols.
Day 9. I've been long term sober in the past. I've experienced everything you described except dts. There are also longer term impacts that can take more than a year to recover from. When I decided to quit, I had oneore beer and 100mg pf gabapentin, and ti lower seizure chances, and immediately checked into the ER. Intravenous Ativan, K, mag, saline. I have a couple AA chips, and I aim for more :)
A mountain of AA chips won't keep you sober, until you're willing to do the footwork. "Many meetings, many chances, few meetings, few chances, no meetings...insanity followed by death. I wish you all the best Jeremy. Mark 5/8/1994
@@Mark-pp7jy chips are a proxy and reminder. That's all. They are, I Did This. I Still Can.
I can't thank you enough, Doc. this video may very well change the course of my life...thank you...for the best...i am in the 7th day of NO alcohol consumption...I'm am experiencing much of what you addressed...finally today, i feel better
You are a good man for how you presented this from a no shame no nonsense approach. I can tell you truly want to help people. The world needs more people like you.
Now that's a very good lecture, doctor.
I almost lost my life to alcohol withdrawal. It was the worst experience I've had in my life. Severe alcohol use disorder, severe dehydration, my liver was damaged, my kidneys and other organs were starting to shut down from lack of nutrients because the only thing i was putting into my body was alcohol. I survived. Sober for 1 year and counting.
Thanks for this great video. Im struggling with sobriety with alcohol but Im feeling genuinely hopeful this time that Ill finally turn it around because I cant hold down a job anymore , have my piece of mind, or my health if I dont get my drinking under control. I can relate too a lot of everyone s comments.
So I drink. Every day. And more than a little too much.
I just learned today at work why I'm dripping in sweat all the time, without even feeling that hot or tired, and why I had to go to the bathroom and puke halfway through the shift, (I googled it) and why I was so on edge and anxious. I knew that the anxiety and shakiness was from booze WD, but now I know why i feel nauseous, or sweat so much compared to my other co workers even when I hadn't done that hard of labor and wasn't hot. My family knows I drink, and think my drinking is too much at times (like if and when I overdo it), but they don't realize I almost constantly have some level of it in my blood. Ever since I finally quit the 4 years of abusing benzodiazepines, (which IMO caused much more memory issues and EASILY more hardcore withdrawal) I have drank instead. I learned this is extremely common for ex-benzo addicts.
My quality of life is definitely better, and I'm more functional and happy, but will get worse if I don't cut this shit out. I'm 4 years completely clean from benzos, but now I'm 4 years into moderate/moderately high alcoholism. I don't even get super trashed or anything, but the side effects and withdrawals have really held me back. I'm extremely terrified of telling my family and want to solve this issue quietly and independently.
Just how hard would it be to achieve this goal, and what tactics should I use? Cold turkey is not an option for me.
Please help if you have any advice!
I say start tapering off! I'm in a similar situation and even had a xanex addiction around 8 years ago that i think is still impacting me through the alcohol abuse... throwing up at work, being unhygienic, mental issues from being so hard on my brain.. my first goal tomorrow is to schedule therapy and a Dr appointment, maybe even ask to be seen asap if they can. I need 2 teeth pulled so I can stop being in pain constantly. I need therapy for the constant burdensome thoughts, and I think I'm going to try to find an AA meeting. If I can get to 2 weeks I'm going to join the free yoga classes in my area to give me something to look forward to. Good luck to you♡
Statistically speaking, most people who get off of xanax end up being alcoholics, because both xanax and alcohol affect your gaba receptors. Best of luck to you ❤️
I almost drank me to death last year. I came out of a very toxic relationship last year juni the 15th. Due to this relationship I lost my pension money and my life in Holland. I live now in Hungary. I started to drink extremely and every day more and more until I drank 2 bottles of wine and 1 bottle of wodka a day. I had more and more thoughts of wanting to die and being a total worthless human being living in a strange country. Until the 6th of January 2023. There I experienced a severe pain in my chest to my left arm. That day I came home and sat on my couch and started to talk to myself. After a long emotional conversation with myself I never drank anymore and also quit smoking. The next day I started sports daily and since then I already lost 8kg. I started at 114 and want to go to 95kg. Not only my body heals now but also my mind. I'm still alone but not lonely anymore. I still am broke and poor, but not in my mind. I live now for myself and my sport and will walk the earth alone till I die, free of any addiction.
That is amazing.. thank you for sharing.. so glad you're doing well, it's really inspiring! Exercise is the best medicine ever, even if just walking 🏃🏼♀️
@@stepha3003 I do bodybuilding 2 hours a day now and simply walk 10-20 km a day additional.
Proud of you! 22 months sober today, I had all of those symptoms, and the rest of the crap, lack of hygiene, pushing family away….all of it, it’s such a horrible disease
I’m an alcoholic with 8 years sobriety. The last two weeks of my drinking was “maintenance drinking” so that I could get into a out patient facility for proper detox. I was so worried of my kids seeing me have a seizure or possibly dying. But I was well cared for and supported by a great team and I haven’t had a drink since! One day at a time.
Thank you, Andrew. I’ve stress/sadness drank for a while and went cold Turkey. I think it’s time to test the waters after making a repeat mistake. Time to see what my mindset is worth with the right precaution
Thank you for speaking about this.
When people think about withdrawal, they immediately think about drugs.
But alcohol withdrawal can kill you, and so few do know.
I work in healthcare, and in a country (Italy) where the wine and spirits business is considered "culture" by many.
So sad. I wish there were more initiatives like yours in my country.
kinda had relapsing thoughts this evening, and for some reason this video popped into my reccomended feed. glad it did.
I had a day of sadness, just thinking about how much time I wasted drinking, but yet for some reason it made me feel like drinking. I also did not drink. Well done to us both.
thank you for touching base on the true reality of withdrawals from alcohol. unfortunately i have been through many heavy states of psychosis and near death trying to come down off my extreme excessive use of booze through the years. i have seen spiders crawling all around me... demons speaking to me telling me to do crazy things... the universe opening up on the ceiling revealing ancient myans dancing.... wildly graphic dreams of unimaginable stuff. it would trail on for days...obviously the beginning stages more extreme. i have no mental illness either. its just amazing the power booze has over your bodily functions. not many people talk about or have experienced it. after 15 years of drinking hard not missing a day, thinking i was fine. taking the booze away puts your body in a frenzy, booze is a slow destroyer. im 31 now... a lot of my intense detoxes where many years ago. im much better at drinking tea and smoking cannabis rather than waking up at 6am and pounding half a pint of 100 proof vodka just to stop shaking. stay classy everyone
"I have no mental illness"... Except for the 15 years of hard drinking, everyday, and thinking you were fine.🤔
This is my second post, this is facts. listen to him
I have a friend who's been a heavy hard liquor drinker for more than years, he stopped drinking a few days ago, he's breathing heavily and is shaking very badly I don't know what to do😭
Had a bad problem with binge drinking. At some point I had to stop each time for physical reasons. When that would clear up I'd be right back at it. Finally ended up in the hospital with a heart pumping at 18%. Still didn't quit. After each binge I'd pray to God to take away my desire for alcohol. Last time I did He answered it. Over night my desire for it was gone.
Nice and clear! Thank you so much for taking the time and explain all of this in a very easy way to understand. God Bless you.
Im a newbie, sober only since Feb 13th. I had medical help. Took some prescribed meds to help and with the grace of God i'll stay sober...
Wow, that was a really good video. My father had the hallucinations and the seizures. A lot of people who haven't been around a severe alcoholic are not aware of this stuff. I wish I had seen this video 42 years ago. Having access to people like you on TH-cam is something that wasn't available then. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
So much of this i can relate to. I would start shaking and cold sweating within 4 to 6 hours after my last drink. The anxiety and sleep deprivation was insane. Heart murmurs and difficulty breathing. I had 4 seizures within 24 to 36 hours after my last drinks. I was desperate to distance myself from alcohol. Everything that was said here, i went through.
Great and easy explanation for the general public to understand
trying to put myself in my fathers head space. i watched him have 3 seizures when he was stopping cold turkey. takes a drink every now and again and i’m very proud of him.
Wowsers. Found this on day 2 of home detox after drinking 20 to 30 drinks a day for the last 5 years. Scared me a little and now I Want a beer haha. Maybe I should be doing this with the supervision of a doctor as I have underlying heart issues (brugada syndrome)
Doing this under medical supervision is recommended. Especially if someone already has underlying heart issues. Withdrawal can make your heart beat much faster and make your blood pressure go all over the map, these are things you wouldn't want to deal with, especially with underlying heart conditions.
go get help brother
I just want acknowledge all of the people who’ve opened up about their experiences here in the comment section. It’s takes great courage to share one’s stories and/or personal experiences and I appreciate that so many have shared.
Dude you hit it on the head you just said everything I went through when I got sober. I also got pancreatitis. This is all dead on. I went through all of it. I feel so goof watching this sober today.
At this moment, I am in the hospital with alcohol withdrawal and complications associated with long term use. I'm glad I'm done with Ethyl. She's a terrible and tyrannical mistress!
As a recovering alcoholic, I can attest all these. I never had the super hardcore reaction when I abstained. However I had really really bad insomnia. I mean I will be dog ass tired and still could not go to sleep. Yeah if I did go to sleep, it would be for a few hours and then I wake up.
Quitting, Indian of itself, was already hard enough. The symptoms you can get when you quit, do to your body trying to get to back to homeostasis, is a pretty wild ride on its own.
Don't just discouraged if this is you. Eventually your body will learn to deal without the alcohol. Never give up, work very closely with your doctor, and lean on those who truly care about you. As a man who drunk almost every day for 10 years, you will get through it.
Thank you for this video Dr. Kim. Before seeking inpatient help to quit drinking I was always afraid of having a seizure or dying if I stopped drinking. My withdrawal symptoms were so scary. My husband never understood what I was going through but that’s okay because I needed to make the decision to seek professional help on my own and not because he was telling me I was a drunk. I’ve been sober for 2.5 years and have absolutely no desire to ever pick up a drink again.
Started drinking heavy in 03. Tried to quit last week. Made it 3 days. I'm gonna have to get in a hospital to do this.
I did a month ago, I was admitted. It was completely worth it.
Agree. It's not easy on your own, and if you are a moderate to heavy drinker, like I said in the video, it could be very dangerous as well. I think we take it for granted, because alcohol is legal, and we don't think of it as a hardcore drug, so how bad withdrawal can be often shocks people.
DR KIM YOU JUST SAVE SOME ONE I KNOW. DO MORE VIDEOS. GOD BLESS YOU 🙏
Thank you for this informative and comprehensive explanation of withdrawal timeline. Hand downs the best explanation out there.
I started having seizures from alcohol withdrawal...Absolutely brutal, life changing to say the least...I didn't really have the confusion of DT's (only confusion after a seizure) and very vivid dream like hallucinations or memories. If you drink HEAVILY, tend to space out a lot or randomly drop your glass; it could be an indication of an epileptic type event. I came very close to dying MANY times. My advice to any of you is to put the damn bottle down, seek treatment and use weed instead.
Amazing info! I had hallucinations while going through medical detox. Craziest thing I've ever been through. Thankfully I'm sober tonight.
I had the worst DTs when going through withdrawals. Thank God I was in a hospital. 2yrs & 3 months sober now 🙏🙏
It has been over two years since my last drink, and I still have cravings. It's very difficult to even remember exactly what the time was like when I did stop drinking. Its one of the things that I most wish I could go back in time and never start doing.
Actually rather helpful.
I gave myself pancreatitis due to drinking. I thought it was just the pain. But the DTs described pretty much what I went through.
Not all that fun. But the hallucinations were rather trippy.
I got delerium and was put under at the hospital. They gave me too much medication and ended up on a ventilation machine for 3 days. All because i stopped alcohol I was experiencing hallucinations , hearing and visually didn't know what was happening scary at time. I now have better understanding after watching your video. So thanks for that.
what a timely issue, thank you for this.
No problem. Thanks for watching
I love how everyone of these videos tells you to consult your doctor physician before making decisions but I live in America and I don’t have insurance so that’s not really a fucking option and is the entire reason why I’m here on TH-cam in the first place
My ex had the seizures. Worst one was in the shower while i was at work. Broke 6 ribs and woke up in the bath with the water up to her chin. She nearly drowned. Scary 10 years i spent with her, she eventually left me stating that i was controlling. I just encouraged her to get help.
Tis true! My partner had a seizure b/c of withdrawals. He also had a history of seizures and was on meds for them.
This unlocked a new level of empaty in me
I come from a family of alcoholics. This was helpful!
Naltrexone is a game-changer, folks.
Decided today to be sober after a rough run w it, starting a little before pandemic to now. It is definitely the worst it’s ever been. Reading these comments gives me a lot of hope, and makes me feel like it’s possible. 💘
This video is amazing! So helpful. We have an alcoholic in the family we’re at a loss to help so I’m glad I found this channel.
Desperation, the lowest human emotion, is one that I don't miss... Being scared of having another seizure and hospital stay,I finally hit rock bottom when my son was taken away by social services, and I called an ambulance.Been sober ever since and still suffering repercussions legally, emotionally, and financially.
My DT's were pure hell. Not that I could sleep but when I did I was experiencing constant nightmares of random aggressive strangers shouting in my face.
Thanks! My dad has a drinking problem and i struggled myself for awhile. This is probably what brought me here. Alcohol is a big deal and is socially acceptable so its easy for bad things to happen as a result.
I have to say thank you for this video because I’m going through this with my dad and I’m sure he’s gonna go through all this that you talked about. I’m very concerned.
My husband is at 24 hours alcohol free right now and I think now I’m going to be up all night checking on him to make sure he doesn’t have a seizure 😞 I don’t think he’s feeling too bad so I probably should try to not worry too much but it is scary to hear what could happen. Important information though!
I'm 8 days off of alcohol. The sleep, seeing things and feeling things on my skin definitely happened. Off and on irritability.
I battled severe hard drug use when I was younger playing music professionally. Somehow I kicked it all and never looked back. But the biggest mistake I've ever made was picking up the bottle. I've burnt more bridges, destroyed more relationships, and ruined my life several times over because of that decision. The literal one thing if I could take back, I would.
alcoholic hallucinosis is what im going through im trying to quit after that. feels like people are touching me all over my body. i keep telling myself its not real.the fucked up thing is im only 25
Good luck on quitting man.
How are you now? Luckily for you, you have youth on your side. The liver has the ability to heal slowly. Eating super healthy, whole foods and lots of greens can help the liver too
I feel the same :( it feels horrible
I was a binge drinker at nights and when off work. I was very fortunate because I never had bad withdrawal symptoms. I was able to quit which I am a much better person now
My daddy died from sclerosis from years of drinking. It breaks my heart, and it worries me. I don't want to go down that path.
❤😢
Thank you for this video, I am trying to help a family member withdraw from alcohol and this was very helpful for me to understand what they will go through and how to discuss it with them.
I went cold turkey, was the worst experience of my life, can’t begin to describe how bad it was, can’t even describe it as it was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.
Trust me I know, it drove me crazy. I ended up in the hospital.
Few weeks back I was woken up to my partner having a withdrawal seizure. One of the more traumatic experiences I’ve encountered. She’s back to drinking and I have been as well. I still wake up in the middle of the night in a panic and check on her if she’s still breathing. If you want to have a drink…just don’t do it.
3 days sober...i was able to quit hard alcohol about 5 months ago, and weened myself off with beer, until 4 days ago, when i had my last beer(hopefully ever)
I've quit a few times before, but always relapse after a few weeks or a month
i heard a saying today i like "quitting drinking won't open up the gates of heaven and let you in, but it will open the gates of hell and let you out"
P.S.: last year when i quit, i had severe DTs and one of the audio hallucinations i had was hearing Taylor Swift songs that were "coming out of the walls" and honestly that was the worst part...jokes aside, it is extremely weird to hear songs like they're stuck in your head, but it sounds like they're coming through a speaker that doesn't exist
I am 3.5 years clean from a form of either legal and illegal opiates in the last 15 years of my life- half of my life… I thought I was detoxing from heroin but it was fentanyl. It was the hardest time I’d ever had and always was and always will be. Every single time withdrawal hurts and we cause it. We use to feel normal and no harm intended, but we all deserve a chance to get out of the fog, and then make a real choice for life instead of drugs.
My roommate in rehab was detoxing from alcohol and he was in the worst pain I’d imagined and I was shocked… I had no idea it was so bad but it’s short
I was or am an alcoholic. At my highest consumption, I drank about a liter of scotch a night.. week nights, more on weekends.. I was a 'functional' alcoholic with a full-time job.
I quit cold turkey the first time from 1 liter of liquor a night. For at least a month afterwards, if I thought of alcohol then my stomach would growl like a freight train. I literally didn't know the difference between alcohol and food. Glad I quit, don't miss it at all. All the best, you can make it.
'Good job
Our 34 yr old son just passed from alcoholic withdrawal. Please i pray if you need help, please accept it.
I'm of Irish and Scottish ancestry living in Australia, alcohol affects everyone different it's addictive qualities are the same on anybody not just indigenous people who are new to heavy alcohol spirits, it can be a burden on anybody
I lost a friend to alcohol withdrawal. I love him very much. I wish I was by his side when he had left, I feel like maybe I could have taken him to the hospital before he left us.
Im late to the party, however ive tried to get help many times. it hasn't worked for myself unfortunately. i have got down to drinking two days a week now. (I cant push past day 4-5). For the other 5 days its horror and i totally relate to what you say in this video. Seizures sweats hallucinations, hospital many times.
I just wish it was faster im ready to go. Thankyou.
😭😭😭😭😭 I love this guy. I'm a bottoming out alcoholic. I was in AA sober for 6 years. I'm not anymore my biggest fear is a seizure and I hate auditory hallucinations they suck
Thank you. Ive felt like this before. I tend to drink too much.the information is important and appreciated.
I had a family member who died from stomach cancer due to years of drinking. I was six and he was my favorite person. It was hard to understand at the time so I was mostly just hurt by the loss. After learning what caused it when I got older, I had a hard time being a drinker at all. I've drank in my life of course, sometimes quite a bit, but I never got into a bad habit with it...thankfully.
Old grandad at least taught me that one lesson with his death. I'm glad he was sober the entire time I knew him though.
I have a lot of people tell me what a great guy he was and they somehow can tell that I'm related to him by my looks. It's funny to have someone walk up to you to tell you what they think of your grandfather when you've never met them before.
Anybody who has problems with booze or lost someone because of it, I hope you can learn to move on and have a better life. Even if it's not today, someday things can be better if you want it to be.