4:03 pm
So, I was looking up long-term (or, as the doctors call it, “post-acute”) withdrawal symptoms for long-term alcohol abuse, and how long they last. Ugh. Nothing specific, but it seems more than likely that it could last for months, or longer! I think I definitely have some of these symptoms, like mood swings, general sluggishness, inability to focus, a lack of efficiency in my entire thought process, and now, a headache-ness (neck, back, and head pain that feels like vertigo and/or sea sickness) that is hard to work around. The headache is bizarre simply cuz I never get headaches. I doubt it’s got anything to do with withdrawal, but…I did feel ill and a general “detox”-type feeling for the first month or so after I quit drinkin’, so who knows?
I know I should be patient; I will have to be in order to “re-enter” my world of science writing and journalism. I haven’t worked in journalism since 2010 and haven’t worked a real job since early this year. Journalism takes a LOT of editing skills when it comes to information absorption, and the entire process of “keeping up” on news and journals can be more labor intensive, mentally speaking, than learning the actual presented information. Ack, fucking information! TOO MUCH OF IT. Plus, maybe I’m legitimately overwhelmed with the amount of changes that I’ve subjected myself to over the past year, as well as the number of decisions I have to make soon (I’m moving, starting my own freelancing business, looking forward to possibly traveling and/or long-term volunteering in the next few months, getting sober)…
Anyway, the point is, do headaches come with the territory? And, how long will the withdrawal symptoms, mainly the mood swings, the lack of “wham-bam” energy, and the indecision/feeling overwhelmed and overloaded by the smallest of things, last?
Plus, wasn’t I over the worst of it, having gone 60 days like, a week or so ago? (I’m on day 71 minus 2…)
(I *am* additionally distracted, though, by the fact that we’re looking down on Isaac, which as of an hour ago, was going to be passing by our island as a tropical storm! I’ve never lived through a storm or a hurricane, so that could get interesting.)
Drunky Drunk Girl 
god i know this “too much information” feeling, and for me it usually happens if i haven’t had enough sleep … or if i’m hungover. both of which have improved since i quit the wine. it might still take a bit of time for the most recent wine to get out of your head/body 🙂 but changes are good, they keep you forward-looking, focused on new adventures. they’re not challenges, they’re adventures. (shut up pollyanna, she says!)
Hi, Belle,
Yes, the TMI thing really sometimes triggers me. Like, too much information, I have to absorb it all, I can’t, so why bother trying/give up and drink! I’m working on simply taking some deep breaths and like I wrote in another post, Turning It Off. Shutting ‘Er Down. It’s OK to do that, it’ll be there tomorrow. Changes ARE good, which is why I’m getting sober anyway! Thanks for your comment…
First off I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question in
which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to find
out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to
writing. I have had a tough time clearing my thoughts in
getting my thoughts out there. I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin.
Any suggestions or tips? Thank you!
Thanks for the compliment! Y’know, when I was reporting, I had this process where I would sit there and think about how I was going to structure my written piece–then, writing it was more a matter of filling in that structure. Sometimes, I just let the words come and then go back and reorg. But usually, I have something (a lot!) I want to say, and that’s when I write. My advice to people is to simply get it ALL down, all out…and then go back and edit/reorg/revise!
Thanks for reading!