Carlimint

Hi everyone, I am clean now but having some trouble with anxiety, and cravings. Even before I was an addict I always self-medicated one way or another. It's like I don't know how to live without using some kind of substance to cope. I have a lot of nervousness, anxiety, mood fluctuation and random cravings...my life is going way better now, but sometimes I feel like I'm losing it and I don't know how to deal. Even though I know that drugs DESTROYED my life, sometimes I find myself remembering the drug fondly and missing it. What can I do?

Anna

Hi and Welcome!

I had anxiety and depression long before I began to drink. I know for sure that it started in my childhood. And, now I am recovering, I still have anxiety. I have learned ways to help to deal with it and it's manageable, though difficult at times. I find that simply breathing slowly and feeling each breath, helps to calm me. I learned that focusing on my body, for example, the sun on my face, the feeling of the wind, the warmth of a sweater, will help to take the focus off my racing mind.

Also, I take medication for depression and for me, it helps to level the playing field. Have you talked to your dr about your issues?

Carlimint

Thank you for the advice. Yes, I've talked to doctors before and was treated for these issues before. I haven't been on any medicine for a while but I am about to see a dr. Like I said, I was on medicine before, but during the time I was doing drugs I was not consistent with it, and I know that is important for its effectiveness.....of course during that time I had the external source of happiness so I felt "fine" a lot of the time when I really wasn't, causing me to think I didn't need any meds for mental stability. Now that I'm not doing drugs, I am feeling what is really going on, again.
As far as breathing exercises...I have heard that but never actually tried it, I don't think. I will test that out tomorrow because I know that tomorrow will be anxiety-filled (it is worse in certain situations, etc)

mama36

Deep tummy breathing, in the nose, out the mouth and concentrate on it. I have an axiety disorder as well...it was there before my drinking career really took off but worsened as I went. I bought a cd call "Celtic Serenity" in the pharmacy and it is just really soft music, sounds of the ocean and the likes. It may sound stupid but when I really feel wound up, I put in on in my bedroom, but very softly so I really have to listen to hear it, and just breath. A lot of times I get so relaxed that I just drift off, even if just for a few minutes.

I too am on meds for anxiety and it really does help to take that "edge" off.

Just what I do, maybe it can help you too.

Carlimint

Yes, there have been times that I've been able to use music in that way too. (There have also been times I tried and it didn't work, but certain music gives me positive energy and calms me down some, depending...) Tomorrow, I'll be in a place where that will not be an option. But, thanks for the advice, it helps a lot to be on this forum now, cs i've felt very alone (and tense/unstable) recently and i don't go to NA or anything or even drug counseling or any groups anymore....i do have a regular counselor again and i'll have a dr again soon, so i'm hoping it will get better...