Hi everyone,
I’ve been in recovery for a little over a year. I’ve had a bunch of relapses and slips. Yesterday I realized how my emotional habits are so plugged into my addict brain. The dopamine that I get from pursuing relationships does the same thing as alcohol and makes me feel manic and do stupid things. I’m just feeling like recovering emotionally is so big of a task, and I’m so afraid I can’t do it, and that I’ll end up drinking or doing other self-destructive things again. I’m kind of drowning in self-pity right now. And I’m afraid I won’t be able to have healthy relationships. Recovery feels really overwhelming today.
Thanks for listening/reading.
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Hey Laurie, im sorry ur having a rough time emotionally 
i absolutely hear u on the emptional recovery aspect of things. For myself it can feel very exhausting just with constantly trying to rewire my brain, challenge my thinking, and feel balanced emotionally.
What has helped me is to remember that all we have today. These 24 hours. I hear the worry u have about ur future and having healthy relationships but honestly girl, we just have to today. We have no idea what the future holds. I practice mindfullness, especially when my emotions are all over the place. I do mindfullness when washing dishes or walking, doing little meditiations, or even the 5 senses grounding technique. These are all useful for bringing me back into the present, calming my mind, and just feeling that sense of reassurance. Things will happen when they are meant to happen 
i know that sucks to hear but honestly, take time to focus on u and ur emotional health uv already made big changes by being in recovery. Continue on that healing journey and doors will continue to open up for u. Wishing u all the best!
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Thank you. This is what I needed to hear. There’s definitely some future tripping going on here haha. All we have is today that’s where I need to get 
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I do! I’m seeing her on Thursday. very grateful. I just needed to get it all out somewhere before then.
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I hear you on that. I just had a recent relapse myself and was feeling pretty low about it. I notice I get very overwhelmed when I think about the future and how long sobriety should be. But once I start thinking about just today then that overwhelming feeling settles a little… just enough for my feet to get grounded again. Sobrieties moto is One Day At A Time for a reason. Work on today. Work on getting to know yourself again. Stay busy. When I have a craving I come on here and read through posts and helps me remember I am strong and I chose to do this for a reason. I’m going to prove to myself I can do this! All I can control is today and that’s what I’m going to do.
As for relationships… build one with yourself first. Fall in love with yourself again.
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