Withdrawal Symptoms
A newcomer asked, “What are withdrawal symptoms? How long will withdrawal last before it leaves and I start to feel more peaceful, less oppressed, condemned and scared?" I told him that my withdrawal symptoms had been acute in my first three months in Sexaholics Anonymous. Here are some of the symptoms which I experienced plus more, which other members have told me about.
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleeplessness
- Agitation
- Loss of interest in life
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Chills
- Heart palpitations
- Tremors and shaking
- Constipation
- Hyperactivity
- Feeling raw
- Indigestion
- Itchy skin
- Anger
- Inability to think straight
- Feeling numb
- Fatigue
- Bad dreams
- Emotional instability
- Aches and pains
- Inability to concentrate
- Hypersensitivity
- Boredom
- Despair
- Grief
- Loss of energy
- Sadness
- Physical and emotional discomfort
- Insecurity
More Personal Experiences with Withdrawal
- In my case, withdrawal lasted about three months. It was a great "stay-sober!" warning for me, because I don't want to go through that ever again!
- It’s hard to say what withdrawal really is, because now I see that although I am less vulnerable to some sexual content, on the other hand, if I start to crave lust, my mind drives me crazy the same as before. It's better to think about being sober one day at a time. The only day that I need to take into account is today. And it is better for me not to do any calculations about acting out and possible withdrawals. And what about craving? Today I have much fewer problems with this than before, but it still happens.
- For me, the withdrawal was so intense that people began noticing that I was not normal during those 90 days. But every day I need to be willing to follow suggestions and pray for the willingness to stay sober. Even today if I take second look, that's when some of the withdrawals will start to pop-up, and people tend see that I am not quite right, and they will ask, "What's the problem with you?” I like the phrasing "only today" and "one minute at the time, one hour at the time, one moment at a time, one thing at the time, one lust victory at a time," etc. The list goes on, but these phrases relieve me from thinking of the future. Just for today, I can fight for the solution, and I am grateful to be alive and sober.
