I just quit drinking and my head is clear, and physically I am getting better. How long for the rest to go?!
Question: I just quit drinking and my head is clear, and physically I am getting better.. How long for the rest to go.?
I quit drinking on 7-7-8 after many years of heavy drinking.. I am at a point in my life where I am ready.. I am taking antabuse and I feel in my mind and heart that I am ready.. My problems are that now I am always tired, my motivation is worse than it has been in years and I feel depressed.. Part of the depression is from looking around at all the things that need done, and not having the motivation to do them.. I set goals everyday and when it is time to work on them I feel overwhelmed and find it easier to sleep or sit and ignore it, which in turn depresses me.. There is only my wife and I and she is my best support, but still doesn't know how to help past encouragement.. I also started on high blood pressure medicine a couple days before the antabuse.. How do I get rid of the depression and get my motivation back, and how long does the tired feeling last.? I thought I would have more energy and motivation by this point, but I don't feel better.. Is there a transition period.? How long if so.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
i had depression and here is what helped:
* wellbutrin xl
* exercise daily in the morning like a very fast power walk, this generates your days supply of dopamine and seretonin.. important, do it in the morning when it has the most advantage to help you.. IMPORTANT: talk to your doctor before beginning exercise..
* take vitamin b complex - this has given me a lot of energy and is great for mental health
* whatever you do, get outside and walk daily, force yourself.. there was days i was so drained and physically exhausted i couldn't even get out of bed and when i did i could barely make it down one city street but my mother dragged me out and forced me.. this is what needs to be done.. you must get the energy channels open and flowing again.. this is why you are tired.. you have energy blockages.. and walking/exercising will open them up and generate more energy for you and in doing so will lift your spirits..
* get sunshine - it improves your spirits
* eat healthy - lots of fruits and vegetables.. cut out all the junk food.. limit your sodium intake.. drink water in the minimum amount of half your body weight in ounces daily.. slowly wean yourself off of caffeine (coffee,tea,chocolate), this screws with your dopamine levels.. cut out the refined sugars, this screws with your levels as well..
* start a gratitude journal: write down everything you are grateful by writing sentences like "Thank you for ________".. Then pause when you write it down and really feel the gratitude and generate the happy feeling from having that particular experience, object, etc in your life.. Each day come back to the journal and read and feel each one then write down some more new ones.. You really got to be sincere when you do it or it won't work, don't just go through the motions but really feel the emotion..
* actively cultivate happiness, do this by saying 'may i be happy, then feel happy, recall moments when you were happy and relive them in your mind generating and really tapping into that happy emotion you felt back then.. do this throughout the day and then use lots of affirmations such as 'i am happy'
* set goals for yourself, they don't have to be big, in fact start with small goals so you don't disappoint yourself.. and when you achieve them don't just move on with your life, stop and pause and reflect and tap into the happiness and feel good feeling that comes from accomplishing the goals..
* meditate daily
* doing something fun
* watch funny tv shows and comedy shows.. go to .com" rel="nofollow">http://youtube..com and type in 'funny', 'comedy', 'humor', 'prank', 'joke', 'bloopers', etc.. and watch all the short funny video clips so they make you laugh and lift your spirits
* get spiritual, don't necessarily need to join a church but tap into something higher
* volunteer, it is a great feeling to know that you have helped someone else, check .volunteermatch..org" rel="nofollow">http://www..volunteermatch..org for volunteering opportunities in your area
* find your purpose in life and pursue that dream
* find some hobbies that interest you
* join a community group and socialize, visit .meetup..com" rel="nofollow">http://www..meetup..com for group meetings in your area, don't see any you like, why not start up your own.?
* start a self-esteem portfolio.. this is a collection of statements that you write down about yourself, such as what positive character traits do i have.? what is good about me.? what is special about me.? what do i like about myself.? then after that get your friends and wife and associates to say something about you...... ask them what are 3 things that you like/admire about me.? / why do like me as a friend.? write all this down in your self-esteem portfolio.. anytime anyone says something good about you or something good you did write it down.. look at this portfolio often and read through it frequently.. it will lift your spirits.. it will give you confidence.. it will make you happy..
* ask yourself what do i want.? what is my purpose.? and pursue all this, make it goal to get it..
* listen to motivational tapes
* read biographies about your heroes for inspiration
* go out in the park, take your socks and shoes off and walk through the grass barefooted...... really tap into the energy coming from the earth and cleansing your body and mind, tap into the feeling of each grass blade brushing against the bottoms of your feet..
* reject that you are depressed.. don't take on the label of being a depressed person.. don't buy into the disease or it'll pull you down.. do everything in your power to change.. you must activately cultivate happiness by all the steps above..
* also you may want to try posting in the 'mental health' category of yahoo answers as you'll probably receive more tips as many people there are battling depression, have battled it, or are social workers
may you be happy and at peace!Health Question & Answer
* wellbutrin xl
* exercise daily in the morning like a very fast power walk, this generates your days supply of dopamine and seretonin.. important, do it in the morning when it has the most advantage to help you.. IMPORTANT: talk to your doctor before beginning exercise..
* take vitamin b complex - this has given me a lot of energy and is great for mental health
* whatever you do, get outside and walk daily, force yourself.. there was days i was so drained and physically exhausted i couldn't even get out of bed and when i did i could barely make it down one city street but my mother dragged me out and forced me.. this is what needs to be done.. you must get the energy channels open and flowing again.. this is why you are tired.. you have energy blockages.. and walking/exercising will open them up and generate more energy for you and in doing so will lift your spirits..
* get sunshine - it improves your spirits
* eat healthy - lots of fruits and vegetables.. cut out all the junk food.. limit your sodium intake.. drink water in the minimum amount of half your body weight in ounces daily.. slowly wean yourself off of caffeine (coffee,tea,chocolate), this screws with your dopamine levels.. cut out the refined sugars, this screws with your levels as well..
* start a gratitude journal: write down everything you are grateful by writing sentences like "Thank you for ________".. Then pause when you write it down and really feel the gratitude and generate the happy feeling from having that particular experience, object, etc in your life.. Each day come back to the journal and read and feel each one then write down some more new ones.. You really got to be sincere when you do it or it won't work, don't just go through the motions but really feel the emotion..
* actively cultivate happiness, do this by saying 'may i be happy, then feel happy, recall moments when you were happy and relive them in your mind generating and really tapping into that happy emotion you felt back then.. do this throughout the day and then use lots of affirmations such as 'i am happy'
* set goals for yourself, they don't have to be big, in fact start with small goals so you don't disappoint yourself.. and when you achieve them don't just move on with your life, stop and pause and reflect and tap into the happiness and feel good feeling that comes from accomplishing the goals..
* meditate daily
* doing something fun
* watch funny tv shows and comedy shows.. go to .com" rel="nofollow">http://youtube..com and type in 'funny', 'comedy', 'humor', 'prank', 'joke', 'bloopers', etc.. and watch all the short funny video clips so they make you laugh and lift your spirits
* get spiritual, don't necessarily need to join a church but tap into something higher
* volunteer, it is a great feeling to know that you have helped someone else, check .volunteermatch..org" rel="nofollow">http://www..volunteermatch..org for volunteering opportunities in your area
* find your purpose in life and pursue that dream
* find some hobbies that interest you
* join a community group and socialize, visit .meetup..com" rel="nofollow">http://www..meetup..com for group meetings in your area, don't see any you like, why not start up your own.?
* start a self-esteem portfolio.. this is a collection of statements that you write down about yourself, such as what positive character traits do i have.? what is good about me.? what is special about me.? what do i like about myself.? then after that get your friends and wife and associates to say something about you...... ask them what are 3 things that you like/admire about me.? / why do like me as a friend.? write all this down in your self-esteem portfolio.. anytime anyone says something good about you or something good you did write it down.. look at this portfolio often and read through it frequently.. it will lift your spirits.. it will give you confidence.. it will make you happy..
* ask yourself what do i want.? what is my purpose.? and pursue all this, make it goal to get it..
* listen to motivational tapes
* read biographies about your heroes for inspiration
* go out in the park, take your socks and shoes off and walk through the grass barefooted...... really tap into the energy coming from the earth and cleansing your body and mind, tap into the feeling of each grass blade brushing against the bottoms of your feet..
* reject that you are depressed.. don't take on the label of being a depressed person.. don't buy into the disease or it'll pull you down.. do everything in your power to change.. you must activately cultivate happiness by all the steps above..
* also you may want to try posting in the 'mental health' category of yahoo answers as you'll probably receive more tips as many people there are battling depression, have battled it, or are social workers
may you be happy and at peace!Health Question & Answer
I would sugest that you pick something like yoga, karate, soemthing fun to do, keeping you busy.. It would help if you tell what is it which make you depressed.. The sources of it.?Health Question & Answer
First of all, congratulations on your choice and a vote for living a life vs.. living a pretend life using alcohol..
Depression is common after or with alcohol use, and there are chances that you began drinking way back when, as a result of depression.. Depression runs in families.. You may have to be treated for that eventually..
You can take comfort that you actually are "feeling" human emotion again, and that is ok..
You're only going on 21 days since you last drank.. I would guess that the body needs to "purge" and get the alcohol completely out of the tissue and other organs in the body--so dude, get out and start walking.. Even a little walk every day will help you..
Don't let the goals overwhelm you--take them one-by-one and break them down into steps.. Do a step at a time; you'll feel better just by that.. For example, Instead of "repaint bathroom" what steps are involved in that .? Actually, there are several--deciding on a color, and buying the stainblocker and paint; scraping off old paint; sanding down the edges where the old paint doesn't come off so there's "no edge" when repainted; stainblocking it; painting the corners and edges; and the final coat.. That's six steps.. Doing just one a day will get you done in a week.. Nothing wrong with that ! Typically, if you were the child of an alcoholic parent, you never really learned how to achieve by breaking down tasks into parts, so go easy on yourself..
Finally, you can't go this alone.. Your wife is supportive but probably overwhelmed with you as well.. Get into an AA group pronto and possibly set up one-on-one appointments with a therapist--insurance companies will generally pay for 10 sessions, and you can go once a week early on and then spread them out for a couple months..
Good luck and God bless.. I will pray for you and your wife..Health Question & Answer
Depression is common after or with alcohol use, and there are chances that you began drinking way back when, as a result of depression.. Depression runs in families.. You may have to be treated for that eventually..
You can take comfort that you actually are "feeling" human emotion again, and that is ok..
You're only going on 21 days since you last drank.. I would guess that the body needs to "purge" and get the alcohol completely out of the tissue and other organs in the body--so dude, get out and start walking.. Even a little walk every day will help you..
Don't let the goals overwhelm you--take them one-by-one and break them down into steps.. Do a step at a time; you'll feel better just by that.. For example, Instead of "repaint bathroom" what steps are involved in that .? Actually, there are several--deciding on a color, and buying the stainblocker and paint; scraping off old paint; sanding down the edges where the old paint doesn't come off so there's "no edge" when repainted; stainblocking it; painting the corners and edges; and the final coat.. That's six steps.. Doing just one a day will get you done in a week.. Nothing wrong with that ! Typically, if you were the child of an alcoholic parent, you never really learned how to achieve by breaking down tasks into parts, so go easy on yourself..
Finally, you can't go this alone.. Your wife is supportive but probably overwhelmed with you as well.. Get into an AA group pronto and possibly set up one-on-one appointments with a therapist--insurance companies will generally pay for 10 sessions, and you can go once a week early on and then spread them out for a couple months..
Good luck and God bless.. I will pray for you and your wife..Health Question & Answer
It's great that you are trying.. keep it up! your body needs to detoxify and rebuild the damage year of drinking has done to your liver.. you will feel very depressed because that's what addiction does..that's why staying sober is so hard.. acupuncture helps a lot with cravings.. you may want to be on antidepressants and get counseling (which does work if you get a good one and work hard) make a list of things you need to get done.. it helps when you break each thing on the list down even more and when you do each thing let yourself know that you did a good job.. then watch how your body reacts.. some time it will be stressed and some times you will feel great.. by paying attention to how you react you can get better control of the rest of your life.. never give up on yourself, because your worth all the time and effort it take to be your best! big hugsHealth Question & Answer
Congratulations on attaining sobriety.. One can't, however, overcome the effects of years of abuse in just a few weeks..
It's not like throwing a switch..
Your body needs more time to recover; each person varies in recovery time.. Don't set goals too high, take it one day at a time..
It's been what, four weeks.? That's a great beginning, but it is a beginning.. It's a major change, and you need time for both your body and mind to get used to it.. Don't rush things.. Don't pressure yourself..
You will begin to feel better, you will have more energy but there's no specific timetable..Health Question & Answer
It's not like throwing a switch..
Your body needs more time to recover; each person varies in recovery time.. Don't set goals too high, take it one day at a time..
It's been what, four weeks.? That's a great beginning, but it is a beginning.. It's a major change, and you need time for both your body and mind to get used to it.. Don't rush things.. Don't pressure yourself..
You will begin to feel better, you will have more energy but there's no specific timetable..Health Question & Answer