Hi Joanna, sorry to hear you're going through that stuff, and I hope you get through it ok. The others pretty much nailed it, ya gotta go to meetings and be around sober people right now, I'drather see someone doze off in the back row of a meeting than wonder if they're drinking at home. Good luck Joanna and please, keep coming back.
Just don't drink!
-- Edited by The Addiction Club on Monday 5th of March 2012 08:40:29 PM
-- Edited by The Addiction Club on Monday 5th of March 2012 08:40:57 PM
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"Never make someone a priority who makes you an option"
Today my emotions have been all over the board. I have a headache and want to just cry. I have just hung around the house all day and slept, and have done very little. I am trying to figure out what I am feeling and why I am feeling like this? Anyone have any words of wisdom?
Sorry you are having a tough day, I can relate. Early on in sobriety, I felt like I was on a roller coaster. My emotions were all over the place. I would laugh, cry, scream and cower all in the span of five minutes. I really thought I was going crazy. The thing of it was, I was actually feeling my emotions for the first time in a long time. Forever I had been drinking to not feel. So it was pretty overwhelming to say the least. I remember someone telling me "The good thing about quitting drinking is that you get your feelings back. The bad thing about quitting drinking is that you get your feelings back." Not to mention the fact that our brains and our bodies are trying to physically adjust to not drinking as well. I learned about something called "PAWS", post acute withdrawal syndrome, which helped me to understand a little better what my body was going through. I still have my crazy roller coaster days, but at 8 months, I can tell you they are few and far between compared to my first few weeks and months. I am learning to do things to take care of me, like reading a book, listening to some good music, taking a bath or having a nice hot cup of tea. I see from your first post that you have three kids and a husband to care for, often we forget to take care of ourselves in the process. So, let yourself cry, it's ok, and nap if you have to. Try to get to a meeting if you can, meetings helped me realize I wasn't crazy, I was a recovering alcoholic in early sobriety. Keep coming back here, we know how you feel. Peace
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I asked God for all things that I may enjoy life. He gave me life so that I may enjoy all things.
I can relate to everything you just said, Joanna, and with good reason. I was in similar straits myself 10+ years ago, and had some serious emotional issus as well. I felt emotionally drained too, just like yourself, which made me feel very uncomfortable -not to mention those horrible shakes as well. What I can tell you is this: The emotional roller coaster does end, eventually. The waiting game for us alcoholics, though, is the hardest part of all. So don't give up on sobriety, yet. It's only a matter of time before things start improving, Joanna -trust me. So my suggestion is this: Keep moving forward dear and never give up hope. We won't, either should you.
~God Bless~
-- Edited by Mr_David on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 02:50:50 AM
Once I realised the seriousness of my situation, I could see that my worst day sober was still better than my best day drinking. To start with there are good---very good days and bad days but as we get on with our journey through the steps, there are less bad days and more good ones and eventually bad days become rare. It will pass and it will be allright. Just get to a meeting and find another alcoholic to talk to.
It certainly sounds like early sobriety. We have all gone through the ups and the downs. It's like I was suspended in mid air and couldn't get my feet back to the ground. Left, right, up, down........
The good news is it does get better. If we work towards it. The number of off days will diminsh over time. For me, I needed the off days to remind me of who and what I was and what I need to do. I can still have them. My Sponsor would tell me, you need to have an off day once in awhile so you know what a good day feels like.
What I've learned is I have to ACT my way into good THINKING. That means doing things my thinking tells me not to do, but I do it anyways. Like hit a meeting, call an AA friend, read AA literature or just get off my ^ss and do something productive- exercise, laundry, cleaning, go outside etc.... Move the body forward and the mind will follow.
