I can’t breathe

Ever feel like you’re stuck under water and struggling to breathe, every breath you take feels more like you’re closer to death.
That’s how I feel right now. I’ve been in this funk for a while now and I don’t know how to shake it.
I want to cry so much but when I do it ends up hurting worse.
Don’t know how long I’ll be stuck feeling like this. I would like to take meds and sleep but I can’t go to bed because the guilt that I’m writing exams in a week and a half and I haven’t done enough is clawing at me EVERY SECOND!
I’ve literally started pushing people away. I’m exhausted!
A friend wants to take me out today just to relax, I hope I don’t shout at him for nothing because I’m feeling quite destructive. Times like this I just want to have a glass of wine and maybe I’ll feel better😞 but I know I won’t.
Hope to shake this funk off soon.
I’ll order sparkling water, I’ll be okay🙏🏾

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It sounds like you are stressed and rightfully so because you have a deadline coming up. Also there might be some anger there.

I drank a long time in my formative teen years so when I got sober I hadn’t really ever felt my emotions. My first few were confusing and floored me. This is a feelings wheel.


I knew about anger and sadness but never contemplated the range of emotions we are capable of exhibiting. Putting a name to some of these feelings and letting myself feel it was an eye opening experience for me. Also realizing that emotions just are, they aren’t good or bad.

Enjoy your day out with your friend and try putting a name to some of those things you are feeling. We can’t really feel it until we know what it is. All the best to you and get those exams done. Feel your stress now as you prepare for the exam so you can really feel the relief of a job well done. Sending hugs.

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This is incredible to me. I’ve thought all my life about these things and never seen it laid out. Language is so powerful and sharing that which sets it out like that has helped me think about it. Thank you.

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I’m glad to hear that. In early sober days when I felt fragile and raw just looking at this wheel helped remind me that it was possible to understand what I was feeling. Emotions are such a forgotten thing in addiction but they might be right at the core. 🩷🩶