Originally Posted by
Quit290117 
Just over 4 weeks sober, had a little get together with some old friends but I didn’t drink and feel so relieved.
The build up to it was bad, I felt like a coiled spring ready to go. This has got me thinking about why I started binging in the first place.
Looking back I have always felt like this even before I started drinking as a teenager. I think I used the alcohol to numb out the almost hyper like states I get in to.
I have never been diagnosed or don’t feel depressed however I do sometimes get a rush where I feel on top of the world and where by I could achieve anything.
I would then drink to calm myself down and for the next few days to a week I would have no motivation, then the cycle would repeat.
I suppose what I’m asking is has anyone else had a similar experience? I’m thinking the best thing to do is use the high to my advantage by exercising or taking up something new and putting all the energy into that rather than suppressing it with alcohol.
It might seem strange me moaning about feeling positive and on top of the world but it was to much and I think this is what got me into this cycle of binge drinking.
Hey quit glad you made it through your party/get together.
Yes I can relate to this, I have previously mentioned my hyperactivity a natural part of me and sometimes it makes me on edge and alcohol was a the answer (or so I thought) to not feel it so much, of course I was still hyper but in my mind I felt calmer if that makes sense. I can feel very happy and energetic and it can come across abit manic.
Although if I'm being really honest I would drink over any strong feelings I felt, happy, hyper, sad, depressed, anxious I had excuses to drink for them all.
Now I'm learning how to sit with these feeling and recognise them before they snowball. I like to sit down, practise some breathing techniques I learned from therapy. Feel a connection with something other than myself, going out into nature. It helps to slow everything down.
Congrats on 4 weeks sober.