Why am I so nervous
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 86
Why am I so nervous
I try not to be, I was never like this, yeah I had a bit of anxiety and stuff like that, but now being sober I analyse every feeling, every thought, every noise, everything I do and look at, it's really doing my head in. I am going to work but since I work on my own basically the thoughts just race around in my head. I used to be so carefree about things. I really need to get a life or something and keep me busy.
To thine own self be true
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 756
Originally Posted by maz09 
I try not to be, I was never like this, yeah I had a bit of anxiety and stuff like that, but now being sober I analyse every feeling, every thought, every noise, everything I do and look at, it's really doing my head in. I am going to work but since I work on my own basically the thoughts just race around in my head. I used to be so carefree about things. I really need to get a life or something and keep me busy.
Happened to me right after I stopped drinking and I still have it now. It hasn't been that long for me though. It will be 2 months in a few days.
Now I am keeping busy, but I still have anxiety and depression. I am just trying to work through it as best I can.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,772
I don't know how long you've been sober, but there's something called PAWS, for Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. One of the symptoms is anxiety. There's a 'sticky' at the top of the Alcoholism forum that has info on it. It's a result of the brain and body getting back to functioning normally, and it takes a while. Stress can make it worse.
It goes away with time, and can get better/worse, until you're back to normal functioning. But it does take some time.
It goes away with time, and can get better/worse, until you're back to normal functioning. But it does take some time.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Orlando
Posts: 33
I have done some pretty regretful things in my past. Shameful things that I can hardly bear to think about. I think that is why I drank. I drank to "dumb myself down".
That way I didn't have to face those things.
Well, in sobriety I was getting those guilty feelings over things in my past. And they kept playing over and over in my mind.
Here is what I do.
I realize the mistakes I made are mistakes in the past, when I was a weaker person. All I can do is apologize to those I hurt. I make myself understand that I made those mistakes in the past, and today is a day that I can live right. I don't have to make those same mistakes now. I don't ever have to make a mistake like that from this day on out. And I will prove to people that I have changed.
If the mistakes keep playing in my mind. I counteract them. I do an unselfish good deed, or a random act of kindness. In the past, I would have never volunteered or gave money to charity.
Now when I start feeling bad about the past. I simply counteract the bad thought with a recent good thought (of one of my new unselfish deeds). I switch over and dwell on the good deed.
Make new and recent memories. Really good memories. Something amazing. Dedicate a day to deliver meals on wheels (delivering food to home bound Cancer and AIDS patients). Or go shovel poop at the animal shelter. Just do a random act of kindness, give a stranger a compliment , give the homeless guy a dollar, help a friend move, DO something!!!!!!!!
That way I can say, I did that horrible thing in the past, but today I did this good thing, and this proves I am a better person and I am improving.
The more you do things like this, the more the guilty feelings about the past will diminish.
P.s. I don't know if this is what you mean, or if this will help..your thread just reminded me of this.
That way I didn't have to face those things.
Well, in sobriety I was getting those guilty feelings over things in my past. And they kept playing over and over in my mind.
Here is what I do.
I realize the mistakes I made are mistakes in the past, when I was a weaker person. All I can do is apologize to those I hurt. I make myself understand that I made those mistakes in the past, and today is a day that I can live right. I don't have to make those same mistakes now. I don't ever have to make a mistake like that from this day on out. And I will prove to people that I have changed.
If the mistakes keep playing in my mind. I counteract them. I do an unselfish good deed, or a random act of kindness. In the past, I would have never volunteered or gave money to charity.
Now when I start feeling bad about the past. I simply counteract the bad thought with a recent good thought (of one of my new unselfish deeds). I switch over and dwell on the good deed.
Make new and recent memories. Really good memories. Something amazing. Dedicate a day to deliver meals on wheels (delivering food to home bound Cancer and AIDS patients). Or go shovel poop at the animal shelter. Just do a random act of kindness, give a stranger a compliment , give the homeless guy a dollar, help a friend move, DO something!!!!!!!!
That way I can say, I did that horrible thing in the past, but today I did this good thing, and this proves I am a better person and I am improving.
The more you do things like this, the more the guilty feelings about the past will diminish.
P.s. I don't know if this is what you mean, or if this will help..your thread just reminded me of this.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,772
Maz, are you talking about feeling really anxious? If so, it could be PAWS and a doctor or alcoholism specialist can tell you more. I was just guessing that was what you meant, cause I had the same problems for a few months after getting sober. It does get better.... tho staying sober has little to do with it for me - I'm always anxious and nervous... cause I have two teenage girls at home! LOL!
Last edited by least; 06-22-2009 at 08:25 PM.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,416
Hi Maz
like Least said it might be PAWs. We used to have a sticky but I can't seem to find it LOL...
I couldn't find a non commercial link in the brief time I have so...this is an AA based overview...but is pretty much on the ball I think.
.
Regardless of whether it's Paws or not I think feeling anxious is very normal - especially in the first 90 days.
For most of us, we're not used to feeling, we're used to numbing - and it takes a while to get accustomed to the rush of emotions - not only the day to day life stuff, but our minds and bodies repairing themselves as well.
It does get easier, believe me. Like you said yourself - keeping busy and active is a great tool.
D
like Least said it might be PAWs. We used to have a sticky but I can't seem to find it LOL...
I couldn't find a non commercial link in the brief time I have so...this is an AA based overview...but is pretty much on the ball I think.
Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) has three major areas of impact upon the individual:
Cognitive: PAWS creates many difficulties with cognitive processes. Racing or recycling thoughts are often noted and found to be highly distracting by the individual. Thoughts may be scattered and even a lack of coherence at times may be present. Others may notice a certain rigidity of thinking and lack of required flexibility. In connection with this, abstract and conceptual thought may be negatively impacted. Cause and effect reasoning suffers as well in the early stages of recovery. Themes and threads connecting disparate events may not be recognized as easily. Concentration and attention span may be impaired. Confusion may be present. Prioritization by the individual will likely be a difficulty for six to twelve months.
Emotional: PAWS tends to create in individuals either a dearth or excess of emotion. The individual may be hyper reactive emotionally. Even small events of little consequence may loom large in his/her mind and create strong and overly valent (not being able to bond thoughts together) reactions. This may lead others to suspect a relapse or create social withdrawal. Shame emotions may be noted. Conversely, The individual may notice a numbing of emotions. The inability to feel impairs proper emotional bonding with friends and family during the early recovery process. It also impairs the recovery process itself as the individual struggles with trying to feel the resentments, anger, guilt, shame and other emotions common in recovery.
Memory: Memory is frequently the most noted PAWS problem. Recently learned information (within the last 30 minutes) may be quickly forgotten. New skills or routines may be learned and then not assimilated as before the drinking began. Information may be retained for a short time (days/weeks) and then lost, requiring the individual to learn it anew. As recovery requires inspection of the past, the individual may discover that developmental and childhood memories are totally absent or only remembered in a spotty fashion.
All of the above PAWS issues can obviously affect the early recovering person. The recognition of this syndrome by the recovering person as well as by friends, family and colleagues is important. The individual will note that the severity of PAWS decreases as time progresses and that PAWS is stress sensitive. Lowering of stress is helpful. Healthy habits such as limiting caffeine, getting 8-10 hours of sleep, eating three balanced meals and exercising three-four times weekly usually prove beneficial. Meditation, or relaxation exercises can be invaluable once properly learned. Obviously AA involvement with a sensitive and experienced sponsor is key to navigating through PAWS.
Most individuals find the first six months to be the most PAWS impacted with decreasing severity over the next six-month period. By the end of one year, most persons have returned to their respective levels of functioning
Cognitive: PAWS creates many difficulties with cognitive processes. Racing or recycling thoughts are often noted and found to be highly distracting by the individual. Thoughts may be scattered and even a lack of coherence at times may be present. Others may notice a certain rigidity of thinking and lack of required flexibility. In connection with this, abstract and conceptual thought may be negatively impacted. Cause and effect reasoning suffers as well in the early stages of recovery. Themes and threads connecting disparate events may not be recognized as easily. Concentration and attention span may be impaired. Confusion may be present. Prioritization by the individual will likely be a difficulty for six to twelve months.
Emotional: PAWS tends to create in individuals either a dearth or excess of emotion. The individual may be hyper reactive emotionally. Even small events of little consequence may loom large in his/her mind and create strong and overly valent (not being able to bond thoughts together) reactions. This may lead others to suspect a relapse or create social withdrawal. Shame emotions may be noted. Conversely, The individual may notice a numbing of emotions. The inability to feel impairs proper emotional bonding with friends and family during the early recovery process. It also impairs the recovery process itself as the individual struggles with trying to feel the resentments, anger, guilt, shame and other emotions common in recovery.
Memory: Memory is frequently the most noted PAWS problem. Recently learned information (within the last 30 minutes) may be quickly forgotten. New skills or routines may be learned and then not assimilated as before the drinking began. Information may be retained for a short time (days/weeks) and then lost, requiring the individual to learn it anew. As recovery requires inspection of the past, the individual may discover that developmental and childhood memories are totally absent or only remembered in a spotty fashion.
All of the above PAWS issues can obviously affect the early recovering person. The recognition of this syndrome by the recovering person as well as by friends, family and colleagues is important. The individual will note that the severity of PAWS decreases as time progresses and that PAWS is stress sensitive. Lowering of stress is helpful. Healthy habits such as limiting caffeine, getting 8-10 hours of sleep, eating three balanced meals and exercising three-four times weekly usually prove beneficial. Meditation, or relaxation exercises can be invaluable once properly learned. Obviously AA involvement with a sensitive and experienced sponsor is key to navigating through PAWS.
Most individuals find the first six months to be the most PAWS impacted with decreasing severity over the next six-month period. By the end of one year, most persons have returned to their respective levels of functioning
Regardless of whether it's Paws or not I think feeling anxious is very normal - especially in the first 90 days.
For most of us, we're not used to feeling, we're used to numbing - and it takes a while to get accustomed to the rush of emotions - not only the day to day life stuff, but our minds and bodies repairing themselves as well.
It does get easier, believe me. Like you said yourself - keeping busy and active is a great tool.
D
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,095
Originally Posted by least
I don't know how long you've been sober, but there's something called PAWS, for Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome.
Every serious drinker's life will improve without getting wasted all the time. But for most alcoholics, the problem really has little to do with alcohol. After a while, the days get worse, not better, and that mental obsession is right there. The initial fear, self-knowledge, and willpower that motivated one to quit drinking fade over time, and are replaced with thoughts of 'it wasn't that bad' and 'maybe just this once'. Another relapse, another spree, more incomprehensible demoralization.
This is not meant to be a doom and gloom warning. It's just the most common repeated pattern for alcoholics who fail to enlarge their spiritual life.
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