Does your life suck after going sober?

Question

I hate to admit i, but since going sober over a year ago my life has been empty and crap.I would have continued on over using meds (Xanax, etc) if it wasn't for the fact that my family ratted me out to my doctor. Now I get NOTHING. I don't drink or do anything, and quite frankly nothing that I do during the course of the day is as satisfying as simply taking pills or drinking. I now think that it was a mistake to go sober. Any thoughts? Perhaps someone who has gone through this can comment? Should I just go back to meds?

Answer 1

You should start some good counseling. Altering your state of conciousness in a self destructive manner is a sign of a deeper issue. It is awesome that you are off the meds! That is the first and the biggest step in getting to the root of the problem. But you really do need to find what underlies the addictive behavior.

If counseling is not a real option for you, then at least join up with a support group of some sort to give you the connection to society and better health that you deserve and need. Good luck and be strong.

Answer 2

Do you want to stay sober but it just feels bad right now, or are you doing it because your family is making you? I think a person has to be committed to staying sober for themselves. Sounds to me like you have depression, and were drinking (and taking pills) to dull the feelings associated with it.

I too suffered from depression (which has a tendency to come back periodically, that's the nature of depression). There are things you can do aside from taking medication (which I really don't think is best long term), but you have to be open to new ideas. What you've been doing so far (and what your family has been recommending) hasn't worked. So it's going to be important to open your mind to ideas you have either rejected, or simply paid no attention to.

I see a chiropractor regularly, a practitioner of of Network Spinal Analysis, and this has helped a great deal (you might be able to find a local one at www.donaldepstein.com). I have also learned to meditate, do so twice daily on a regular schedule, and reworked my diet with the help of an ayurvedic doctor. I saw a shaman once who was trained by Alberto Villoldo (Healing the Light Body), and the results were outstanding. But there are a zillion other things that might help, these are just what has worked for me. Be open to receiving the help you need and it will come your way.

Quitting drinking is hard, you should be proud that you're still sober, especially because you're so unhappy (which makes it easy to start again). I haven't had a drink in 2 years and it just keeps getting better and better. But I miss it very occasionally, socially mostly (my whole family are still drinkers... in fact, I'm sitting here putting off going to see them today, go figure!). But if you work on getting healthier, it does get better.

My family do not understand why I must live, function and consume differently from them. They do not criticize, but it is not easy to be different from one's loved ones. I have developed a circle of friends who are more like me, and that is very satisfying.

Hope this helps! Hang in there, you can stay sober and feel better if you're really determined.

Answer 3

I am there. I feel your pain. About 6 months ago I stopped drinking. I only drink occassionally now. Before this all I did was drink. I went to the bar 4-5 nights a week. I loved being drunk. I had fun. I was diagnosed with a brain disease recently and now I am on medications so I try to stay away from alcohol. It makes me too sick, but yes I miss it all. I miss going out every night and drinking with my friends. They still all go out and I sit at home. Makes me kind of depressed. They have fun and I am bored.