I have 4 days of sobriety in. Is it normal to feel down? And will it pass? It’s Christmas and I want to be in a better mood and still abstain.
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In my experience I was very moody/upset when I quit. Not having the alcohol for “relief” had a pretty wicked effect on my mood. I was irritated at the littlest things and constantly craved an escape from feeling.
Hard to say how long it will last, everyone is different! For me that feeling persisted for about a month. I know that may not be what you wanted to hear with Christmas in 4 days, but no matter what time of year it is when you quit it will be difficult. Might as well use this Christmas as a great starting point for your sober journey! You are already 4 days sober now, capitalize on that, and move forward!
Hope you have a good holiday despite the struggle, just know people here understand and will listen if you need! Please reach out if you need support!
Happy holidays!
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Hi Scott , and welcome to Talking Sober!
It’s totally normal to feel depression, anxiety, and grieving after quitting alcohol. Those feelings can also add to your intellectual conviction that, yes, it really was that bad when you were drinking! If feeling down is a consequence of quitting, then using was really masking something for you.
The very good news is that this feeling will pass, as all feelings do, as all situations do. You will feel better, and soon. Things you can do to speed that along, besides your self-care that may have been neglected, are those things that make connections to sober people. AA is a great way to start, so is hanging out here on Talking Sober. There are plenty of IRL supports you can connect with - have a look at these to get you started. You are doing great to have four days already, much of the immediate impact of alcohol is relieved, and it will just continue to get better!
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