Dealing with some intense work stress right now and reaping the benefits; the insomnia, social anxiety, overstimulation and all that lovely stuff! Sometimes I feel so grounded being sober and others you wonder how I even made it this far I’m so fragile and frazzled. My mind is racing, I find myself disassociating, hyperventilating, and close to panic. I have a long history of anxiety issues. When I first became sober I felt like there was this honeymoon period where I was so calm and the impact of my anxiety cut in half because I was sleeping better and had less booze induced mood swings and instability. But now it almost feels harder! Sometimes I feel like I’m anxious constantly. , and it’s sharp and persistent.
What mental strategies do you use to cope with intense stress and emotion when it comes up for you as a sober person? Is anyone else sober and dealing with anxiety?
Yes, I deal with anxiety. Part of my addiction was to anxiety meds; Xanax and klonopin. Having to deal without those meds has been rough, but I was fortunate that I had been learning and practicing DBT and CBT. Both are very effective for dealing with anxiety and other mental health issues. A lot of therapists strongly advise things like meditation and yoga. Haha, my crazy mind won’t shut up long enough for meditation and I don’t have the patience for yoga. I do work out at a gym, mostly cardio on a regular or recumbent bike, and that definitely helps a lot.
Every person is different and many things may or may not help. I would definitely encourage you to at least take a 30 minute walk everyday. Take a look at the many books out there about CBT and DBT.
I never knew I had anxiety issues… other than the general sort that everyone has in everyday life. You know, like talking to girls… sober that is.
When I quit – my anxiety blew through the roof such that they were suggesting that I look at seeing a shrink for meds. That anxiety tapered off as the booze worked out off my system… then at three mos… like a locomotive starting up down the line. There was this little scratching pings of anxiety. As the locomotive continued to pick up steam the anxiety grew until a point that it is sharp and consistent pretty much all the time as you noted at 4 mos. I never experienced the obsession with alcohol that many people talked about in the rooms – but i wonder whether this is the shifting of that obsession that I am encountering now.
It is just scary and disheartening for me to have to come to grips with the fact that I am an alcoholic, but that I feel damaged beyond repair as to the other things I am seemingly learning about my mental state. I as always the rock that everyone leaned on and the ox that carried everyone. Now I can’t seem to carry even my self.
Listen you guys, I’m scared of dealing with what you guys are going through as well. But, I also feel like if I start having any mental issues, it would be much easier for a doctor or psychiatrist to diagnose and treat my disorder without alcohol in my system. I had lied about my drinking before to them, now I don’t have to. Don’t be afraid to seek out help.
Some things may need left to a doctor if this is chronic. A chat /forum cant help for everything just advice and emotional support. Maybe medication could help .maybe riding a bike n forgetting about work and life for alittle bit may help. Most things are out of our control so you have to sit back alil sometimes and let god n life play its course. your just living in it…
I agree. I have been with a therapist and psychiatrist for many years. They knew I drank. I left my psychiatrist when I got clean because he was totally reckless about prescribing the anxiety meds and he never told me what they could/would do to me. Since I’ve been in recovery my diagnosis has changed and my other medications have begun to change. I also left my therapist because she couldn’t let me do recovery my way (which has been working for me, no relapse and 232 days clean). I have a new doc and therapist and they work together in my program with me. I would probably not be able to do this if I didn’t have them. I’m a STRONG believer in the power of therapy and a good doc. I’m also a strong believer in finding someone who works for you. A doctor or therapist that doesn’t work for you works against you!
Bottom line, both are essential for recovery with mental health issues!