Hello Dr. Kim-Thank you for making a point to address just how sudden and complicated alcohol withdrawal can be when consumption stops suddenly. I’m a healthcare professional in a corrections setting. Many of our pts. with a hx of alcohol abuse are at significant risk of experiencing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms you’ve mentioned here. Managing these pt.s can be tricky because they must be monitored and medicated frequently. Everything you mentioned here reinforces my personal opinion that one must be vigilant and empathetic when assessing and treating pts who may withdrawal from alcohol. Symptom onset is individual & absolutely varies- key point!
I would like to offer my experience. When I was 24 I was hired as a police officer. We were all young single professionals who liked to party. I noticed early on I could outdrink my peers easily. I never drank before or during work. The only time I did not drink at all was on nightshifts. I would go home and go to sleep and head back to work. At age 24 I was no longer living with my parents as I had to move for my career. I would have never drank at home, but now I was free to do so. At Age 27 I walked into a bedroom of a dead alcoholic. This man was 27 as well and surrounded by bottles. He lived at home with his mother and brother. I was scared straight, so I thought. I quit drinking for maybe 3 weeks. I hated life, I was agitated constantly and very unpleasant to be around. Miserable as I was, I went back to drinking. The fear of the what if long subsided. As the years progressed so did my alcoholism. Occasionally I would be dispatched to death calls where the clear cause was alcohol. The worst of which was a person who looked like a yellow wax monster, one of the most hideous I had seen. At this point I was long gone. I had accepted the fact that my demise would be similar to the men and women who dies alone surrounded by giant bottles of alcohol. As time pressed on I began to decline mentally and this began to manifest as anxiety and panic attacks after time without drinking. I can say that my job was hard to do in that state but any job would have seen me in decline. I was inured on duty and went for back surgery. I could not accept that I could never go out of patrol again. I was placed in a cubicle doing data entry for years after. The perfect way for my alcoholism to thrive while remaining undetected. I was an absolute recluse by this point. I eliminated my social circle by never attending any events or cancelling at the last minute. I could not drink the way I wanted to drink in those social settings. My daily routine of grabbing a full glass of vodka with ice was much faster than the slow grind of social drinking. That was how my mind worked. I then got the green light for a second surgery on my spine. To access the area they needed to cut through my original scar tissue. This surgery was unsuccessful and left me with horrible nerve damage in my feet. My anxiety was punishing. I would go shopping and then have a panic attack and run out of the store leaving a full cart of groceries. I could barely enter my pin number, often failing thew 1st time which only caused my uncontrollable shaking worse. Many times I had to just walkaway without my item. That or I had to call my ex to compete my transactions. At 44 I looked nothing like my former self. I was a bloated red faced man who shaved his head because I could no longer sit in a barbers chair. I returned to work and I couldn't even type anymore. My new supervisor took me aside one day. He told me his story and it was essentially the same as mine. Inured drinker, addicted to prescribed pain killers. He asked me if I would be willing to anything and I said yes. It was a blur after that. Doctors , psychologist and HR. A month later I walked into a 6 week rehab facility and I never drank again, well , so far haha. 3.5 years sober. What does this have to do with the video? I have seen people in withdrawal and its terrible. A man who quit alcohol pointing to a closet and saying that lady there keeps running around my house with bugs, as I look at an empty closet. I have seen death and seizures too. My doctor gave me tip once as he told me of liver issues and that was to not quit abruptly. I knew that to be true cause I had seen it all. The 1st week in the facility I was medically detoxed and under constant necessary scrutiny. Due to the severity of my abuse, the others started the program without me. I was also coming off the pain killers. By day 3 I was much better and by day 4 I joined the group. When I got out I Joined AA. AA has worked for me. For some it doesn't, there are many options. Do not fool yourself or allow yourself to quit cold turkey. A seizure may cause death, or more so brain trauma. Leaving you without control of your own faculties. If you still have anyone left that loves you, you will burden them. Don't let the alcohol fool you into thinking death is the only option. I truly believed that. I was completely stunned to find out just 3 months later my liver enzymes had returned from normal from the staggering number I had initially been given, 11 x more than normal. I got a lot back from quitting. My appearance was one thing I 1st noticed. I remember one day looking in the mirror and said to myself, I never thought I would see you again, old friend.
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.
I started drinking alcohol since my teenage. Spent my whole life fighting alcohol addiction. Also suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
That’s great to hear. All of the psilocybin research that is continuing to grow is very fascinating. I participated in a clinical trial as an independent “rater” assessing subjects after their micro-doses which was a very intriguing observational experience.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
Thanks for sharing your story. That's rough I sympathize. Save your health save your mind. Life is better without heroin, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. And you have more money in your pocket. God bless everyone who has rejected the devils intentions to be addicted to alcohol and cigarettes etc which can cause so much damage to health. I will pray for you all.
Crying floods of tears watching this. My Dad died from withdrawing from alcohol. Everyone at the time had the attitude of ‘just stop drinking’. Easy. He lost his parents in the holocaust and never talked of the horrors he saw as a child. Medicating his trauma my poor Dear Dad 😢
Hi my brother just had his first seizure today and he is a frequent drinker he is only 17 and it was really scary I think he might me going through this what can I do to help I’m scared
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.
My grandma died of alcohol withdrawal. My mom had extreme withdrawal. I was a heavy drinker for 10 years. After hitting rock bottom I quit cold turkey. Luckily, I only had a nasty hang over for 2 days and cravings for a week. I’m beyond lucky. I’m 8 months sober and I can’t look back
@@BLUEGENE13 if I knew anything about addiction?! I’ve lived it. Who are you to tell me I know nothing about addiction… it’s a daily battle. Just because the cravings aren’t intense anymore doesn’t mean I don’t struggle. I’ve also said in terms of withdrawal, I am extremely grateful.
I saw my own grandma die to withdrawal. Had to hold my moms hand as she was the throwing up due to shaking and still wanted to drink. Saw my best friend OD and his wife die to heroin. I went to rehab but I know nothing about addiction because I used a term you didn’t like. Disrespectfully if you don’t know someone’s situation, fuck off
@@555dking if you've lived it then you'd know cravings don't go away after a week and instead last month's and your only mostly normal after about 10-12 months. I wish you could drink or do anything else for 10 years and at the end of it only have cravings for a week. You must of mistyped, weren't thinking about what you typed, don't know what your talking about, or not truly been addicted. Because simply put cravings for an addict last way longer than a week, and are probably the hardest thing to beat because they last so long.
@@BLUEGENE13 get off your high horse there bud. Obviously I still miss and crave it. It’s intensity peaked at the one week mark. I shouldn’t have to justify my story to an internet hero.
I have a story to share. Each morning I would stop by McDonalds for coffee. One morning a crowd of homeless kids were picking on this homeless man that was sitting on the concrete in front of McDonald's. i approached them and threatened to call the cops and they scattered like cockroaches. I spoke to this man and I could tell he was clearly suffering from alcoholism. His legs were red and swollen and he told me he lived in the field next to McDonald's and he could walk to the door to McDonald's but he couldn't walk any further. Every so often I would stop and see John and I told him that when he was ready to quit drinking I would take him to the Aloha House (rehab center). He would share a little about his life. My heart broke for this man. One day he told me he was ready for rehab, I took him to the hospital get a clearance to get accepted into rehab.On our way to rehab upcountry, John told me he was scared and I tried to comfort him the best I could. I went into the rehab center with him and wished him well. When I called the rehab center in 4 days to check on him I found out he had died. Please, please always be kind to the homeless and the hurting. No one ever said they wanted to grow up and become a drunk. Pass on love and hope.
you made me tear up reading this. Thank you for sharing. I hope we all can try our best to make an impact on someone each day and even if we fail to do so, we feel motivated to try again the next day.
Why would not a librium or valium ease withdrawal. Taking the tranquilizer for just the crucial first few days would probably not lead to substituting one addiction for another.
I am an alcoholic and have been ever since I turned 21, I’m 28 now and recently started working on my sobriety by going to AA meetings. The first 5 days of not drinking was absolute hell. One night while having an episode of sleep paralysis I vividly remember having a seizure that violently jolted me awake screaming. Other nights I would be awaken by audible hallucinations that sounded like people banging aggressively on my door. I was absolutely terrified to fall asleep and didn’t really get much the first week. After that everything has been normal but I still get insane cravings to pick up a drink, however the thought of having to go through that again terrifies and motivates me to not have a drink. 2 months sober after drinking heavily almost everyday for 7 years. Glad I stopped while I still could.
I'm on the same boat as you I had horrible nightmares of my dad just watching me in my sleep and talking to me even thought he passed couple years back . 1 week sober . Keep it up man
I found that watching one youtube video a day on the dangers of alcohol and one video on how great people felt after quitting reprogrammed me to be able to stop. Do it every day. It may help you, too. Good luck to you all.
I've been trying so hard to quit. I went almost 72 hours without a drink and then I relapsed. I'm eating healthy, going to the gym almost everyday...I just don't know what caused me to relapse and I'm so frustrated
I've detoxed a couple times from alcohol. It is no joke. Absolutely brutal. The audible hallucinations and having a seizure were 2 of the scarier moments in my life. All I wanted to do was sleep and hydrate but pure discomfort and constant vomiting and panic attacks made it impossible until about 72 hours after my last drink. It took me 2 whole days to pee I was so dehydrated. Take this as a precautionary tale please.
@@keviinnxx I’m really sorry to hear that. It does get better. Tbh if you can get your hands on some benzos, that will help tremendously. Also melatonin and blood pressure meds are also useful. Just my 2 cents. Best of luck. You got this
Im the same rn. Sometimes several bottles of wine a day. Just had some weird sleep paralysis stuff where I was screaming and hallucinating. Came straight to this video
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.
I’m a recovering heroin addict and I think alcohol is one of the worst drugs. At least you have to hunt heroin down…alcohol is everywhere, every street corner, every social event…it’s nasty.
My inner drug addict agrees with you. Still doesn't make heroin an okay drug because you can buy alcohol at the store. Mental masterbation at its best.
agree, alcohol is the gateway to everything and its so much of our culture you can't get away from it. You can buy all you want 24/7 and culturally you are treated different if you don't drink. I think it is the real epidemic in the US and there needs to be more help for people to quit. I think the mfg are guilty of pushing it too much.
Absolutely. I’ve experienced heroin withdrawal many times and it’s awful. But DTs and seizures from alcohol really scared me and it happened in the hospital where I trusted they’d keep it from happening. I still crave a drink every time I’m anxious though.
I am a heavy drinker, booze every day. I can stop for 3 days when I think I’ve had too much, with no perceptible withdrawal symptoms. 9 days ago I stopped after a day of vodka and white wine. I woke up at 1.30 am feeling very unwell, clammy with a pulse of 122. I tried to settle myself down but nothing helped. I always dreaded the day that I would wake my wife up and ask her to call an ambulance, but I did. Fortunately our daughter-in-law is a nurse and lived opposite us and my wife called her. When she saw me she took my blood pressure and took me to A&E without waiting for an ambulance. After tests over the cause of the night I was allowed to go home. With no signs of a heart attack I felt pretty lucky. Day 8 without any alcohol and no withdrawal symptoms. I’m convinced that night was the warning that a lot of people don’t get, and I’m grateful. I now know for certain that my ( heavy ) drinking days are over after that fright and as I said, I’m grateful that I came out of it with no damage. Good luck to anyone who wants to quit, do it now before it’s too late. Best wishes.
I got to a point where id be up for two days and when my body tried to force sleep my brain would completely shut down and id stop breathing ...and panic up...this happened to me for 4 days but i kept up the solber act up...now for the first time in 10 years im falling asleep at night without meds just normally and it feels so different
never say never because you dont want to set yourself up and IF you did relapse you'd feel way worse about it but i was dependant on benzodiazepines and they very closely mimic alcohol withdrawal. the only 2 withdrawals that can kill you. anyways its been over a year and im pretty certain ill never take them ever again and when i say pretty i mean 99.99% but still its best to practice not saying never
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 quit drinking a year ago and I remember watching this video trying to make sense of what was going on with my body in the withdrawal phase of it all. I could cry with gratitude right now for being sober.
I love that tearful gratitude. I get it alot. I will have a year in September. I had relapse a few months back. Used it as learning experience. All this possible, because I made the move towards Jesus.
After 15yrs of alcohol abuse. My heart rate has 198 bpm for 2 weeks. Insomnia, psychosis. Thought I was going to have a heart attack. Didn't eat I lost about 26lbs. But I had made up my mind I was quitting regardless of price. And im 2.5yrs sober at the moment.
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
Excellent description of the medical severity of withdrawal. I suffered from the DTs in 2017 and spent 5 days in ICU. It’s no joke. I had hallucinations at the rehab and was rushed to the ER. I’m now sober almost 5 years and thankful every day that I was given another chance. To anyone thinking of quitting or going through withdrawals I know they suck but I promise your life will be unimaginably better sober.
Totally agree. It's like the eye of the hurricane. When you have alcohol as your best friend, you're in the eye but you need to face that storm to get out the other side - by slowly reducing, detoxing or under medical supervision. And most people don't get you can die from DTs if you suddenly stop. I was admitted to hospital and the head of hepatology wrote a discharge note to say that I should continue drinking at home, not suddenly stop. My wife was horrified and was considering complaining to the doctor but the true facts are that if you are a very heavy drinker and suddenly go cold turkey, that could be fatal.
I had pancreatitis that then led to alcohol withdrawal and full blown delirium tremens. Hallucinations both visual and auditory that seemed as real as can be. A very scary week but I survived. I remember seeing the Jägermeister deer looking in my window. I will be sober 8 years this June 19th. Please stop drinking before it is too late! You are strong enough to do it!
"I remember seeing the Jägermeister deer looking in my window." It speaks for their marketing efforts that even through the terror of severe withdrawal, their branding is still recognized. Can't be the drink itself, because even as a German I recognize, that Jägermeister tastes like somebody else has drunken it before you. Never liked that stuff. Even thinking about it has me grimassing.
The exact same thing happend to me, had to stop drinking due to severe pancreatitis,. didn't see the Jagermeister tho, only dead facecs flying toward me every time i tried to close my eyes.. sober since then, went to the ER 8th of feb , so almost 3 months now *patting my selfe*
I had pancreatitis when I was younger, I didn’t have visual hallucinations but I was hearing this that obviously weren’t there . I couldn’t drink water or eat anything, even a slice of fruit . Ended up in hospital for a week . Doctor told me to stop drinking vodka and switch to beer or Guinness and I was surprisingly fine for a while but pretty bad these days and I only drink wine , beer or Guinness. Desperately trying to stop drinking, I can go a few days but once I have one then I could be on it for the days , til the time I wake up til I pass out , I’m sick of it
@@paulmcgrath6118 I once went cold turkey for 21 days and I did not experience any withdrawals at all. Does this only happen to people who drink HEAVILY? As in 3 bottles of vodka every day or 8 cans of beer everyday. I would get myself drunk most nights after work and sometimes I’d mix it with smoking weed. How is it that I never had any withdrawal symptoms during that period?
@@randomango2789 I think the people who get withdrawals are the people who drink huge amounts without ever taking a day off . I used to drink a litre of vodka a day, did it for months and I don’t think I experienced any DTs at all, I was imagining that I was hearing things but I think that was more to do with being sick from pancreatitis and dehydrated
If you really want to quit, from a guy who spent a couple of years living in a tent in the woods and abandoned houses as I could find them, following the advice of folks in AA has made my last drink datable to October 11, 2009. I'll even say this: I'm a pretty contentious atheist, but I still attribute this lasting sobriety to an extra and double serving of prayer. All I can say is, I recognize that doesn't make sense, but neither does anything else I did as a drunk, so I really didn't have room to pass judgment did I!😂😂
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.
Congrats to all the sober people on here and family of those sober or trying to get there. I was a severe alcoholic for 6 years. I drank from 4-5am, until I blacked out around midnight and then started over. It was absolute torture. In 2017, I got a DUI and crashed into 2 parked cars in a total blackout. Worst of all, I had my 10 year old, his best friend and my 1 year old in the car. It was my rock bottom. I have been sober since that night, 9/29/2017 and I’m grateful every time I go to bed at night, after another day sober. It’s taken years for my kids and husband to trust me, but I did that. I worked my ass off for the last 5.5 years to earn that trust back and I will do anything, to never go back there again. Unfortunately, I am still a convicted felon, I can’t be around children, I can’t even volunteer in my now 1st graders classroom supervised…. But, those are the consequences for my actions and thank god it wasn’t worse than what it actually was. Prayers for those in and out of this horrific disease.
@@kevinmahaley4916 ask Jesus to take away all cravings and to help you. Believe me he’s longing for you too. He does not want us to go through these things alone..Praying for you now Kevin here in Massachusetts
As the father of an alcoholic, I can only say shame on any country that allows alcohol to be manufactured and sold to it’s people. Most people have no idea of the danger posed by this poison. Yes, we failed at prohibition in the early 20th century, the same way we are failing at drug prevention now. That’s because our society is not serious about keeping those destructive toxins out. Too many thoroughly corrupt politicians are getting rich on the drug and alcohol industries. The fundamentalist Muslim countries are correct in criminalizing the importation, manufacture or consumption of those deadly poisons with long prison sentences or in some cases, the death penalty. My brother and I were the only ones who refused to give up on my son and kept going back to help him. Everyone else, including his mother, justified their inaction by claiming he had to “hit rock bottom”, never having been taught that doing so could have killed my son. We finally got him into a hospital and then rehab and AA. That was 2 months ago. We pray that he is finally ready to stay sober and understands how close he was to death.
I was a raging alcoholic and I remember all of this. I would only sleep 4 hrs because I would start withdrawal.. so had to get up and take a shot of something to let me sleep again.. but I'd wake up 2 hours later.. I would hide bottles under the bed and steal it from parties in water bottles from parties . I always had it on me. Finally got sick and stopped but the panic attacks were controlling my life everytime I tried to quit.. I'm on meds now and it's been a year since I binged.. I have drank occasionally but the next day I feel like the hangover is the withdrawal and I'll end up in er. I hate that this drug is available everywhere
One time during a binge...I woke up in a sweat with a heart rate of 150bpm and at the hospital they confirm I had gone into withdrawal. Waking up and needing a drink to go back to sleep is already getting pretty serious. Hope you've conquered this demon !
Try the "Sinclair Method". Naltrexone, which blocks the Opioid effect that some alcoholics experience when they drink a lot in a short period. My wife is struggling with Alcoholism. She is Mexican and her DNA is half Native and Half European. When she drinks. She doesn't get hungover. I suspect that her body isn't breaking down the alcohol. So when she wakes up she doesn't experience the hangover because it's still in her system. Hangovers are caused by Withdrawal and dehydration. So she starts drinking and it becomes a weekly binge.
I'm with you I've been in the ER a few times & I'm so ready to give up alcohol....alcohol withdrawal its hell on earth ......tremors,extreme nausa,extreme pain in the esophagus,etc .every visit to the ER got valium,morphine,famotodine....it's hell ...
I watch TH-cam constantly and without ever seeking out or watching videos about Alcohol withdrawal, this video showed up on my feed tonight. I really appreciate you making this video as I am terrified about withdrawal and the stress of the thought of withdrawal makes me drink more. I really appreciate all this information, and it certainly has pointed me on the right track to finding more help.❤
In 2 weeks I am about to go in to hospital for one week detox. Then I go straight from there to a rehab place for 4 weeks. I am chronic (alcohol only, no drugs). I am 68 years old, I have onset lung damage from smoking.. This is the best educational video on the planet. This video may save my life. I might get to hug my grandchildren again... it's tough, but better than the alternative. Thank you Dr Kim. You just made my trek easier and I am going to show this to all my family - so they will know what to expect - but more importantly - show the young ones that this is what your life could be. Thank you so much.... I'm in Australia. All my hospital, medication, rehab accomodation, food, anything I need is free.. not a dime. But that's another story.
I started drinking at 14, but my addiction took a turn for the worst in the summer of 2021. I was going into my junior year of college, living completely alone in my college town with nothing to do... except drink. I lied to my parents for alcohol money, hung around sketchy strangers just to mooch a drink, and drank myself into a stupor every afternoon/evening. I'd pass out on the couch, wake up multiple times in the middle of the night, and have to continue drinking to rid myself of the extreme uncomfortability of withdrawal and fall back asleep. I would show up to work still intoxicated, but that was the only way to get through the day. I felt so ill and pathetic, but the thing that caused these problems seemed like the only solution to them. So I kept drinking. My habits only worsened when my friends returned in the fall, but no one was particularly worried. It wasn't abnormal for a college student to be an avid "partier". My depression and addiction led to a suicide attempt in October of 2021. I moved back home, yet the drinking continued. I didn't stop until my parents caught me sneaking bottles of wine in November. I attended AA and had several counselors, and I got better. I learned why I drink in the first place and began to resolve the root causes of my addiction. I could sleep finally, focus throughout the day, and my appetite returned. I was healing... and happy. I was sober for 10 months, traumatically relapsed in September of 2022 when I got back to school, but I haven't had a drink since. It's very strange, being 21 and unable to participate in a lot of the things people my age can. However, I gave up alcohol and I got my life back. I hate how this poison is so available and normalized. Sobriety is the best thing that's ever happened to me. For anyone pursuing it, hang in there. Ask for help when you need it. I believe in you. You can do this.
Don't think of it as 'giving up' alcohol but more as 'getting rid'. Also embrace the fact that you are so young and have many, many years of sobriety ahead of you. I stopped when I was 34, I am 64 now. It has not always been easy but I knew that if I took a drink I would be right back where I left off and worse. Love gets better and better, God willing one day at a time. Just to finish I never forget where I have come from and how bad it was and that helps me every single day. Good wishes on your life's journey from the UK x
I find it disturbing how alcohol use is so accepted and illegal drugs are demonized. To me alcohol is just as dangerous as any illegal drug. Stay strong.
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.
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 was just 27 when i quit cold turkey,after drinking nearly 12 years..iv experienced heavy DT,halluciantions,hearing voices,these voices were reacting on my toughts ,really demonic..i tought im in hell,i had to call ambulance in the end,my heart rate was 155,i could die easily..3 years sobber
That is exactly what happened to me too. Them voices will actually make fun of your fear of them knowing exactly every thought. Then they joke around why your mind wanders. I asked them outloud if they were demons and they said look outside in the rim of that car. There i saw a scary ass face. Makes your hair stand up.
My husband was one of the 1-5% that died as a result of alcohol abuse, even with medical assistance in an ICU. Dr. Kim provides good info, but I think it’s also important to stress GETTING THERAPY to deal with potential past traumas that may be causing you to abuse alcohol, realize what triggers you and how to cope with your traumas in a more healthy way. People drink to either feel something or to NOT feel something. Figure out your ‘why’ with the help of a therapist. It may be a painful and lengthy process, but it will be worth it, both mentally and physically. No one should have to see their spouse die right in front of them.
May he rest in peace. My grandfather did the same thing he actually drank himself to death. It runs in the family because a lot of my family members have drank themselves to death. I for one have had my fair share but I've managed to pump my breaks through the years. Before I got married I didn't drunk like have in the past few years. When I started having wine for breakfast I knew it was time to change. There were some weekends that I drank both Saturday & Sunday without eating. That is no way to live so I made some serious changes and I feel 100 times better.
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 went through all of these horrible symptoms numerous times. The worst part was when I tried to quit on my own but I was so deep into my alcoholism that no matter how much I drank the withdrawals wouldn't go away, the ONE thing that I knew I could rely on to make myself feel better no longer worked, I was on deaths door when I finally seeked help. Been sober for 8 years now and life is SO MUCH better.
My first alcohol withdrawal experience was so bad, it scared me out of wanting to drink ever again. I started drinking since I was 14 to medicate self anxiety and I’m 28 now. I’ve been six months clean and never had a craving or urge to drink again. If I even have a sip of a drink now I feel depressed. I’m not sure how people are able to go through this so many times and still be alive because it’s absolute hell. I don’t know how I even got through it the first time.
@@RaquelBrown-tk7hdI would HIGHLY recommend speaking with a doctor about getting the anxiety under control. It's the reason a lot of use drink in the first place. You deserve to be happy or at least be living a functional life with the hells of what anxiety is capable of. Try and stay tough. And do NOT give up. It's a journey and eventually you will get lucky
I was on death's door twice during my drinking career - probably many more that I forgot. After almost 50 yrs of drinking, I'm now 7 years sober. I don't even think about drinking any more - probably because my memory is so shot, I forgot what it felt like. lol
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. ❤
No it's not.. Far from it. 1st ITS not a drug as per alkies... 2 Fentanyl, Crack, Meth and a ton of others are worse.. .. You'll never get better until you start thinking better.
This guy "Talks from his heels" -Meaning, he doesn't speak from script nor teleprompter(s)- he's speaking from his heart and his vast experience as an MD. More importantly, he seems really invested in the well being of all his viewers. Imagine the numbers of lives he's saved; Opiate-adicted lives, alcoholic-adicted lives. He's the most important TH-cam influencer in history, without hyperbole. Thank you, sir Doctor Kim.
Thank you for the kind words Jeremy. Feel totally burnt out today as i'm still burning the midnight oil reviewing charts at 1:59am CST, but you just gave me a burst of motivation and made my night. Going to hit the sack now and back to the grind tomorrow. Hope you are well and thanks again for checking in.
My uncle died walking across a field to the store to get beer. He was detoxing and waiting on my mom to leave after giving him some money. Sad man. Lifelong alcoholic. He taught me about the Beatles when i was a young teen. I will always thank him for that.
I was a heavy alcoholic for 20 years and remember going through all of this when I quit. I was in a medical rehab for a little over a month and had a seizure when I was there. 2 1/2 years I have been clean and sober. I like this vid and your channel. Making that change isn't as easy as some might think.
I got my first seizure 10 days ago out of all places the liquor store. My vision started to go black and when I came to the paramedic were there with a stretcher. Gave myself a black eye got stitches. How much were you drinking a day when you had your seizure?
@@dogfoot1874 when I went into rehab I was drinking two cases of beer and a big bottle of rum or whiskey everyday. I had to get stitches to. I hit my head off a cement bench at the rehab when I blacked out.
@@dogfoot1874I see no one has answered your question from two days ago! I'm sorry sugar for I feel someone should have got back to you! I'm like my mother I like a beer now and then but no hard alcohol or wine. I am not familiar with this guy's solution. I do wish you the best of the best. Much peace and happiness is sent to you from my state of Arkansas! 🐦💜
How much did you drink a day? I'm so sick of being sick and all I want to do as well is just eat and hydrate but it's almost impossible when your constantly throwing up😊
@@knightman7203 I drank half a liter of everclear on a hard day and here's the trick I used to use years ago when I couldn't down solid food... MuscleMan Apple sauce all day every day breakfast lunch and dinner. Pounds a day. Try it out :)
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.
I have been sober 13 months and still can’t sleep good. However I feel a lot better than I did on day one. After 30 years of hard drinking it’s going to take awhile for me to feel better. Lots of guilt and shame and I have to learn how to be an adult in an adult world without my baby bottle to drink from every day. It’s not easy to change bad habits that I worked so hard to develop.
Alcohol withdrawals are horrible. I remember seeing things running across the floor, shadows, not sleeping for 3 days in a row. Not being able to eat for 3 days
My brother died at 42 due to “alcohol addiction.” Jack Daniels all day. Neither he nor my mom ever admitted he was an alcoholic. Denial. He was a good guy.
I went through this last week. I binge drank for years, and had my last drink on the Sunday before Labor Day (Monday). By Tuesday night, I got heavily fatigued, and a low grade fever, and extremely anxious. My resting heart rate was over 120 BPM. Because of the fever, I went the next day for a rapid covid test (Wednesday). It was negative. And I had absolutely no cold/flu/covid symptoms, other than this low grade fever, about 101. They checked my blood pressure and it was 164/97! I never had high blood pressure, before, and my normal resting heart rate is in the 60’s. My anxiety turned into complete paranoia. At night, I sweat until I was drenched. I had insomnia. Then, I heard my 4 year old son crying in the middle of the night. I jumped out of bed, checked his room, and he was totally silent and asleep. That’s when I realized I had been withdrawing. For about 4 days, I had auditory hallucinations, vivid nightmares, the heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety, panic, plus the low grade fever fluctuating between normal and 101F. I am done with alcohol and not going back. It feels great to wake up and know that I don’t have the burden of whether or not I’m going to drink today. I wanted to call 911, at one point, because I couldn’t drive myself to the doctor. I eventually did go. I now wonder if I was on the verge of DT. And, given that high heart rate and blood pressure, I wonder how close to a heart attack or stroke, I was. (I’m 44).
Im also a recovering alcoholic. I wouldnt wish alcohol withdrawals on my worst enemy. Ive done countless benders lasting up to a month. Done cold turkey w/out treatment countless times. It caused me to become kindled meaning everytime I withdraw even if I only drank for a few days its like full blown withdrawals about 12 hours after my last drink. Hell on earth. Very hard to taper. Thankfully Im 10 days today. I hope I never have to experience withdrawals again and withdrawals are a huge motivating factor for me to stay sober.
Arbitrage Firstly, congrats. Let’s both hang in there. I’m almost three weeks sober. Because of my binge drinking pattern, and multiple times “quitting”, I think I kindled, too. I feel like I’m proba my starting to experience “PAWS”. I was doing pretty good, and then I became extremely anxious this week, and have been having multiple vivid dreams, which wake me up, startled and anxious, and a bit sweaty. I, also, have no motivation to drink again, and no cravings. I think, because I’ve become to afraid of the frightening pattern of withdrawal. It’s unbelievable, considering the risks and harms of alcohol, that it is so readily available, and so little public discussion on its dangers.
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!
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.
Thank you for posting this video. My sister had severe hallucinations and was plaqued by the "voices." and any sounds at all. Thankfully I had prior experience from knowing someone else that went through this and he eventually died from drinking. I knew 2 other men who lost their battle with alcohol so I knew a little bit about the effects that can come from quitting drinking. Enough that I was able to finally convince her to seek medical attention so she could get medication to help her. Sadly she continued to drink and even told ne she still heard the voices sometimes. It became very clear to me that my beautiful, outgoing, and very responsible little sister was never going to be the same again again. She went from being the "responsible, role model" in the family to basically losing her mind and being completely distracted by alcohol. She was only 36 when she, ironically, drove to a friend's fir the first time after having the breathalyzer device that a DUI required her to have installed in her car removed, where she spent the night because they were all drinking and she didn't want to drink and drive. She left the girls house around 8 am the next morning and for reasons unknown to anyone her SUV was seen rolled over in a field less than 2 miles from where her friend lived and she died. It's such a tragedy. She really was a beautiful person inside and out, like model material. She was also a mom. In 2 years she went from being completely sober always carrying around her "smart" water, being very health conscious and watching what she ate to losing everything including her life. Anyway you can say I did my fair share of research online searching for anything that helped to explain what she was going through, if only to try to confirm if all of her hallucinations really were alcohol related because her accident left many unanswered questions as there was no visible reason for it and she wasn't suicidal. I found nothing until I saw your post just now. I'm so glad someone else spoke up about the hallucinations being alcohol related because I was going to lose it if one more family member blamed drugs when she wasn't doing drugs. People are ignorant at times content to live in denial. I am currently starting to see that my 25 year old daughter drinks constantly though she works full time and is a full time student. I was just debating on whether I need to go get her dad involved. We are separated but the kids listen to him alot more than i.anyway hopefully anyone battling this horrible life long addiction that really is the worst one out there. As bad as heroine. But it's legal cheaper and easier to get.
The hallucinations are as real as you can imagine, and they're ALWAYS terrifying. You never hallucinate kittens and puppies. Your brain reaches in and pulls out everything fearful and hellish it can find, both visually and audibly. Turning the lights off to attempt sleep is like living in hell. The hallucinations are closely linked to the severe dehydration that alcoholics are always in a severe state of. Not drugs, except the alcohol itself. Many people can not imagine it, and if you haven't experienced alcohol withdrawal, you wouldn't believe how terrifying it is. It's 100% the reason people can't stop. The cause is also the cure. To solve the problem of withdrawal you have to continue the problem of alcoholism. Your body literally NEEDS it to live. So you know, alcohol has led me to prison, a coma, a girlfriend dying in front of me of a fit brought on by withdrawal, an arrest on suspicion of murder, multiple organ failure, end stage cirrhosis, 6 months to live, and a liver transplant. And "waking up" at 48 wondering what happened to my 20s, 30s and up to 47, childless, unmarried, friendless and alone. Where I still am. It was a 30 year su. I. side attempt which didn't work. If your sister was going to continue down that route, I hope I don't sound insensitive, but a swift exit saved her a lot of future pain, if that's any comfort.
I’ve had the insects hallucination and thinking my whole family was in my house for a couple of days. Also really bad dreams when I finally fall asleep for a moment. This video made me cry because someone finally understands and explains the horror that I’ve gone through. Sometimes I’ve even been so afraid I wouldn’t be able to come out of this temporary feeling. I’m so glad you made this video. I finally feel understood.
I had the insects hallucinations too. I was November of last year drinking 15 beers a day. After stopping for two days. I hadn't heard that was a symptom of withdrawal.fascinating.
@@ericortega1745I mainly just drink beer, don't really touch the hard stuff but I'll go on my binges which I'm down from a serious one now. I found drinking a little less beers a day makes it a lot easier when I completely stop. Exercise also helps a lot. I'll go for a run when I feel the shakes and excessive sweating start and it will go away after the workout. The problem is going to sleep and the insomnia starts. I'm so used to passing out drunk.
@@jairgodoy1256your brain and nervous system flips out essentially so it’s always safer to ween off or get hospital treatment, people die from the hallucinations
My father has battled chronic alcoholism pretty much his entire adult life. His father died from the withdrawals. This was very eye opening as far as my approach to the issue 👏🏾🙏🏾
Happy to hear that Rhonda. Even when there are set backs, don't be too harsh on yourself. Focus on trying to use setbacks to fuel your motivation to keep pushing forward. I hope your journey is going ok and that you're finding ways to stay motivated. Bless you and pray you kind find some peace during this battle.
@@FoodiePhal waaay better, i honestly thought the withdrawals affect going to be way longer, I I decided to join a Reddit community where we all talk about being sober forever lol it’s been helpful so far encouraging one another, you should try it
Thank you for informing others of this. I've watched the slow, painful, and frankly disturbing demise of my stepdad when he was just 43. It always blew my mind that no one talked about the reality of it- specifically the hallucinations. After he passed away I would go out with friends, but I haven't been able to bring myself to drink after what I witnessed.
I'm assuming he drank everyday, but was it all day? And do you know what he drank? I'm 43 now and starting to get worried. I just drink beer, none of the hard stuff but I'll go on binges here and there and will get mild withdrawals up to the shakes, excessive sweating, spike in blood pressure. I'll usually just taper off, drink a little less for a few days and it won't be so bad when I completely stop. Which I'm doing now. RIP to your step dad, sorry for your loss.
@@henny6566 he drank everyday all day and most often liquor. I didn't see him sober for more than a few days in the 13 years I knew him. Best of luck to you on your journey. The fact that you are worried and are thinking about the change is a big step in it. ❤️
I was drinking 15 beers a Day for 10 years. The first 8 days sober were absolute hell!! Massive anxiety.. disoriented.. images in my mind when I closed my eyes.. scary as hell I thought I was actually crazy.. I told the dr that I think I'm schizophrenic or bipolar... He said.. no sunshine... That alcohol withdrawal..
It Is Scary, Alcohol Withdrawal. I Saw Stuff When Withdrawaling; Demons, HELL, Scary Weird Dreams, Etc. Sweating Like Crazy At Times. Its No Fun. I Pray For Anyone Going Through The Ordeal. 🙏 🕊 ✝
Keep putting this content out there. I guarantee you someone is watching this who is on the fence on whether they should go to the ER or not. If this is you and you are experiencing these symptoms go. Speaking from experience. I spent 2 different times in ICU that lasted from 9-14 days and could've easily died. I believe I was spared to share the message to other alcoholics in AA that you can stop this insanity that we do to ourselves.
As a current struggling alcoholic, thank you. I've been drinking myself to sleep, to calm my mind, for over a decade. I've been through shakes, insomnia, and last September I actually was hallucinating and hearing things/seeing people in my room after being sick for 3 days. December 2020 I was diagnosed with pancreatitis. 2021 I went to treatment for 3 months, was sober for 10 months, but went back to drinking beer. Went back to treatment for a month in 2022, and 3 months in 2023. Still drinking.... I'm down to 4 beers a day, but I'm still struggling. Withdrawals are a serious thing.
I was drinking 5 to 6 nights a week for like 10 years. And drinking 6 to 9 drinks each night. I never really felt withdrawal symptoms I guess because I never went longer than 24 hours without drinking. But my last drink was the night of February 28th 2023. And I did start having higher blood pressure and had a hard time sleeping the first week. I was moody. But after that it went away. It’s been 42 days now and I feel so great! I’ve lost 15 pounds and just over 3 inches from my beer gut. I also cut out sodas, sugar and started eating healthier. I’m not bloated, my blood pressure is actually all the way down to normal. My mind is clear. I just feel awesome. I have a friend that used to drink all day everyday and he tried to quit cold turkey. He had seizures. His blood pressure was so high he was getting nose bleeds. He was a mess. We finally talked him into taking 1 shot of vodka every few hours for a few days. Then after that 1 twice a day for a few days and then 1 once a day only if his withdrawal symptoms were bad enough. After almost two weeks he was able to go without any alcohol. And going through that was a real reality check for him. He’s been sober for over 10 years now. Alcohol withdrawal is so serious. Had I not seen him go through it I wouldn’t believe it. Withdrawals from meds like Xanax are very bad also. Seizures and you can have a heart attack. Years ago a lady died from withdrawal in line at the pharmacy waiting for her refill. She had been without it for a couple day’s waiting for her doctor to approve it. Then opiate withdrawals are dangerous also. So many substances that we can become addicted and or dependent on.
So some of the things that you discussed like DT's and Hallucinosis have right now convinced me to reduce my alcohol consumption. I didn't know it could go that far and I must say, it's pretty scary. Thanks for making this video, seriously.
Wish there was more informative content like this out there without trying to sell you a product or idea. If more people understood what alcoholics go through, there would be less alcoholics. Thanks Dr. Kim.
Appreciate the feedback. Trying my best to just post non-BS, balanced content. Not to sound self-righteous, as I get a trickle of revenue from these annoying TH-cam ads that play randomly. But, I agree with you, doctors, psychologists, therapists, etc that shill and prey upon the desperate to sell some relabeled supplement , cleanse, “secret method” that costs $99.99 are douches and annoying. To each their own. But I find it satisfying to put out balanced content to differentiate myself from sales pitches and the Wild West of Reddit anecdotes.
I was in the ICU for 6 days and almost died, I was drinking a gallon of tequila everyday. My withdrawal symptoms lasted about 8 weeks. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through and it’s a daily battle every day 4 years later.
@@Mark-pp7jy It sounds like a stretch. But heavy alcoholics have been known to sometimes endure per mil alcohol levels that would be straight up deadly for more casual drinkers. It is generally said that a blood/alcohol concentration of 2 to 2.5 plus is where it is getting dicy, with 4 being coma inducing/deadly for most people. But in traffic controls some heavy duty drinkers have been found out with per mil values higher than even 4! Levels of over 6 or even over 8 per mil (twice the standard deadly dosage) are not unheard of. And mind you ..... these guys weren't laying on a park bench puking their souls out .... they were still driving.
Thank you for the awesome video Dr. Kim!!! I have experienced untreated alcohol withdrawal more times than I can count. It is physiological agony that I wouldn't wish on the devil himself. So dangerous, so misunderstood. Far too often, people are unaware that they need medical intervention. Sometimes they are too embarrassed or afraid to seek it out. That was me. Thank you again. I am 2 years sober, and I am so grateful for people like you who put out such solid, important, and easy to understand information. You rock!
Good work! My boyfriend didn’t make it but I’m always happy to hear about people who do! He went through all of these things. I’ve never had a drink, smoked, toked, etc. in my life. I never knew anyone who drank alcohol before him but he was getting treatment for cancer when I met him. He was a very kind man. It’s so sad.
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.
Thanks for this. A relative just experienced severe withdrawals. They say he's OK now, but I want to learn more about this and learn how to support someone who is trying to quit drinking.
Very informative video Dr. Kim....I had chronic alcohol addiction in my youth. I was introduced to AA in 1981 at age 26. It took another 4 years for me to finally throw in the towel. I have now been sober for over 38 years. I'm so grateful that the "summertime" of my life was not wasted. Now at 68 I can recall the words of the doctor in the ER when he said to me "Mr. Humphrey, decisions that you make now could greatly impact your life down the road"... That was then. 38 years later I know exactly what he meant.
I didn't think I had a problem with alcohol (or in major denial?) Until I decided to stop drinking wine 5 Day's ago. I'm so violently ill right now, it's worse than death. Unbearable nausea, vomiting, profusely sweating, violent tremors.... this is agonizing. Much love to all those struggling like this...
Hearing this and reading the comments makes me super grateful in my quitting of alcohol. I thought I was gonna have a harder time stopping but I fortunately didn’t. Going on 5months & not regretting it at all.
One day sober. I hit the toilet about 15 times there's nothing in my stomach. Vomitted every hour. It's hard to breathe and i have a body ache feels like hell for one day
I literally nearly died several times due to detoxing from alcohol. I have experienced hallucinations and I was terrified and the AA woman that I was with would not take me to the hospital. I look back and it angers me that these AA people take it upon themselves to detox people with nothing but Gatorade and honey. Thank you for educating your viewers
if you are getting to that point i would heavily advise going to the ER, they will likely put you on benzodiazepine treatment to allow you to more safely and effectively taper
Trusting a random alcoholic women from aa to detox you and not a inpatient or hospital was your first mistake. Alcohol withdrawal is no time for a random aa ladies hippie nonsense.
As a shizophrenic I would like to know what you saw when you had this vision ,I would like to know if your expierience is like mine even if I don’t use alcohol atall
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.
I been abusing alcohol for 3 years after I retired! Happy I found your vid! I have to stop and stop wasting my life! I decided to quit for good! I am 63 and afraid for my life!!
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.
Thank you Dr. Kim - I have several family members, and their children, who are struggling with this disease. At times to minimize the social impact of the disease and the seizures that occur when they try to slow down, they claim it is a form of epilepsy, so they hide it and cover up the symptoms. The social pressure from alcoholic disease has such a negative stigma, it can prevent people, and families, from seeking treatment. It is a horrible monkey to have on your back and it takes many lives. The more we can educate the people/ family/ friends/ the public at large, that this is a disease, and not a character flaw, reducing the stigma, maybe we can save some of those lives. Thank you for what you do.
Definitely more work needs to be done with both education and reducing stigma. You can see even within the comments here, some people mock the idea that withdrawal is even a real thing, or make condescending comments re: people just aren’t tough enough etc. keep fighting the good fight and I hope your family members keep searching for motivating factors to be ready for healthy changes.
I learned my lesson! I drunk heavily for 6 weeks everyday and when I decided to stop cold turkey, I thought I was going to die. Today is day 6th and I’m just now recovering and will try my first meal in a week. Alcohol is a demon!
I’m still struggling with it myself. I was always a casual drinker until covid and I got depressed. I don’t binge drink or anything crazy but I’m tired of using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
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 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.
Damn. I just went through another detox last couple days. Alcoholic hallucinations n nightmares have happened the last few binges ive had. The battle continues. Thanks for sharing.
WAOW!...this was very very enlightening! I never understood by people can’t just stop drinking, overnight. I have a lot more compassion now for alcoholics and other addicts. Thank you🙏🙏🙏🙏
Excellent explanation - I have had 2 seizures from withdrawal and admitted to hospital both times, and my 3rd visit to hospital was treated with Librium and now realise I was experiencing Delirium as I was so confused just as you explain..Very scary times for me and my family. I broke my back during the first seizure and now cant work, but I am now Tee total and alive thankfully
Thank you. Dr. Kim Means alot I just got out of hospital after a seizure almost a week ago, almost bit half my tongue off... this is no joke ppl. Everything he said is 💯 on the money. Thanks again Doc!
Dang Ronald. I am glad you are ok and made it out the other side. Hope you can keep pushing and keeping your motivations top of mind. If setbacks happen along the way, keep focused on the motivation and don’t be too harsh on yourself. The fact that you have insight and know there’s a problem to be tackled is a big first step. Wishing you the best man.
I went through all of these symptoms & stayed in the hospital for a week. I went through extensive treatment (about 16-17 months). I'm so happy that I've been sober going on 5 & a half years. I don't miss drinking & what it did to my life at all. Dr. Kim knows what he's talking about.
@@sangeetalambh6389 at first it was scary, all I felt was agony. But, after some therapy, meetings, treatment, & dedication to the idea of getting & remaining sober, I’ve been able to enjoy life again. The first year is rough. Hang in there.
Thank you for the video! I stopped and such a bad seizure I bit a piece of my tongue off. I was extremely disoriented and a few days later in the hospital I would see very scary things everytime I closed my eyes. Plus the sweating. I dont wish it on anyone.
We're you drinking every single day? I'm curious because I don't drink every day but when I do it's usually all weekend long and then Sunday night/Monday morning the withdraw symptoms start and I'm a bit afraid what will happen if I go cold turkey
@@thattannerguy856 I believe alcohol abuse is defined as either 2 or more drinks a day or 14 drinks in any 1 week period. So if you're hitting that 14 drink limit even in a single weekend you will likely get some of these symptoms if you cut out alcohol completely.
Used alcohol for years to numb myself and help push things down that I wasn’t dealing with. I was always functional, but did it at home alone WAY too much. Took me basically having a nervous breakdown to start working on my problems. Getting rid of alcohol helped me to do that, and I’m now three years sober and never going back. I don’t even get the urge anymore.
Thank you for sharing and letting others know they can push through and get to a healthier place. There’s so much negativity on social media, I thank you for being intentional to take a minute out of your day to post this here. Hoping others stumble across your thread/comments.
Thank you so much dr. I'm an alcoholic no one else knows I think I've never come out of the closet not sure who knows I know that's all that matters. I drink a lot of wand throughout the day everyday I have for the past two years I live alone have no family and I want to quit drinking. I've never been honest with my doctor I think after watching your video it's time that my doctor and I talk about this. Thank you so much for your honesty.
I’ve experienced alcohol withdrawal and been to a hospital multiple times within the past few years, including rehab. I’ve never used any other drugs outside of alcohol and pot. Haven’t touched pot since I was 18 and always hated it. Alcohol was my go to for depression. Thankfully I’m still alive today. The first time I experienced withdrawals, I didn’t know what to do or anything about it. I spent three days on a friends couch concerned that I might die. I’ve never had delirium, hallucinations, or seizures. However, I’ve felt absolutely terrible before and felt like I could possibly break out in a seizure at any moment. Like other drugs, often people use not to get high but to eliminate the withdrawal. I highly appreciate this video and wish the best for anyone out there struggling.
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 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.
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 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!
Hello Dr. Kim-Thank you for making a point to address just how sudden and complicated alcohol withdrawal can be when consumption stops suddenly. I’m a healthcare professional in a corrections setting. Many of our pts. with a hx of alcohol abuse are at significant risk of experiencing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms you’ve mentioned here. Managing these pt.s can be tricky because they must be monitored and medicated frequently. Everything you mentioned here reinforces my personal opinion that one must be vigilant and empathetic when assessing and treating pts who may withdrawal from alcohol. Symptom onset is individual & absolutely varies- key point!
I would like to offer my experience.
When I was 24 I was hired as a police officer. We were all young single professionals who liked to party. I noticed early on I could outdrink my peers easily. I never drank before or during work. The only time I did not drink at all was on nightshifts. I would go home and go to sleep and head back to work. At age 24 I was no longer living with my parents as I had to move for my career. I would have never drank at home, but now I was free to do so.
At Age 27 I walked into a bedroom of a dead alcoholic. This man was 27 as well and surrounded by bottles. He lived at home with his mother and brother. I was scared straight, so I thought. I quit drinking for maybe 3 weeks. I hated life, I was agitated constantly and very unpleasant to be around. Miserable as I was, I went back to drinking. The fear of the what if long subsided.
As the years progressed so did my alcoholism. Occasionally I would be dispatched to death calls where the clear cause was alcohol. The worst of which was a person who looked like a yellow wax monster, one of the most hideous I had seen. At this point I was long gone. I had accepted the fact that my demise would be similar to the men and women who dies alone surrounded by giant bottles of alcohol. As time pressed on I began to decline mentally and this began to manifest as anxiety and panic attacks after time without drinking. I can say that my job was hard to do in that state but any job would have seen me in decline. I was inured on duty and went for back surgery. I could not accept that I could never go out of patrol again. I was placed in a cubicle doing data entry for years after. The perfect way for my alcoholism to thrive while remaining undetected. I was an absolute recluse by this point. I eliminated my social circle by never attending any events or cancelling at the last minute. I could not drink the way I wanted to drink in those social settings. My daily routine of grabbing a full glass of vodka with ice was much faster than the slow grind of social drinking. That was how my mind worked. I then got the green light for a second surgery on my spine. To access the area they needed to cut through my original scar tissue. This surgery was unsuccessful and left me with horrible nerve damage in my feet. My anxiety was punishing. I would go shopping and then have a panic attack and run out of the store leaving a full cart of groceries. I could barely enter my pin number, often failing thew 1st time which only caused my uncontrollable shaking worse. Many times I had to just walkaway without my item. That or I had to call my ex to compete my transactions. At 44 I looked nothing like my former self. I was a bloated red faced man who shaved his head because I could no longer sit in a barbers chair. I returned to work and I couldn't even type anymore.
My new supervisor took me aside one day. He told me his story and it was essentially the same as mine. Inured drinker, addicted to prescribed pain killers. He asked me if I would be willing to anything and I said yes.
It was a blur after that. Doctors , psychologist and HR. A month later I walked into a 6 week rehab facility and I never drank again, well , so far haha. 3.5 years sober.
What does this have to do with the video?
I have seen people in withdrawal and its terrible. A man who quit alcohol pointing to a closet and saying that lady there keeps running around my house with bugs, as I look at an empty closet.
I have seen death and seizures too. My doctor gave me tip once as he told me of liver issues and that was to not quit abruptly. I knew that to be true cause I had seen it all.
The 1st week in the facility I was medically detoxed and under constant necessary scrutiny. Due to the severity of my abuse, the others started the program without me. I was also coming off the pain killers. By day 3 I was much better and by day 4 I joined the group.
When I got out I Joined AA. AA has worked for me. For some it doesn't, there are many options.
Do not fool yourself or allow yourself to quit cold turkey. A seizure may cause death, or more so brain trauma. Leaving you without control of your own faculties. If you still have anyone left that loves you, you will burden them. Don't let the alcohol fool you into thinking death is the only option. I truly believed that. I was completely stunned to find out just 3 months later my liver enzymes had returned from normal from the staggering number I had initially been given, 11 x more than normal.
I got a lot back from quitting. My appearance was one thing I 1st noticed. I remember one day looking in the mirror and said to myself, I never thought I would see you again, old friend.
Amazing story, thank you.
Welcome back
@@Junkitup Hey Toeknee!
Incredible story !
@@kimbutler6912 Thank you Kim.
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.
I started drinking alcohol since my teenage. Spent my whole life fighting alcohol addiction. Also suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
That’s great to hear. All of the psilocybin research that is continuing to grow is very fascinating. I participated in a clinical trial as an independent “rater” assessing subjects after their micro-doses which was a very intriguing observational experience.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
Yes sure of Pedroshrooms
Thanks for sharing your story. That's rough I sympathize. Save your health save your mind. Life is better without heroin, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. And you have more money in your pocket. God bless everyone who has rejected the devils intentions to be addicted to alcohol and cigarettes etc which can cause so much damage to health. I will pray for you all.
Crying floods of tears watching this. My Dad died from withdrawing from alcohol. Everyone at the time had the attitude of ‘just stop drinking’. Easy. He lost his parents in the holocaust and never talked of the horrors he saw as a child. Medicating his trauma my poor Dear Dad 😢
Oh my god. I’m so sorry❤
Thank you so much beautiful xxx
Thank you so much beautiful xxx
Hi my brother just had his first seizure today and he is a frequent drinker he is only 17 and it was really scary I think he might me going through this what can I do to help I’m scared
@@margo406seek a referral to a good neurologist. There could be several underlying reasons.
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.
My grandma died of alcohol withdrawal. My mom had extreme withdrawal. I was a heavy drinker for 10 years. After hitting rock bottom I quit cold turkey. Luckily, I only had a nasty hang over for 2 days and cravings for a week. I’m beyond lucky. I’m 8 months sober and I can’t look back
cravings for a week? If you knew anything about addiction you'd know how wrong the phrase "cravings for a week" is
@@BLUEGENE13 if I knew anything about addiction?! I’ve lived it. Who are you to tell me I know nothing about addiction… it’s a daily battle. Just because the cravings aren’t intense anymore doesn’t mean I don’t struggle. I’ve also said in terms of withdrawal, I am extremely grateful.
I saw my own grandma die to withdrawal. Had to hold my moms hand as she was the throwing up due to shaking and still wanted to drink. Saw my best friend OD and his wife die to heroin. I went to rehab but I know nothing about addiction because I used a term you didn’t like. Disrespectfully if you don’t know someone’s situation, fuck off
@@555dking if you've lived it then you'd know cravings don't go away after a week and instead last month's and your only mostly normal after about 10-12 months.
I wish you could drink or do anything else for 10 years and at the end of it only have cravings for a week. You must of mistyped, weren't thinking about what you typed, don't know what your talking about, or not truly been addicted. Because simply put cravings for an addict last way longer than a week, and are probably the hardest thing to beat because they last so long.
@@BLUEGENE13 get off your high horse there bud. Obviously I still miss and crave it. It’s intensity peaked at the one week mark. I shouldn’t have to justify my story to an internet hero.
I have a story to share. Each morning I would stop by McDonalds for coffee. One morning a crowd of homeless kids were picking on this homeless man that was sitting on the concrete in front of McDonald's. i approached them and threatened to call the cops and they scattered like cockroaches. I spoke to this man and I could tell he was clearly suffering from alcoholism. His legs were red and swollen and he told me he lived in the field next to McDonald's and he could walk to the door to McDonald's but he couldn't walk any further. Every so often I would stop and see John and I told him that when he was ready to quit drinking I would take him to the Aloha House (rehab center). He would share a little about his life. My heart broke for this man. One day he told me he was ready for rehab, I took him to the hospital get a clearance to get accepted into rehab.On our way to rehab upcountry, John told me he was scared and I tried to comfort him the best I could. I went into the rehab center with him and wished him well. When I called the rehab center in 4 days to check on him I found out he had died. Please, please always be kind to the homeless and the hurting. No one ever said they wanted to grow up and become a drunk. Pass on love and hope.
you made me tear up reading this. Thank you for sharing. I hope we all can try our best to make an impact on someone each day and even if we fail to do so, we feel motivated to try again the next day.
@@frank-the-tank75 apathy is for the pathetic
Why would not a librium or valium ease withdrawal.
Taking the tranquilizer for just the crucial first few days would probably not lead to substituting one addiction for another.
Yes because withdrawal also causes death, which the video should have mentioned: about 80% of rehab relapses, and the 20% that don't relapse, die
Ain't that the truth.
No one wants to end up being a drunk.
I am an alcoholic and have been ever since I turned 21, I’m 28 now and recently started working on my sobriety by going to AA meetings. The first 5 days of not drinking was absolute hell. One night while having an episode of sleep paralysis I vividly remember having a seizure that violently jolted me awake screaming. Other nights I would be awaken by audible hallucinations that sounded like people banging aggressively on my door. I was absolutely terrified to fall asleep and didn’t really get much the first week. After that everything has been normal but I still get insane cravings to pick up a drink, however the thought of having to go through that again terrifies and motivates me to not have a drink. 2 months sober after drinking heavily almost everyday for 7 years. Glad I stopped while I still could.
Keep going
Keep it up. You got this. It's not worth losing everything. I should know
Congratulations, 2 months for me would be great, I only managed 2 weeks. I promised that I won't have none until Christmas. Thanks for your story
Two years. The cravings slowly go away. Keep going ❤
I'm on the same boat as you I had horrible nightmares of my dad just watching me in my sleep and talking to me even thought he passed couple years back . 1 week sober . Keep it up man
I found that watching one youtube video a day on the dangers of alcohol and one video on how great people felt after quitting reprogrammed me to be able to stop. Do it every day. It may help you, too. Good luck to you all.
Glad to hear you are finding ways to stay motivated! Keep it up. Hope you are well, and thanks for the suggestions for others to consider.
I've been trying so hard to quit. I went almost 72 hours without a drink and then I relapsed. I'm eating healthy, going to the gym almost everyday...I just don't know what caused me to relapse and I'm so frustrated
This is very helpful - ESP to people who many not realize the severity of their “shakes”
I appreciate that you differentiate the HALLUCINOSIS vs DT hallucinations !!
And differentiating between hallucinosis and psychosis -
I've detoxed a couple times from alcohol. It is no joke. Absolutely brutal. The audible hallucinations and having a seizure were 2 of the scarier moments in my life. All I wanted to do was sleep and hydrate but pure discomfort and constant vomiting and panic attacks made it impossible until about 72 hours after my last drink. It took me 2 whole days to pee I was so dehydrated. Take this as a precautionary tale please.
I’m going through it rn😞
@@keviinnxx I’m really sorry to hear that. It does get better. Tbh if you can get your hands on some benzos, that will help tremendously. Also melatonin and blood pressure meds are also useful. Just my 2 cents. Best of luck. You got this
@@keviinnxx I hope you are ok now 👍
How much did you drink everyday
Im the same rn. Sometimes several bottles of wine a day. Just had some weird sleep paralysis stuff where I was screaming and hallucinating. Came straight to this video
Yeah Brother!! I’m 25 days alcohol free & still counting! 😊💪🏽🙌🏽🕺🏻
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
What about now?
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 ❤
I’m a recovering heroin addict and I think alcohol is one of the worst drugs. At least you have to hunt heroin down…alcohol is everywhere, every street corner, every social event…it’s nasty.
My inner drug addict agrees with you. Still doesn't make heroin an okay drug because you can buy alcohol at the store. Mental masterbation at its best.
agree, alcohol is the gateway to everything and its so much of our culture you can't get away from it. You can buy all you want 24/7 and culturally you are treated different if you don't drink. I think it is the real epidemic in the US and there needs to be more help for people to quit. I think the mfg are guilty of pushing it too much.
Yea you right, but heroine is same shyte, diff name
Absolutely. I’ve experienced heroin withdrawal many times and it’s awful. But DTs and seizures from alcohol really scared me and it happened in the hospital where I trusted they’d keep it from happening. I still crave a drink every time I’m anxious though.
This was excellent. Please belive me. I'm saving it to see many times.
I am a heavy drinker, booze every day. I can stop for 3 days when I think I’ve had too much, with no perceptible withdrawal symptoms. 9 days ago I stopped after a day of vodka and white wine. I woke up at 1.30 am feeling very unwell, clammy with a pulse of 122. I tried to settle myself down but nothing helped. I always dreaded the day that I would wake my wife up and ask her to call an ambulance, but I did. Fortunately our daughter-in-law is a nurse and lived opposite us and my wife called her. When she saw me she took my blood pressure and took me to A&E without waiting for an ambulance.
After tests over the cause of the night I was allowed to go home. With no signs of a heart attack I felt pretty lucky.
Day 8 without any alcohol and no withdrawal symptoms. I’m convinced that night was the warning that a lot of people don’t get, and I’m grateful.
I now know for certain that my ( heavy ) drinking days are over after that fright and as I said, I’m grateful that I came out of it with no damage. Good luck to anyone who wants to quit, do it now before it’s too late. Best wishes.
I got to a point where id be up for two days and when my body tried to force sleep my brain would completely shut down and id stop breathing ...and panic up...this happened to me for 4 days but i kept up the solber act up...now for the first time in 10 years im falling asleep at night without meds just normally and it feels so different
never say never because you dont want to set yourself up and IF you did relapse you'd feel way worse about it but i was dependant on benzodiazepines and they very closely mimic alcohol withdrawal. the only 2 withdrawals that can kill you. anyways its been over a year and im pretty certain ill never take them ever again and when i say pretty i mean 99.99% but still its best to practice not saying never
That’s probably not related to withdrawal. Withdrawal has long gone after n8ne days. Probably a condition related to your drinking.
How are you going mate?
Please don’t ever drink again. Do it for the love of yourself and your family.
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 quit drinking a year ago and I remember watching this video trying to make sense of what was going on with my body in the withdrawal phase of it all. I could cry with gratitude right now for being sober.
How did you do it???
Good work, keep it up !
How do you become an alcoholic? When I drink & wake up my head is spinning & feel sick. Why would you want to keep drinking after that?
Hope you are doing well Todd. Thanks for sharing with others.
I love that tearful gratitude. I get it alot. I will have a year in September. I had relapse a few months back. Used it as learning experience. All this possible, because I made the move towards Jesus.
After 15yrs of alcohol abuse. My heart rate has 198 bpm for 2 weeks. Insomnia, psychosis. Thought I was going to have a heart attack. Didn't eat I lost about 26lbs. But I had made up my mind I was quitting regardless of price. And im 2.5yrs sober at the moment.
That sounds like hell... glad you made it out. Stay strong and know you are loved
You are lucky to still be alive!! Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal!!
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.
Excellent description of the medical severity of withdrawal. I suffered from the DTs in 2017 and spent 5 days in ICU. It’s no joke. I had hallucinations at the rehab and was rushed to the ER. I’m now sober almost 5 years and thankful every day that I was given another chance. To anyone thinking of quitting or going through withdrawals I know they suck but I promise your life will be unimaginably better sober.
Totally agree. It's like the eye of the hurricane. When you have alcohol as your best friend, you're in the eye but you need to face that storm to get out the other side - by slowly reducing, detoxing or under medical supervision. And most people don't get you can die from DTs if you suddenly stop. I was admitted to hospital and the head of hepatology wrote a discharge note to say that I should continue drinking at home, not suddenly stop. My wife was horrified and was considering complaining to the doctor but the true facts are that if you are a very heavy drinker and suddenly go cold turkey, that could be fatal.
I had pancreatitis that then led to alcohol withdrawal and full blown delirium tremens. Hallucinations both visual and auditory that seemed as real as can be. A very scary week but I survived. I remember seeing the Jägermeister deer looking in my window. I will be sober 8 years this June 19th. Please stop drinking before it is too late! You are strong enough to do it!
"I remember seeing the Jägermeister deer looking in my window."
It speaks for their marketing efforts that even through the terror of severe withdrawal, their branding is still recognized. Can't be the drink itself, because even as a German I recognize, that Jägermeister tastes like somebody else has drunken it before you. Never liked that stuff. Even thinking about it has me grimassing.
The exact same thing happend to me, had to stop drinking due to severe pancreatitis,. didn't see the Jagermeister tho, only dead facecs flying toward me every time i tried to close my eyes.. sober since then, went to the ER 8th of feb , so almost 3 months now *patting my selfe*
I had pancreatitis when I was younger, I didn’t have visual hallucinations but I was hearing this that obviously weren’t there . I couldn’t drink water or eat anything, even a slice of fruit . Ended up in hospital for a week . Doctor told me to stop drinking vodka and switch to beer or Guinness and I was surprisingly fine for a while but pretty bad these days and I only drink wine , beer or Guinness. Desperately trying to stop drinking, I can go a few days but once I have one then I could be on it for the days , til the time I wake up til I pass out , I’m sick of it
@@paulmcgrath6118 I once went cold turkey for 21 days and I did not experience any withdrawals at all. Does this only happen to people who drink HEAVILY? As in 3 bottles of vodka every day or 8 cans of beer everyday. I would get myself drunk most nights after work and sometimes I’d mix it with smoking weed. How is it that I never had any withdrawal symptoms during that period?
@@randomango2789 I think the people who get withdrawals are the people who drink huge amounts without ever taking a day off . I used to drink a litre of vodka a day, did it for months and I don’t think I experienced any DTs at all, I was imagining that I was hearing things but I think that was more to do with being sick from pancreatitis and dehydrated
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.
See a ream doc for help
If you really want to quit, from a guy who spent a couple of years living in a tent in the woods and abandoned houses as I could find them, following the advice of folks in AA has made my last drink datable to October 11, 2009. I'll even say this: I'm a pretty contentious atheist, but I still attribute this lasting sobriety to an extra and double serving of prayer.
All I can say is, I recognize that doesn't make sense, but neither does anything else I did as a drunk, so I really didn't have room to pass judgment did I!😂😂
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.
Congrats to all the sober people on here and family of those sober or trying to get there. I was a severe alcoholic for 6 years. I drank from 4-5am, until I blacked out around midnight and then started over. It was absolute torture. In 2017, I got a DUI and crashed into 2 parked cars in a total blackout. Worst of all, I had my 10 year old, his best friend and my 1 year old in the car.
It was my rock bottom. I have been sober since that night, 9/29/2017 and I’m grateful every time I go to bed at night, after another day sober. It’s taken years for my kids and husband to trust me, but I did that. I worked my ass off for the last 5.5 years to earn that trust back and I will do anything, to never go back there again. Unfortunately, I am still a convicted felon, I can’t be around children, I can’t even volunteer in my now 1st graders classroom supervised…. But, those are the consequences for my actions and thank god it wasn’t worse than what it actually was. Prayers for those in and out of this horrific disease.
What you’ve achieved is fantastic !!!!! Love your attitude
I'm going through it at 24 and it only takes a second to change your life. All I can do is my best and care for my baby girl
@@kevinmahaley4916 ask Jesus to take away all cravings and to help you. Believe me he’s longing for you too. He does not want us to go through these things alone..Praying for you now Kevin here in Massachusetts
As the father of an alcoholic, I can only say shame on any country that allows alcohol to be manufactured and sold to it’s people. Most people have no idea of the danger posed by this poison. Yes, we failed at prohibition in the early 20th century, the same way we are failing at drug prevention now. That’s because our society is not serious about keeping those destructive toxins out. Too many thoroughly corrupt politicians are getting rich on the drug and alcohol industries. The fundamentalist Muslim countries are correct in criminalizing the importation, manufacture or consumption of those deadly poisons with long prison sentences or in some cases, the death penalty. My brother and I were the only ones who refused to give up on my son and kept going back to help him. Everyone else, including his mother, justified their inaction by claiming he had to “hit
rock bottom”, never having been taught that doing so could have killed my son. We finally got him into a hospital and then rehab and AA. That was 2 months ago. We pray that he is finally ready to stay sober and understands how close he was to death.
I am grateful for your story. I wish you all the best on your journey. Stay well, the sobriety is worth it.
I was a raging alcoholic and I remember all of this. I would only sleep 4 hrs because I would start withdrawal.. so had to get up and take a shot of something to let me sleep again.. but I'd wake up 2 hours later.. I would hide bottles under the bed and steal it from parties in water bottles from parties . I always had it on me. Finally got sick and stopped but the panic attacks were controlling my life everytime I tried to quit.. I'm on meds now and it's been a year since I binged.. I have drank occasionally but the next day I feel like the hangover is the withdrawal and I'll end up in er. I hate that this drug is available everywhere
Congratulations on fighting back and not giving up. 💪😎
One time during a binge...I woke up in a sweat with a heart rate of 150bpm and at the hospital they confirm I had gone into withdrawal. Waking up and needing a drink to go back to sleep is already getting pretty serious. Hope you've conquered this demon !
Try the "Sinclair Method". Naltrexone, which blocks the Opioid effect that some alcoholics experience when they drink a lot in a short period.
My wife is struggling with Alcoholism. She is Mexican and her DNA is half Native and Half European.
When she drinks. She doesn't get hungover. I suspect that her body isn't breaking down the alcohol. So when she wakes up she doesn't experience the hangover because it's still in her system. Hangovers are caused by Withdrawal and dehydration. So she starts drinking and it becomes a weekly binge.
eeeeh youre on meds now goddamnit now you gota do the benzo withdrawal, that one takes a year >.
I'm with you I've been in the ER a few times & I'm so ready to give up alcohol....alcohol withdrawal its hell on earth ......tremors,extreme nausa,extreme pain in the esophagus,etc .every visit to the ER got valium,morphine,famotodine....it's hell ...
I watch TH-cam constantly and without ever seeking out or watching videos about Alcohol withdrawal, this video showed up on my feed tonight. I really appreciate you making this video as I am terrified about withdrawal and the stress of the thought of withdrawal makes me drink more. I really appreciate all this information, and it certainly has pointed me on the right track to finding more help.❤
In 2 weeks I am about to go in to hospital for one week detox. Then I go straight from there to a rehab place for 4 weeks. I am chronic (alcohol only, no drugs). I am 68 years old, I have onset lung damage from smoking.. This is the best educational video on the planet. This video may save my life. I might get to hug my grandchildren again... it's tough, but better than the alternative. Thank you Dr Kim. You just made my trek easier and I am going to show this to all my family - so they will know what to expect - but more importantly - show the young ones that this is what your life could be. Thank you so much.... I'm in Australia. All my hospital, medication, rehab accomodation, food, anything I need is free.. not a dime. But that's another story.
Good luck on your journey love ❤️ you got this. Wishing you have that moment with your grandkids again 🙏.
Good luck mate let us know how you go.
You got this, old guy. Make them little ones proud. We're all here with you.
It is by far NOT ' the best educational video in the world ' FFS grow up old man
I started drinking at 14, but my addiction took a turn for the worst in the summer of 2021. I was going into my junior year of college, living completely alone in my college town with nothing to do... except drink. I lied to my parents for alcohol money, hung around sketchy strangers just to mooch a drink, and drank myself into a stupor every afternoon/evening. I'd pass out on the couch, wake up multiple times in the middle of the night, and have to continue drinking to rid myself of the extreme uncomfortability of withdrawal and fall back asleep. I would show up to work still intoxicated, but that was the only way to get through the day. I felt so ill and pathetic, but the thing that caused these problems seemed like the only solution to them. So I kept drinking.
My habits only worsened when my friends returned in the fall, but no one was particularly worried. It wasn't abnormal for a college student to be an avid "partier".
My depression and addiction led to a suicide attempt in October of 2021. I moved back home, yet the drinking continued. I didn't stop until my parents caught me sneaking bottles of wine in November. I attended AA and had several counselors, and I got better. I learned why I drink in the first place and began to resolve the root causes of my addiction. I could sleep finally, focus throughout the day, and my appetite returned. I was healing... and happy.
I was sober for 10 months, traumatically relapsed in September of 2022 when I got back to school, but I haven't had a drink since. It's very strange, being 21 and unable to participate in a lot of the things people my age can. However, I gave up alcohol and I got my life back. I hate how this poison is so available and normalized. Sobriety is the best thing that's ever happened to me. For anyone pursuing it, hang in there. Ask for help when you need it. I believe in you. You can do this.
Don't think of it as 'giving up' alcohol but more as 'getting rid'. Also embrace the fact that you are so young and have many, many years of sobriety ahead of you. I stopped when I was 34, I am 64 now. It has not always been easy but I knew that if I took a drink I would be right back where I left off and worse. Love gets better and better, God willing one day at a time. Just to finish I never forget where I have come from and how bad it was and that helps me every single day. Good wishes on your life's journey from the UK x
@@doc_law1593 "There's not a day that I wouldn't want a drink, but I prefer my family".
I find it disturbing how alcohol use is so accepted and illegal drugs are demonized. To me alcohol is just as dangerous as any illegal drug. Stay strong.
Good for you! Recovery IS possible. Coming up on 6 years drug and alcohol free.
Goodbye alcohal.... now I want to choose life... I have seen death from close and I couldn't disappoint my wife and a loving daughter..❤
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
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.
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.
God bless all you struggling through this. I’m praying for you!
Thank you for sending out the prayers and positivity.
I was just 27 when i quit cold turkey,after drinking nearly 12 years..iv experienced heavy DT,halluciantions,hearing voices,these voices were reacting on my toughts ,really demonic..i tought im in hell,i had to call ambulance in the end,my heart rate was 155,i could die easily..3 years sobber
Congratulations on your accomplishment!
Your not a lone on that
That is exactly what happened to me too. Them voices will actually make fun of your fear of them knowing exactly every thought. Then they joke around why your mind wanders. I asked them outloud if they were demons and they said look outside in the rim of that car. There i saw a scary ass face. Makes your hair stand up.
Yaye Adam !!!! I have 35, but, I am still as likely as you to go backwards if I dont continue to help myself & others to get sober.
Adam how r u now
My husband was one of the 1-5% that died as a result of alcohol abuse, even with medical assistance in an ICU. Dr. Kim provides good info, but I think it’s also important to stress GETTING THERAPY to deal with potential past traumas that may be causing you to abuse alcohol, realize what triggers you and how to cope with your traumas in a more healthy way. People drink to either feel something or to NOT feel something. Figure out your ‘why’ with the help of a therapist. It may be a painful and lengthy process, but it will be worth it, both mentally and physically. No one should have to see their spouse die right in front of them.
I am so sorry💔
May he rest in peace. My grandfather did the same thing he actually drank himself to death. It runs in the family because a lot of my family members have drank themselves to death. I for one have had my fair share but I've managed to pump my breaks through the years. Before I got married I didn't drunk like have in the past few years. When I started having wine for breakfast I knew it was time to change. There were some weekends that I drank both Saturday & Sunday without eating. That is no way to live so I made some serious changes and I feel 100 times better.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t understand why he died in medical care though. Unless it was just too late.
Yes, without finding the "why," the cycle cannot be broken.
Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss! Thank you for sharing your story!
Excellent info. God Bless you.
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 went through all of these horrible symptoms numerous times. The worst part was when I tried to quit on my own but I was so deep into my alcoholism that no matter how much I drank the withdrawals wouldn't go away, the ONE thing that I knew I could rely on to make myself feel better no longer worked, I was on deaths door when I finally seeked help. Been sober for 8 years now and life is SO MUCH better.
My first alcohol withdrawal experience was so bad, it scared me out of wanting to drink ever again. I started drinking since I was 14 to medicate self anxiety and I’m 28 now. I’ve been six months clean and never had a craving or urge to drink again. If I even have a sip of a drink now I feel depressed. I’m not sure how people are able to go through this so many times and still be alive because it’s absolute hell. I don’t know how I even got through it the first time.
I definitely relate to the one thing you always used to make yourself feel better no longer worked, it felt and still somewhat feels alien to me.
Now I can’t rely on anything and the anxiety of everyday life is excruciating but atleast I’m not abusing alcohol
@@RaquelBrown-tk7hdI would HIGHLY recommend speaking with a doctor about getting the anxiety under control. It's the reason a lot of use drink in the first place. You deserve to be happy or at least be living a functional life with the hells of what anxiety is capable of. Try and stay tough. And do NOT give up. It's a journey and eventually you will get lucky
I was on death's door twice during my drinking career - probably many more that I forgot. After almost 50 yrs of drinking, I'm now 7 years sober. I don't even think about drinking any more - probably because my memory is so shot, I forgot what it felt like. lol
By the grace of our loving GOD...survived DTs....grateful to be sober
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!!!
I hope you made it through
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.!!!
No it's not.. Far from it. 1st ITS not a drug as per alkies... 2 Fentanyl, Crack, Meth and a ton of others are worse.. .. You'll never get better until you start thinking better.
This guy "Talks from his heels" -Meaning, he doesn't speak from script nor teleprompter(s)- he's speaking from his heart and his vast experience as an MD. More importantly, he seems really invested in the well being of all his viewers. Imagine the numbers of lives he's saved; Opiate-adicted lives, alcoholic-adicted lives. He's the most important TH-cam influencer in history, without hyperbole. Thank you, sir Doctor Kim.
Nicely put
Thank you for the kind words Jeremy. Feel totally burnt out today as i'm still burning the midnight oil reviewing charts at 1:59am CST, but you just gave me a burst of motivation and made my night. Going to hit the sack now and back to the grind tomorrow. Hope you are well and thanks again for checking in.
My uncle died walking across a field to the store to get beer. He was detoxing and waiting on my mom to leave after giving him some money. Sad man. Lifelong alcoholic. He taught me about the Beatles when i was a young teen. I will always thank him for that.
I was a heavy alcoholic for 20 years and remember going through all of this when I quit. I was in a medical rehab for a little over a month and had a seizure when I was there. 2 1/2 years I have been clean and sober. I like this vid and your channel. Making that change isn't as easy as some might think.
I got my first seizure 10 days ago out of all places the liquor store. My vision started to go black and when I came to the paramedic were there with a stretcher.
Gave myself a black eye got stitches.
How much were you drinking a day when you had your seizure?
@@dogfoot1874 when I went into rehab I was drinking two cases of beer and a big bottle of rum or whiskey everyday. I had to get stitches to. I hit my head off a cement bench at the rehab when I blacked out.
@@dogfoot1874I see no one has answered your question from two days ago! I'm sorry sugar for I feel someone should have got back to you! I'm like my mother I like a beer now and then but no hard alcohol or wine. I am not familiar with this guy's solution. I do wish you the best of the best. Much peace and happiness is sent to you from my state of Arkansas! 🐦💜
How much did you drink a day? I'm so sick of being sick and all I want to do as well is just eat and hydrate but it's almost impossible when your constantly throwing up😊
@@knightman7203 I drank half a liter of everclear on a hard day and here's the trick I used to use years ago when I couldn't down solid food... MuscleMan Apple sauce all day every day breakfast lunch and dinner.
Pounds a day. Try it out :)
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.
I have been sober 13 months and still can’t sleep good. However I feel a lot better than I did on day one. After 30 years of hard drinking it’s going to take awhile for me to feel better. Lots of guilt and shame and I have to learn how to be an adult in an adult world without my baby bottle to drink from every day. It’s not easy to change bad habits that I worked so hard to develop.
Alcohol withdrawals are horrible. I remember seeing things running across the floor, shadows, not sleeping for 3 days in a row. Not being able to eat for 3 days
My brother died at 42 due to “alcohol addiction.” Jack Daniels all day. Neither he nor my mom ever admitted he was an alcoholic. Denial. He was a good guy.
I was in denial till this weekend
I'm sorry for your loss😢
Thank you Dr Kim for posting this.
No nonsense unfiltered clean information on the withdrawals from alcohol and the danger .
Thank you so much again .
Appreciate the kind words and encouragement. Hope you are well.
I went through this last week. I binge drank for years, and had my last drink on the Sunday before Labor Day (Monday). By Tuesday night, I got heavily fatigued, and a low grade fever, and extremely anxious. My resting heart rate was over 120 BPM. Because of the fever, I went the next day for a rapid covid test (Wednesday). It was negative. And I had absolutely no cold/flu/covid symptoms, other than this low grade fever, about 101.
They checked my blood pressure and it was 164/97! I never had high blood pressure, before, and my normal resting heart rate is in the 60’s. My anxiety turned into complete paranoia. At night, I sweat until I was drenched. I had insomnia. Then, I heard my 4 year old son crying in the middle of the night. I jumped out of bed, checked his room, and he was totally silent and asleep.
That’s when I realized I had been withdrawing. For about 4 days, I had auditory hallucinations, vivid nightmares, the heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety, panic, plus the low grade fever fluctuating between normal and 101F.
I am done with alcohol and not going back. It feels great to wake up and know that I don’t have the burden of whether or not I’m going to drink today.
I wanted to call 911, at one point, because I couldn’t drive myself to the doctor. I eventually did go. I now wonder if I was on the verge of DT. And, given that high heart rate and blood pressure, I wonder how close to a heart attack or stroke, I was. (I’m 44).
Im also a recovering alcoholic. I wouldnt wish alcohol withdrawals on my worst enemy. Ive done countless benders lasting up to a month. Done cold turkey w/out treatment countless times. It caused me to become kindled meaning everytime I withdraw even if I only drank for a few days its like full blown withdrawals about 12 hours after my last drink. Hell on earth. Very hard to taper. Thankfully Im 10 days today. I hope I never have to experience withdrawals again and withdrawals are a huge motivating factor for me to stay sober.
primo_ _ I found binge drinking to be a viscious cycle , as in the following:
drunk>hungover>withdrawal>craving>drink
Arbitrage Firstly, congrats. Let’s both hang in there. I’m almost three weeks sober. Because of my binge drinking pattern, and multiple times “quitting”, I think I kindled, too. I feel like I’m proba my starting to experience “PAWS”. I was doing pretty good, and then I became extremely anxious this week, and have been having multiple vivid dreams, which wake me up, startled and anxious, and a bit sweaty.
I, also, have no motivation to drink again, and no cravings. I think, because I’ve become to afraid of the frightening pattern of withdrawal. It’s unbelievable, considering the risks and harms of alcohol, that it is so readily available, and so little public discussion on its dangers.
Surprised u didn't have a seizure
@@systemofaslipstatic I know, I should have went to an ER. Scary reading this a year later.
Well this describes the last week of my life. 7 days sober today.
You got this 👍🏾
1 day of being sober , it’s definitely hard
4 months sober. Cold turkey. Now going for 5. 😮
I needed to see this. Thank you, brother. God bless you.
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!
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
Thank you for posting this video. My sister had severe hallucinations and was plaqued by the "voices." and any sounds at all. Thankfully I had prior experience from knowing someone else that went through this and he eventually died from drinking. I knew 2 other men who lost their battle with alcohol so I knew a little bit about the effects that can come from quitting drinking. Enough that I was able to finally convince her to seek medical attention so she could get medication to help her. Sadly she continued to drink and even told ne she still heard the voices sometimes. It became very clear to me that my beautiful, outgoing, and very responsible little sister was never going to be the same again again. She went from being the "responsible, role model" in the family to basically losing her mind and being completely distracted by alcohol. She was only 36 when she, ironically, drove to a friend's fir the first time after having the breathalyzer device that a DUI required her to have installed in her car removed, where she spent the night because they were all drinking and she didn't want to drink and drive. She left the girls house around 8 am the next morning and for reasons unknown to anyone her SUV was seen rolled over in a field less than 2 miles from where her friend lived and she died. It's such a tragedy. She really was a beautiful person inside and out, like model material. She was also a mom. In 2 years she went from being completely sober always carrying around her "smart" water, being very health conscious and watching what she ate to losing everything including her life. Anyway you can say I did my fair share of research online searching for anything that helped to explain what she was going through, if only to try to confirm if all of her hallucinations really were alcohol related because her accident left many unanswered questions as there was no visible reason for it and she wasn't suicidal. I found nothing until I saw your post just now. I'm so glad someone else spoke up about the hallucinations being alcohol related because I was going to lose it if one more family member blamed drugs when she wasn't doing drugs. People are ignorant at times content to live in denial. I am currently starting to see that my 25 year old daughter drinks constantly though she works full time and is a full time student. I was just debating on whether I need to go get her dad involved. We are separated but the kids listen to him alot more than i.anyway hopefully anyone battling this horrible life long addiction that really is the worst one out there. As bad as heroine. But it's legal cheaper and easier to get.
The hallucinations are as real as you can imagine, and they're ALWAYS terrifying. You never hallucinate kittens and puppies. Your brain reaches in and pulls out everything fearful and hellish it can find, both visually and audibly. Turning the lights off to attempt sleep is like living in hell.
The hallucinations are closely linked to the severe dehydration that alcoholics are always in a severe state of. Not drugs, except the alcohol itself.
Many people can not imagine it, and if you haven't experienced alcohol withdrawal, you wouldn't believe how terrifying it is. It's 100% the reason people can't stop. The cause is also the cure. To solve the problem of withdrawal you have to continue the problem of alcoholism. Your body literally NEEDS it to live.
So you know, alcohol has led me to prison, a coma, a girlfriend dying in front of me of a fit brought on by withdrawal, an arrest on suspicion of murder, multiple organ failure, end stage cirrhosis, 6 months to live, and a liver transplant. And "waking up" at 48 wondering what happened to my 20s, 30s and up to 47, childless, unmarried, friendless and alone. Where I still am. It was a 30 year su. I. side attempt which didn't work.
If your sister was going to continue down that route, I hope I don't sound insensitive, but a swift exit saved her a lot of future pain, if that's any comfort.
I’ve had the insects hallucination and thinking my whole family was in my house for a couple of days. Also really bad dreams when I finally fall asleep for a moment. This video made me cry because someone finally understands and explains the horror that I’ve gone through. Sometimes I’ve even been so afraid I wouldn’t be able to come out of this temporary feeling. I’m so glad you made this video. I finally feel understood.
I had the insects hallucinations too. I was November of last year drinking 15 beers a day. After stopping for two days. I hadn't heard that was a symptom of withdrawal.fascinating.
@@ericortega1745I mainly just drink beer, don't really touch the hard stuff but I'll go on my binges which I'm down from a serious one now. I found drinking a little less beers a day makes it a lot easier when I completely stop. Exercise also helps a lot. I'll go for a run when I feel the shakes and excessive sweating start and it will go away after the workout. The problem is going to sleep and the insomnia starts. I'm so used to passing out drunk.
What’s the insect hallucination ?
@@jairgodoy1256it’s typically from intense hallucinations due to delirium tremens
@@jairgodoy1256your brain and nervous system flips out essentially so it’s always safer to ween off or get hospital treatment, people die from the hallucinations
My father has battled chronic alcoholism pretty much his entire adult life. His father died from the withdrawals. This was very eye opening as far as my approach to the issue 👏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you for this informative and comprehensive explanation of withdrawal timeline. Hand downs the best explanation out there.
23 years sober and SO grateful I never have to go through that again. I'll always have alcoholism, but I don't suffer from it.
Friend of Bills?
@@KATGrose indeed I am. Thank God. 😁
I’m withdrawing so bad. I can’t breathe I have drank vodka for the past 2 weeks
@@doritos6893 i know how bad it hurts. But hang tough, it does get easier. Now I don't even think about that crap. Best of luck to you.
@@doritos6893 You may need to get to the hospital my friend. Good Bless.
I have decided to become sober. So thankful that I found your video. Very informative!
Happy to hear that Rhonda. Even when there are set backs, don't be too harsh on yourself. Focus on trying to use setbacks to fuel your motivation to keep pushing forward. I hope your journey is going ok and that you're finding ways to stay motivated. Bless you and pray you kind find some peace during this battle.
Drank a pint in a half today to feel normal. 🤮😣 I want help.
@@FoodiePhal I did thee same today
@@keviinnxx how are you feeling?
@@FoodiePhal waaay better, i honestly thought the withdrawals affect going to be way longer, I I decided to join a Reddit community where we all talk about being sober forever lol it’s been helpful so far encouraging one another, you should try it
Thank you for informing others of this. I've watched the slow, painful, and frankly disturbing demise of my stepdad when he was just 43. It always blew my mind that no one talked about the reality of it- specifically the hallucinations. After he passed away I would go out with friends, but I haven't been able to bring myself to drink after what I witnessed.
I'm assuming he drank everyday, but was it all day? And do you know what he drank? I'm 43 now and starting to get worried. I just drink beer, none of the hard stuff but I'll go on binges here and there and will get mild withdrawals up to the shakes, excessive sweating, spike in blood pressure. I'll usually just taper off, drink a little less for a few days and it won't be so bad when I completely stop. Which I'm doing now. RIP to your step dad, sorry for your loss.
@@henny6566 he drank everyday all day and most often liquor. I didn't see him sober for more than a few days in the 13 years I knew him. Best of luck to you on your journey. The fact that you are worried and are thinking about the change is a big step in it. ❤️
I was drinking 15 beers a Day for 10 years. The first 8 days sober were absolute hell!! Massive anxiety.. disoriented.. images in my mind when I closed my eyes.. scary as hell I thought I was actually crazy.. I told the dr that I think I'm schizophrenic or bipolar... He said.. no sunshine... That alcohol withdrawal..
ten years, ........ No breaks ? just straight ten years ?
Im going through all this now.
that was a damn good Dr.... if you were a girl, they may have agreed....
@@PancakeBO me too it’s fucjing awful .
It Is Scary, Alcohol Withdrawal. I Saw Stuff When Withdrawaling; Demons, HELL, Scary Weird Dreams, Etc. Sweating Like Crazy At Times. Its No Fun. I Pray For Anyone Going Through The Ordeal. 🙏 🕊 ✝
Keep putting this content out there. I guarantee you someone is watching this who is on the fence on whether they should go to the ER or not. If this is you and you are experiencing these symptoms go. Speaking from experience. I spent 2 different times in ICU that lasted from 9-14 days and could've easily died. I believe I was spared to share the message to other alcoholics in AA that you can stop this insanity that we do to ourselves.
As a current struggling alcoholic, thank you. I've been drinking myself to sleep, to calm my mind, for over a decade. I've been through shakes, insomnia, and last September I actually was hallucinating and hearing things/seeing people in my room after being sick for 3 days. December 2020 I was diagnosed with pancreatitis. 2021 I went to treatment for 3 months, was sober for 10 months, but went back to drinking beer. Went back to treatment for a month in 2022, and 3 months in 2023. Still drinking.... I'm down to 4 beers a day, but I'm still struggling.
Withdrawals are a serious thing.
I was drinking 5 to 6 nights a week for like 10 years. And drinking 6 to 9 drinks each night. I never really felt withdrawal symptoms I guess because I never went longer than 24 hours without drinking. But my last drink was the night of February 28th 2023. And I did start having higher blood pressure and had a hard time sleeping the first week. I was moody. But after that it went away. It’s been 42 days now and I feel so great! I’ve lost 15 pounds and just over 3 inches from my beer gut. I also cut out sodas, sugar and started eating healthier. I’m not bloated, my blood pressure is actually all the way down to normal. My mind is clear. I just feel awesome. I have a friend that used to drink all day everyday and he tried to quit cold turkey. He had seizures. His blood pressure was so high he was getting nose bleeds. He was a mess. We finally talked him into taking 1 shot of vodka every few hours for a few days. Then after that 1 twice a day for a few days and then 1 once a day only if his withdrawal symptoms were bad enough. After almost two weeks he was able to go without any alcohol. And going through that was a real reality check for him. He’s been sober for over 10 years now. Alcohol withdrawal is so serious. Had I not seen him go through it I wouldn’t believe it. Withdrawals from meds like Xanax are very bad also. Seizures and you can have a heart attack. Years ago a lady died from withdrawal in line at the pharmacy waiting for her refill. She had been without it for a couple day’s waiting for her doctor to approve it. Then opiate withdrawals are dangerous also. So many substances that we can become addicted and or dependent on.
7-10 drinks a night. If I didn't drink blood pressure would skyrocket. I did a slow taper. Quit 3 days ago. Blood pressure is almost back to normal.
So some of the things that you discussed like DT's and Hallucinosis have right now convinced me to reduce my alcohol consumption. I didn't know it could go that far and I must say, it's pretty scary. Thanks for making this video, seriously.
Wish there was more informative content like this out there without trying to sell you a product or idea. If more people understood what alcoholics go through, there would be less alcoholics. Thanks Dr. Kim.
Appreciate the feedback. Trying my best to just post non-BS, balanced content. Not to sound self-righteous, as I get a trickle of revenue from these annoying TH-cam ads that play randomly. But, I agree with you, doctors, psychologists, therapists, etc that shill and prey upon the desperate to sell some relabeled supplement , cleanse, “secret method” that costs $99.99 are douches and annoying. To each their own. But I find it satisfying to put out balanced content to differentiate myself from sales pitches and the Wild West of Reddit anecdotes.
I was in the ICU for 6 days and almost died, I was drinking a gallon of tequila everyday. My withdrawal symptoms lasted about 8 weeks. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through and it’s a daily battle every day 4 years later.
If it's a "daily battle", you're living in the problem instead of the solution!
Hol’ up. You were drinking WHAT??? I could have 6 shots of tequila and wake up the next day feeling completely off
@@c0rkum Ya, I call bs on a "gallon".
@@Mark-pp7jy It sounds like a stretch. But heavy alcoholics have been known to sometimes endure per mil alcohol levels that would be straight up deadly for more casual drinkers. It is generally said that a blood/alcohol concentration of 2 to 2.5 plus is where it is getting dicy, with 4 being coma inducing/deadly for most people.
But in traffic controls some heavy duty drinkers have been found out with per mil values higher than even 4! Levels of over 6 or even over 8 per mil (twice the standard deadly dosage) are not unheard of. And mind you ..... these guys weren't laying on a park bench puking their souls out .... they were still driving.
@@MightyJabroni Totally agree, but a gallon everyday? Not buying it. I sincerely hope he has found recovery! ✌️
Thank you for the awesome video Dr. Kim!!! I have experienced untreated alcohol withdrawal more times than I can count. It is physiological agony that I wouldn't wish on the devil himself. So dangerous, so misunderstood. Far too often, people are unaware that they need medical intervention. Sometimes they are too embarrassed or afraid to seek it out. That was me. Thank you again. I am 2 years sober, and I am so grateful for people like you who put out such solid, important, and easy to understand information. You rock!
Good work! My boyfriend didn’t make it but I’m always happy to hear about people who do! He went through all of these things. I’ve never had a drink, smoked, toked, etc. in my life. I never knew anyone who drank alcohol before him but he was getting treatment for cancer when I met him. He was a very kind man. It’s so sad.
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.
as someone that has several alcoholic seizures, what hes saying is 100 percent correct and accurate
Don't drink easy 🙏 instead your welcome for the help
Thanks for this. A relative just experienced severe withdrawals. They say he's OK now, but I want to learn more about this and learn how to support someone who is trying to quit drinking.
Very informative video Dr. Kim....I had chronic alcohol addiction in my youth. I was introduced to AA in 1981 at age 26. It took another 4 years for me to finally throw in the towel. I have now been sober for over 38 years. I'm so grateful that the "summertime" of my life was not wasted. Now at 68 I can recall the words of the doctor in the ER when he said to me "Mr. Humphrey, decisions that you make now could greatly impact your life down the road"... That was then. 38 years later I know exactly what he meant.
I didn't think I had a problem with alcohol (or in major denial?) Until I decided to stop drinking wine 5 Day's ago. I'm so violently ill right now, it's worse than death. Unbearable nausea, vomiting, profusely sweating, violent tremors.... this is agonizing. Much love to all those struggling like this...
I'm so sorry that you are going through that how are you doing now? Hope all is well god bless!
How are you doing now??
Hang in
Lol. Thinking you dont have a problem and needing 5 fucking days to withdraw!!!
It’s been a year now? How you doing?
Hearing this and reading the comments makes me super grateful in my quitting of alcohol. I thought I was gonna have a harder time stopping but I fortunately didn’t. Going on 5months & not regretting it at all.
Amazing ❤
Thank you for this video. It explains so much that I did not know about the effects of alcohol and why it is so hard for people to give up alcohol.
One day sober. I hit the toilet about 15 times there's nothing in my stomach. Vomitted every hour. It's hard to breathe and i have a body ache feels like hell for one day
I literally nearly died several times due to detoxing from alcohol. I have experienced hallucinations and I was terrified and the AA woman that I was with would not take me to the hospital. I look back and it angers me that these AA people take it upon themselves to detox people with nothing but Gatorade and honey. Thank you for educating your viewers
if you are getting to that point i would heavily advise going to the ER, they will likely put you on benzodiazepine treatment to allow you to more safely and effectively taper
Try some rigorous honesty with yourself, and stop blaming AA!
Trusting a random alcoholic women from aa to detox you and not a inpatient or hospital was your first mistake.
Alcohol withdrawal is no time for a random aa ladies hippie nonsense.
@@Mark-pp7jy AA is full of idiots with no medical training that have no business detoxing someone.
As a shizophrenic I would like to know what you saw when you had this vision ,I would like to know if your expierience is like mine even if I don’t use alcohol atall
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.
I been abusing alcohol for 3 years after I retired! Happy I found your vid! I have to stop and stop wasting my life! I decided to quit for good! I am 63 and afraid for my life!!
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.
Thank you Dr. Kim - I have several family members, and their children, who are struggling with this disease. At times to minimize the social impact of the disease and the seizures that occur when they try to slow down, they claim it is a form of epilepsy, so they hide it and cover up the symptoms. The social pressure from alcoholic disease has such a negative stigma, it can prevent people, and families, from seeking treatment. It is a horrible monkey to have on your back and it takes many lives. The more we can educate the people/ family/ friends/ the public at large, that this is a disease, and not a character flaw, reducing the stigma, maybe we can save some of those lives. Thank you for what you do.
Definitely more work needs to be done with both education and reducing stigma. You can see even within the comments here, some people mock the idea that withdrawal is even a real thing, or make condescending comments re: people just aren’t tough enough etc. keep fighting the good fight and I hope your family members keep searching for motivating factors to be ready for healthy changes.
I learned my lesson! I drunk heavily for 6 weeks everyday and when I decided to stop cold turkey, I thought I was going to die. Today is day 6th and I’m just now recovering and will try my first meal in a week. Alcohol is a demon!
It's a fucking demon!!!!!!
Psh 6 weeks isnt anything 😂
Going cold turkey is dangerous, should always see your Doctor about getting withdrawal tablets.
I’m still struggling with it myself. I was always a casual drinker until covid and I got depressed. I don’t binge drink or anything crazy but I’m tired of using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
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 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 reading this comment cuz I'm starting over 6-12-23. Ive lost 90lbs on keto but i want stop the drinking now cuz i know I'll be healthier.
Damn. I just went through another detox last couple days. Alcoholic hallucinations n nightmares have happened the last few binges ive had. The battle continues. Thanks for sharing.
Great job brother. Right there with you. It has been 90 days for me and
I don’t know why
I would ever go back to drinking.
WAOW!...this was very very enlightening! I never understood by people can’t just stop drinking, overnight. I have a lot more compassion now for alcoholics and other addicts. Thank you🙏🙏🙏🙏
Excellent explanation - I have had 2 seizures from withdrawal and admitted to hospital both times, and my 3rd visit to hospital was treated with Librium and now realise I was experiencing Delirium as I was so confused just as you explain..Very scary times for me and my family. I broke my back during the first seizure and now cant work, but I am now Tee total and alive thankfully
*"I broke my back during the first seizure..."*
Can you explain how that happened? Thanks for the post!
Thank you. Dr. Kim
Means alot I just got out of hospital after a seizure almost a week ago, almost bit half my tongue off... this is no joke ppl.
Everything he said is 💯 on the money. Thanks again Doc!
Dang Ronald. I am glad you are ok and made it out the other side. Hope you can keep pushing and keeping your motivations top of mind. If setbacks happen along the way, keep focused on the motivation and don’t be too harsh on yourself. The fact that you have insight and know there’s a problem to be tackled is a big first step. Wishing you the best man.
I went through all of these symptoms & stayed in the hospital for a week. I went through extensive treatment (about 16-17 months). I'm so happy that I've been sober going on 5 & a half years. I don't miss drinking & what it did to my life at all. Dr. Kim knows what he's talking about.
Xscalf how r u now
@@sangeetalambh6389 been sober over 5.5 years & I’m very happy, thanks for asking! Hope you’re well
@@scalf_ did u feel emptyness or a flat feeling in ur wwithdrawal. Please ans 8months sobber now
@@sangeetalambh6389 at first it was scary, all I felt was agony. But, after some therapy, meetings, treatment, & dedication to the idea of getting & remaining sober, I’ve been able to enjoy life again. The first year is rough. Hang in there.
Thank you for the video! I stopped and such a bad seizure I bit a piece of my tongue off. I was extremely disoriented and a few days later in the hospital I would see very scary things everytime I closed my eyes. Plus the sweating. I dont wish it on anyone.
Wow thank you for your testimony
We're you drinking every single day? I'm curious because I don't drink every day but when I do it's usually all weekend long and then Sunday night/Monday morning the withdraw symptoms start and I'm a bit afraid what will happen if I go cold turkey
@@thattannerguy856 I believe alcohol abuse is defined as either 2 or more drinks a day or 14 drinks in any 1 week period. So if you're hitting that 14 drink limit even in a single weekend you will likely get some of these symptoms if you cut out alcohol completely.
Used alcohol for years to numb myself and help push things down that I wasn’t dealing with. I was always functional, but did it at home alone WAY too much. Took me basically having a nervous breakdown to start working on my problems. Getting rid of alcohol helped me to do that, and I’m now three years sober and never going back. I don’t even get the urge anymore.
Thank you for sharing and letting others know they can push through and get to a healthier place. There’s so much negativity on social media, I thank you for being intentional to take a minute out of your day to post this here. Hoping others stumble across your thread/comments.
Thank you so much dr. I'm an alcoholic no one else knows I think I've never come out of the closet not sure who knows I know that's all that matters. I drink a lot of wand throughout the day everyday I have for the past two years I live alone have no family and I want to quit drinking. I've never been honest with my doctor I think after watching your video it's time that my doctor and I talk about this. Thank you so much for your honesty.
I’ve experienced alcohol withdrawal and been to a hospital multiple times within the past few years, including rehab. I’ve never used any other drugs outside of alcohol and pot. Haven’t touched pot since I was 18 and always hated it. Alcohol was my go to for depression. Thankfully I’m still alive today. The first time I experienced withdrawals, I didn’t know what to do or anything about it. I spent three days on a friends couch concerned that I might die. I’ve never had delirium, hallucinations, or seizures. However, I’ve felt absolutely terrible before and felt like I could possibly break out in a seizure at any moment. Like other drugs, often people use not to get high but to eliminate the withdrawal. I highly appreciate this video and wish the best for anyone out there struggling.
As an alcoholic myself this is the type of help alot of us seek. Change is difficult but i really appreciate your video
Sometimes when my withdrawal is bad I will itch real bad on the bottoms of my feet.
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 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.
That’s actually pretty interesting.
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 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!