When I attempt sobriety I always get hit HARD with depression and lack of ANY motivation whatsoever. Does anyone else go through this? How do you get through the first week? I’m really struggling… 
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I, too, was hit hard with depression starting out. Looking back, I realized that I had been depressed for a long time. Drinking just numbed me to it. It took (and still takes) a lot of effort to recognize when I’m heading down a dark path and changing course. I found that using some kind of mantra-just repeating to myself ‘it’s gonna be ok’ over and over got me through. Know you’re not alone in this and I hope that you can break through it. You’re stronger than you know!!!
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Thank you for your kind words. I know my using creates a deeper depression for me when i try and get sober. It’s just getting over that first week that i’m having a really hard time with.
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You’re welcome. 
Too often, it’s really hard to see past what’s right in front of you. Depression just consumes everything. Finding something else to put my attention on helped a lot once I recognized where I was at. Upbeat music, funny dog videos, even just walking out of the room.
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I went though a full range of things. Depression, anger, shame, hopelessness. But over about three months, the light started to shine again. Looking back I thought it was taking too long, but now I realize I needed to let myself feel those emotions again because I spent 10 years suppressing them all with booze. You will get through this short time. Really in the scheme of things, a week or even a month is not a long time. Stay strong we are all here for you!
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I pray a lot. I breathe and meditate. I go to meetings. I call friends. I use breathing exercises. Positive affirmations. I’m learning to accept that depression is something I may always have. I just appreciate that I know depression, like all feelings, is temporary.
I’m able to see that depression, anxiety, fear, joy, anger, etc…. aren’t good or bad. They are physical and mental markers that are signaling me to stop, breathe, and pray.
If I’m consuming intoxicants, distracting myself with unnecessary relationships, or being codependent my ability to navigate through feelings and thoughts becomes toxic.
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Thank you all! That’s the problem James… I am so uncomfortable in my own skin and held in A LOT over the years. Feeling it all… is something i’m not familiar with and as we all know…. very uncomfortable .
Meetings. Get plugged in to a program where others can have your back. Keep sharing.
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Thank you 
I am going to meetings but still trying to figure out what works for me. I’ve attended a couple different ones, no luck yet with feeling like I belong or comfortable. AA wasn’t for me… Looking into other programs…
NA meeting everyday on zoom with lots of positivity.
Meeting ID: 269 359 9218 Password: 12345
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Research "Anhedonia" Sarah. Something I never knew about, but nearly 2 months in now and I am feeling it. I learned about this in my treatment program luckily. The depression and lack of joy is a symptom of dopamine production. Addiction takes dopamines place and it takes a while for the brain to take its rightful place as the source of dopamine.
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My experience with depression was very real. I was very angry with myself and my ex wife at the time of separation. I was put on a few medications and found one that really worked, Lexapro. It help me stay flat. I didn’t have extreme highs and lows. I was able to function. But I can say when I got depressed sleep was my go to tool. Then as I gained consecutive sober days I was able to get outside and hike. I hiked so much in 2020 and 2021. It seemed like the more I hiked the better I got. Plus the fact that I was really in tune with changing my life around.
After I one year of Lexapro I got off it and I had a flood of emotions hit me. This was because I wasn’t feeling them with Lexapro as much as I needed to. But I now had the tools to use to cope with my emotions. I leaned in to my tears, sadness, frustration, anxiety, and anger which gave me more confidence. Today I joyous work the AA program. I’m a kind, loving, tolerant and patience person (working on the patience part, 
) to the best of my ability. I love being of service and praying and meditating. Growing spiritually and my conscious contact with God.
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It’s just your dopamine system that needs some time to get back to balance. Trust that it will, and be proud that you put yourself on the right track!
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Life is not what everyone says it is. There's going to be hard times, moments when you feel the world is against you, wanting to give up, and facing complete loneliness to the point you become depressed. Nothing anyone says or comments will truly bring you out of it. For reasons, we only listen to what we want to hear. WE have to be the ones to rise up and say I'm not going to do this today. I'm going be happy and fight every negative feeling that tries to attack. I WILL NOT GIVE UP. My life is beautiful and I know this because I woke up. See, I stress waking up so much because if you didn't then you wouldn't have a chance at being a better you today. Waking up is a gift that we take for granted. You being allowed to wake up is the universe telling you, "I believe in you so much that I want you to have today." Sarah, unfortunately you have to be the one who climbs you out of this hole. People can say kind and thoughtful words that give you motivation but if you don't do the work then all that was said, is in vain. You are not built for failure. I struggle every day with depression and hardly can go a day without falling into some funk. I hide my emotions and pretend everything is ok. The reason for that is because I refuse to be sad. I don't want to feel that way and even though I'm faking it till I make it, I like to think I'm doing something positive. I may not have answered your question but I hope it helped. Try to have a good day.
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The usual recommendation for strugglers is ninety meetings in the first ninety days. That's what I did and sometimes two in one day. In person meetings, don't be scared. They're not that intimidating actually. If you don't want to go to one in your area, then drive a minute and find one in a city next door. Sleeping is good but action is next. Take action or the struggle will be too much
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YES. I just don't want to do... anything. The only time I leave my house is to go to community service because I have to. I wish I had a solution for us
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I have tried one NA meeting before and im open to it. I’ll be using this. Thanks for your help. I appreciate you. 
I WILL DO THAT ASAP. TY!! MUCH appreciated. 
I can relate to this. I been on a couple meds. I don’t particularly like being on them but my depression got so bad before my addiction did that I was open to it. I been on Cymbalta for awhile now and I have mixed feelings. Once I get into a good amount of time in sobriety (WHICH I WILL:muscle:t3:) I am eventually planning on weaning off of it. I want to be 100% myself and feel all the feelings and learn to do the same. If i need to go back on then i need to. I am not against it or ashamed that i need it either way. BABY STEPS. Good to know I am not the only one who feels this way. This really made me feel better to know someone else went through the same thing and feels the same way. TH SO MUCH FOR SHARING!
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Thanks Tommy. I mean you know my struggles so I don’t need to say much but yes i agree, I need to do the work, i know this. The hard part for me is just finding out what works for me and getting the strength to get out of bed the first 6 -10 days and feel ok with myself to live life instead of sleeping it away… Like i always wants to do, it’s NOT EVEN that i want to, it’s like i have ZERO STRENGTH to get up and just figure it TF out. Either way… there’s no excuses. I am determined to find happiness and I WILL. 