9 days sober and anxiety is way up!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: NY
Posts: 56
9 days sober and anxiety is way up!
Today I am 9 days sober (happy dance!)
However, I am really having a problem with anxiety. I have a history of generalized anxiety disorder (best I can describe it is I constantly have a feeling of butterflies in my stomach or something bad about to happen). I've been taking zoloft for 8-9 months. (And self medicated with alcohol).
Since getting sober, I've noticed almost a daily increase in anxiety. Is this common in early recovery? Suggestions for reducing this feeling?
I do have the option of upping my zoloft (the way my doctor writes it I can take 1 or 2 pills/day, but I have always taken just one). I'd rather not up the medication if there are other ways to deal/it goes away after awhile.
Thanks for any suggestions/ideas!
However, I am really having a problem with anxiety. I have a history of generalized anxiety disorder (best I can describe it is I constantly have a feeling of butterflies in my stomach or something bad about to happen). I've been taking zoloft for 8-9 months. (And self medicated with alcohol).
Since getting sober, I've noticed almost a daily increase in anxiety. Is this common in early recovery? Suggestions for reducing this feeling?
I do have the option of upping my zoloft (the way my doctor writes it I can take 1 or 2 pills/day, but I have always taken just one). I'd rather not up the medication if there are other ways to deal/it goes away after awhile.
Thanks for any suggestions/ideas!
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Yes, this is very common in early sobriety - congrats on 9 days!
You are still early enough on that your body is still adjusting, and even without GAD anxiety is common at this time. Another thing to keep in mind is that alchohol is a central nervous system depressant, so in a sense your drinking may have completely counteracted the zoloft. Now that your body is ridding itself of the alcohol the zoloft might be working differently too.
Have you ever seen a therapist or counselor, or was the zoloft prescribed by an MD? In either case i'd certainly let them know about the fact that you've quit drinking and see what they might recommend about the prescription. If you've never tried therapy or counseling don't rule that out either, SSRI's really treat the symptoms of anxiety but not always the source....counseling can help you in that area.
You are still early enough on that your body is still adjusting, and even without GAD anxiety is common at this time. Another thing to keep in mind is that alchohol is a central nervous system depressant, so in a sense your drinking may have completely counteracted the zoloft. Now that your body is ridding itself of the alcohol the zoloft might be working differently too.
Have you ever seen a therapist or counselor, or was the zoloft prescribed by an MD? In either case i'd certainly let them know about the fact that you've quit drinking and see what they might recommend about the prescription. If you've never tried therapy or counseling don't rule that out either, SSRI's really treat the symptoms of anxiety but not always the source....counseling can help you in that area.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 437
Congratulations on 9 days - way to go!
I think anxiety is present in a lot of people during early sobriety. It was with me the first time. After a while it fades into the background as your body adjusts to the lack of poison and starts healing itself.
I found keeping myself busy, socialising (difficult for me), healthy diet, lots of water - drink even if you're not thirsty, and, to be quite frank, self appreciation and a "pat on the back" for making this change for the better.
As always, please chat to your Dr if you're uncomfortable. Sometimes just to talk to them and get reassurance is enough?
Fight the good fight and never give up. It's your life, your health, your recovery.
B.
I think anxiety is present in a lot of people during early sobriety. It was with me the first time. After a while it fades into the background as your body adjusts to the lack of poison and starts healing itself.
I found keeping myself busy, socialising (difficult for me), healthy diet, lots of water - drink even if you're not thirsty, and, to be quite frank, self appreciation and a "pat on the back" for making this change for the better.
As always, please chat to your Dr if you're uncomfortable. Sometimes just to talk to them and get reassurance is enough?
Fight the good fight and never give up. It's your life, your health, your recovery.
B.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 242
Hello! I just wanted to check in with you, I came on specifically to find out how you managed on your vacation. Great job!!!! I hope seeing your friend making not so great choices reiterated to you how much better things can be without the drinking. I understand what you said about that "loose" feeling people get after a few. Unfortunately for some of us it's followed by that out of control, can't stop, hammered and puking feeling later. Not to mention the morning after.
As to your OP question... I'm pretty sure anxiety and early sobriety go hand in hand. At least it did for me. Hang in there, you are doing fantastic!
As to your OP question... I'm pretty sure anxiety and early sobriety go hand in hand. At least it did for me. Hang in there, you are doing fantastic!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: NY
Posts: 56
Originally Posted by AlaskaGirl 
Hello! I just wanted to check in with you, I came on specifically to find out how you managed on your vacation. Great job!!!! I hope seeing your friend making not so great choices reiterated to you how much better things can be without the drinking. I understand what you said about that "loose" feeling people get after a few. Unfortunately for some of us it's followed by that out of control, can't stop, hammered and puking feeling later. Not to mention the morning after.
As to your OP question... I'm pretty sure anxiety and early sobriety go hand in hand. At least it did for me. Hang in there, you are doing fantastic!
As to your OP question... I'm pretty sure anxiety and early sobriety go hand in hand. At least it did for me. Hang in there, you are doing fantastic!
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,511
GAD is something I've dealt with since my teenager years. I do find that there are lots of tips for helping to manage it and I've found some really helpful books:
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
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
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: NY
Posts: 56
Originally Posted by Anna
GAD is something I've dealt with since my teenager years. I do find that there are lots of tips for helping to manage it and I've found some really helpful books:
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
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
All is Change
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,284
Hi RuralJuror. Going back is not an option. Be cautious about upping the use of Zoloft. Seek doctors advice. The only time I've felt truly suicidal is when deciding to go cold turkey on Zoloft. Awful stuff. There are so many effective ways to deal with, live with and overcome anxiety disorders without drugs. You're in a very good position to find out about that here. Remember as you swing high and low, it doesn't matter, booze is not an option.
All is Change
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,284
Hi RuralJuror. I just reread what I posted. Not so good, not very cheering. My aplogies. wow. So how to deal with the anxiety. Sounds like you've had plenty of practice. Anxiety is not a chronic condition. The various unsuccessful treatment regimes on offer only make it seem so. The lasting truly effective cure that I know, anapana and vipassana (see dhamma thread), is self dependent and natural. No need for doctors or therapists or intoxicants.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 73
I'm on day 11 and my mood is also worse (anxiety and some dep) compared to the first week. I think part of it our bodies are still adjusting but also that if you been relying on the bottle to manage emotions, you probably forgotten how to do any self-care that "normal" people do instinctively. I've found that if I stop, and actively focus on taking care of myself (both physically and managing emotion) for half an hour or so, things get better. But it doesn't come natural for me, it's something that I need to keep reminding myself to do.
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
In early sobriety I would get this terrible sense of impending doom every two or three days. I couldn't understand it, I thought I was doing everything right. I could not understand how I got to feeling this way.
I had the benefit of an attentive sponsor with a good memory. Each day I talked with him about what I had been doing and any problems th at came up. When it felt like the roof was going to fall one me, he would take me back over the last few days and unravel the mystery.
It turns out that though I had stopped drinking, I had not been able to change much else. I was still normal, for me, and I was still acting in very selfish and instinct driven ways. In small ways this put me in conflict with the people around me, and these little issues had a knack of combining, eventually forming a big black cloud which I could not see a way out of.
When I got to step four, I saw how I was my own worst enemy. My repeated return to the insanity of the first drink was part of a chain of events starting with selfishness which lead to feeling miserable which lead to the old obsession that a couple of drinks would get me feeling good again.
I had the benefit of an attentive sponsor with a good memory. Each day I talked with him about what I had been doing and any problems th at came up. When it felt like the roof was going to fall one me, he would take me back over the last few days and unravel the mystery.
It turns out that though I had stopped drinking, I had not been able to change much else. I was still normal, for me, and I was still acting in very selfish and instinct driven ways. In small ways this put me in conflict with the people around me, and these little issues had a knack of combining, eventually forming a big black cloud which I could not see a way out of.
When I got to step four, I saw how I was my own worst enemy. My repeated return to the insanity of the first drink was part of a chain of events starting with selfishness which lead to feeling miserable which lead to the old obsession that a couple of drinks would get me feeling good again.
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