FreddyBear

Now when I'm sober my life seems awfully dull. I think it's less chaos now, but this chaos created a sort of adrenaline rush. I can't get even a portion of this rush from everyday activities.
Nothing compared to drinking and sports betting. The latter gave me such strong emotions, both positive and negative (and ruined me financially), that I can never reproduce in everyday life. Whatever I try, I become bored right away.

I either feel bored/emotionless or angry/irritated. This is not how I wish to proceed till the end of the life. Thought about traveling that included some extreme activities or some drastic change in surroundings, like skiing tour in the wilderness etc. Trouble is I don't have any friends or acquantances that can join me, so doing things solo is my only way. Feels pretty uncomfortable though.

Have anyone incorporated solo traveling in their recoveries? Any suggestions from fellow adrenaline junkies?

FeelingGreat

Hey Freddy I think some wilderness, adrenaline pumping activity could be just what you need. If you go on a group tour, you will make friends with the other participants so solo travelling won't be so hard.
Here's a suggestion. Do the full length of the Larapinta Trail next Australian winter. It's not for sissies.

FreddyBear

Sounds good. I'm an introvert so I don't know how can I fit/join the group. I worry when I arrive everyone will be there in their small sub-groups and I will feel out of place.

Oh well, I've got some decent physique and can do 20-30 km of skiing or walking a day without a problem.

doggonecarl

Travel if you want, but it's not a recovery method.

If you don't feel excited about life, that's a mindset. If you are angry and irritated' that's a mindset. I think you need to ramp up your recovery program...if you have one.

Ruby2

I was always "restless, irritable and discontent." And I relapsed. I think a lot of people feel that way but it sure isn't a great way to feel, especially for the rest of your life. You think .."is this all it is? This is life? Give me a drink!" But the drink isn't the way to go as we all know what misery it leads to.

Try the extreme sports but I also echo the earlier post of trying a program.

Doug39

I will admit that I miss the excitement of going out drinking and all the fun stuff that surrounded it, but in reality now that I am 50 those days are really over for me anyway.

When I was in my 20's and 30's every night was a party; but as the years went on and I settled down those fun times became rare yet I still drank everyday - at home.

Then I was just drunk or hungover all the time - no fun at all.

I can still go anywhere and do anything I want; it is foolish to believe I need to be intoxicated to enjoy it.

pinkdog

Hi Freddybear, nice avatar! I think the boredom/agitation goes away with longterm sobriety. That's my experience. You are right to find new things to do that interest you. Best wishes.

EndGameNYC

Don't know how long you're sober or whether or not you're involved in a plan to get and stay sober, so it isn't easy to comment on your traveling plans and your risk-taking activities.

Whether you know this or not, the "adrenalin rush" you describe from drinking and gambling becomes a powerful stimulus for further risk-taking behaviors, some of which are beyond your conscious control. That's why, once you start, you continue to drink and continue to gamble.

A solitary trip that involves high-risk activities is likely not a recipe for continued sobriety. Adrenalin is commonly referred to as the "fight or flight" hormone, in part meaning that once it's released, many of the actions we take afterwards are more or less automatic. You may end up feeling good enough or high enough to withstand both drinking and gambling, without giving this much thought at all. Given your history, this is a Pandora's Box waiting to be opened that may not be easily closed.

aasharon90

Hi there and welcome.

I recall in early recovery whinning to my
sponsor about being bored and discontent.
She would always make recovery suggestions
to me, like reading in the Big Book of AA or
going to a meeting. I in turn took her
suggestions to heart and followed thru often
praying a lot inbetween.

As a mom of 2 and wife back in the day, I
had enough to keep me busy and attended
noon meetings and stay a short while after
sitting outside to chat with fellow members
before heading home or carpool.

I was in a selfish mode many times always
looking for something else to make me
happy. I mean, what am I complaining
about when I have a family, car, security,
and most of all, my sobriety.

Selfishness, self-centeredness. That was
and sometimes is still the culprit.

Today, some 23 yrs sober, remarried
after a 25 yr marriage ended, no kids,
im back in my hometown, retired, and its
just me and my husband of 4yrs alone.

I finally have a place I can truly call home
and is not just a house. Im not much into
crowds and spend my days in my backyard
planting, doing yard work, and admiring
the hard work put into what I enjoy.

It's my sanctuary. My safe haven. I may
be alone while my spouse works, but I
can venture outside to my backyard
and appreciate and be grateful for the
gift of sobriety I have lived and continue
to live and look to the blue sky, feel
the warmth of the sun on this brisk Fall
day. Listen to the bird chirping. See them
fly to the bird feeders as Im one of those
keepers of my fine feather friends.

I also admire, appreciate and treasure
the gifts of seeing all the beautiful flowers
that bloom from a small plant I planted
around the yard over the past few yrs.

What joy. What awesome miracles that
occur around me each day.

Getting out of myself and place the focus
on something or someone else allows the
loneliness, self-centeredness to melt away.

We look forward to our motorcycle trips
we plan and take from time to time. To
ride alone together seeing what the world
has to offer us in the way of scenery,
weather, destinations.

The longer I remain sober, the more
excited I am in finding out what else
is in store for me as I continue my
journey in recovery a day at a time.

This journey is the drive that keeps me
inspired and going.