Feelings

Drugs or alcohol caused many of your problems, but not all of them, so becoming abstinent will not solve all of them. Now that you are abstinent, you are suddenly faced with problems in a new way. Let the bigger issues wait until you are feeling better. Keep it simple and take it one day at a time. ACCEPT where you are. And remember: What is … IS; what isn´t … ISN´T.

Drug and alcohol use will have mixed up your thinking patterns. Now that you are no longer using, your brain needs time to adjust to life without chemicals.

As this happens, you can have feelings that don’t make any sense, such as:

Feelings like you’ve been asleep for years and can’t handle the simplest situation without a drug or drink

Feeling grief in letting go of your use

Feeling “stranded” and wondering “what now?”

Feeling like you lost the friends or family who are still using

Feeling like you’re being punished or being deprived

Feeling strange during ordinary activities because you have forgotten how to do things sober

Pain from other problems can suddenly resurface

You can have trouble thinking clearly

You might struggle with anxiety or depression

You might feel overwhelmed

You might feel “spaced out”

Impulsive behaviours can pose a challenge

Your emotions can run to extremes with anger, self-pity, hopelessness, defensiveness, loneliness and sadness

It might be difficult to remember things

It can be difficult to commit to things

Your physical coordination might not work as well

You might have trouble sleeping

You might constantly stress about every aspect of life