Congratulations on 8 months! This is big
I agree with your insight on sober life and all the emotions that accompany sobriety.
When we drink we dull and numb all emotions, including pain. That's why when we stop drinking life may suddenly seem a lot more painful. I think it's just a matter of perception - in an alcohol haze we don't really perceive reality for what it is. We don't experience pain just like we don't experience anything in a normal, healthy way.
Even though it seems so much more painful, it feels good to feel again.