Life after recovery

It’s been so difficult trying to live a “normal” life now that I’m clean & sober. Most times it’s really hard to get out of bed and go for a walk, I’m super sensitive to noises now, I don’t know where to meet new friends and most activities don’t bring me fulfillment anymore. I dont regret anything in life usually but picking up might be the only one i have tbh.

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Most of us need viable active support systems, accountability people that understand the road we are traveling, and actionable plans to replace the hours we spent in addiction. It is hard to get moving, our physical bodies are re-calibrating, finding their new norm just as we are finding our new norm. Be patient with yourself. I had to make plans to meet others in recovery regularly. It helped me get going because I do what I promise to do & know if I don’t I will need to call. Part of recovering is honest, open, willing. Funny thing is, people in recovery are very intuitive & know when you call b/c you are cancelling your plan to meet if your reason is sincere or not. They can be empathetic, understanding, supportive, and call you into accountability while simultaneously offering you the opportunity to look at what is holding you back along with the opportunity to learn from their experiences. You don’t mention having non-family support of strong people with a long history in recovery. If you haven’t spent some time attending various support groups, perhaps looking into what is available locally and giving several different ones a try to see what best fits. There are many free groups, healthy & unhealthy, that offer support in recovery.
I remembered as I prayed to remind myself every morning that not even God can drive a parked car - I need to be moving my carcass if I want to discover what I pray for.

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It takes time to relearn living life without using. Give yourself a break. Just stay in the present, take it one day at a time. Minutes add up to hours, hours add up to days. Find meetings either NA/AA in person or virtual, (zoom). Connections come with time and consistently making meetings. These rooms are filled with people who understand where you are at. We all start at the same point. How long have you been clean now? You can always reach out if you need.

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For me learning how to have fun again was a process. The drug/alcohol made me feel good with doing anything. Empty happiness is all it was

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Most activities don’t bring you fulfillment anymore you mentioned. That empty feeling can scare people because they think this is how life is going to stay. It usually isn’t. Your brain and your life are still adjusting to a completely different way of living. Please don’t measure your future by how today feels. Keep reaching out. This season passes for a lot of people, even when it doesn’t feel like it will. How long you been sober. Have you looked up PAWS if you’re newly sober. Dm always open , stay with it. :heart:

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You know this past weekend I just had a cookout with a bunch of sober people. Maybe you can get a couple of sober girls together to take a walk?

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Noelle, I feel you. For me recovery is an ongoing journey. In early sobriety I went to lots of in person AA/NA meetings daily/nightly. I did the 12 steps and stepped up for service in the meetings. I know it doesn’t sound fun or interesting, but it helped me find my joy for life again, purpose and meaning.
Building a new life in sobriety is the key. Sober friends became my chosen family.
I’m here if you want to talk or have any questions

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