Post Acute Withdrawal...

[annibelle48]

I'm dealing with post acute withdrawal... Irritability, restlessness, very low tolerance to stress... The thought of making dinner can put me in a funk.... I am learning how do deal with this and stop the madness but I want to know how you all deal with it... I'm going to start journaling my feelings and emotions... Does that help anyone? Numbing out my feelings and emotions with chemicals for so long makes it tough to even put a name on what I'm feeling let alone take steps to diffuse the funk and not take it out on those around me... Thanks for listening

[annibelle48]

Thanks Rosy sweetie! Those are all great ideas...Music is a life saver...maybe I should dig out those earphones and put them to use everywhere I go...I think I'll look into ordering a treadmill:) You're such a ray of sunshine..truly.
Hi Vic, my lovely, I have 76 days clean today!!! You're right! I really need to remove myself from the stressful situations, toxic people and DRAMA...I'm so over any drama and really can not deal with it...I'll try to stay calm and breath and ride it out.
Spidy, girlfriend, YOU CRACK ME UP!!  I hear laughing releases endorphins...you got it girl. It truly is the greatest blessing to know I'm not alone and I'm not crazy....It's just part of the addiction and abusing our bodies...All the things you mentioned are right on point...the racing thoughts....racing, racing...."Sloooow down!!" I say to myself..get a grip and examine this insanity...is it real?  NO.  And, yes, I think God would be the perfect one to complain and gripe to...He knows us better than anyone..He can take it...Maybe I'll give it a whirl:)  I'm sure I'll feel better.  I'd rather vent on him than my husband!
OpenMind (I love that name), that's a great idea to use the journaling on this site...I don't know if my mindless rambling would do anyone any good but I'm willing to give it a go...The extreme and overwhelming emotions that hit me out of the blue can seem to take control and I never want to give up control again...The pills were in control and now that I've wrestled it back, tooth and nail, I will not give up the blessed Serenity I have found to the rapid onset of the "crazies".  I'll start journaling!
Love you guys! I'll let you know how it goes...This will be a big deal to me cause I've (we've) been wrestling with this and it seems so big....I'm gonna try to make it very very small.....Understanding it is a big plus..WOW...there's so much to learn!

[OpenMind24hours]

Journaling really does help with the funkies. Get it all out, write how you feel. Write your journals on here too. We have a built in journaling app on this forum. I've used it twice so far. It also has a way for peeps to make comments under what you write. Also, helping others on here will in turn help you. It's a wonderful way to get out of yourself for a while and It really works. I'm still writing on here after 13 months to share my experiences hoping to help someone. We have to give it away to keep it. It becomes part of our recovery process.

Not sure if you're into an aftercare program of any kind. If you are, fantastic! Use it to the hilt. If you have a sponsor, a PAWS session is a great time to go one on one with them to diffuse it. It can get overwhelming and someone who has felt them also can help get you into a different outlook pretty quickly. Just sharing with them will help. The worst thing you can do is to try to solve PAWS thinking with your own thinking during times like this. It's great that you posted Annibelle. You did good!!

I see you've been on here since September so you have some time under your belt. Don't worry, as long as don't use no matter what, it WILL get better.

[spider6]

Hey Girl,
going through a "spell" today even as I write.  It's been awful.....I feel so upset about it.  I f*cking hate myself when these whackjob, psychotic
outbursts occur.  I can't stop myself, so I leave the immediate area and just
go somewhere where there is NOBODY around.  I get extremely hyper sensitive to outside stimulation.  Noise and even the actual proximity of others can send me to Jupiter and back.  ........

......and the "thoughts", that are racing through my head at the time of
the freakouts are multiple and completely negative and ya I guess destructive too.  What kills me is that I could come right out of this in an
instant, especially if guilt renders it's ugly head after something I've said
or done or thought.  .......and then again I could go right back into a rage
a few moments even after that.  

Yesterday and the day before were unfreakingbelieveable.....UBER good days.  I actually sat and thought to myself..."wow, I can't believe how calm
I am and how for the first time in years, I don't have that constant feeling
of......I'm in a rush to go somewhere.  I don't know where, but it's urgent
and everything in my way just p*sses me off more".  I feel most of my
life I've missed out on because I was always in a hurry to go nowhere.

Anyway today is a different story.  Just a bad day.  I have such contempt
for life and "God" when this sh*t happens (in my head).....it's like I
need to talk to someone really "high up" and complain, maybe even
punch them out.....,.like who though????......God? ..  Can you imagine
"sucker punching" God?.........nah.....he'd see it coming....he's the big "G"
afterall. jeeeeezsh, :o}

So to answer your question of wanting to know how "I" deal with it..............
"not very well so far girl"...........but I guess I have to admit it's getting
better.  (lucky for God) haha .......don't worry Christians, He's got a sense
of humour.........He has to, look around. :oP

take comfort in knowing you are not alone my dear friend.
hugs xo :o}

[VICourageous]

Hi Girl..How many days do you have in now??
After a person has become adjusted to a certain level of drug/substance, the removal of it effects the emotional/biochemical balance that has been established. The person then has to readjust to living without the previous level of this stimulation, ect. Post Acute Withdraws can last two years or more, It has a Emotional and Physiological aspects that are very difficult to endure.
I myself, just stay tuned into myself and know what is what, when I am feeling kind of crazy. Life is Life and we will always have ups and downs..BUT now we have to deal with it clean and sober. It takes alot of work to stay clean. Staying away from Stressful situations or any Drama can help..Staying away from any body that is spun on any substances helps too. This part of the process to me was/is the hardest..I have over 14 months and I think it is getting way, way better..Just hang tight and just try to stay calm at these times. I seem to go to a safe place and hide for awhile until it passes. You have come a long way Baybe!!! Keep it up..lol
Bless

[ROSYouralright]

Oh YES girl! I've definitely been there and STILL have days like that! Thank God I have more good days than bad at this point tho. When I catch myself in a "funk" I shift focus & change direction! Music is the one thing I can ALWAYS count on to snap me out of it... I will jam while cooking, cleaning, etc... Also, short walks or a few minutes on the treadmill help. Fresh air and sunshine can be completely invigorating!! Journaling can help quite a bit... You express yourself and its a good way to look back and track your triggers. It may help you to identify exactly what sorts of things that creep your craw! Your doing really great!!