Hello everyone
 

This MB was recommended to me. I'm recently clean and sober for approx 36 days. Lovin' it, but it's a struggle. Cocaine and alcohol addiction. About 10 yrs of substance abuse total. Any tips? I've got a sponsor, and attend meetings now, and things are going well. The sobriety isn't the hardest part. It's not self medicating w/ all these feelings and emotions. Dealing w/ them in a sober state is somewhat of a struggle.

Congratulations for chooseing a better way of life.
Welcome to our recovery community...:wavey:

Sounds like you ae moving forward...
when I started my AA Steps..I felt slid recovery was possible.
I was correct.

Keep n focus...:)

Welcome Adam. :)

It gets better with time.

Hey, someone from the old neighborhood, Welcome.

I used to work in Palatine, had an apartment in Arlington Heights, lived a short time in Prospect Heights & Rolling Meadows. Bought a house in Elmhurst, my exwife still lives there, etc.

Glad you're here and off to a good start. Stick around. The folks here are just great and we're glad to have you with us.

You know what I figured out? Recovery is a lifestyle you surround your self with it and it will surround you.

I don't know if it helps, but SR is awesome to surround yourself with.

OH and I would like to say WELCOME
sit back and get to know us.

Ex-Chicagoan here too.

Gotta ask: Cubs or White Sox?

Welcome either way. :)

Go Cubs!! Oh, what the heck, I like the Sox too, who am I kidding, I'm just a Chicago boy.

Early recovery is very emotional, since you're not medicating away your feelings with alcohol and drugs. Being really emotional and anxious is also a sign of PAWS: Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. The changes in your body and brain after detoxing is over. You are still not in a 'normal' state of mind or body, and it takes time to readjust to living without the substance.

It sounds like you've got a good plan, with meetings and a sponsor. Have you any type of counseling available to you? I see an addiction counselor and find it very helpful to be able to talk over my problems and get her professional feedback.

Welcome to a great place! Glad you joined the family!:ghug3

:c009:

welcome to the family adam...

Welcome Adam! I'm a recovering opiate/cocaine addict...151 days clean. I, like you, never dealt with any emotions...I just stuffed all my feeling down with the help of drugs. You will learn how to deal with your feelings, it just takes time. I know I'm having to reprogram my mind not to turn to drugs every time that things don't go my way. Every time I resist the urge to use, I become stronger! You will too. Trust me, you'll get there...take it one day at a time! :c009:

Wow. Thanks for all the reponses. I have to say, the "welcoming" to this community has been wonderful. It's the same here as it is at my AA meetings. At first I felt like a real fool, but quickly realized that there's nothing wrong w/ it, and there's tons of normal folk who go through the same struggles.

Cubs or Sox? Cubs for life! Hopefully we pick things up this year. I just bought a dog to kind of focus on, and keep my mind off things. Named it Wrigley! He's my good luck charm. Anyways. I'd like to congratulate you all too on your sobriety and recovery.

To answer other questions...

What is "SR?"

No, I don't have access to an addiction counselor. I'm new to this. I don't have health insurance, and since I've been drinking and drugging for so long, money is somewhat tight right now. But, the meetings are a great reminder of how good this life is. So, I'm going to stick to going to those. I have my regular homegroup once a week, and try to get to other meetings when I can. I'm also a student, so I'm pretty busy right now. Thanks again folks. It's good to be here, and I really do appreciate the welcome.

Hi Adam and Welcome,

SR is SoberRecovery, which is an amazing place!

I'm glad you found us and it sounds like you're doing really well.

Ha! I just realized that SR was "soberrecovery." Brain fart. Thanks.

HECK YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean HECK YA!!!!!

welcome!!!!!!


i totally know someone in palatine named Adam. scary!!
though i dont think the Adam i know started doing drugs at age 11.. then again i dont know :P

either way, welcome!@

You and I are in the same boat. It isn't hard for me to stay away from the booze, but as soon as an emotion or stress come up in my life, I think about drinking. Take it from me, drinking or using will not help or change anything. As a matter of fact, 10 times out or 10, it will get worse. Thats just my experience. Glad you are here and welcome to our family.