Is it "normal" to slide into a deep depression?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ft. lauderdale florida
Posts: 275
Is it "normal" to slide into a deep depression?
when you get sober? I have been sober for 7 days and I feel very low. I don't want to leave the house or speak with anyone. I just want to be alone with my son. I think I am depressed. I have no appetite, bursts of crying, insomnia, anxiety, blah.blah. 
RIP Sweet Suki
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: In my sanctuary, my home
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I don't know if it's normal, but I know after I left my 6 day detox, I was extremely emotional. I would cry at the drop of a hat. Insomnia is common, too. I would suggest just giving it some more time. It took a few weeks for my mental state to stabilize. Hang in there. Things will get better.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 275
I was feeling down and sad BIG time the first week. I was so emotional I had to be selective about what TV I watched and music was out of the question, just too powerful for me in that frame of mind. I'm a little over 3 weeks now and trust me, it gets much better. Hang in there
SR Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 7,910
Things do level out after a while, but if you find it doesn't you may want to see someone (psychiatrist or doc) who can assess you. I have to take antidepressants (+Trazadone for sleep) and I still had some rollercoaster emotions for a week or two, and NO energy. Hang in there!!!:ghug3
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 18
I'm feeling down too and am on Day 6. Seems to be quite common in the early days. As others have suggested, the passage of time will probably help, but if you're still feeling depressed a consult with your doc is probably a good idea. Hope for happier days ahead for you.
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,510
My depression had begun years before I started to drink. So I needed to get proper treatment in place for my depression before I was able to get sober.
Alcohol is a depressant and stopping alcohol is very emotional, so it's possible that the depression will left as time goes by. If not, do talk to your dr.
Alcohol is a depressant and stopping alcohol is very emotional, so it's possible that the depression will left as time goes by. If not, do talk to your dr.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 34
I was depressed for a few weeks after I quit drinking. I'm on day 25 and it's getting better every day. I slept a lot and gave myself a lot of time by myself to process the emotions and get a handle on what my body was going through. Great job on the 7 days. That's the hardest part so keep on!
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 1,249
Wow1323 The answer to your question in my opinion is yes. I'm not a doctor, and I don't know you personally. But, I know for me when I stopped using drugs all of the feelings that I had medicated into numbness came up. I cried for a few weeks. I sure hope you feel better soon. Don't give up your sobriety. You will get better if you just stay clean. Congrats on the time you already have. The first week is usually tough. Hang in there.
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: las vegas nv
Posts: 180
Ditto Ditto Ditto, I have a blog I wrote similiar to yours. Plus I read new threads on here everyday about depression. Maybe I'm a sick person, but I welcome the pain and depression. My emotions were hidden and numbed for so long, I was just prolonging and adding to the pain. I listen to music, it's really great therapy. I'm on Day 13 and I'm still hiding from everyone. I've been making appearances here and there, but I'm still not quite ready. I think we deserve time to recover, just like injured people in a hospital. Congratulations on 7 days, you made one week!!!!!! Hang in there, this too, shall pass.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ft. lauderdale florida
Posts: 275
Thanks everyone for posting. Yes, everything surfes like a wild banshee. I feel like my whole life has been a wild roller coaster and somthing grabbed me by the neck and threw me off the ride and I just hit ground. I'm not sure what to do next. It's like I'm standing on quick sand slowly sinking. Yuck, yuck. I will tell you..... it does feel BETTER than a hangover!!!! Anything feels better than a nasty hangover.
Must keep breathing...
Must keep breathing...
A work in progress
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
Yes, breathing is highly recommended. As an ongoing practice. 
It isn't unusual to feel sort of a boomerang effect when you first stop drinking. It's temporary. Your body and brain are very confused because you aren't providing the "medicine" they have come to expect--on demand.
The physical effects of quitting drinking will start to subside soon. This is a good time to be going to lots of meetings, to pick up extra doses of HOPE.
It isn't unusual to feel sort of a boomerang effect when you first stop drinking. It's temporary. Your body and brain are very confused because you aren't providing the "medicine" they have come to expect--on demand.
The physical effects of quitting drinking will start to subside soon. This is a good time to be going to lots of meetings, to pick up extra doses of HOPE.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
Hi wow
Welcome
It was certainly normal for me - alcohol was a huge part of my life, so my life completely changed. That was much of the first month for me.
If you're really worried about it, or if you think it's going on too long, please see a Dr or counsellor tho, ok?
D
Welcome
It was certainly normal for me - alcohol was a huge part of my life, so my life completely changed. That was much of the first month for me.
If you're really worried about it, or if you think it's going on too long, please see a Dr or counsellor tho, ok?
D
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 1,249
Originally Posted by Balou 
Ditto Ditto Ditto, I have a blog I wrote similiar to yours. Plus I read new threads on here everyday about depression. Maybe I'm a sick person, but I welcome the pain and depression. My emotions were hidden and numbed for so long, I was just prolonging and adding to the pain. I listen to music, it's really great therapy. I'm on Day 13 and I'm still hiding from everyone. I've been making appearances here and there, but I'm still not quite ready. I think we deserve time to recover, just like injured people in a hospital. Congratulations on 7 days, you made one week!!!!!! Hang in there, this too, shall pass.
The New Me starting 1/11/09
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 678
Hi Wow -
You will hear it a lot on this site that "alcohol was our solution to our problems". Therefore, when we stop drinking, we need to find a new solution to our problems.
Often times, our fear, anxiety, anger, depression, etc. was (is) our problem. So, we need to work on that. The alcohol was just anesthetic to numb us so we didn't have to face those problems, but taking a drink never fixed the problems, only delayed them (and often made them worse).
That is why you will hear us say that "you must do a program of recovery". The program (whatever one you find most useful to you) will (a) help you stop drinking, and (b) help you learn how to live a basically happy life without drinking.
For me, it is AA + SR + working with other alcoholics.
What you are feeling is normal, but you need to do something about it. That is where a recovery programs comes in.
You will hear it a lot on this site that "alcohol was our solution to our problems". Therefore, when we stop drinking, we need to find a new solution to our problems.
Often times, our fear, anxiety, anger, depression, etc. was (is) our problem. So, we need to work on that. The alcohol was just anesthetic to numb us so we didn't have to face those problems, but taking a drink never fixed the problems, only delayed them (and often made them worse).
That is why you will hear us say that "you must do a program of recovery". The program (whatever one you find most useful to you) will (a) help you stop drinking, and (b) help you learn how to live a basically happy life without drinking.
For me, it is AA + SR + working with other alcoholics.
What you are feeling is normal, but you need to do something about it. That is where a recovery programs comes in.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Germany
Posts: 2,058
Congrats Wow and glad you are here. I too felt so many emotions in those first few weeks and definitely still working on them now. Getting sober for me felt like being tossed into the ocean. I was awake but confused and not sure what to do. The crutch was gone and I thank everyday for my sobriety but I felt like I wanted to do so much immediately and I had so many conflicting thoughts about things.
I too more or less shut everyone out. I had to get myself together and I didn't want to talk to anyone nor did I make any rash decisions. My focus was purely on not drinking and getting through each day. Every day it got a bit better and I just spent my time focusing on me. Learning to live each day sober was my goal so I spent most of my time on SR and working counseling.
As others have said....if you are concerned then definitely reach out to your Dr.
Way to go and keep sharing the journey my friend.
I too more or less shut everyone out. I had to get myself together and I didn't want to talk to anyone nor did I make any rash decisions. My focus was purely on not drinking and getting through each day. Every day it got a bit better and I just spent my time focusing on me. Learning to live each day sober was my goal so I spent most of my time on SR and working counseling.
As others have said....if you are concerned then definitely reach out to your Dr.
Way to go and keep sharing the journey my friend.
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