The dry drunk

[madmans]

I pulled this of another web site about being a dry drunk and apart from 4 and 5 i can relate to them. Is it normal to go through these feelings and if not how can i change ?. I must add i have no desire to drink . "Here are some destructive patterns and actions that can result from dry drunk thinking:

1. We become restless and irritable and discontent.

2. We become bored, dissatisfied, and easily distracted from productive tasks.

3. Our emotions and feelings get listless and dull, nothing excites us anymore.

4. We start to the engage in the euphoric recall that is yearning for the good old days of active using and for getting the pain and shame of use.

5. We start to engage in magical thinking we get on realistic and fanciful expectations and dreams.

6. The last thing we want you is engaged in introspection to improve ourselves.

7. We start to become unfulfilled and have the feeling that nothing will ever satisfy our yearning or fill the hole in the sole."

[one2many]

The dry drunk

Good post Madmans!

[mario]

The dry drunk

Thank you madmens & sheri,

[Doggygirl]

The dry drunk

madmans, very interesting post and topic.

For me, the points on that list scream not only for the need to physically heal, but also to heal spiritually. Getting involved in the world around me instead of wallowing in my own self centered stuff has been such a gift. The more I can keep my attention focused on other people and how I can bring something positive to the world around me, the better I feel about myself. Being involved in the recovery community here and at AA helps me with this. Being involved in volunteer work at the mission helps me with this.

That is the aspect of my recovery that came to mind as at least one "dry drunk antidote!"

Wishing you well in your sober travels,

DG

[cymru]

The dry drunk

I was very often a dry drunk, and though I dont follow the AA philosophy anymore, realising when I am feeling restless and irritable and discontent has been a big part in my continued recovery.

[hillsidetime]

The dry drunk

Hi Madmans, I wondered where you were. I asked a couple of times in the nest, about you. I hope all is well.

Thanks for the cool post.
Hill

[madmans]

The dry drunk

Thanks Oney , Sheri , Mario , DG , Cymru and Hill for your replies . Hillside i am doing good about 4 months AF now, didn't have much time online lately . Sherie i never had a test for Hypoglycemia but all the symptoms fit the bill . The food i eat is pretty good as mostly been freshly made and home cooked but i do eat a lot of crap in between meals ( chocolate , crisps ,chocolate , red bull and lots of tea boiled for about 5 minutes ). I never gave it much thought before , the way i looked at it was as long as i wasn't drinking , i even have lost over 14 lbs with out trying but after looking at the link's you posted the crap has to go. I don't crave drink but the times that i have been tempted i just dealt with them by using the HALT thinking/process . DG you have also made a very important point about needing to also to heal spiritually i know there is a lot of anger issues going on at the minute with me i need to deal with , i am unemployed for this last two years after never being unemployed for the 21/22 years before hand, to go from working to staying at home minding two children all day has been a big shock to the system to say the least . I don't go to AA but from what i have read about it , it seems like a good basis to lead life in general. I'm not sure how much i have to ofter people in their recovery as i feel as if i am still in recovery but then i remember when i first came here how much help i got from reading about people at different stages of their recovery, i owe a lot to MYO and the people here that make the forum so i think it's time i tried to give something back by being more active on the forums

[Doggygirl]

The dry drunk

madmans, I can't even imagine what tending two young children on a daily basis would be like! I can't even imagine the shock that would be to my system!!!!!

As far as helping others in recovery, I am of the opinion that we can all help each other, no matter where we are in our respective journies. Some days I get something that really helps me from someone who has been sober many years. The next day I will get something that helps me from someone who has been sober 2 days. You just never know. Together we are strong - and that's ALL of us, IMO :l So don't be shy!

DG

[Wagoneer]

The dry drunk

Madmans thanks for the post my friend. I absolutely relate. I am weaning off the anti-depressant I was on since it made me feel really off, I am still not drinking, but feeling terrible. I need to exercise and I need to do my yoga (Wii yoga) - but in all honesty, after being up at 4:45 every day, doing all I need to get done with the three kids before school, commuting 1 1/2 hours one way to work, working in a stress-filled environment and coming home only to "work" until bedtime, I am too beat to even try. I have even thought about how nice a glass of wine would be...then I realize what an asshole I am being for thinking about it. Anyway, I will keep trying to look at the big picture and not get so caught up in other things. Maybe even think about myself first 5 or 10 minutes a day...lol

BTW - I have missed you. Glad you are 4 months in

X X O O Waggy

[Lo0p]

The dry drunk

Does this have to be about alcohol?

Could you just need a muse? Or a change?

A lot of people without this disease have those exact same feelings, no?

edit: And I guess, sure, my second question would be how long have you been sober?

[Lo0p]

The dry drunk

And I'll reiterate Doggy in that the solution to that is to give of yourself. Involve yourself in something that makes you give. You'd be amazed to find out what you have to give that can help other people so much more than you thought you ever could. It'll help you too! :l

[Lo0p]

The dry drunk

madmans;1110094 wrote: Thanks Oney , Sheri , Mario , DG , Cymru and Hill for your replies . Hillside i am doing good about 4 months AF now, didn't have much time online lately . Sherie i never had a test for Hypoglycemia but all the symptoms fit the bill . The food i eat is pretty good as mostly been freshly made and home cooked but i do eat a lot of crap in between meals ( chocolate , crisps ,chocolate , red bull and lots of tea boiled for about 5 minutes ). I never gave it much thought before , the way i looked at it was as long as i wasn't drinking , i even have lost over 14 lbs with out trying but after looking at the link's you posted the crap has to go. I don't crave drink but the times that i have been tempted i just dealt with them by using the HALT thinking/process . DG you have also made a very important point about needing to also to heal spiritually i know there is a lot of anger issues going on at the minute with me i need to deal with , i am unemployed for this last two years after never being unemployed for the 21/22 years before hand, to go from working to staying at home minding two children all day has been a big shock to the system to say the least . I don't go to AA but from what i have read about it , it seems like a good basis to lead life in general. I'm not sure how much i have to ofter people in their recovery as i feel as if i am still in recovery but then i remember when i first came here how much help i got from reading about people at different stages of their recovery, i owe a lot to MYO and the people here that make the forum so i think it's time i tried to give something back by being more active on the forums

Ahh, okay.

I don't know anything about PAWS, I never dealt with that but it sounds like something to check into. It sounds like you might not have the time with two kids all day but if you could fit in a couple hours a week with some kind of a volunteer organization I think you might find yourself on the receiving end of a lot of things you're missing!

edit: Oh and the diet!!!!!! Place that high on your priority list! It can make a HUGE difference!

[madmans]

The dry drunk

Thanks DG i was never one to be shy . Loop It could just be a rut i have got into i don't know . I can't really remember what or how i dealt with things before alcohol , i'd like to think i was great and took things in my stride but i probably was a grumpy bollocks . Hi Waggy great to see you rack up the days also. Were did you ever find the time to drink in the first place What you need to do is get the BIL a new apron and teach him how to turn on the cooker, if you want i can send you over a great one pot recipe for Irish stew even he could do that. when i was living by myself (and drinking heavily) i only had to cook it twice a week :H

[damo180]

The dry drunk

Cheers Madmans,

I am off the booze now since Jan3.
I have been so busy for the last few weeks with work, family problems , (my father is a chronic Alcoholic, and my mother is in hospital, nothing too serious thankfully ) but have neglected my diet, exercise , and logging on here.
And I have been a cranky fucker.

I have been so positive up to now. It has made me realise, I am certainly not out of the woods yet, and really have to work harder, and make time for ME, and staying sober.
So thanks Madmans and everyone here, I needed to read this tonight.

Goodnight all....

Damo in Dublin