I was reading something today about fatigue in early sobriety. Do any of you with some clean/sober time remember being very fatigued during early sobriety. If so how long did it last? How did you combat it?
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I’m feeling it right now to be honest with ya. I’m just ploughing through it - I’ve gotta get my daily list done and it’ll gear me up for an early night.
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Yes i do remember…your body is working hard on all that recalibrating it has to do…im 14 months and recently got diagnosed with a vitamin B12 and folate deficiency which could have been directly because of my drinking before…alcohol robs the body of B12 in particular and it is very involved in blood processes that give us energy…id advocate having your bloods checked because if it is that then it can be put right.
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I absolutely remember feeling fatigue. I was extremely lethargic for weeks when i first got clean (I guess from just recovering from the drugs i was doing) and then it got a little bit better but wasnt completely back to normal. I relied on caffeine alot to be honest. So much that i developed a huge tolerance for it. Not the healthiest way to probably handle my fatigue but i didnt know any other way. If i was able to, I could literally sleep all day and night which isnt healthy either. Took months to finally feel some sense of energy without needing caffeine. Recovery is hard work so its easy to feel exhausted from the work we put into it
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Yeah I’m exercising regularly again, eating good, taking a multivitamin, and yes powering through with caffeine, and my blood work was good a few months ago. I feel the same way, like if somebody let me I could just lay around and sleep on and off all day.
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I definitely was super fatigued during the beginning. I allowed myself to rest as much as possible and gave my body time to detox. I would sleep all my free time away. I also started drinking green tea and upped my vitamin d after taking with my doctor to get a boost of energy.
The first 1.5 months were super hard. It did get easier after that. Just keep at it Joe …you are doing great.
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Yeah I feel much better being a few months sober again. The lady at the IOP was explaining PAWS the other night, and I really don’t have like the irritability or headaches any more, and I’m thrilled with the fact that I never have to use again and can just build on the recovery, I think maybe I’ll see about getting a B12 shot or something
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I’m also probably taking in to much caffeine. But like you said, it’s really the only thing keeping me moving right now. Hopefully by month 3 I’ll start to feel a little bit normal
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How you been sleeping at night? I’m still kinda all over the place
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Yeah it’s not been too bad. I’ve had a couple nights where it’s been off but I’ve had some shit on my mind those nights. Last night I just had a shit nights sleep but in time, it’ll improve. Usually i lay there for a while and find myself hungry. I used to just go to bed when I was tired and didn’t bother tossing and turning but I’m trying to get into a better pattern so I’m up early everyday
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I’m tired and fatigued all the time. Sober 5 years.
I think it’s a matter of age than anything. I got sober at 40 yrs old, and shortly after felt I’ve aged rapidly. Sometimes getting out of bed and down stairs is chellenging. All those age memes are truth! I don’t know how old you are, but the age fatigue struggle is real!
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I’m 45. Age definitely plays a part in it. I’ve absolutely slowed down in my 40s. I think it’s a combination of everything. I also get up at 4 in the morning and work outside, which doesn’t help. I’m still holding out hope for an uptick in energy with long term sobriety though.
. We shall see
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Yeah, we are the same age. There was a time where I was really invested in my health. I ate right, worked out, gave up caffeine, alcohol and nicotine and I felt great! That was the 6 months of sobriety in late 2018 early 2019, then the panaldemic happened and started working from home. I gained a bunch of weight, became sedentary and ate (still) like garbage. Im sure my diet and activity level accounts for at least half of my issues. The other half is likely age.
I’m at the point where I want to get back to being fit, so we’ll see. Its a slow start, but its a start.
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I’ve gone to my natural path for Vitamin B12 shots plus I’ve done 2 Myers Cocktail IV’s ( they are incredible!) and and started on Vitamin B6.
Feeling good but only 42 days into my sobriety.
I get as.much fresh air as.possible, helps me sleep better through the night.
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My fatigue lasted 3 months. I always feel bad telling people new to sobriety that but its true. If I didn’t have to be somewhere I wasn’t. Lots of early bedtimes and naps.
That being said I think most of that was due to underlying depression I drank my way through for many years. Now at almost two years I can feel my body and my mind healing. A lot of that has to do with doing some work around feeling my feelings and uncovering the roots of depression.
THAT being said this 44 year old will happily still fall asleep just about anywhere after 11 pm. I think I’m part bear. 
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Well you already got the sobriety thing down pretty well so you’re already ahead of the game.if you start slow and play the long fitness game and not try and light the world on fire in the first month you’ll be surprised how quick you’ll progress.
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Yes, i remember a ton of fatigue and confusion and depression. It was like a break up.
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Love this! 
I forgot about the B12 shot - definitely should help
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I agree with this 1000%. And I never really thought about it that way, but it makes perfect sense.
I will absolutely read that. Thanks Mel
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It’s very common, your body and chemical composition is truly being adjusted to life without substances,
It may effect your moods, any anxiety or depression if you have any, and your overall energy levels, it takes a month to a few months to get adjusted, kinda where a set schedule comes into benefit during early sobriety where you can adjust and then tweak it as needed when your feeling better
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