Is it normal to get depressed still while sober? I have been doing everything my sponsor has been telling me to do like going to meetings everyday, calling her once a day, calling 2 sober people other than her a day, service work (giving people rides), meeting up with her once a week to do big book + still working on the 1st step and helping set up and break down my home group meetings. I really have no reason to be depressed...but I am. I go out these past couple days to meetings and lunches with some ladies and I smile then when I get down its at home...usually by myself. What could be the problem? I am sober for 90 some days now. I just don't feel right! Does anyone else ever feel like this and what do u do to feel better?
-- Edited by Gleek22 on Monday 7th of January 2013 10:50:43 PM
Is it normal to get depressed still while sober? I have been doing everything my sponsor has been telling me to do like going to meetings everyday, calling her once a day, calling 2 sober people other than her a day, service work (giving people rides), meeting up with her once a week to do big book + still working on the 1st step and helping set up and break down my home group meetings. I really have no reason to be depressed...but I am. I go out these past couple days to meetings and lunches with some ladies and I smile then when I get down its at home...usually by myself. What could be the problem? I am sober for 90 some days now. I just don't feel right! Does anyone else ever feel like this and what do u do to feel better?
-- Edited by Gleek22 on Monday 7th of January 2013 10:50:43 PM
Is it normal to get depressed still while sober?
Is it normal to eat breakfast in the mornings? ... of course it's normal to have periods of depression, everyone does ... but with our AA tool box handy, we can do two things ... One ... a quick personal 'inventory' to help us spot a problem we may have overlooked, and call our sponsor to talk it out ... or number two: ... write out, on paper, a gratitude list ... considering how things could be if we were not sober ...
Does anyone else ever feel like this and what do u do to feel better?
If the above answer I gave doesn't work ??? ... I just go have some ice cream ... I ALWAYS feel better after eating ice cream ... (having a big chunk of 'dark chocolate' comes in a close 2nd)
Oh boy, ... now I need to excuse myself to see if I have any ice cream left in the freezer ... thanks ... a lot ....
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Monday 7th of January 2013 11:21:05 PM
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I felt a bit depressed around 90 days, and I was very overwhelmed with so much change. My brain was all over the place. My moods were very up and down. I was told that this is considered normal as your body and emotions are in the midst of quite an overhaul. Dean suggested I look into PAWS (post- acute withdrawal syndrome), and I found that I was most likely experiencing this, as well. It setup mind at ease to realize its fairly normal to be feeling like I was. I expected to be happy and full of gratitude all the time, and I kinda beat myself up for not feeling as I thought I should doing all of the 'right things'. Hang in there:) it does get better.
Wow - I love what Col and Pappy already said so I am going to ditto that and reiterate that yes, it does get better - just stay the course - keep talking about it too : )
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
For the first little while I thought I was depressed until I met someone with real depression. Then I realised I was suffering the usual ups and downs of early recovery. Bill W describes in the book "I was plagued by waves of self pity and resentment" his solution was working with other alcoholics - 12 step today. he had already taken the other steps.
At the end of 90 days I had taken the first 8 steps and was well into step 9 and the world had changed. Alcohol obsession had been removed and the world looked warm and inviting, instead of the cold intimidating place it used to appear. The promises in the book were all coming true, life was exciting, joyful even.
A year or two earlier, after a visit to the nut farm, I stayed dry without AA or steps or any of the work you are doing. At about the 90 day mark I had been bed ridden for 6 weeks with depression, I just ceased to function, I didn't even know it was depression. they gave me pills, I took one, it didn't work, so I went back to my old solution.
The difference between the two events was that the first time I continued to suffer from untreated alcoholism. Just stopping drinking doesn't treat it. On the second occasion I went to AA, got a sponsor and took the steps. I haven't needed to drink since.
It bothers me that you are still on step one. What's that about? If you can admit and accept without reservation that you can never drink alcohol in any form ever again, you have taken step one. It is simply identifying and accepting the problem. Step two is simply being willing to belive that AAs spiritual solution could work for you as you have seen it work in others, and step three is making a decision to do what it takes starting with step four.
The feeling you are talking about is treated through the steps. When you get to step nine your life will have changed for the better. If your sponsor is holding you back and you have honestly have no reservations about the first step, get another sponsor who will take you through the rest. The number one rule for sponsors I have heard is 'Never stand between a newcomer and their spiritual experience".
Yes it's normal. So isn't anger, fear, anxiety and just about everything else in first couple if months. It does get better. Lots of praying, talking to other AA's and meetings. Sometimes I got depressed just from being emotionally overwhelmed for days on end. Talking helps that's what the phone numbers are there for cause the spiritual program is not strong enough yet. Sooner or later you get outside of yourself and try to live in the solution not the problem and not letting emotions rule you. Change doesn't happen over night . Getting sober is a unnatural act. Since I spent all my time drinking and in alcoholic behavior. Remember feeling aren't facts. Try to be grateful for something everyday like staying sober.
Thanks, I am trying to give everything to my higher power these past couple days. Its bad when I try to play God and that's what gets me so up in my head and depressed about the stupidest stuff. I need to get it out though too, just in a healthy way.
Been a rough couple days here, too. Yesterday I finally gave up and went to bed. Probably not the best solution but it does turn the thoughts off for awhile. I haven't collected all the tools yet!
Been there done that ... ... ... Here, ... try this ... this little exercise worked wonders for me ... my sponsor had me write down everything that was bothering me 'today' ... write it down on a piece of paper and review it ... take that paper outside along with a 'lighter' to the back deck, or somewhere alone ... and say the 'Serenity Prayer', then burn the piece of paper ... he said like the paper, the problems are now insignificant ... God has them, not you ... he said this is a fact, so now, act like it ...
You know what??? ... I'd tried that and WOW, found it amazing how a blanket of peace and tranquility came over me ... go for it, it's well worth a shot ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
