bigguyslimm

I myself am feeling spacey, numb, anxious, and dizzy at day 66.
It comes and goes, but when I hit day 60 it's like I was under attack.
I spoke with an anxiety specialist and he told me I shouldn't have anxiety at this point, but a lot of people threads that I have read seem to say different.



How did you feel during these days?

Mcribb

I'm almost at a year and I have a ton of anxiety. I just try to spot the fear. Sometimes it is a fear that I won't be able to make it throughthe day, sometimes it's just fear of fear. Do your best to write out your feelings and know that they ususally aren't real.

Mark75

Could be PAWS... Or you could have anxiety. Does this anxiety specialist have experience with alcohol and drug addiction and recovery?

bigguyslimm

He says he does. A lot of people on this site have told me that it last longer sometimes.

sugarbear1

If this anxiety specialist isn't one of us, he doesn't really know. We are all different. We drank to cover our anxiety, depression, fears....etc. This, too, shall pass!

CarolD

Anxiety is not part of my medical history...but perhaps having a general check up is a good idea.

DaveO

Many had to go through months of puking, and feeling ill until their body got accustomed to the poison they put in it in the beginning of drinking.

Same as your body will get accustomed to being without the poison as it heals itself.

Congrats on the sobriety

Soberpotamus

It does sound like symptoms of anxiety. But could be something else. Check with a doctor if you're truly concerned. I haven't experienced PAWS, so don't know what to tell you there... but, yes it does sound like anxiety symptoms.

StPeteGrad

As I recall, about 90 days I had a lot of problems. I couldn't think clearly, head was in fog all of a sudden, became clumsy. It was pretty disturbing.

I seem to remember it lasting a little more than a month. I was also trying to get anti-depressents right at the same time so I contributed it to that, but it was probably another "symptom" of sobriety.

I've been clear and energetic since at least 5 months, maybe longer.

Hang in there.

sugarbear1

I felt like you between months 2-3.5

Not so much anxious, more fuzzy brained and off balance. I attribute lack of anxiety due to working the steps and my spiritual awakenings...1, not wanting any alcohol or having cravings(total surrender this time around) and 2, working 12 steps at 10 days sober (2nd 4th step tomorrow, 5th on Sunday).

I was always anxious angry, etc, so I drank, today my higher power has control, I have faith.

bigguyslimm

Yeah it's like some times I get anxious if I sit down, and sometimes doing stuff makes me anxious. It's like a really bad rush of feelings. Like sometimes I feel really excited for no reason, or like I'm about to panic. I hate it.

checkmate1

There was a big change for me from 2-3 months sober. I am at about 4 months now but up until 90 days I was all over the place a bit with anxiety its different for everyone.

simplex

I know exactly how you feel. I'm at day 69 and I too have been feeling numb, and spacey, (though I've always been a slight space cadet ) with a ton of anxiety. I still attend aftercare where I was in treatment 1.5 years ago and my counselor suggested it sounded like PAWS.

Here is a good site that helped me learn more about it. Though in my opinion it sounds a little more dire than necessary.

http://digital-dharma.net/addiction/...r-immediately/

I don't know about you but it's very frustrating. It's been all I can do to focus on work. Sometimes I feel like my brain is running at 10 to 20% it's normal function. My mind gets stuck on one thing (circular thoughts) and I get racing thoughts a lot about one thing. And concentration is really tough.

The symptoms seem to be the worst between 3-6 months of recovery. As tough as it is, any mental exercises actually help. Reading is good. For the anxiety I've recently tried meditating for small stints and that helps too. Go to youtube and type in meditation, you can just put on some headphones on and close your eyes with good posture and after 5 minutes you'll be amazed.

Hang in there!!

eJoshua

I'm at 128 days today, and I think I felt a lot of anxiety around 90. I'm on some meds to help balance out my mood now, and that seems to be helping.

I do think that regardless of any meds I'm on, I'm doing really well now as compared to then.

Best of luck!

bigguyslimm

Anxiety sucks.

bigguyslimm

Anyone else have any thought?

sugarbear1

Relax. It's a new day. Learning to live in the moment is tough. Try not to think about yesterday or worry about tomorrow. Get done what needs to be done today. You are feeling what you need to today. Journal it on paper so you can know what you lived through...you can read it next week!

You're ok today. And soberer than yesterday!

You didn't get here overnight! Everything and every reason you drank and numbed is just being felt today.

Ice cream. Or a nice food item works. A little sugar, in moderation!

leo21

Something to keep in mind.....early on there is alot of UN-DOING and UN-LEARNING of the old destructive ways. At the same time, we have alot of LEARNING and DOING going on of new positive ways to deal with life and all the physical/emotional/spiritual healing going on.

That's alot to have on our plates. Some see it as chaos, anxiety, recovery, confusion, etc. Recovery and growth does require pain and sacrifice.

theatredork

I'm trying to remember... I was very forgetful around day 60, I think. I guess it was PAWS. Also really, really tired. It wasn't until maybe a month ago that I felt ready to start tackling some of the things that bother me beyond drinking (like eating healthier and exercising) Eating junk food makes me tired too... and generally feel crappy... keep an eye on it and maybe get some exercise? Maybe your body is just adjusting.

bigguyslimm

Thank you everyone. I'm feeling a little better today. Sometimes it's hard to tell if I'm just starting to feel normal. That sometimes causes anxiety.