How do you deal with rough days?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,087
How do you deal with rough days?
Having a rough today for a certain reason, which I know won't let up until tomorrow comes. Wish it was already over, and it's not even noon yet.
What do you do during days like this? Anything special to break yourself out of it?
What do you do during days like this? Anything special to break yourself out of it?
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
Hi Troy
It was bit of a revelation for me when I realised ...I don't have to do anything.
Bad days come, and they go...and they're much better than the bad weeks or
months I used to have as a drinker.
I'm not trying to diminish your feelings, either
I found that with any sort of problem or situation, I made sure I did all I could, then I left the rest in the hands of fate, God, tomorrow...whoever.
Me worrying about stuff never changed the outcome.
Try and keep yourself occupied, maybe do something nice for yourself today.
Best wishes with whatever is going on
D
It was bit of a revelation for me when I realised ...I don't have to do anything.
Bad days come, and they go...and they're much better than the bad weeks or
months I used to have as a drinker.
I'm not trying to diminish your feelings, either
I found that with any sort of problem or situation, I made sure I did all I could, then I left the rest in the hands of fate, God, tomorrow...whoever.
Me worrying about stuff never changed the outcome.
Try and keep yourself occupied, maybe do something nice for yourself today.
Best wishes with whatever is going on
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,087
Nah, I'll be fine, having a coffee now, and won't drink today. It's just... it's my birthday today, that's all.
I've gotten used to being alone now, and am usually totally fine with it. Days like today are bit of an exception though.
Anyway, sorry. Back to work.
I've gotten used to being alone now, and am usually totally fine with it. Days like today are bit of an exception though.
Anyway, sorry. Back to work.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
There's nothing wrong with wanting a little special stuff on your birthday
I've had a few alone birthdays myself - go treat yourself to a meal, CD, book or something
and Happy Birthday - hope this year is your best year yet
D
I've had a few alone birthdays myself - go treat yourself to a meal, CD, book or something
and Happy Birthday - hope this year is your best year yet
D
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,129
Happy Birthday, Troy!
I know how an alone bday feels, I'm sorry you're feeling lonely....
....Sending a cyber cake to you right now with 90 different flavor layers and sparklers coming out of it! And every single kind of ice cream you can imagine for you to go swimming in, mmmmm!!
I know how an alone bday feels, I'm sorry you're feeling lonely....
....Sending a cyber cake to you right now with 90 different flavor layers and sparklers coming out of it! And every single kind of ice cream you can imagine for you to go swimming in, mmmmm!!
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,251
Happy Birthday Troy! I agree with the treat yourself idea. Go buy a new album or some clothes or a book. If money is tight, do something free- go for a nice bike ride or walk/run. See if there are any free activities happening in your area, a concert series or book reading. Go for an ice crew, that's not too expensive.
Take care of yourself today and know that by staying sober you are giving yourself the very best gift ever.
Take care of yourself today and know that by staying sober you are giving yourself the very best gift ever.
Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,649
I discovered in early recovery, which I hated, that rough days were not the exception to the norm, but just another weave in the tapestry.
Most non-drinkers seem to have grasped this little fact. They have their rough days and bad moments, and just get on with it. They don't turn bad days into a catastrophe. I did when I drank.
When I drank and I hit a rough patch, I was convinced I could not endure it. I had to avoid the discomfort of it and drank to become numb. It worked!
That gets back to why I hated early recovery. There was life, smack in my face and I had nothing to numb me. Eventually though, with the help of a program, a good addictions therapist and lots of reading, I learned to "sit through" it. The rough moments. I discovered first that they don't last all that long. Often the negative feelings associated with problems don't last more than a few seconds.
And, as time went on and I worked more with my recovery program, I began to redefine what problems actually are, to me.
Lots of the things I defined as problems when I drank I no longer define as problems and am no longer upset by them.
The things I do define as problems, I am learning, even now after 5 years of recovery, to place in my path and see them as opportunities for me to grow.
Most non-drinkers seem to have grasped this little fact. They have their rough days and bad moments, and just get on with it. They don't turn bad days into a catastrophe. I did when I drank.
When I drank and I hit a rough patch, I was convinced I could not endure it. I had to avoid the discomfort of it and drank to become numb. It worked!
That gets back to why I hated early recovery. There was life, smack in my face and I had nothing to numb me. Eventually though, with the help of a program, a good addictions therapist and lots of reading, I learned to "sit through" it. The rough moments. I discovered first that they don't last all that long. Often the negative feelings associated with problems don't last more than a few seconds.
And, as time went on and I worked more with my recovery program, I began to redefine what problems actually are, to me.
Lots of the things I defined as problems when I drank I no longer define as problems and am no longer upset by them.
The things I do define as problems, I am learning, even now after 5 years of recovery, to place in my path and see them as opportunities for me to grow.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,087
Thanks everyone. You put a smile on my face, and I appreciate it.
Nah, didn't do anything special for myself. I'm a pretty simple kind of guy. Cooked up some steaks for my boys though, so it was a nice treat for them, as they usually only get pork or chicken for hot meals. Would give them steak more often, but the pigs would put down 6 steaks each if I let them, so not happening. Pork and chicken are cheaper.
My dogs are meat-aholics I tell ya. Should try to get them into a MA program, maybe.
Nah, didn't do anything special for myself. I'm a pretty simple kind of guy. Cooked up some steaks for my boys though, so it was a nice treat for them, as they usually only get pork or chicken for hot meals. Would give them steak more often, but the pigs would put down 6 steaks each if I let them, so not happening. Pork and chicken are cheaper.
My dogs are meat-aholics I tell ya. Should try to get them into a MA program, maybe.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,413
Originally Posted by littlefish 
I discovered in early recovery, which I hated, that rough days were not the exception to the norm, but just another weave in the tapestry.
Most non-drinkers seem to have grasped this little fact. They have their rough days and bad moments, and just get on with it. They don't turn bad days into a catastrophe. I did when I drank.
When I drank and I hit a rough patch, I was convinced I could not endure it. I had to avoid the discomfort of it and drank to become numb. It worked!
That gets back to why I hated early recovery. There was life, smack in my face and I had nothing to numb me. Eventually though, with the help of a program, a good addictions therapist and lots of reading, I learned to "sit through" it. The rough moments. I discovered first that they don't last all that long. Often the negative feelings associated with problems don't last more than a few seconds.
And, as time went on and I worked more with my recovery program, I began to redefine what problems actually are, to me.
Lots of the things I defined as problems when I drank I no longer define as problems and am no longer upset by them.
The things I do define as problems, I am learning, even now after 5 years of recovery, to place in my path and see them as opportunities for me to grow.
Most non-drinkers seem to have grasped this little fact. They have their rough days and bad moments, and just get on with it. They don't turn bad days into a catastrophe. I did when I drank.
When I drank and I hit a rough patch, I was convinced I could not endure it. I had to avoid the discomfort of it and drank to become numb. It worked!
That gets back to why I hated early recovery. There was life, smack in my face and I had nothing to numb me. Eventually though, with the help of a program, a good addictions therapist and lots of reading, I learned to "sit through" it. The rough moments. I discovered first that they don't last all that long. Often the negative feelings associated with problems don't last more than a few seconds.
And, as time went on and I worked more with my recovery program, I began to redefine what problems actually are, to me.
Lots of the things I defined as problems when I drank I no longer define as problems and am no longer upset by them.
The things I do define as problems, I am learning, even now after 5 years of recovery, to place in my path and see them as opportunities for me to grow.
This is EXCELLENT advice... many thanks LittleFish... this is SO me, as well.
Happy birthday Troy!
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