My emotions are all over the place .. one day I am up .. the next down ! .. I think it has something to do with how my brain releases dopamine and how Alcohol has messed it all up and its now having to re adjust since I stopped maybe ??
The positives are that I am sleeping better, I am waking up 6am fully awake and full of energy which never used to happen .! I am setting goals for myself, nothing earth shattering but its giving me purpose and something to aim at. I am planning as the weeks go on increase the scale of these goals but baby steps to start. !
I like to journal .. similar to what I am doing here I guess. It helps focus my mind and if I am having a weaker moment I read my previous entries where I leave myself little nuggets of wisdom from my stronger self, knowing I would have a weaker day down the line !
As for the downsides ? For me there has been no major withdrawal issues physically, but I find stopping drinking makes you face the main reasons you drank in the first place .. at least it does for me. ! The one thing I dont like about stopping is the extra time I have to deal with. I feel like I have too much time ! I was a lone drinker and I would sit at my computer with my ‘Friend’ (A bottle of vodka) and waste the night away, now I feel a little like im on my own, staring at a screen stone cold sobre, and having to face the reality of life.
I plan to face this, and ultimatly deal with it. Im just focussed on taking it day by day, and constantly telling myself whatever happens, and whatever mood I am in good or bad, Alcohol can do nothing but ruin it all ! and i’m better off without. Half way to my first 30 days … The Journey continues !
Hey @Silent_Angst
Congrats on 15 days. I think it’s really admirable of you to push through those long nights sober and to want to face the thoughts and/or feelings that brought you there to begin with. Hang in there and stick around.
I’m right here with you. I’m on 17 days sober right now and making myself face all the things I avoided by drinking. Emotions all over the place, but I force myself to feel them and process why I feel them.
Yesterday I really wanted give in and drink a bottle of wine to help my bad mood, but I didnt crack. I’ve found the daily journaling feature in this app really helps me put down my reasons for being sober. When I start to talk myself into going and getting a drink, I read my journal entries and it helps to keep me on the sober course.
It’s not like I’m missing out on any social benefits of drinking. I would be sitting on the couch drinking beer alone at this time of day any other day.
Instead, I am sleeping better and getting exercise.
Same here .. I havent drank socially in years I think. Thats probably what started the alarm bells ringing as I realised the relationship I had with alcohol had completely changed from when I started when I would be going out with my mates, to sitting alone in my house in my mid 40s drinking alone. That cant be good ! Glad you are doing well !
Sounds like you have a similar safety net when you feel the urge to have a drink. Reading back on my journals is like talking to myself and giving myself a smack over the head ! but its working .. Onward and upward !
Me personally, i keep mainly adding and editing my day one journal entry. This is my " go to" entry so i dont have to regularly reread others for motivation.
Ive reserved that 1st entries lower section for a big list in bullet points of every reason i have to NOT want to drink. Up to about 15 points so far and rereading that today is probably the reason i didnt drink tonight being close to two weeks because my brain had chosen to forgot some of those points in the moment and that hit me pretty hard to re read and then mentally play out how disappointing it would be tomorrow morning.
You’re facing life without alcohol, but don’t worry. It get’s easier, recovery takes practice, and eventually you’ll routinely feel good and it will become second nature. My early days were tough too, but I’m working on 7 years clean and life is amazing my friend. Way better than when I was using / drinking. Remain focused on that - life after drinking. The alcohol will always be there, give recovery your best effort and see what it’s like. I think you’ll find life is a lot easier if you’re not drinking/using.
This is a journey and unfortunately it can be quite rocky at the beginning it is priceless if you stick with it, most of us felt like we had too much time at the start and that’s the danger too much time to think try to get things to fill your time , exercising, reading, watching tv it could be anything but just try to get something
Very well thank you .. I was up 6am, just done a dog walk by 7am .. I’m just in the middle of journaling when I saw your post !
Funny I was a bit angry when I got up as I didnt lose any weight but then I thought you know what you are doing better .. you are up earlier getting things done so as long as the mindset is good then you are good ! ..
