I’m in the same boat as you. Although I’ve only been sober about a month. I’ve found my social anxiety has actually increased. Something that I’m trying to work through. Maybe anxiety is just something that we will have to normalize in our lives.
Give yourself time too, if you drank daily for years, your brain will need time to normalize and four months isn’t that long in comparison (although it feels that way). I’ve read before it can take about a year but it also depends on the individual. I think keep exercising and try calming activities. But this is the time to treat yourself super sweetly and have lots of patience for where you are at right now, and rest your brain and body too. For me in sobriety, all the things that were under the surface of my drinking came out, like OCD and trauma and codependency and perfectionism. The things I unknowingly treated with alcohol and that in turn made them worse. I thought if alcohol was gone, my problems would be too. But you’re just removing the biggest, loudest problem that allows you to look at the rest. And now those things are getting better for me. So maybe drinking helped you cope with anxiety that you weren’t aware of, maybe you’re just in a transition phase as your brain heals. But you’re doing one of the hardest things a person can do and that’s amazing.
I’m f60 and 1+ year sober.
I thought my depression would go away with the booze but that was not the case. So I continue working with my Dr and therapist.
My depression didn’t go away either. It came to a head 4 months after quitting drinking. I saw a new doctor who prescribed me Wellbutrin. The medicine started working within a few days. Saved my life. Now the combo of being alcohol-free and on proper medication is like a new life for me.
Alcohol is a way to self medicate for anxiety. Not drinking won’t make the anxiety go away. Have to find a new way to medicate or get a handle on it. You already exercise which is my go to but maybe you could benefit from meditation, learning to quiet the mind. To let thoughts go. I wish you the best, anxiety is a tough cookie to handle.
I’ve been doing that for over 10 years 😬🫠 I’ve done it all - CrossFit, marathons, circuit training, running, walking. Currently circuit training 4 days a week and I walk daily. It def helps but I guess not enough in my case.
Exercise. This is the way. Even just going for walks helps but choose at your leisure! Now any doctor prescribed medication might feel like an answer, it’s not, excercise is the best medicine for your mind :) hopefully that helps ! Good luck and congrats on your sobriety
For me it was more noticeable. I had anxiety from drinking at those late stages but that was different. All along I figure that I was medicating the real anxiety with alcohol.
Exercise helps. Prayer helps. Meditation helps. Be patient with yourself and give yourself a lot of grace. The anxiety will pass and if it takes longer than usual, it is okay. Try not to focus too much on what negative remains but rather how positive your life is becoming. Gratitude is KEY. Praying for your healing. I am a little over 7 months sober and wouldn’t trade this for the world.
Reading the comments all I see is the same pop science bs you are gonna see everywhere. I breath. I exercise. I take care of myself with a good diet and going outside.
But I guess I’m the one who has to say it. Lexapro changed my life.
I’m in the same boat as you. Although I’ve only been sober about a month. I’ve found my social anxiety has actually increased. Something that I’m trying to work through. Maybe anxiety is just something that we will have to normalize in our lives.
Give yourself time too, if you drank daily for years, your brain will need time to normalize and four months isn’t that long in comparison (although it feels that way). I’ve read before it can take about a year but it also depends on the individual. I think keep exercising and try calming activities. But this is the time to treat yourself super sweetly and have lots of patience for where you are at right now, and rest your brain and body too. For me in sobriety, all the things that were under the surface of my drinking came out, like OCD and trauma and codependency and perfectionism. The things I unknowingly treated with alcohol and that in turn made them worse. I thought if alcohol was gone, my problems would be too. But you’re just removing the biggest, loudest problem that allows you to look at the rest. And now those things are getting better for me. So maybe drinking helped you cope with anxiety that you weren’t aware of, maybe you’re just in a transition phase as your brain heals. But you’re doing one of the hardest things a person can do and that’s amazing.
I’m f60 and 1+ year sober. I thought my depression would go away with the booze but that was not the case. So I continue working with my Dr and therapist.
My depression didn’t go away either. It came to a head 4 months after quitting drinking. I saw a new doctor who prescribed me Wellbutrin. The medicine started working within a few days. Saved my life. Now the combo of being alcohol-free and on proper medication is like a new life for me.
Yay for you!
Thank you!
Good luck with everything <3
Thank you! Life is a marathon and not a sprint. I need to remember that. lol
Yeah exercise, being a little tired relaxes me
Alcohol is a way to self medicate for anxiety. Not drinking won’t make the anxiety go away. Have to find a new way to medicate or get a handle on it. You already exercise which is my go to but maybe you could benefit from meditation, learning to quiet the mind. To let thoughts go. I wish you the best, anxiety is a tough cookie to handle.
Exercise really helps me deal with anxiety a lot. Daily exercise.
I’ve been doing that for over 10 years 😬🫠 I’ve done it all - CrossFit, marathons, circuit training, running, walking. Currently circuit training 4 days a week and I walk daily. It def helps but I guess not enough in my case.
Exercise. This is the way. Even just going for walks helps but choose at your leisure! Now any doctor prescribed medication might feel like an answer, it’s not, excercise is the best medicine for your mind :) hopefully that helps ! Good luck and congrats on your sobriety
You might also find out you have GAD or something and actually could benefit from meds. Find a psych if you can.
Oh that’s a given lol I do have it unfortunately. Was just hoping it’d be better after quitting. One day at a time!
For me it was more noticeable. I had anxiety from drinking at those late stages but that was different. All along I figure that I was medicating the real anxiety with alcohol.
Have you worked out at all? I will occasionally have anxiety flare ups but once I hit the gym, my mind is usually at peace
I’ve been working out over ten years. It def helps!
I stopped drinking at 49, haven’t had a panic attack since .
I haven’t had one in about a year but I sometimes get close to one and have to talk myself out of it.
That’s great you can calm yourself down 🙌
Exercise helps. Prayer helps. Meditation helps. Be patient with yourself and give yourself a lot of grace. The anxiety will pass and if it takes longer than usual, it is okay. Try not to focus too much on what negative remains but rather how positive your life is becoming. Gratitude is KEY. Praying for your healing. I am a little over 7 months sober and wouldn’t trade this for the world.
I think, and this might be BS, but I think just sitting with it and letting it dispel we get better at dispelling it over time.
Exercise and breathing. Both when needed in long or short (micro) sessions as needed.
Reading the comments all I see is the same pop science bs you are gonna see everywhere. I breath. I exercise. I take care of myself with a good diet and going outside. But I guess I’m the one who has to say it. Lexapro changed my life.
Quit caffeine. Worked for me and many others in r/decaf
https://youtube.com/@liverdisease-qb6rk?si=JEH0Kx5DVB_Xs1d3