Not sure what to do with myself....

[ItsJustMe]

Ok, I think I have gone crackers. Is this normal or am I nuts??? So I am on day 11 AF. When I got off work I was exhausted so I headed home and assumed the position on the couch with an iced tea. Tried to watch some TV as usual. After about 15 minutes I decided I did not want to watch TV. It was actually getting on my nerves. I have no idea what I want to do. Part of me wants to get out and go to a nice place to eat. Part of me wants to find a new TV program to watch. Part of me wants to get a book and read until bedtime. But I am not motivated to do anything. This is the time I would normally be drinking. I am not having any physical cravings. The mental cravings are there but not very strong. I guess if I had to put a word to it, it would be antsy. Just don?t know what to do with myself?.

ItsJustMe

[Doggygirl]

Not sure what to do with myself....

There is a HUGE adjustment ahead dealing with "time" a whole lot differently than when we drank it away. When I look at my daily activities today, my schedule looks absolutely nothing like it did in the later years of drinking.

Those changes occurred bit by bit. One thing I did early on was make a LONG list of stuff to do. I included household projects ("chore" type stuff) as well as stuff in the "fun" category. Whenever I would get urges or feel antsy - but unsure of what I wanted, I could just whip out the list and pick something without thinking to much.

I also feel like I benefited a lot from ACTIVE things (working out, cleaning closets, doing things outside the house like visit a museum or go shopping :h). I love to read and watch movies and things like that, but if I was feeling urges or feeling antsy, my mind is distracted more by active things.

Your life will change gradually in wonderful ways. Strap in and enjoy the ride!

DG

[southernbelle47]

Not sure what to do with myself....

Breathe.....deep breaths...
Eat dinner and take a warm bath.
Do you have the CD's from MWO?
They are so relaxing.
11 days is great! Keep up the good work!
xoxo
Belle

[havefaith]

Not sure what to do with myself....

OMG....
I went through the same exact same thing day 11, 12, & 13! And Boy was I bitchy! So you know what I did? I watched movies and ate M&M pretzels (yum)!
It does pass.... I am 45 days AF- Your doing Great!

[paguy]

Not sure what to do with myself....

southernbelle47;948666 wrote: Breathe.....deep breaths...

This is exactly what I do when I am feeling 'antsy'. I lay down on sofa, close my eyes, and take deep breaths. Very relaxing and helps me regain focus. Give it a try!

[Lillypond059]

Not sure what to do with myself....

Hi itsjustme
I know exactly how you feel, I wondered around the house like a lost sheep for days, wanted to do something, but did'nt know what I wanted to do either, its blody awfull. Then I decided I would get back into my hobbies, that was hard, but thought ok, I will do it for 10 mins or so, but once I got started, I found I was enjoying my hobbie, and then lost track of time. I still have days that its hard to get motivated, but I'm getting there.I'm now on day 17 AF.
Wishing you all the best

Lillypond x

[choice]

Not sure what to do with myself....

Hi itsjustme,
I seam to be wondering the same thing today at 10days AF. I at least wasn't in bed today- but I have been wondering around my house, staring into space, opening doors to closets and kinda laughing at myself because I don't know why. I've even said my name out loud a few times just to hear my voice. This is much like the time when I was a kid and would say to my mom that I was bored. She always had some chores for me to do.. so if I didn't think of something fun to entertain myself I'd have to do chores. Today I've done a tone of chores.

[Kimberley]

Not sure what to do with myself....

Hya,
I think most people get this - in fact I posted on the same sort of topic last week - it was raining and I attributed it mostly to the gloomy day, but the 'unmotivated but want to do something' feeling probably also had something to do with coming off al. I describe it as a kinda 'lost' feeling. Got a book I wanna read but don't want to start it; got chores, but they seem overwhelming etc.

Usually when I feel like that, I stick my earphones in and go for a loooong, loooong walk. Sometimes it's even hard to get myself to do that, but once I'm out I always enjoy it. I agree with Doggy, doing something active is more likely to engage you than doing something passive and mix it up if you can with fun things and errands. The hardest part is actually STARTING to do whatever it is, but if you can push yourself to, it's usually well worth the extra effort of getting your bum in gear. Make that list!

Congrats on 11 days by the way - that's great
K x

[one2many]

Not sure what to do with myself....

150 things to do instead of drinking.



1. Read a book
2. Take a walk
3. Play a musical instrument
4. Knit
5. Clean your closets
6. Research your genealogy
7. Cook a gourmet dinner
8. Write an article for your local newspaper
9. Go take some pictures
10. Clean the mildew in your bathroom
11. Start writing that book you've been planning
12. Plan a garden
13. Plant a garden
14. Play with a pet
15. Read to a child
16. Visit someone in an old folks' home
17. Watch a news special on TV
18. Set up a family budget
19. Make a web site
20. Take up archery
21. Exercise
22. Go to an online recovery meeting
23. Surf the internet
24. Call your mom
25. Learn a foreign language
26. Write a poem
27. Play golf
28. Take a bubble bath
29. Draw
30. Teach a parakeet to whistle
31. Take a nap
32. Listen to music
33. Paint
34. Clean your desk
35. Start a stamp collection
36. Go window shopping
37. Browse in a book store
38. Go to an art gallery
39. Go for a drive
40. Paint a room
41. Watch the clouds go by
42. Play darts
43. Do target shooting
44. Do home repairs
45. Clean your garage
46. Sort your photographs
47. Make a scrapbook
48. Climb a tree
49. Plant a tree
50. Make marmalade
51. Make a list of things to do
52. Write a letter to the editor
53. Volunteer somewhere
54. Take a hike
55. Take a college class
56. Try yoga
57. Meditate
58. Get a massage
59. Make fruit smoothies
60. Bake cookies
61. Do a crossword puzzle
62. Go to the gym
63. Plant a color bowl
64. Sharpen your pruning tools
65. Change your engine oil
66. Sew
67. Groom your dog
68. Go see a play
69. Write a sonnet
70. Sort your recipes
71. Play solitaire
72. Go bird watching
73. Write a letter to a friend
74. Read a poetry book
75. Repot your houseplants
76. Go to a movie
77. Mow your lawn
78. Put up (or take down) your Christmas lights
79. Make pickles
80. Go jogging
81. Watch sitcoms
82. Plan menus for a diet
83. Do a jigsaw puzzle
84. Play chess
85. Write a country-western song
86. Watch a video
87. Go for a bike ride
88. Plant an herb garden
89. Start an online journal
90. Dye your hair
91. Go to a restaurant
92. Lift weights
93. Bake some bread
94. Learn a martial art
95. Polish the furniture
96. Make a flower arrangement
97. Read the newspaper
98. Start some seeds
99. Sort your magazines
100. Do some laundry.
111. Take a nature walk
112. Play with your kids
113. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
114. Volunteer at a school
115. Pick up garbage in a park
116. Tickle your kids
117. Play basketball
118. Volunteer at an animal shelter
119. Read to a child or pet
120. Sign up for obedience training with your dog
121. Take a walk and pick up litter you see on the way
122. Spend time at the library
123. Sort all your digital photos and make an album to print for holiday gifts to family.
124. Help your kid organize his closet.
125. Figure out the melody and chords to your current favorite tune on the piano.
126. Practice your holiday cookie recipes
127. Make crackers from scratch (that one didn't go so well).
128. Make tortillas from scratch (better).
129. Reread a book you haven't read for years.
130. Tango
131. Learn about someone else’s religion.
132. Reread one of your college textbooks.
133. Key out a wildflower.
134. Do your nails.
135. Do word puzzles.
136. Play a board game.
137. Burn CD’s of some of your favorite music for a friend.
138. Plant a bonsai.
139. Play Mad Libs.
140. Speak only in heroic couplets for an hour.
141. Read poetry online.
142. Ride a stationary bicycle.
143. Set up a domino topple.
144. Play backgammon.
145. Build a house of cards
146. Make an entry in Wikipedia.
147. Read a world almanac.
148. Publish a family newsletter.
149. Throw cards at a hat.
150. Go to bed.

[Kimberley]

Not sure what to do with myself....

151. Go to MWO and have a chat!!

[rebirth]

Not sure what to do with myself....

Jesus Oney. How LONG did that take for you to write. Lol

Itsjustme I made sure I was busy. I stuck to this site, did alot of reading, ate lovely meals, and generally made sure I was busy( even if my heart wasnt into it). Sometimes i just walked around like an idiot. As long as the moment passed without me taking a drink was all that counted. Oh. I ate ALOT of chocolate too!

It will get easier I promise you. I have broken the habit of thinking I need to have a drink to make tv better, cooking better, conversation better, cooking better, gardening better etc.

It's just the addiction driving you intially nuts but it will wear off. x

[rebirth]

Not sure what to do with myself....

152. Cut out newspaper articles of drink related accidents and deaths

( morbid but it worked for me)

[gyco]

Not sure what to do with myself....

hi itsjustme 153 go to the hospital sike ward and see where you could end up, 154 go to the hospital and see how many old people arent actually dying from old age,but actually al abuse,new knowleldge alsheimers and parkensins and demencia are coming in by research and are being linked to drug and al abuse,one of the greatest things your doing rt now is realising you have a problem,good for you and i hope u find what you need gyco