IOP, gym, Meetings, Sponsor, Steps, Homegroup, Commitment, Meditation, Hobbies
Don't try to do this alone please. Reach out to all of us on this website on the AA app. We're here for you and we're pulling for you to make it through the day honey. God bless and many prayers to your strength and courage
Stay with it Matt
Good sharing Elishea
Your response really helped me too- thank you! Hey Matt. I am alone too much and I don’t get to meetings as much as I need to. I was never much one for groups of people. Just a close friend or two. So it doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s good advice though. I just need to remember not to beat myself up for being needy and to get out of the house. Once I’m out I start to feel better. Going to a meeting sounds like a good thing to me at that point. You are under no obligation to bare your soul when you’re there unless you want to. Just go.
This is something called solutions focus that I will post about. Basically, how depressed are you from 1-10.. let’s say you said 7.. what would it take to get you to a 6?
This is a good way to find solutions cause often we look at how hopeless it is to completely solve an issue.. but you only need to start going in the right direction.. completely fixing an issue takes time.. right now, you only need a baby step.
When I’m really depressed I take 200mg 5-HTP which is like tryptophan found in turkey. In other countries it’s prescribed as an antidepressant but here it’s a supplement. I do 200mg first day and then 50mg everyday until I feel better.. then I stop and only take it occasionally. I use it for “emergency depression”.
Another thing, get some sunshine.. most of us have low vitamin D after winter which is a major cause of depression.
Take a walk in nature and really pay attention to it. You can even identify plants with apps like iNaturalist.. take pictures of them and learn what they are.
Read a book to help get yourself out of your head
See a friend who tends to make you feel better.
What are you depressed about
I was given medication since age 12. I hated how it made me feel so i stopped in my teens. I was never told the importance of therapy and working on myself and how to cope with life. I was just thrown all these pills and went through life not knowing how to deal with it. So here i am now 34 years old finally realizing this and it’s so disappointing. They did me so wrong. I have been an addict since my teens and i TRULY BELIEVE I don’t need the pills once i get sober and learn ALL THE THINGS that should have been taught to me at a young age… simply just how to deal with emotions. I can’t wait to get off them and be free of everything that’s been in my body and know WHO i really am. My addiction was what created depression and not dealing with life correctly
You are the first person that I have heard speak about the lies they have been fed about depression and what the real cure is. Please keep me posted. And also take it slow getting off of antidepressants. It can be a little bit dangerous. Consult with a doctor on how to wean yourself off of them but don't let them talk you into staying on them.
I am really excited for you!
We get depressed, we use because it’s so easily and readily available.
Opposite of addiction is connection. There’s a TedTalk about it. Get connected.
Your body is reacting chemically to being sober. It will straighten out. Promise. You have this place too and someone to call on intergroup for your area as well. Hang in there. Three days is amazing!!
How are you feeling now?
Depression is hard. Are you seeing a Doctor or
Therapist. Seeing a doctor or a therapist is very important due to the fact that your body is missing chemicals because you’ve been drinking and drinking makes you depressed and people don’t realize that so I suggest you find yourself a therapist and psychiatrist and keep going to meetings get yourself a sponsor. You need anything please send me a email
Thank you! I am now 3 weeks sober and I still feel the same way about the meds. I eventually want to ween myself off them but if it’s something I know i need… I will continue them. Most important thing was to first get off drugs because as we ALL know… that’s the medication we choose to numb ourselves and make the depression and anxiety peak to incredible heights where we lose ourselves… that’s the main part for me and i’m sure all of you. One step at a time but like i said… I want to feel life naturally and see what that looks like with nothing chemically boosting my brain.
Im not ashamed to admit i take Wellbutrin. It has helped tremendously with my depression. Don’t want to stay on it forever but my main objective is to get alcohol off my back first. One thing at a time for me.
You're brain chemistry is changing. Depending on what you were putting into yourself you can find natural ways to fight it. For me it is temporary but some people need meds.
I get the depression thing for sure. Meetings and jogging help me.
Hey Matt, it's part of the process! It is painful AF but you have to hang on tight and pull through!!!! The recompense is a healthy and illuminated life, filled with love and light. I'm on my day 7, I'm there with you, my friend! Try going for long walks out in nature, that has helped me a great deal.
I'm here if you need to talk!
Just remember, you will never know if it gets better if you don't try! I was miserable for the first week.. but it DOES and it WILL get better for you! Keep busy, and remember that everyday does not have to be perfect, it's okay to feel not okay!