grlinterrupted

I'm 22 and today has been really difficult, i've been clean for a week for the first time since i touched drugs and its been manageable but the boredom is what is really killing me. When all you did was drugs, it seems like there is nothing to do without it. I've walked, cleaned, watched tv (but there are triggers there everywhere), eating even..and for some reason today i can't shake these cravings. Does anyone have any advice on things to maybe keep you occupied? And does it ever get any easier because i kind of feel like my whole life is gonna be just looking for ways to distract myself from drugs. Help. please.

Dee74

Hi grlinterrupted
Welcome to SR from me

Volunteering really helped me - it was something to do, it was meaningful and it got me out of my own head and my own troubles

D

Anna

Volunteering saved me too.

I had moved to a new city, and english was not the language and I was brand-new sober. I followed my gut-instinct and walked into an amazing volunteer situation at a women's shelter, where I thought I could help out. Needless to say, the women gave me far more than I could give them. I stayed there 7 years until the shelter closed and I am still inspired by the brave women I met there.

Zencat

grlinterrupted

Some recovery literature may help:

What is CBT
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
SMART Tools AA Books
SMART Recovery® - Tool Chest and Homework
SMART Recovery® - Articles and Essays
Alcoholics Anonymous : Click on the Book You Would Like to Read

Know that you can recover on your own terms

Squizz

Get a job. Go to meetings. Workout. There's tons of things you can do. Just get creative. It will get easier with time, I promise. Just don't give up.

artsoul

Welcome to the forum - it really does get easier with time. I had to remind myself that boredom would not kill me (whereas alcohol would if I didn't stop). I read, took up knitting again, messed around on the computer and spent a lot of time just reading on this forum.

Learning a whole new way of living doesn't happen overnight, so be patient with yourself. One day at a time.....

KathP

Try a new hobby. When I was in rehab several years ago, I took up embroidery because I needed something to do because I couldn't keep my hands still. I needed something other to focus on.