Gave up drinking, now I am depressed, Why?

Question

I did used to drink everyday but i was always happy, never depressed, now that i have given up, it seems like there isnt much left in life.

What is life, you work all your life, worry about money, worry about family, house. and then you go old, and get sick and you die. There's got to be more to life than that, isn't?
Now that i have given up, i feel down, I know starting drinking will postpone these questions, but i wont start again. HELP!, Why am I depressed and why dont i feel like doing anything.

I gave up around a month ago.22nd Sep

Answer 1

You "lived for your drinking" now you have to find another reason to live. Try doing something with your kids or wife now that your heads out of the bottle. Find an AA meeting and go to it. "No I'm not an alcoholic!!" Neither was I, I just drank everyday till I was so drunk I remember nothing for six years. You need help and friends, you'll find both there. Good Luck!

Answer 2

You are in WITHDRAWAL.
Alcohol is a dangerously addictive drug. You have obviously become dependent upon it to some extent.

Of course you will feel 'down'. Your body isn't getting its dose as it used to.

DON'T GIVE IN AND START DRINKING AGAIN.

This feeling of being 'down' will pass as your body really starts to detox in a big way.

JUST GIVE IT TIME.

DON'T BE IN A HURRY TO SEE MIRACLES.

Your thoughts are naturally turning to the Eternal Questions about our existence here on this rock.
This is because your mind has been dulled by the effects of alcohol for a long time and is starting to function again. We all know that drinking regularly makes you absent minded.

What is happening is that you are seeing everything through the drug withdrawal process.
ALCOHLOL WITHDRAWAL PRODUCES VERY NEGATIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS.

Do your best not to take any notice.
As a very short term solution you could try taking 'Xanax' in a VERY LOW DOSE.
THIS WILL WORK AGAINST THE NEGATIVE THINKING UNTIL YOU ARE DETOXED ENOUGH TO HAVE A MORE BALANCED MENTAL PICTURE.

I know exactly what you mean about thinking really dark thoughts about life's purpose. It happened to me when my Mother died. I became bitter and cynical.
But life isn't just the hard parts, is it ?
Turn your thoughts to the imense joys that we all live through too.
If you really think about it you'll find that we get as much bad stuff as we do good stuff. The only problem is that when these thoughts about how cr*ppy life is fill our heads it's hard to grab that line of thought that shows us that it's NOT all doom and gloom.

You say that you are loaded up with worries. That too is part of the alcohol withdrawal.
You haven't given any information as to WHY you are worrying. Are you living with a lot of stress ??
If you are maybe some form of counselling will help. A sympathetic ear that is also a highly trained professional can work wonders. Give it a try !

Good Luck . . and PLEASE . . .don't go back on the 'grog'. The sunshine WILL return to your life in a big way if you stay 'dry'.

Answer 3

If you were drinking every day then that would have taken up a big part of your life. The depression you are feeling now is due to displacement, you will now see really how much you drank and now that it is no longer a part of your life you will need to fill the gap that has been left by the alcohol. Why don't you try taking up a hobby, or joining a group, make new friends and try to fill your time. The longer you sit and doo nothing the deeper you will fall into depression. If you feel that it is that bad then I suggest you seed professional help. Maybe there is something deeper that is making you depressed but I would definately recommend getting out and meeting new people, making new friends will help you.

Answer 4

The alcohol has hijacked your seratonin processing. Over time, you will recover. This is not a simple matter of clearing toxins from your body - your body must develop new physical connections for normal brain chemical sensitivity.

One of the most straightforward diagnostic clues for identifying alcholism is to ask a person to remember their first drinking experience - if it was GREAT, then the alchohol likely found a pathway to create a seratonin overload. Not everyone experiences this.

Most people get a sense of satisfaction, including seratonin, over small daily accomplishments and good relations with family and other people. Alcohol has taken that away from you and substituted itself as you sole source of seratonin.
In effect - it has stolen your happiness.
See a counselor if you are depressed, and be treated for that. And understand that you will develop a zest for life after your body chemistry re-maps.

Answer 5

There is a period of time when all a person has avoided by drinking comes to you at once. I can't remember what it is called right now, but by avoiding your own emotional development through drinking, it kind of stock piled up. If you think about what emotions are hitting you the hardest, you can delve into what growth is needed.
Drinking gave you an emotional feeling that you didn't earn. I know this doesn't make sense to you, but emotional development is done through earning emotions for yourself. How can you earn happiness? This is something other people learned, while drinkers didn't give themselves the opportunity to learn it. Try savoring events. While events are happening, sit back and absorb how it feels, they will not always be happy, but they will be emotional and that leads to emotional growth.

Answer 6

As one who has gone through what you are going through, I can give somewhat good advice on this subject.

You must make yourself understand that your alcohol problem is what caused this depression. You got past your problem, so you can get past the effects. You weren't dealing with life in an "unclouded" manner, and the clouds have now returned.

If you need a hint: you must now find something to do in place of drinking. Join the UFC. Get laid when you feel like drinking. Find something to boost your spirits. If you let the depression get the best of you, you WILL go back to drinking, I guarantee it.

Find the things in your life that you have accomplished, and thank God for them every day.

There is a book I used, to get past my depression: The Happy Book. It's online and it's free to download and share with others. Try it. It works!

Answer 7

Congratulations.

There is purpose for everybody's life.

You: you work all your life.
You don't have to work all your life. There should be work/ life balance. Try to find out what gives you joy. For me watching TV, dancing, gardening gives joy. Find what do you enjoy. If not for yourself then find some way to help others. There are so many ways you can enjoy without wasting money.

You: Worry about money.
Instead of worrying about money try to live with less money or think how can you earn some more money. Read something on yahoo finance.

You: Worry about family.
Spend time with & talk with your family members, maybe prepare some food for them bring gifts from 1 dollar shop for them which will give them pleasant surprise. Don't worry about them which is not realistic, worrying is not going to help.
Instead help family members in such a way that things you are worring about them will have less impact on there life.

worry about house: do you have to do big mainteinance work for house? Somebody breaking window glasses every day? Then ask another question about it on yahoo!A.

You: then you go old, and get sick.
I have seen people who work or are healthy enough until there last month of death to do all activities normal people do.
Try to take good care of you health. Bring books from public library & try to know what diseases you can avoid & stay healthy.

& you die.

What do you know what happens after you die? There might be another life after you die. Maybe God is watching you & will reward you after you die.

There is purpose for everybody's life. There are so many issues/challenges humanity is facing.
Say global warming, wars, criminal activities by teenagers, elderly care, teaching good morals to next genaration.
Find how you can be helpfull to somebody else as well as be happy for yourself.

Only question I am not answering is what is life?
Because it's different for everybody & you have to discover yourself what is your life for?
Don't start heavy drinking again then you will become so dumb & lifeless.

If this is not helping take vitamins or talk with doctor.

Answer 8

The first year after you quit drinking or drugging after you've done it for a while your mind and body are rejecting being clean.You need to find fun things you like to do to replace the alcohol in your life.I started walking in parks and exercising more.Exercise releases endorphins in your brain like the booze did..This helped alot .I also found friends who didn't drink and took up beading to keep my hands busy.I was really surprised at how talented I am.The booze made me think I wasn't worth much other than being a good party friend and I had no focus in life.I'm an RN now and have no time to wallow in what could have been.Good luck to you-quitting for good isn't easy. I wish you a long and happy life.

Answer 9

Depression is, unfortunately, part of the process you have to claw your way through to become alcohol-free. Alcohol affects the brain (and body) in many very negative ways. Therefore, when someone stops drinking, they may experience the emotions of depression, lethargy and apathysuch as you described. Both your brain and body need time to readjust to new alcohol consumption levels - hopefully zero. But, you can rely on the fact that you can, and will, get through this shitty period, and things will improve, if ever so slowly.. (approaching AA a possibility?)

Answer 10

You have to find something else to fill the void that drinking once filled- There is so much more in life than drinking and you won't damage your liver if you find other activities,hobbies or volunteer your time. I don't know much about you so it's hard to give you some ideas- could you tell us a lil more about yourself?male or female,age,what do you do for work?what area do you live in,what do you like--music,sports,hobbies have any??