New to the forum, and struggling.
 

I posted my story over in women's revovery, but to summarize, I'm 2.5 weeks sober 🤗 after 9 years of off/on maintenance drinking. I'm really commuted to staying sober this time, as I got sober on my own terms and not because I was pregnant, or because I thought it was what my husband wanted, etc... but, I'm really struggling with anxiety, the days feel like they drag on, and I have no attention span or motivation. Feeling almost dead inside, and on auto pilot. The only thing I seem to feel is this crushing anxiety all day, every day. It's something I struggled with for yeara before I began drinking around the clock, and it's back full throttle now that I'm sober.
Is there any online AA or support programs anyone can suggest? Any suggestions for coping? How long before I can start to feel "normal" again? My husband says he remembers at about the 9 months sober mark, he felt much better. He's very supportive, but I'm feeling like he's been sober so long (25 years +) and forgets that he had a supoort group through rehab and many years of AA.

Thanks for any suggestions :)

Welcome to the family. :) I hope our support can help you get sober for good. :hug:

Thank you ♡♡

I also have struggled with anxiety. It began decades before I started to drink and continues to some extent today. Of course, it was the worst when I was drinking and in early recovery. I found some great books that helped me to cope:

Amen, Daniel Change Your Brain, Change Your Life

Bassett, Lucinda From Panic to Power

Burns, David MD When Panic Attacks

Chodron, Pema The Places That Scare You

Doidge, Norman MD The Brain That Changes Itself

Dyer, Wayne The Power of Intention and Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life

Orsilla, Ken Mindful way Through Anxiety

Belly Breathing:

Sit comfortably, with your shoulders, head and neck relaxed.

Breathe in slowly through your nose so that your stomach moves out.

Tighten your stomach muscles, letting them fall inward as you exhale slowly through your mouth.

What about local AA meetings?

There is AA online, just google.

Have you tried exercise? I run and do yoga....truly its my anti anxiety medication.

Welcome to SR!

This is really helpful!! Thank you: )

I do some toning exercises, and after I kick this cold (been sixk since before new years), getting out for walks would be awesome. Even in the snow lol :)

Thanks, will look and see if there's online. Local meetings aren't going to work for me at the moment for a couple reasons...

Do you know if there's structured recovery programs available online?

Keep coming back here reading and posting. It has worked wonders for me!

I was like the walking dead for about the first 4 months of sobriety .

I was getting over a major addiction and my body was healing , i felt it was ok to feel grotty . I'd been plastering over the cracks for years .

All i had to do was get through sober , as time went on things got better .

One thing i know is that alcohol isnt the cure for anything and after smoking is the biggest cause of cancer , if you are sick then a Dr is required not rotten oxidsed liquids that can kill you .

Bestwishes, m

hello and welcome.

here is a good page to understand what is happening to you now you aren't drinking and your body adapts
https://digital-dharma.net/post-acut...r-immediately/

Hi and welcome to SR. Good to have you with us

Hi asthecrowflies, congratulations on your sober time and welcome to SR.

I had anxiety when I stopped drinking too. I used to use the booze to help me cope and although it masks it, it never truly went. That's what the recovery is about, once you get sober, learning to live sober.

It is worth it every one little bit.

Hello and welcome to SR,

I am still new too, 42 days sober.

2.5 weeks is great so well done!

I experienced a lot of anxiety in the first few weeks but it has gone now. I think the anxiety is part of withdrawal. I also had headaches, nausea and insomnia - these too have passed. I feel so much better.

SR got me sober and AA has kept me sober.

Just a thought - would you be able to go to AA if your husband went with you?

Lots of support and encouragement here so keep reading and posting.

Wishing you wellness - mind, body and spirit :)

Scruff

That is so interesting! Thank you for posting that link :)

Congratulations on 42 days!
Thank you for your support, and encouragement :) We live in a really small community, in which my husband is seasonally involved with the school district... It's best we not attend here, or it'd cause issues for our school age kids. Maybe we could go to the neighboring community which is much larger, and would feel more comfortable. I have agoraphobic anxiety, so find it difficult to leave the house, but do try to get out every day. That'd be great for us to go together, a good goal. Thank you for the great suggestion!

Hi and welcome asthecrowflies :)

Most recovery groups have online meetings now - not only AA but more secular oriented groups like SMART Recovery or Lifering too.

There's a method called Rational Recovery that is book based - no meetings at all.

My advice is to Google all 4 and see which one suits you the best :)

You'll find a ton of support here too :)

D

Welcome aboard Asthecrowflies. Stick close to this community, you won't regret it.

Glad you found us.

SOS
Are you still experiencing PAWS? If so what are you feeling