"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"

henryg · Newbie

Q re Appearing impaired while not drinking

MomGayle42 · Veteran Member

I'm sorry but I have never heard of any such thing???? Have you done any research to seeing if this is true? Can you smell alcohol?

MomGayle

henryg · Newbie

I tried to research on the web but couldn't find anything. Fridays we have family night at rehab so I'm going to ask the program director about it.

Jean4444 · ~*Service Worker*~

Oh yes, lots of experience with this. My mom sounds like she is drunk when I talk to her on the phone even thought she has not touched alcohol in 40 years (and I know she has not for a fact). My best friend also sounds like she is drunk all the time and she isn't. Really common and typical. I am sure others will chime in with their stories soon- see, the actual drinking is a symptom of the disease of alcoholism. There are many symptoms of which one of them is actual drinking. All sorts of alcoholic behaviors and tendencies- tons of that. Its the stuff of dry drunks, etc. Hugs, J.

nmike · ~*Service Worker*~

It is called the dry drunk syndrome. Spooky. For me my AHsober has been sober for over 20 years. He left and any experience that I had with him drunk is twice as hard to deal with sober. I don't really understand why. I was with him this weekend. He couldn't remember a thing - stone cold sober. Try not to watch him too closely.

In support,
Nancy

Bettina · ~*Service Worker*~

My husband is 27 days sober, I had an experience, I talked to him on the phone and he sounded drunk about a week ago, when I got home he was stone cold sober. I couldnt figure it out, maybe its the brain that still remembers. Luv, Bettina

maresie · ~*Service Worker*~

Well all I can say is to revise your expectations. What are they. What can you live with. What are you doing to take care of you?

Please dont think I am telling you to lump it. I know for me personally my expectations of the A I lived with were always way over what he could do. I lived in a cesspit of resentment and frustration as a result. Now I have to look at my expectations daily.

One of my roommates keeps breaking the washing machine. Don't ask me why, there are signs everywhere saying don't do it. She continues to do it. I can sit in a sea of resentment that she does it or I can accept it and go to the laundromat. Yes I certainly don't want to go to the laundromat. Yes she "shouldn't be doing it, yes she has notices everywhere, yes she been asked.
Sitting in a seas of resentment is far far far more toxic for me than going to the laundromat. Acceptance helps.

Maresie

canadianguy · ~*Service Worker*~

Sorry, I'm not much help on this one..... each and every time I heard my ex-AW slur or sound drunk, she actually was.... I've never experienced the other....

Tom

cedars · Newbie

PAWS... POST ACUTE WITHDRAWL SYNDROM:
Recovery from alcohol and drug use causes many symptoms. These occur as the

body attempts to repair the brain and other organs. Known as post acute

withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), the symptoms often start 7 to 14 days after

stopping alcohol and drug use. They peak over the next 6 to 18 months. If you want

to have long-term recovery, you must learn how to manage these symptoms.

Some of the more common symptoms are:

Not able to think clearly - May have trouble with problem solving and

concentration.
Memory problems - Forgetful and not able to remember recent things.

Emotions are over-active or numb - Emotions are out of proportion to the

event. May lose control and do something rash or impulsive. May have

emotions shut down and feel numb. May have mood swings.

Sleep problems - Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking early. May

have changes in sleep patterns. May have dreams, often about using, that

disrupt sleep.

Coordination problems - Dizziness, trouble with balance, problems with

hand and eye coordination, reflexes slow causing person to be clumsy and

prone to accidents.

Symptoms may worsen during times of high stress and often occur at set times.

For alcohol dependence there seem to be cycles of symptoms. The cycles happen

around days 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 and around the one and 2-year marks of

sobriety. Even with treatment, the body needs at least one year to return to normal

physical functions. Brain functions and emotions may take at least two years to

return to normal.

Long-term users of opiate pain killers, stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines,

and benzodiazipines like Valium or Klonopin are on different cycles when they

stop using. They may have symptoms for up to 10 years.

Awareness of your own symptoms is the first step of your treatment. Talk to your

counselor or doctor about managing your symptoms.

MAYBE THIS IS WHATS GOING ON?!

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.

"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"