Anxiety
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Originally Posted by teatreeoil007 
I don't know if you are into reading, but that is one way to take your mind off things and distract you from the anxiety. I like to read crime dramas and murder mysteries and try to solve them. Just finished a David Baldacci book; a real page turner and hard to put down.
Another thing that can help with anxiety is to do arts and crafts. Do you like needle work or sewing, painting or decorating?
Another thing that can help with anxiety is to do arts and crafts. Do you like needle work or sewing, painting or decorating?
Thanks so much for the suggestions!
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Originally Posted by Delizadee
Endless streams of funny stuff on youtube. Netflix binges. Podcasts.
Cleaning. Praying. Meditating. Yoga. Exercise. Journaling. Deep breathing.
Youtube has some guided meditations and I think breathing exercises and even hypnosis type things to help with cravings.
Hang in there
Cleaning. Praying. Meditating. Yoga. Exercise. Journaling. Deep breathing.
Youtube has some guided meditations and I think breathing exercises and even hypnosis type things to help with cravings.
Hang in there
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Originally Posted by REsoberALITY
Hopefully the anxiety will subside in a week or two. Be aware tha can sneak in and out for a while though. Don't get too discouraged if it does.... It's often milder, less intense and farther between episodes the longer you abstain from drinking.
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Originally Posted by thomas11
Hi Greenswimmer, the anxiety is the worst so I feel for you. No idea when it will subside, but the way I remember it, you will "just know". You will feel it.
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Originally Posted by Tonymblue
My anxiety would slowly wane after a couple of days. Tomorrow you will start to feel better. Chamomile surely helps. Valerian root helped me alot. Good food, vitamins, b vitamins especially helped the anxiousness.
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Originally Posted by MariahGayle
You tube relaxation meditation using head phones somewhere quiet & relaxing. Thoughts of peace your way!
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Originally Posted by Quincy
Hi Greenswimmer. The worst anxiety for me only lasted about a week. The first few days it was pretty constant and as the days went on I would get relief and then get anxious and then repeat. It's a roller coaster, but seems to be a common theme for those just starting.
I don't watch too many movies, but for me coming to SR ALOT and reading around, posting here and there sure helped my anxiety. If I wasn't working or sleeping I was here.
I don't watch too many movies, but for me coming to SR ALOT and reading around, posting here and there sure helped my anxiety. If I wasn't working or sleeping I was here.
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UK
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For books, Girl on a Train and Elizabeth is Missing have been my fave books for the past year. I'd def recommend those two. Films, I enjoyed going back to some childhood favourites in my first month or so sober (when my mind was on a spin cycle I couldn't cope with much more story line than that lol). Goonies. Secret Garden. Goodnight Mister Tom. That kind of stuff. But we're all different.
For between meetings you might find listening to some of the AA Speakers useful. There are lots on this site, which is free.... 5500+ AA Speakers & Tapes - Organized & Mobile-Friendly!
Breathing exercises really help me nowadays if I get anxious for any reason, and I wish I'd tried them in my early sober days. I ended up getting dizzy spells with anxiety which I went to the doc for (didn't mention that I'd just kicked the booze though as wasn't ready to get honest) - I'm sure I was shallow breathing most of the time. Anyway, slow deep calm breathing in the nose and out the mouth does help. I think 'God In' (or calm in if you prefer) 'anxiety out' to match the breathing. I focus on the breaths and the words to help have get a break from thinking about the past and the future. Alternate nostril breathing helps restore balance as well. 2 fore fingers lightly on for head / just above space between eyes. Thumb on left nostril and 3rd finger on right nostril. Hold left and breath slowly in right. Pause. Breath slowly out of left. Breath slowly in left, pause, breathe slowly out of right. Repeat for about 10 times. (The nostril one is my fave and always makes everything feel better quite quickly).
Hopefully some ladies at AA gave you their numbers. This is what the fellowship is about. Please try to used them if only to say 'Hi, it was good to meet you, thanks for giving me your number. I'm sober and hope to see you again next time'. If youre NOT fine, then say. This is how we can get to know people and get to the stage where we're in a position to share lifts, meet for coffee and chat, etc. My support network has been very important to me, and I try to offer support to others because of this. In AA I've heard lots of times, sobriety is something that we get to keep when we're willing to give it away, and that is true. And if people gave you numbers, that is why. No ulterior motives.
Wishing you all the best for your recovery. BB
For between meetings you might find listening to some of the AA Speakers useful. There are lots on this site, which is free.... 5500+ AA Speakers & Tapes - Organized & Mobile-Friendly!
Breathing exercises really help me nowadays if I get anxious for any reason, and I wish I'd tried them in my early sober days. I ended up getting dizzy spells with anxiety which I went to the doc for (didn't mention that I'd just kicked the booze though as wasn't ready to get honest) - I'm sure I was shallow breathing most of the time. Anyway, slow deep calm breathing in the nose and out the mouth does help. I think 'God In' (or calm in if you prefer) 'anxiety out' to match the breathing. I focus on the breaths and the words to help have get a break from thinking about the past and the future. Alternate nostril breathing helps restore balance as well. 2 fore fingers lightly on for head / just above space between eyes. Thumb on left nostril and 3rd finger on right nostril. Hold left and breath slowly in right. Pause. Breath slowly out of left. Breath slowly in left, pause, breathe slowly out of right. Repeat for about 10 times. (The nostril one is my fave and always makes everything feel better quite quickly).
Hopefully some ladies at AA gave you their numbers. This is what the fellowship is about. Please try to used them if only to say 'Hi, it was good to meet you, thanks for giving me your number. I'm sober and hope to see you again next time'. If youre NOT fine, then say. This is how we can get to know people and get to the stage where we're in a position to share lifts, meet for coffee and chat, etc. My support network has been very important to me, and I try to offer support to others because of this. In AA I've heard lots of times, sobriety is something that we get to keep when we're willing to give it away, and that is true. And if people gave you numbers, that is why. No ulterior motives.
Wishing you all the best for your recovery. BB
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Originally Posted by GreenSwimmer
Hi cwood, it went great! Much better than I anticipated. Going to another on Sunday, possibly one in between too if I need to. I feel very encouraged and determined!
Thank you so much for caring and asking me to share.
Thank you so much for caring and asking me to share.
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: US East Coast
Posts: 1,972
Originally Posted by teatreeoil007
Sure...you could even be an ice cream specialist and enlist your taste buds to trying a different kind of ice cream every day....it would take some commitment, but surely there is good incentive there....
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Join Date: Sep 2016
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Originally Posted by Berrybean
For books, Girl on a Train and Elizabeth is Missing have been my fave books for the past year. I'd def recommend those two. Films, I enjoyed going back to some childhood favourites in my first month or so sober (when my mind was on a spin cycle I couldn't cope with much more story line than that lol). Goonies. Secret Garden. Goodnight Mister Tom. That kind of stuff. But we're all different.
For between meetings you might find listening to some of the AA Speakers useful. There are lots on this site, which is free.... 5500+ AA Speakers & Tapes - Organized & Mobile-Friendly!
Breathing exercises really help me nowadays if I get anxious for any reason, and I wish I'd tried them in my early sober days. I ended up getting dizzy spells with anxiety which I went to the doc for (didn't mention that I'd just kicked the booze though as wasn't ready to get honest) - I'm sure I was shallow breathing most of the time. Anyway, slow deep calm breathing in the nose and out the mouth does help. I think 'God In' (or calm in if you prefer) 'anxiety out' to match the breathing. I focus on the breaths and the words to help have get a break from thinking about the past and the future. Alternate nostril breathing helps restore balance as well. 2 fore fingers lightly on for head / just above space between eyes. Thumb on left nostril and 3rd finger on right nostril. Hold left and breath slowly in right. Pause. Breath slowly out of left. Breath slowly in left, pause, breathe slowly out of right. Repeat for about 10 times. (The nostril one is my fave and always makes everything feel better quite quickly).
Hopefully some ladies at AA gave you their numbers. This is what the fellowship is about. Please try to used them if only to say 'Hi, it was good to meet you, thanks for giving me your number. I'm sober and hope to see you again next time'. If youre NOT fine, then say. This is how we can get to know people and get to the stage where we're in a position to share lifts, meet for coffee and chat, etc. My support network has been very important to me, and I try to offer support to others because of this. In AA I've heard lots of times, sobriety is something that we get to keep when we're willing to give it away, and that is true. And if people gave you numbers, that is why. No ulterior motives.
Wishing you all the best for your recovery. BB
For between meetings you might find listening to some of the AA Speakers useful. There are lots on this site, which is free.... 5500+ AA Speakers & Tapes - Organized & Mobile-Friendly!
Breathing exercises really help me nowadays if I get anxious for any reason, and I wish I'd tried them in my early sober days. I ended up getting dizzy spells with anxiety which I went to the doc for (didn't mention that I'd just kicked the booze though as wasn't ready to get honest) - I'm sure I was shallow breathing most of the time. Anyway, slow deep calm breathing in the nose and out the mouth does help. I think 'God In' (or calm in if you prefer) 'anxiety out' to match the breathing. I focus on the breaths and the words to help have get a break from thinking about the past and the future. Alternate nostril breathing helps restore balance as well. 2 fore fingers lightly on for head / just above space between eyes. Thumb on left nostril and 3rd finger on right nostril. Hold left and breath slowly in right. Pause. Breath slowly out of left. Breath slowly in left, pause, breathe slowly out of right. Repeat for about 10 times. (The nostril one is my fave and always makes everything feel better quite quickly).
Hopefully some ladies at AA gave you their numbers. This is what the fellowship is about. Please try to used them if only to say 'Hi, it was good to meet you, thanks for giving me your number. I'm sober and hope to see you again next time'. If youre NOT fine, then say. This is how we can get to know people and get to the stage where we're in a position to share lifts, meet for coffee and chat, etc. My support network has been very important to me, and I try to offer support to others because of this. In AA I've heard lots of times, sobriety is something that we get to keep when we're willing to give it away, and that is true. And if people gave you numbers, that is why. No ulterior motives.
Wishing you all the best for your recovery. BB
Great advise on calling those ladies who gave me their number even just to say "thanks and I'm sober and hope to see you next week". I only received one number (the only few other ladies in the meeting were newcomers also) but she was very sweet and genuine. It made me tear up! Will call her today. And I'm proud to say I feel pretty darn good today... Still sober! Not backing down for anything!
Thanks again!
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Join Date: Sep 2016
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Originally Posted by SunnyDenver
How's the anxiety today GreenSwimmer? I slept ok, not great last night but the anxiety is much better. Mostly just tired today and feel a bit fluey, but I can cope with that!
Thanks as always for the support. Sending peace your way.
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: America
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Originally Posted by GreenSwimmer
Yes! I love reading, and I love murder mysteries and true crime as well. Good idea! I used to love painting, maybe I should try picking that up again.
Thanks so much for the suggestions!
Thanks so much for the suggestions!
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 709
I second the youtube meditations. When I was in rehab, they gave us L-theanine, an amino acid supplement. It really helps with anxiety and sleep. I still take it. The dr also prescribed librium, which is a common med given with alcohol withdrawal. If your anxiety keeps ratcheting, it's something to ask your dr about. Good luck!!
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Originally Posted by teatreeoil007
Right on. MMMMM. My faves tend to be anything with chocolate and caramel in them.
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