Hi, I’m newly sober and I am having a hard time thinking about anything other than using again. Does anyone have any tips on how to get rid of these intrusive thoughts? I’ve tried a few things, but I’m really struggling right now. Any positive feedback would be greatly appreciated.
3 Likes
Glad you are here! TS is a great place to find support and resources of all kinds when dealing with addiction and recovery!
Healthy distractions are how I tend to combat intrusive thoughts. When I get urges/cravings to use/drink, I like to commit my concentration to reading, creativity, or exercise! If one fails, I try another.
Reading allows me to transport myself to another reality for a short time. Definitely a crucial tool for me even when I’m stressed or anxious.
Creativity gives me the ability to pause my thought process and focus on specific challenges like line work, paint strokes or color palettes.
Exercise is a great tool for so many reasons, but personally being able to get out for a walk gives me a chance to get some fresh air, a little muscles movement and tons of external stimulation rather than internal stimulation!
If you’re on the go or busy, sober tools like STOP, HALT, or the 4-7-8 breathing technique can also be useful!
I don’t know if you or I or anyone can ever really get rid of intrusive thoughts, even with around a year of sober time I still deal with plenty. But, the more sober time I amass the less I feel like I need to act on the thoughts or impulses. I’m going to include a link to a website that has a lot of ways to address and combat intrusive thoughts!
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-stop-intrusive-thoughts
(Numbers 3, 4, 5, and 9 are my top on that particular list!)
Like I said before, I’m glad you’re here, and I’m also glad you are reaching out for support! It’s definitely a step in the right direction! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need, there are plenty of people here who are willing to listen and share their experiences dealing with similar issues!
You are not alone in this struggle! 
4 Likes
Glad you’re here and willing to do life differently! You’re doing great things for yourself.
Alex has a lot of great recs and my only addition would be attending AA/NA meetings as they really helped me in the beginning with my thought process of staying sober. Gave me other things to consider and think about & ways to cope with life’s challenges. I still attend meetings and they’re still helpful.
Stick with us, friend, you don’t have to do this shit alone.
4 Likes
Well I’m at day 6 now, I managed to avoid the craving to smoke for a couple days, but right now it’s back to being all I can think about. I’m finding I can’t relax while sober. If I stop doing something (laundry, house cleaning, etc.) all I can think about is “It would be so nice to have a joint, then I can relax and stop overthinking everything.” I even made a pros and cons list, but even that isn’t helping as much as I’d like, even though there are way more cons than pros. I can finally eat while sober again which is a big win, but I just can’t seem to be able to relax and unwind. I’ve tried all of the coping mechanisms I have, and clearly it’s working enough that I’m at day 6, but it’s still so intense that I am crying out of frustration with my brain. I know over time it will fade, but not being able to sit still is driving me crazy. Anyone have any advice?
My pros and cons list:
Pros:
-Helps me relax/unwind
-Helps me focus
-Helps with creativity
Cons:
-unhealthy
-interacts with my medications
-affects my memory and cognitive skills (makes me feel dumb sometimes)
-costs money
-takes time away from more important things/tasks
2 Likes
Great work getting to 6 days!! As someone who was a daily weed smoker for 16 years, the first couple of weeks after quitting were the hardest in my experience!
Not only was the habitual nature of the substance and rituals (grinding, packing, smoking, cleaning, repeat) surrounding it incredibly hard to live without, but the ability to enjoy activities without it also seemed impossible. I smoked before I did almost any hobby or favorite activity, so when I quit it felt like I was missing something every time I tried to do those hobbies/activities! Thankfully, for me that incomplete feeling faded after a month or two! Now I’m able to engage in my favorite hobbies/activities without feeling like I’m missing out or some how it would be better if I were high while doing them.
I’m going to include a link that has some information about the withdrawal timeline and symptoms, as well as some treatment options!
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/marijuana-weed-withdrawal
As for the pros and cons list, that is a great tool for visualizing the “good” and “bad” parts of using and how they stack up against each other. I know that when ever I made a list, the cons ALWAYS stacked up higher. I used to imagine them on a scale, and the con side always was much, much heavier.
A suggestion for the pros and cons list would be to expand it to not only the pros and cons of quitting, but also the pros and cons to continuing to use! Four columns can give you a little more insight into how you view the “good” and “bad” parts of using and quitting, on both sides of the aisle.
My only “advice” would be to push through the urges/impulses/craving to smoke by utilizing sober tools, searching out some sort of professional therapy, and relying on the support networks you’re apart of! Simple but effective.
I’m really glad you decided to stick it out for 6 days, it shows alot of dedication and determination on your part. I’m also glad you returned here and that you were willing to share and ask for support! All these actions tell me that you want something better for yourself and you are willing to experience some discomfort to get there.
Sobriety may be difficult, uncomfortable, and even painful at times, but I can tell you without a doubt that it is completely worth the struggle
1 Like