Right now the urge is stronger than ever before. I feel anxious and shaky. I realize now being sober that i used alcohol to treat my anxiety and depression and now i am feeling like crap. I know in my heart drinking wont help but this uneasy anxious feeling isnt going away…
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If it’s any help, the idea that booze helps our depression and anxiety is a lie.
I know, cuz I was caught in that trap. And I didn’t realize until I had a good few months behind me how caught in a loop I was. How, with some time, my anxiety physiologically eased up. How I was able for the first time in years, with the help of others, learn instead how to get comfortable taking care of things instead of hiding.
And for sure, every time I picked up the cycle started again. The hangovers. The shakiness. The missing things that just made me feel even worse.
For real. Think it through. If all you do today is not drink, you can wake up with a clear head tomorrow and try again!
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Thanks so much. I appreciate it. Youre right, all i have to do is get through today. One day at a time.
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Better still, just look at your username and take your own advice. 
One day at a time can build up to something beautiful. Just keep laying those bricks and see!
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Glad you reached out. I always thought alcohol helped my anxiety and depression…until I got sober for awhile and so much of all that crap in my head got a lot less. It was a big wow moment to realize that. Not that life or my brain is all settled…nope…but it is way less than it was for all the rest of my life. I know it can be hard to get to that space. Some days seem impossible to get thru.
Can you get out for a walk? Make yourself a good meal? Or eat something sweet you love? Maybe a warm bath or shower? All you need is to just get thru right now. Tomorrow you can worry about tomorrow. And do try to remember how freaking great it will feel to wake up hangover and regret free. That keeps me going a lot. Just today, right now, this minute. 
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Hi, thank you all for reaching out. I am feeling slightly better, hopeful. Where I was feeling lost. It really isnt easy and its shocking because I was doing so well. Surprisingly well. It felt effortless for a little bit of time so this feels like going from 0 to 100
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Ahhh the out of nowhere craving and sense of discomfort. Ive had a few of those.
What are you doing to maintain your sobriety? Meetings? Reading? Journaling? Therapy?
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Sooooo glad you reached out because I have been there many many times myself in my past. Same deal for me. Without our old standby of numbing the shit away we are left with our shit to handle. What’s in your toolkit for managing anxiety? It has taken lots of trial and error and storing away coping skills to get to a more stable place in my life. Things that help me:
- listening to guided meditations in bed with the light low, removing the sensory stressors around me. Body scans and breathing ones help a lot
- getting in touch with my senses: in a crisis moment stop, what do you see, hear, smell, feel, etc.
- breathing exercises, also can be guided but for me it’s slow, deep as you can go fill your belly breaths and counting to 5, hold for 5, release for 5, hold for 5
- writing it out, free form journaling stream of consciousness. Then go back and read it when you feel calmer. It can help with learning what is going on in your mind
- long showers, hot or quick ones, cold(my favorite, shocks the system)
Try anything and take some notes or just a mental note of what has helped and what hasn’t. Stay with us and hang in there. These feelings pass and nothing is permanent. If you continue to have overwhelming anxiety you might consider talking to a doctor, maybe medication could help, but it’s not a cure all, either. And you just have to get through each moment, each day at a time. Wish you the best, from one nervous nelly to another 
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I am glad you got support. Those “missed bullets” always made me even more determined to stay sober. I realized how precious sobriety is and how easily it can be lost.
Indeed, drinking only compounds mental health issues. Of course it will, it adds mood destabilizing chemicals, erratic behaviour, guilt, etc, to how you are already feeling. I understand wanting to feel numb but you gotta hold onto the truth that alcohol is not the answer.
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Ive been listening to How To Control Alcohol by Allen Carr, using this app, and i am in therapy but not specifically for alcoholism
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Thank you 
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Thank you for so much good advice. Im going to try these out. I agree with the cold shocking the system, that has worked for me in a pinch too. Lately I just go through these big emotional swings and end up exhausted the next day and then get emotional again and more exhausted and its been an ongoing cycle the past few weeks for me.
Im considering making a lifestyle change. On top of being sober, my job has been stressing me out terribly, and unfortunately so has my relationship 
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Appreciate it, thank you. Funny how solutions are right there in front of us sometimes
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Glad you all responded. It means so much.
Thank you for the suggestions
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Just don’t get drunk no matter what. Life can eventually feel really good in sobriety
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Get to an accountability partner as soon as you are able. None of us can be expected to endure withdrawel alone
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I appreciate your honesty. I know just bc i feel like it doesn’t mean i have to. As i see you get or else you would have, instead of writing it out here. Sometimes the only thing between me and a drink…is my HP. Pray and mean it! ( not that u dont, if u do) just being more conscience of meaning it makes a diff✌🏽
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Good work on using your higher power
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