Hey guys.
Feeling a pretty crushing sense of emptiness and lack of purpose or place lately. I was pretty depressed when I was drinking, but alcohol numbed it and flooded my brain with serotonin.
Now there’s no booze, I’m just struggling so hard. My brain ain’t making nearly enough serotonin as it’s used to.
At first I was sleeping soundly, without the crushing sickness of hangovers and waking up sick from booze. So not drinking was rewarding because I was loving feeling better.
Now I can’t sleep and I feel like a loser with no life, friends, purpose or joy.
It’s rough man. I’m just reaching out. I read that running helps, I might start incorporating it in my gym routine slowly.
Hoping someone will tel me this will ease up. Im almost 40 days sober. I just need to hear this will pass.
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Hey Alycia, I have noticed that I have been going through a very similar feeling since getting sober. I’m at 116 days. I haven’t experienced the pink cloud effect I have heard a lot of people talk about and I was stuck in a rut. No purpose,motivation, joy. Over the past 4 months I have been working with a sponsor and going to AA meetings, still feeling miserable. My solution to everything before was alcohol. It was there to fulfill celebration, depression, motivation, purpose, joy. Once I lost this I felt lost. I am grateful that my desire to drink has left me. And I actually realized this a few nights ago. Over this four months, instead of always thinking about the next drink, my sole attention has been how to make myself feel happy and content in life. This also isn’t the right way to think, I have learned. I kinda had a realization a few nights ago and did a second surrendering. Now a few days later I feel like all those feelings are alot more manageable and going away. I have a ton of recommendations on stuff I’ve been doing to help with this. Shoot me a message and I’ll work on a list today for you and get back to you. Only reason I don’t do it now is I’m on break at work and this post is already pretty lengthy haha. 
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Yes, this too shall pass.
Especially in early sobriety your brain can be messy, with hormones and neurotransmitters trying to find their natural balance again.
But, of course, underlying problems don’t disappear when getting clean. They actually do surface now that they are no longer suppressed.
If it lasts too long or it bothers you, get professional help. No shame in there, many of us did.
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@TwoWolves967 Thankyou for your reply. I really just needed to hear that I’m not alone in this feeling. I know it’s early days, I’m just riding this wave for now. I thought being sober would bring me happiness, and I’d be content. It’s just really confronting when you take it away and you just feel nothing. Have nothing.
@Fargesia I can absolutely feel it’s my brain levelling out. I feel like it’s a combination of that and coming to terms that I need to rebuild some social aspects in my life, and learn to find joy the good old fashion way. It’s just feeling really daunting, and so empty at the moment.
@Bootz thanks for your advice. I know I need to find some time for mindfulness and meditation, I like to crochet and paint which kinda feels like a meditation on its own. I don’t have a bath but hoping to move shortly to a place that does. I’m very much looking forward to relaxing and destressing baths 
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40 days is brilliant a big congrats to you 
It does get easier, and we do learn to enjoy the smallest things in life again but it doesnt happen over night, i hope you start to feel better soon which you will im sure, remember to be easy on yourself.
I find for myself realising that life in general does have bad days and please remember it doesnt last forever these low feelings are temporary.
Sending you a hug through the wifi 
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Just a thought… i saw a post on here, i cant remember who it was from mentioning they purchased like an eyemask for sleeping with earphones inside … so i too purchased this for meditation and it really brings me back to earth in my mind.
I sometimes get feelings especially late at night like im not real like a dissociation from reality due to ongoing situation in my life. Its my bodys way of protecting itself but it feels so horrible and lonely but i put the eye mask on with the ear phones inside and i do guided meditation from you tube and wow it brings me back in my mind so quick maybe this could help x
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