Restless and a bit glum!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 923
Restless and a bit glum!
Sorry, moany post incoming.
This morning started off great. I was really busy, buzzing, in a great mood.
My parents visited to drop off some Christmas Presents. I enjoyed seeing them but was just sort of feeling bored, frustrated and restless, waiting for them to leave so I could busy myself again and sort of zone out. They live a couple of hours away and I felt a bit guilty for just wishing the afternoon would finish.
They left and I took the dog for a walk, which I enjoyed. Then I got back and wrapped the last couple of presents. THEN we had a sort of charcuterie style plus chocolate feast and watched TV. For some strange reason this is the part that I just didn’t enjoy. I ate a load of shite and feel disgusting, after eating so cleanly these past couple of months. I get bored watching TV these days unless I am on a treadmill whilst watching it.
I think I associate sitting down and slobbing in front of the TV or sitting down and socialising, with alcohol. So now the alcohol isn’t there, I just feel bored, restless and agitated.
This surprised me today. As I hadn’t realised how much I am changing. And I feel like I don’t know who I am.
Feeling low and just a bit emosh all of a sudden about nothing really.
xxx Happy Christmas Eve eve btw
This morning started off great. I was really busy, buzzing, in a great mood.
My parents visited to drop off some Christmas Presents. I enjoyed seeing them but was just sort of feeling bored, frustrated and restless, waiting for them to leave so I could busy myself again and sort of zone out. They live a couple of hours away and I felt a bit guilty for just wishing the afternoon would finish.
They left and I took the dog for a walk, which I enjoyed. Then I got back and wrapped the last couple of presents. THEN we had a sort of charcuterie style plus chocolate feast and watched TV. For some strange reason this is the part that I just didn’t enjoy. I ate a load of shite and feel disgusting, after eating so cleanly these past couple of months. I get bored watching TV these days unless I am on a treadmill whilst watching it.
I think I associate sitting down and slobbing in front of the TV or sitting down and socialising, with alcohol. So now the alcohol isn’t there, I just feel bored, restless and agitated.
This surprised me today. As I hadn’t realised how much I am changing. And I feel like I don’t know who I am.
Feeling low and just a bit emosh all of a sudden about nothing really.
xxx Happy Christmas Eve eve btw
Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Europe
Posts: 523
Just responded to you on the other topic and now I saw this and could relate a lot! I can't sit still and watch TV, to me it's the most boring and borderline torturous way of the usual entertainment options. I came to the conclusion that my brain needs a higher level of engagement than that. So I basically watch no TV unless I do it while I do some other more physical task simultaneously like baking, ironing, sewing, working out etc. That really helps to stay focused on whatever I watch!
Eating poorly is also something that affects my mood much more than I ever thought was possible. Recently I've read a lot about how much the gut and therefore our diets affect our nervous system and our emotional state. If you have any fresh fruit or veggies and maybe a herbal tea in the house, I'd cut up a small bowl of fresh bell pepper, apple, cucumber, orange, whatever you like and sip on a herbal tea. That often helps me to feel a bit refreshed again after eating too much junk.
Hope you feel better again soon!
Eating poorly is also something that affects my mood much more than I ever thought was possible. Recently I've read a lot about how much the gut and therefore our diets affect our nervous system and our emotional state. If you have any fresh fruit or veggies and maybe a herbal tea in the house, I'd cut up a small bowl of fresh bell pepper, apple, cucumber, orange, whatever you like and sip on a herbal tea. That often helps me to feel a bit refreshed again after eating too much junk.
Hope you feel better again soon!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 923
Originally Posted by kevlarsjal 
Just responded to you on the other topic and now I saw this and could relate a lot! I can't sit still and watch TV, to me it's the most boring and borderline torturous way of the usual entertainment options. I came to the conclusion that my brain needs a higher level of engagement than that. So I basically watch no TV unless I do it while I do some other more physical task simultaneously like baking, ironing, sewing, working out etc. That really helps to stay focused on whatever I watch!
Eating poorly is also something that affects my mood much more than I ever thought was possible. Recently I've read a lot about how much the gut and therefore our diets affect our nervous system and our emotional state. If you have any fresh fruit or veggies and maybe a herbal tea in the house, I'd cut up a small bowl of fresh bell pepper, apple, cucumber, orange, whatever you like and sip on a herbal tea. That often helps me to feel a bit refreshed again after eating too much junk.
Hope you feel better again soon!
Eating poorly is also something that affects my mood much more than I ever thought was possible. Recently I've read a lot about how much the gut and therefore our diets affect our nervous system and our emotional state. If you have any fresh fruit or veggies and maybe a herbal tea in the house, I'd cut up a small bowl of fresh bell pepper, apple, cucumber, orange, whatever you like and sip on a herbal tea. That often helps me to feel a bit refreshed again after eating too much junk.
Hope you feel better again soon!
And thanks for the advice re food! Lesson learnt from yesterday. No need to repeat that behaviour!
xxx
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 923
Originally Posted by Dee74
I think 'you are what you eat' is never so true as it is at Christmas KneePads 
I hope you'll feel better again tomorrow
I hope you'll feel better again tomorrow
Yup, sooo true. I fell head first into the gluttony trap and paid the price.
Feeling better today thanks xxx
Member
Join Date: Sep 2023
Posts: 531
Hi Knee my diet and exercise has always been a priority even when I was binge drinking when I finished a binge it was straight back to the gym and healthy lifestyle. Now I have the continuation of not drinking my health and fitness are on another level. You are as already said what you eat.
Part of my Christmas plan is to pretty much carry on as normal I'll have the odd treat but the sober me doesn't and has never eaten rubbish. However the drunk me would wud eat and drink anything and everything. Because I'd feel so dreadful from food and alcohol over Christmas it would affect my motivation and I'd just do nothing. So im not a huge TV fan but would sit there watching rubbish and feeling awful for hours.
I'm very much an all or nothing person. So the feeling of being so well mentally and physically is pushing away any idea of drinking. Your body is probably telling you it doesn't want that lifestyle anymore so work with it. It's a really positive aspect your seeing you don't like lying around over indulging see it as a positive. When you break it all down there are absolutely no negatives to stopping drinking. It's the idea that Christmas equals booze you need to work on. It really doesn't I know lots of people who have better Christmas's than ive ever had and they don't drink.
Part of my Christmas plan is to pretty much carry on as normal I'll have the odd treat but the sober me doesn't and has never eaten rubbish. However the drunk me would wud eat and drink anything and everything. Because I'd feel so dreadful from food and alcohol over Christmas it would affect my motivation and I'd just do nothing. So im not a huge TV fan but would sit there watching rubbish and feeling awful for hours.
I'm very much an all or nothing person. So the feeling of being so well mentally and physically is pushing away any idea of drinking. Your body is probably telling you it doesn't want that lifestyle anymore so work with it. It's a really positive aspect your seeing you don't like lying around over indulging see it as a positive. When you break it all down there are absolutely no negatives to stopping drinking. It's the idea that Christmas equals booze you need to work on. It really doesn't I know lots of people who have better Christmas's than ive ever had and they don't drink.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 923
Originally Posted by Gymbunny7
I'm very much an all or nothing person. So the feeling of being so well mentally and physically is pushing away any idea of drinking. Your body is probably telling you it doesn't want that lifestyle anymore so work with it.
This is exactly how I feel!! You’re right, I should take it as a positive. It’s just strange, I feel like a totally different person, I’m waiting for my brain to catch up with my body I think!
Happy Christmas Eve my lovely and thank you for the kind, supportive words xxx
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 739
I’ve also watched next to no TV since I quit.
My brain is okay watching morning or lunchtime TV but my nights need to be filled up with activities (sport, gym, cinema, meeting friends, shops)
I go out every evening and don’t return until about midnight. Quick post on here then bed.
My brain is okay watching morning or lunchtime TV but my nights need to be filled up with activities (sport, gym, cinema, meeting friends, shops)
I go out every evening and don’t return until about midnight. Quick post on here then bed.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 530
I can relate. One thing I hope to remember whenever I'm dealing with the sort of restlessness you are describing is to stop and pray for a new perspective. Specifically, I use a version of the "set aside" prayer, which I believe can be found in the book "Drop the Rock.":
"God, please enable me to set aside everything I think I know about this situation for an open mind and a new experience. Help me to see the truth."
Then I'll typically add: "Help me to be a channel of Your peace and of service to others. Amen."
If you had said that prayer when you were getting restless with your parents, I wouldn't be surprised if your perspective would have shifted to making their visit as enjoyable as possible for them, which most likely (based on my experience and that of countless others) would have made it enjoyable for you.
On p. 62 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous we are told that: "Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles." Elsewhere (p. 20), we are told that: "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs." I can take those quotes to unhealthy extremes, but I do believe there is a good bit of truth in them.
Merry Christmas Eve!
"God, please enable me to set aside everything I think I know about this situation for an open mind and a new experience. Help me to see the truth."
Then I'll typically add: "Help me to be a channel of Your peace and of service to others. Amen."
If you had said that prayer when you were getting restless with your parents, I wouldn't be surprised if your perspective would have shifted to making their visit as enjoyable as possible for them, which most likely (based on my experience and that of countless others) would have made it enjoyable for you.
On p. 62 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous we are told that: "Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles." Elsewhere (p. 20), we are told that: "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs." I can take those quotes to unhealthy extremes, but I do believe there is a good bit of truth in them.
Merry Christmas Eve!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2023
Posts: 531
I'm not much further on than you are Knee and I remember feeling exactly like you described like your brain hasn't caught up with your body. I felt disjointed one minute mega happy the next feeling panic of blimey how am I ever going to do this. I slowed my thoughts down and started dealing with one day at a time. Learning to manage my responses and emotions without alcohol. Also listening to people on here with excellent experience and advice. I'm not fully there yet and I have my moments but I'm a lot more whole now, my mind is connecting with my body and I'm feeling much more in control of life in general and really seeing the benefits from not drinking. I guess what I'm trying to say is it really does become more the norm the longer you commit. I now see how folks who have been quit a long time barely think about it. Tomorrow is one day your changing the rest of your life and never doubt that it's definitely for the better. 
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New England
Posts: 4,462
Kneepads, I suggest you keep a puzzle book near the TV so you can do that also. I only realized when I read your post that I no longer only watch TV - and it really was a huge past time of mine! I even think I had an issue with it, using it to zone out when I didn’t drink any longer. Now, if the tv is on, I’m either drawing or doing a puzzle at the same time, if I’m with people they can watch and don’t care what I’m doing. Keeps me from getting bored.
You're doing great, keep going. You can go back to your clean eating (it’s possible during the holidays, just a challenge) and you’ll feel better. Thanks for this post, it got me thinking and I appreciate that!
You're doing great, keep going. You can go back to your clean eating (it’s possible during the holidays, just a challenge) and you’ll feel better. Thanks for this post, it got me thinking and I appreciate that!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 923
Originally Posted by VikingGF
Kneepads, I suggest you keep a puzzle book near the TV so you can do that also. I only realized when I read your post that I no longer only watch TV - and it really was a huge past time of mine! I even think I had an issue with it, using it to zone out when I didn’t drink any longer. Now, if the tv is on, I’m either drawing or doing a puzzle at the same time, if I’m with people they can watch and don’t care what I’m doing. Keeps me from getting bored.
You're doing great, keep going. You can go back to your clean eating (it’s possible during the holidays, just a challenge) and you’ll feel better. Thanks for this post, it got me thinking and I appreciate that!
You're doing great, keep going. You can go back to your clean eating (it’s possible during the holidays, just a challenge) and you’ll feel better. Thanks for this post, it got me thinking and I appreciate that!
I have found a puzzle book! Great idea, I definitely need to keep busy when the family are all watching the telly. I also can’t believe how much tv I used to watch when drinking! It’s boring as heck! Happy Christmas
xxx
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
