My sponsor says Alcohol Withdrawal should be the most wretched horrible experience, is he right?

Question

What I mean is he doesn't think I should to to any 'cushy medical detox' or get any Librium or anything. He said it should be the most horrible miserable experience of your life, so you don't do it again. Is he right?

Answer 1

no, thats just sick.

Answer 2

It depends on your level of addiction.  Alcohol withdrawal, if it's cold turkey, can kill you.  It can cause seizures, stroke, extreme illness.  If you drink daily hard-core stuff, don't even think about doing it alone.  Do the the "cushy medical detox", and do re-hab if you can.  You NEED the medications if your addiction is intense.  Your body cells get used to operating with alcohol, as much as they hate it, and they totally don't know what to do without it.  I've seen it first hand.  

It shouldn't be horrible to detox.  That could kill you or just make you drink again to alleviate the sickness.

Answer 3

Depending on your level of addiction, detoxing with medical assistance may be the only safe way to do it.  Talk to a physician and him decide what is best for you.  I am sure your sponsor means well, but seriously talk to a doctor.  Best of luck.

Answer 4

Well. Its hard to say. Most people exaggerate the withdrawals of alcohol. Its like a bad 'flu.  It is nowhere near as bad as coming off heroin. Detoxing off heroin has been known to kill people. Your sponsor could be a nutter. A.A. is not very good as it keeps people believing they are addicts. Hypnotherapy is great as it can cure you of addiction and you dont have to go to meetings all the time.

Answer 5

In my opinion, it would seem after a good day or two to get it out of your system, you should be home free.  The key after that is never drinking again.  That is what should be your biggest concern.  I'm not a counselor or anything, but here's a few tips:  cut all ties with the people you drank with, do not go to places that sell alcohol (with the exception of the grocery store)--not even out to dinner with your family except IHOP or something, do not watch shows where people are drinking, do not buy Listerine or Nyquil (that's a given), think of how great your life will be without alcohol.  True, this first step might be the hardest, but you can do anything you set your mind to...the mind is powerful and if you use it properly you can free yourself from this problem, or worry and get depressed over things and put yourself right back into the place you don't want to be.  Most importantly, know that you've got people on YAnswers 24/7 who are guaranteed to make you laugh with their hilarious q & a...check back frequently.

Answer 6

for some alcoholics yes. but not everyone detoxes the same. when i quit it was cold turkey and i didn't go through withdrawls of those sorts. i now have 1 yr and 4 months.

Answer 7

that sounds rather harsh.....where is the incentive to stop!!!

I think your sponsor has issues! it may be the road that worked for him to give up the booze but it wouldn't be my first option!

Good luck

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