How long does it take to get thinking right
 

I have been sober 45 days, still not feeling good yet?

I was a hard-core daily heavy drinker, a 5th of vodka daily.

I am in my mid-fifty's, waking up in the morning with stiffness, shoulder muscle pain, anxious, fuzzy thinking, depression.

I have been eating good, drinking lot's of water, taking a good vitamin, program.

I am not sleeping well, just seem not being able to fully relax.

I seem to be thinking way to much, worried that there something wrong with my health.

I have had a complete physical, blood work , every came back normal, other than mild elevated AST, ALT Liver enzymes.

What are your thoughts, experiences with sobriety?

I don't know what else you are doing in terms of recovery. If the only change you have made is to stop drinking alcohol, then you are in a stage some refer to as white knuckling. You are just braced really hard against drinking and sticking to it. You need to move onto things that you are going to replace your drinking with. For many this is AA, going to meetings and working the steps. AA is not so much about quitting and detoxing as it is about repairing your life and building a new life that lets in all the joy and good feelings you are waiting for. Others find other methods like rational recovery. Now you need to think about, what does a sober person do to sleep better?What do sober people do to relax? You trained yourself for years to sleep and relax by drinking. You need new methods. Are you exercising? Socializing with people? Do you have hobbies and activities that fulfill you? A lot of people expect that life gets better when you quit drinking. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. It takes some work. Quitting alcohol is the start. It is the necessary beginning to making your life better. You simply cannot do that drunk and recovering from drunkenness. Your new sobriety gives you the opportunity to get out there build a positive life. But you have to build it. We all want to FEEL better. Focus on what things make you feel better! Then get out and try some.

Congrats on 45 days!! It's still early. My sleep patterns are still adjusting after 99 days.

Perhaps the aches and pains your are feeling have been there all along; just dulled by booze every day. All of my aches and pains came to life 3 months ago when I stopped guzzling down the booze.

I started with a personal trainer about 3 weeks ago and the aches are going away as my strength and fitness improve. I'd also recommend looking into meditation.

I found that creating and sticking to these new schedules distracts my brain from old habits. The endorphin rush is pretty awesome too..

Sounds normal.

Took me 6 months to even begin to start feeling slightly better. Around the 13 month mark things really settled into place.

I’m at 16 months now and really feeling the benefits of sobering up.

:You_Rock_


drinking was 2% of my problem so stopping drinking is 2% of the solution!

:tyou

Congrats on the time. If you are not getting exercise and as much as is slightly uncomfortable sometimes, it might help. It is the key ingredient if I am to function optimally.

Hey there. I'm on day 50.

Some days I feel better than others. I have been smoking, so that probably contributes to my energy levels.

Some days I feel really good about my sobriety, like I'm actually doing something good and mature and healthy for myself for the first time.

Other days, I feel down, depressed, craving a drink, wishing I could just have something to ease the pain.

It's a rollercoaster ride. Let's hang in there together.