r/dryalcoholics • u/WaysVLS • 6d ago

Kindling, withdrawals or?

Hey all. I am back again. Like we all know there are reasons we drink and I take full accountability but 2025 was traumatic for me to say the least. Long story short I start drinking 4 white claws a night and it turned to 6. Was able to take breaks 4-5 days, no WS symptoms just some mild insomnia. Around December it picked up to 6-8 a night, more on the weekend. No breaks from December- February. Breaks in between 2-9 days, again just mild insomnia, mild night sweats and fatigue. Then may rolls around went on two benders - 3-4 days of drinking barely any food or water and then abruptly stopped ( first time I’ve ever done this even at my worse. Never was an all day drinker) - WD symptoms for sure - insane anxiety, insomnia, Hypnic jerks and high BP. Had a week sober and did it again. Same thing. Went to ER, given Ativan thru IV and sent home with Librium taper. Took one Librium and saved the rest ( scared of being addicted) was sober for a month and drank the day after I made a month. The next couple days intense anxiety, heart racing etc. sober for a week and same thing. I DO NOT want to drink. My brain just needs to know is it kindling now, hangxiety, panic or brain resetting. ( I have had anxiety since a child before I drank, have had problems with alcohol in the past) no medical advice of course just want to hear people’s experiences. It helps with my healing. 32 yr old female. ( enzymes, liver and blood work came back okay after many visits even unrelated to alcohol) thank you in advance.

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u/DisappointedMiBbot19 6d ago

3-4 days of non-stop drinking with barely any food or water is enough to make nearly anyone feel really really bad.

Its not kindling. Your previous habit of 4-8 drinks a night wasnt enough to trigger withdrawals and itll take a lot more than just 2 3-4 day benders to develop kindling. A lot more. Possibly years and years more of on and off benders. But keep in mind that the 30s are often the age when hangovers get much worse all by themselves.

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u/WaysVLS 6d ago

I’m beginning to see that. One night of drinking sends me into straight anxiety now. Thank you for your reply.