The physical stuff is what I remember least about my early sobriety.  I didn't have alcohol cravings the way I thought I would.  I felt better physically within a few days, not being hung over.  I did have sugar cravings which I indulged in.  Mostly it was brain stuff going on.  I guess in my first two weeks, I was just really into AA and the physical relief.  My emotions caught up with me after that 2 week honeymoon and as much as I was into AA, my disease told me that's nice, but you really need alcohol to avoid feeling this anxiety and this crap.  Instead of drinking, I shared that at a meeting and instead of them saying "see ya", they said "that thinking - that's alcoholism".  That's when I realized I was born an alcoholic, because that thinking was there before I ever drank.  That was when it began to sink in what was really wrong with me - that it wasn't about toughing it out and beating alcohol, but about changing my life, my attitude.

Barisax

Hi Katie,

congrats on the 3 weeks!

Changes? My face was not red and bloated, I didn't feel terrible in the AM, I stopped shaking, had more energy, my digestive system worked better, my guts stopped hurting. bad things stopped happening.

Stopped waking up with my car running, or in strange places (is this physical?) Gained 4 inches in my chest and lost 4 inches in my waist (OK, it took some time and effort)

Kate,

It just means build a program by going to meetings, getting a sponsor, and working the steps with a sponsor who has worked the steps. Otherwise, you ARE doing it on your own.

WELCOME KATE! :)

I'm glad you found us. I don't remember much about the beginning physical changes. I do recall getting good sleep for the first time in a long time (once I stopped drinking so much dang coffee at meetings! lol). Today I just feel so much better in my own skin. No more hangovers. No more shakes. No more urge to drink! I look back at pictures of myself in my last days of drinking and I hardly recognize myself. Poor skin, grayish coloring, I looked bloated and sickly, and looked heavier though I weighed less than I do now. Today I EAT RIGHT, get enough sleep, exercise. My skin has a healthy glow, my hair is shiny. I am in good shape and have muscle tone! I smell good! Though PinkChip is right, the inner stuff and spirituality is most important, I feel good about feeling better and looking better. It's sort of the icing on the cake. :)

11 months ago when I first got sober, I remember suffering with rampant emotions. Roller coaster mood swings, was on edge a lot. Over time I've mellowed out quite a bit, things don't "stress me out" as much, I'm amazed how much more energy I have now that I'm not putting so much into living in survival mode. I used to walk around in a perpetual state of exhaustion. I thought I had anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I went to the doctor and he said, "Nope. You just are killing yourself with your lifestyle (drinking)." I've stopped fighting everything and everyone. I let things go that I have no control over, and give up control of things that don't matter. I buck up and take care of my responsibilities today that I used to fret and worry and procrastinate, and end up skipping or forgetting. I now am happy with who I am and feel a sense of inner peace, I'm ok just BEING me.

Life is good. I wish for you all of the joy, serenity, and acceptance that I have every day in my life today. One day at a time. WE CAN DO THIS! :) Heather

 

Aloha Kate and congradulations on the sober time.  Physically one of the many things I had to deal with was tension.  I was reacting to everything and everyone and filled with paranoia.  Of course this was how I use to live while drinking also and it took me a long time to deal with the fear beneathe it all and finally just do more "responding" rather than just "reacting" to life around me.  Drinking didn't lessen my fears it made them worse.  The first change was not drink and then to attempt life without it.  This is a daily, active, on purpose lifestyle for me...a hands on program which is more than okay for me because to go back to the early me is just so unacceptable now.

Keep coming back.   (((hugs)))

Seems to me that most of the positive changes for me didn't come for about 90 days. I noticed things like an increase in appetite, but I still felt sick after eating, and forget about sleeping lol. It took some time for my brain to regulate to the lack of outside "influences", so the roller coaster ride kept me pretty preoccupied with just trying to put one foot in front of the other and doing what others suggested. After about 6 months I noticed that I had more energy, and was sleeping through the night. Like many others, I lost weight as well. The changes that really matter to me today are the return of some sanity (working step 2 daily), and a stronger spiritual connection with my HP. I also like the fact that I can stop and think before taking action (at least most of the time LOL). I guess the last few changes aren't physical changes, but the spiritual changes make the physical changes seem trivial to me today. Remember, keep doing the right things and it only gets better!

Brian