Anyone else experience this?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 43
Anyone else experience this?
I've been problem drinking for 5 or 6 years now (I'm 29), and I put together about 6 months of sobriety last year, but relapsed in April.
I get a new feeling when I'm not drinking now though - it could be a few hours since my last drink, and once I've sobered up, I just can't sit still. Time crawls, and I get up and walk around the house, doing absolutely nothing, feeling so bored that I can't think about doing anything besides going to the liquor store. I can *think* of other things to do, but I have zero desire to do them. It's persistent too - it doesn't just go away in an hour like cravings usually do, and drinking seems to be the only thing that makes this awkward feeling stop.
Has this happened to anyone else? How did you get past it?
I get a new feeling when I'm not drinking now though - it could be a few hours since my last drink, and once I've sobered up, I just can't sit still. Time crawls, and I get up and walk around the house, doing absolutely nothing, feeling so bored that I can't think about doing anything besides going to the liquor store. I can *think* of other things to do, but I have zero desire to do them. It's persistent too - it doesn't just go away in an hour like cravings usually do, and drinking seems to be the only thing that makes this awkward feeling stop.
Has this happened to anyone else? How did you get past it?
Friendly Folk
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Powers Lake, Wisconsin
Posts: 21,718
I get that way, too. It could just be behavioral. You have become use to responding to restlessness or bordom with having a drink. It is "something to do" and solves a "need". The longer this goes on unchecked the harder it is to break the habits. Then you risk heading for addiction and being controlled by that nasty addictive voice that demands that chemical.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon
Posts: 33
I get that and lump it in with anxiety. It's restlessness. To get rid of it I can normally take a brisk walk around the block or do the dishes or something. Just have to get up and move. Do something menial since concentrating is tough when it happens
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 101
It's your brain releasing extra neurotransmitters.
When people drink a lot, their brain compensates for the depressive effects of alcohol by consistently releasing more GABA - an excitatory neurotransmitter. When you quit drinking, your brain still produces the excess GABA, often for a long time. The brain takes awhile to calm down. GABA's role is literally to pump you up. That's why newly sober people are so worked up, anxious, tense, nervous, restless, etc.
There are other things going in with you chemically that are part of the body's biochemistry of addiction. You can google "biochemistry of alcoholism" if you are good at the internets. I also recommend reading "Beyond the Influence - Understanding and defeating alcoholism." I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Alternately, there are spiritual, emotional, and mental explanations for what you are feeling. None is necessarily better than the other if they help you out.
Good luck.
When people drink a lot, their brain compensates for the depressive effects of alcohol by consistently releasing more GABA - an excitatory neurotransmitter. When you quit drinking, your brain still produces the excess GABA, often for a long time. The brain takes awhile to calm down. GABA's role is literally to pump you up. That's why newly sober people are so worked up, anxious, tense, nervous, restless, etc.
There are other things going in with you chemically that are part of the body's biochemistry of addiction. You can google "biochemistry of alcoholism" if you are good at the internets. I also recommend reading "Beyond the Influence - Understanding and defeating alcoholism." I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Alternately, there are spiritual, emotional, and mental explanations for what you are feeling. None is necessarily better than the other if they help you out.
Good luck.
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Originally Posted by jsprplc2006 
drinking seems to be the only thing that makes this awkward feeling stop.
You really want that feeling to stop? Quit giving it what it wants. You can't negotiate with it, educate it, or placate it.
It must be starved.
Don't drink for 90 days and then let us know if you're still having that feeling.
You can do this.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
When I was in early recovery and got an urge to drink, I'd walk my dogs. By the time we were home again, the urge was gone. I felt better after the walk and the dogs loved going for so many walks. 
It was a win all the way around.
It was a win all the way around. 
Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Plymouth, MI
Posts: 147
Originally Posted by NoahJ
It's your brain releasing extra neurotransmitters.
When people drink a lot, their brain compensates for the depressive effects of alcohol by consistently releasing more GABA - an excitatory neurotransmitter. When you quit drinking, your brain still produces the excess GABA, often for a long time. The brain takes awhile to calm down. GABA's role is literally to pump you up. That's why newly sober people are so worked up, anxious, tense, nervous, restless, etc.
There are other things going in with you chemically that are part of the body's biochemistry of addiction. You can google "biochemistry of alcoholism" if you are good at the internets. I also recommend reading "Beyond the Influence - Understanding and defeating alcoholism." I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Alternately, there are spiritual, emotional, and mental explanations for what you are feeling. None is necessarily better than the other if they help you out.
Good luck.
When people drink a lot, their brain compensates for the depressive effects of alcohol by consistently releasing more GABA - an excitatory neurotransmitter. When you quit drinking, your brain still produces the excess GABA, often for a long time. The brain takes awhile to calm down. GABA's role is literally to pump you up. That's why newly sober people are so worked up, anxious, tense, nervous, restless, etc.
There are other things going in with you chemically that are part of the body's biochemistry of addiction. You can google "biochemistry of alcoholism" if you are good at the internets. I also recommend reading "Beyond the Influence - Understanding and defeating alcoholism." I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
Alternately, there are spiritual, emotional, and mental explanations for what you are feeling. None is necessarily better than the other if they help you out.
Good luck.
So true.... Im actually on something called Gabapentin to help with that. Im also on a once a month shot called Vivitrol. Its to ease cravings... My doctor prescribed them so I said yes as I am ready and willing to try anything to stay sober and happy
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 561
Originally Posted by january161992
i too got sober at 29 by going to aa meetings
its like a big fun sober social club
its like a big fun sober social club
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 561
Originally Posted by biminiblue
By quitting completely and then riding out the urges. The further away from that last drink, the less frequent the urges.
That's addiction you're experiencing. A physical need.
That's addiction you're experiencing. A physical need.
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