Notices

Down, with a bit of a bang..

Old 03-23-2015, 04:50 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Mentium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
Down, with a bit of a bang..

Day nine here and I woke up knowing I was a bit down after two or three really good up-beat days. Anyway I dragged myself out of the house and had a good brisk walk for well over an hour, taking photos as I went - dogs in tow. Feeling a bit better as a result!

There seems to be a point when the first hurdle is over with and you are faced with sober life that the reality kicks in. Add to that the fact that one's brain and body has not, despite progress, fully recovered by any means and one still has quite a lot on one's plate.

I am therefore struggling with mood, motivation (regarding life not quitting drinking!), and a general sense of flatness as well as a brain that does not seem to be functioning on all cylinders and a mild annoying headache!

I am however managing to retain high motivation for staying sober and making the most of life now that I don't drink. I am not expecting miracles, and I am not, as I may have done in previous times, thinking that this is sobriety, sobriety sucks and that drinking is better than this. It really is not. My last boozy spell told me that loud and clear!

Anyway, sorry to sound whiney. Doing good really here and will do what and all I need to do!
Mentium is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 05:47 AM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,043
As you know there are ups and downs for a while.

Have faith you'll get through them and you'll be ok as long as you stay sober and focused on building a new life for yourself

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 05:51 AM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Canine Welfare Advocate
 
doggonecarl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,961
Patience is one of the early recovering alcoholic's most useful tool.

Continued success.
doggonecarl is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 06:14 AM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Member
 
GnikNus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Somewhere in California
Posts: 1,136
I quit nearly four months ago. In the early days, I felt that flatness and struggled to imagine life without alcohol. That faded with time. Now, I can't imagine a life with it.
It would derail the feelings of peace, focus, contentment, productivity, and growth I've already been able to experience. You've made the right choice. Continue down the path of sobriety and the flatness will give way to a better life. Life as it's meant to be experienced.
GnikNus is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 06:19 AM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,329
You're doing great, Mentium!
Anna is online now  
Old 03-23-2015, 06:26 AM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 2,459
Mentium, check out the article I posted yesterday about this very thing. The thread is titled "why this forum is effective"
ArtFriend is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 06:30 AM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Mentium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
Thank you all! Just a quickie follow up. 'Normal' drinking time involves ready meals for lunch (I no longer work as I got early retirement a while ago). The ready meals were invariably spaghetti bolognaise or some such. OK as far as they go, but actually pretty crap food.

I love to cook, but my partner is on a constant diet so ...

..anyway cutting to the chase - make chicken, flattened, then coated with seasoned flour with friend mango slices, along with new potatoes, sautéed at the last minute and a large portion of broccoli - all made by your truly for lunch today!

My 'nerves' are still a bit frazzled and the timing of the cooking was surprisingly anxiety inducing - sheesh - but it was great!
Mentium is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 06:41 AM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 105
Hi Mentium

Sorry to hear you have had a dip in mood and pleased to hear how you have dealt with it.
Day 9 for me too and trying to make this week all about physical activity and eating well.
Last week I gave myself free reign to eat any old rubbish that seemed to boost my mood (even if that is a bit of an illusion really - at least after the sugar wears off!).

Your lunch sounds great. I think cooking is a great analogy for recovery / sobriety. You have to get some good ingredients together, have a plan and then have enough patience to let things happen - some things you can't force into going faster....but you can certainly set them back through impatience. Ever opened the oven door on a cake too many times wishing it will be done faster, hehe!?

All the best

CC
chordcowboy is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 07:21 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
That bell or bike person
 
mecanix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: london
Posts: 4,978
keep your eye on the goal M ,
mood and motivation come and go depending on what interesting things are going on .

There is a whole world of things to do , learn and see . What turns you on in life ?

What things could you plan to try ? parachute jump ? marathon ? singing on stage ? acting ? painting ? Volunteer to work with humans or other animals ?

It's a wonder being sober because for me it's given me a huge sense of personal empowerment and a give it a try attitude with life , there is no telling where you will end up as you have been carrying round that deadweight of drink / addiction , just give it time , keep on trying
mecanix is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 07:59 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
quat
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: terra (mostly)firma
Posts: 4,819
"now that I don't drink" welcome to the club, lunch sounded yummy
dwtbd is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 09:32 AM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
PurpleKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Keep pushing through Mentium!!
PurpleKnight is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 11:58 AM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Do your best
 
Soberwolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Your doing really well Mentium
Soberwolf is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 12:08 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
AKA Supersonic
 
Stu Purple's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 50
I think I know what you're going through Mentium. It's an amazing feeling just after your body has detoxed and you start feeling 'normal' again. But that high tapers off after a few days and you're left thinking 'now what'? Well that's how I felt anyway! I guess the 'what' is life, and the possibilities are endless.
Stu Purple is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 12:35 PM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
heartcore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 985
You're right on track!

The mild headache may well be due to dehydration. We tend to come into sobriety already dehydrated from all the alcohol, and it takes a conscious effort to "catch up." My doc says that even a 10% dehydration makes all the organs work about 50% harder to do their jobs of detoxifying the body.

Walking has been one of the very important elements in my recovery also...it is my meditation.
heartcore is offline  
Old 03-23-2015, 12:38 PM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Mentium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
Posts: 1,442
Thanks all. Heartcore - I don't know what I would do without my walks - do about 90 mins to two hours a day!
Mentium is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:08 PM.