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It can last a while, but once you make it through the worst, you *will* start feeling better day by day.
I was on an SSRI for a while (still am), and could never really tell if it was actually helping, but adding Wellbutrin made a huge difference.
Yeah everyone is different. If you have a good psychiatrist that you trust and that actually listens to you, you'll find what works best (or what works well enough) eventually. Trial and error is part of the process.
Best wishes to you as you figure this out!
So sorry you are going through that right now, OP. Are you taking any meds? I am not really sure how long it will last :(
About 8 months into my AA program I saw a psychiatrist (at my general doctors recommendation) to adjust my meds. My external life had a lot going on, my clinical anxiety and depression was really ramped up: losing weight even tho I was eating fine, trouble sleeping. In 2000 I had seen a psych, started taking 40 mg a day of Paxil. After a few years that psych and I agreed to take it down to 20 mg a day as a maintenance dose. With the new psych we took my Paxil up to 50 mg a day and I started busperine, 10 mg 3 x a day. The new med regimen really helped. If you aren't working with a psychiatrist seek one out and perhaps revisit/re-review your made needs, it made a big difference for me. Good luck to you.
Following.
Rising Star
I never had that phase, myself. I remember feeling serenity, which was a new sensation. I found that to be a relief and it hasn't gone away. It's ok just to be.
OP I remember the anhedonia and apathy I think I slipped in and out of it for a bit. I feel at 6 months everything was a lot better and I felt a lot more mentally stable. But even before that I started feeling better. That's the great thing every day you keep sober you get to feel better and better physically and mentally!
Are you working the steps? That provided me a ton of relief at that point in sobriety.
I didn’t have that. But I also focused hard on exercise, getting outdoors, achieving personal goals, and nutrition as part of my recovery. AA tends to ignore this stuff when for me it was and continues to be foundational for me.
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I am:
Working the steps
Going to meetings almost daily
Exercising daily (swimming / gym)
Eating well
Taking Zoloft
Sleeping 10h/day
Going to therapy
Going for long walks outdoors and exposing myself to as much sunshine as I can
Still feeling like I am dead alive. I believe I am doing all the right things. Maybe this apathy is my mind trying to recover from years and years of a constant dopamine overdose.
D1 good suggestions! In early sobriety when I was feeling really off my sponsor told me to pick up garbage or put shopping carts away at the grocery store.
OP. Are you willing to share more about how much you were drinking (approximate drinks per week) and how many years? I’m interested in correlating that with your current state on day 54. If not, I totally understand so please ignore.
Conversation Starter
I was drinking myself blind about once a week, also taking cocaine, mdma and shrooms on a regular basis (every other weekend). I have never been a daily user but drugs have been part of my identity for the last 10 years. It is the first time I am completely sober for over a month since 2019 when I did 8 months sober.