Question for ex alcohol addicts

did you quit cold turkey? It sort of sounds like a lot more is going on.....maybe someone to talk to wouldn't be a bad idea so you can deal with why you don't like the world or reality? I drank in lieu of therapy for a long time. It sucked when I realized it wasn't normal to drink just to cope with day to day. What kind of resources do you have to connect with a professional?

So they say the more you drink the more you get depressed.

I've been clean almost 2 weeks but it is really frikking depressing without.

I find life so boring, reality is boring, the world is evil i don't like it at all. Now in the past i would start again but im holding my own but how did you guys cope with it?

Alot of peeps say, find things to do, but even then i find those things boring and me quitting smoking doesn't add to my mood either atm.

Okay well, the truth is that life is hard but you make of it whatever you want.

That said, because you say you're depressed and find life and everything "boring" it's very likely you have clinical depression that you've been self-medicating with alcohol. The problem with that is that once you stop drinking, the world is still there. You know the old adage of "No matter where you go, there you are."

So my advice is to get yourself to an MD and find out about getting on some anti-depressant medication. You may not need it forever, but it will help get you over that hump anyway.

Added: I see others have mentioned AA. Good idea, if you haven't already done that.

I gave up the booze when I became a Christian. Life's been anything but boring since. In fact I was a much more boring person when I drank and took drugs (although I thought I was startling company).

I wish I could encourage you to just go along to your local church, but the truth is that many of them aren't so good these days, I'm sad to say.

So why not instead have a read of your bible. I'd start with one of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

I promise you that if you started a relationship with God, your life would be both exciting and full of hope.

Might be worth considering. Sorry if this seems preachy, but it worked for me when I was a very heavy substance abuser.

All the best

Greg

ps: Greg, your photo reminds me of Alan Harper(Jon Cryer)

Had to Google Jon Cryer - I guess that's a compliment, so thanks very much!

Every blessing with your efforts to stay dry.

Hi,i am new here:).And i,ve been sober for nearly 2 weeks(not the first time thou).hat i know from the therapy,that first two weeks are very depresing.

Retreating phase (from day 0 to 15 days)The level of neurotransmitters decreases rapidly when we stop drinking.
This is the initial phase is called phase sobriety retreat. Then experience a series of very unpleasant symptoms, such as withdrawal (mistakenly called a hangover), depression, mood swings, sleep disorders and other health problems.

Honeymoon Phase (16-45)
After completion of phase retreat back to the production of brain neurotransmitters with redoubled strength (as if trying to catch up;)) This period is called honeymoon - then feel relief after past torment, is, well, full of energy and optimism, euphoria are common. Normally, if excessively engage in work, taking on too much confidence, but also fall into boredom, because the outside world does not share our enthusiasm and keeps us step;)

Phase Wall (46-120)
After a month of honey brain tries to restore the production of neurotransmitters to the correct level, what we perceive as their decline - besets us depression, apathy, low energy. We can not organize their lives, we often have family problems, we feel lonely, we lowered mood. This is the most difficult period of sobriety Phase Wall, which occurs very frequently return to drinking
Phase Adjustment (121-180)
The next phase of sobriety - even at a stable level of neurotransmitters in the brain - is the Adaptation Phase. We then have difficulties in interpersonal relations, we feel the lack of job satisfaction, lack of goals. Sober life begins to seem boring to us.

Phase Solutions (180-360)
The next phase, the closing year of sobriety is a Phase Solutions. Then we begin to return to normal, but still feel the mental and emotional discomfort - digest the guilt we experience depressive states, we get angry.

I hope i could help,and most of all u could undertand that ( i translate from the polish web,with a little help of google ) )

So continue what u are doing,trust me i,ve been there and it,s get better.Good luck

If AA isn't really your thing, look into Smart Recovery. http://www.smartrecovery.org It's a secular alternative to AA.

Just remember: You quit for a reason.
Duh!
You probably felt bored or down sometimes before too, and that is why you picked up the drinks. It obviously did not work.
Give it some time for adjustment and don't panic. Change is sometime uncomfortable. But we need to do it.
Signed,
Over 35 years sober.

Hey! I know I'm kind of late on the thread but I've been where you're at as well & I think the key for myself was accepting the fact that it IS going to be boring in the beginning compared to all the drama of getting loaded. However, the stability & calm that I initially hated are some of the things that I love about my life now. It's nice to not have fights or constantly be f*cking things up lol. It just takes time. Hang in there! AA is what helped me even though I initially thought it was a cult. Today I have a little over 4 years off drugs & alcohol Now to just start eating better...

I agree. Bordom for some might be contentedness. Serinity could be happiness.

I'm also trying to clean my life of alcohol. I've been sober a week, and am in the same boat as you. I find myself board very easily. For me, drinking was such a big part of my life I have to find other things to fill in the time wasted on it. I sure hope it gets better. I didn't realize how board I would be! Let's just say my house is extremely clean lol. Just hoping the boredom doesn't lead to relapse. Good luck to you!

Often your seratonin levels need to fix themselves, so of course there is a phase of depression after quitting drinking. Your endorphins have nothing to do (or so it feels). This takes time for the brain to adjust. The boredom is normal as well, and it was probably something you struggled to deal with. Basically the answer does come down to finding other hobbies to do. Start with something small, like just reading a few pages of a magazine or book. Make time to watch a movie every day, go for a walk, listen to music. The list can go on and on!

What you are going through is normal. It is referred to as P.A.W.S. Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms.

So they say the more you drink the more you get depressed.

I've been clean almost 2 weeks but it is really frikking depressing without.

I find life so boring, reality is boring, the world is evil i don't like it at all. Now in the past i would start again but im holding my own but how did you guys cope with it?

Alot of peeps say, find things to do, but even then i find those things boring and me quitting smoking doesn't add to my mood either atm.

And about the boring stuff. Reality is what it is. The world IS evil but there are some good things about it. Being drunk takes your focus off the boring bad stuff, but think about this...YOU become the bad and boring stuff when you're drunk! Maybe you're not a bad drunk now, I don't know your story, but it always ends up escalating....always.....it could take years or months but it will get worse if you keep drinking.

Things will get better, maybe not this week, but they will. You just have to get through the holidays and you may be better. 90 days, just give it 90 days.

Just a few small suggestions to try.

Look into 5HTP. Natural amino acid supplement that has helped many with depression, mood swings, insomnia. I am taking it myself.

Also, for distraction, look into something online called Second Life. I found that a great escape from reality when I was in there a lot, it is a virtual reality where you can create things, meet people, go to live concerts, dance, swim, ski, party and just about anything else you can think of.

I tried AA way before I stopped drinking. I thought it was not for me, but it was because I was not ready.

When I actually stopped drinking I did not go to AA for a few weeks either, I did not think it was for me. I got sick and tired of being so upset and depressed. It was like l got out of an abusive relationship, you would think I was happy but I missed my abusive lover and was depressed "because I loved him".

I found happiness in the rooms of AA, but it was not at all right away. It took 90 days before the obsession of alcohol was lifted. Then it took another 9 months before I was able to have normal people fun.

Now I am 7 years sober and can honestly say AA and working the steps was the best thing I ever did in my life. I would beg you to honestly reconsider giving AA another try, a real, lets try this and get serious try. Make some friends, get a sponsor and work the steps.

If anything, go to a few meetings, get some phone numbers of guys and give them a call. Now in saying that, we need to remember that we are all sick and suffering, some more than others. There are some people that come into the rooms and replace their drinking addiction with a meeting addiction. We are here to share our experience strength and hope, not boss anyone around and tell them what to do. It has been my experience that when I start getting involved with people that want to boss me around and tell me what I should be doingI back away from those people.

Find someone that has what you want and ask them how they did it.,.....see how it goes............but if you are honestly ready to get sober and stay sober, and be happy about it, please, I beg of you to give AA a serious chance.