[Beatzen]

Thankfully, it's day three. I physically feel much better and am in better spirits today. Busy day at work to keep me occupied. Some in AA might say I have no sobriety because I'm on psych meds. It is amazing to me that my cravings are not so bad today. How long does it take to detox your system from alcohol? I know it takes years to rebuild a clear head but how long is the alcohol in my system for? I hope each of you has a blessed day.

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[regretful]

Alcohol doesn't stay in your system for too long because it's processed out of the body rather quickly. I used to work in a detox unit and saw quick changes in about a week's time. On the other hand, I have been reading about Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. That suggests that withdrawal from years of heavy drinking can take years. I think I'm in the latter boat...no withdrawal upon quitting over 100 days back, but 100 + days into it, I'm feeling rather, uh, dumb. Not sure if it is the depression, the anti-depressant, or the "dry" time. I hope this helps...

[emgreen]

Don't you dare listen to the few folks in AA who suggest that taking prescription meds compromises your sobriety! That's a boatload of crap...There's nothing in AA literature that suggests that at all! I'm bipolar & would be in bad shape if I didn't take my meds. I've just accepted the fact that alcohol is one of the drugs that can make things worse...just as not taking my psych meds can. I'm glad you've got another day sober. Fighting the urge can be hard at first, but all we can do is fight it one day at a time. You've been to AA, so you know the score. Keep posting to let us know how you're doing! Good thoughts your way...

[Altered Moment]

Way to go. Good job. Keep going to meetings.
Like Emgreen says - for those few people who say you are not sober because of meds tell them to **** off. They are totally ignorant. In fact the big book specifically talks about how some of us need to seek outside help and that we should not shy away from the expertise of the medical community. We know but only a little and more will be revealed. They were very humble about their knowledge of this disease at the time. They only knew that they had discovered a way that works. It has certainly been proven that it works.

I have heard six months to get your brain healed up after the intitial physical detox from heavy alcohol use. Thats what a psychiatrist in AA told me once. For me I went through post acute withdrawal syndrome from meth and it took over a year before I was back to anything like my normal self. I am sure much longer to repair the damage I did. We can recover.

Hang in there Regretful. Sounds like you are still very much on the fence about whether it is a problem for you. Maybe do a honest inventory of all your past drinking and how it has affected your life, work, relationships, family, etc. Its a progressive disease so maybe you haven't developed into a full blown alcoholic but you could. I do not know. Also it is very genetic. My dad was an alcoholic, his dad was an alcoholic. Then there is the other side of the family with all its mental illness and alcoholism.