Newcomer
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,385
Hi and welcome pnyboy 
I think it takes a while for us to heal and recuperate after long term substance abuse - a week is great but it's probably going to take a little longer for you to feel really 'you' again.
Are either you or your girlfriend using any support outside of SR?
NA or Nar-Anon for example?
D
I think it takes a while for us to heal and recuperate after long term substance abuse - a week is great but it's probably going to take a little longer for you to feel really 'you' again.
Are either you or your girlfriend using any support outside of SR?
NA or Nar-Anon for example?
D
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,537
Welcome pnyboy. I agree that it takes a while to adjust to our new life without drugs or alcohol. I felt like an alien for about a month. Everything got better as I adjusted to the new me.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 15
What really helped me was taking vitamins and st. john's wart (for my mood swings). My girlfriend was at a loss as to how to deal with my craziness and finally I told her that I need her to be as non-reactive as possible. Anything would have triggered me to return and I know I was a nutcase but she did so well when she realized that I was really going through it trying to stay sober.
Also, maybe have your lady find a support group for family members that seemed to help with mine. It gave her a place to feel safe to vent. I say try vitamins depending on what kind of substance it was, mine was crystal, and also be honest. Tell her the things that make it hard for you to hold in the urges, try to exercise (this really helps!) but most of all the non-reactive was what really worked. It takes time, some more than others but stay strong! I did mine cold turkey, I was an awful mess. Take it slow, breathe deep, and whatever you do communicate on those hard days. You can do it!
Best wishes!
~P.S.
Also, maybe have your lady find a support group for family members that seemed to help with mine. It gave her a place to feel safe to vent. I say try vitamins depending on what kind of substance it was, mine was crystal, and also be honest. Tell her the things that make it hard for you to hold in the urges, try to exercise (this really helps!) but most of all the non-reactive was what really worked. It takes time, some more than others but stay strong! I did mine cold turkey, I was an awful mess. Take it slow, breathe deep, and whatever you do communicate on those hard days. You can do it!
Best wishes!
~P.S.
Last edited by PrettySweets; 06-23-2013 at 07:53 PM. Reason: typo oops!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,760
It will take a little longer than a week for her to get used to the 'new you'. Give yourself more clean time and see how it is then. If she knew you when you were doing drugs then it will take her a while to get used to the 'clean you'. Give her time.
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