I can't stop feeling sad. I'm trying to shake it. I know the cause. It's my new lifestyle.?

Question:

I'm in AA. I haven't had a drink in 2 years. I have a sponsor. Do my steps. Help others to the best of my ability. I've dealt with anxiety and depression my whole life. Now I can't drink to deal with it. I tell my sponsor who tells me that I'm self centered. She's right but it doesn't take away the sadness or panic attacks. I help others, too. That's basically what AA's thing is: you're sad/anxious/angry, so help someone else. That's the only way to stay sober. I'm trying this but I can't be helping all the time. I have to work and finish college. I help people as often as I can but this doesn't take away the depression. Maybe temporarily but the feelings are still there. My parents were alcoholic so I feel a void..like I'm a child...still looking for guidance, or a maternal figure. In AA they say you have to get that from God, but I'm just not there yet. I just feel so empty all of the time. I want to feel better. I don't know who to talk to because I'm scared they'll judge. Ugh.

Answers:
you say you have had anxiety and depression your whole life. it's probably a good part of where your drinking started. these are diseases that often require medication to help alleviate symptoms. therapy would probably help as well, working through all the stuff bottled up inside of you for so long. congrats on being sober 2 years, that's great! good luck. take care.

Congrats on being sober. YOu can talk to me. I'll listen.

You are on the right track, stay on it. I understand how you feel
just don't give up..Have you seen a doctor about your depression?? anxiety?? I recommend a visit..all the stress you are feeling you may be putting it on yourself...I am sure you have heard Let go and let god...try it it really works..find someone who can give you the guidance that you need ..maybe a professor on campus or a close friend.
Good luck to you, I will be thinking of you.hang in there

Yeah, self medicating sux. Especially when it gets out of hand, and then you cant fall back on it as your crutch anymore. I finally had to come to terms with my depression, after I got into alot of trouble with the law. Im not going to go into details, but I did some things that I am really not proud of, and I have to pay for it now. It's funny because when I was self medicationg and dealing with all the depression it got to a point where I just didnt care anymore. I didnt feel anything. It ws literally like i was living in the 3rd person. Part of my court order is to get therapy, and that I need to take whatever meds my therapist sees fit. She put me on wellbutrin, because SSRI meds didnt do well with me. I feel awesome. Its been about 9 weeks, and I feel so much better. Its nice to feel again. Now to deal with the guilt thats eating away at me because of the things that I put people through. Yeah I really was a shell and kinda unaware (therapist thinks some kind of prolonged mild psychosis but cant be sure), but I am yearning to hold myself accountable, and I feel like there is nothing I can do to make it better for the ones that were harmed. Hopefully with more therapy I can get past this. Seek a therapist or a doctor's advice. Maybe meds might be an option for you. I wish you well and I hope that everything can get figured out. Btw. your sponsor does not sound very encouraging. Sounds to me like you need someone who is acually going to listen to you. Everything that you are experiencing is normal. Sometimes its oksy to be self cented. SOmetimes its neccessary for ones sanity.

u may need a psych doc in addition to a new sponsor..people who don.t suffer ill mental health many times do n not understand it..email me..ima crazy woman ..@yahoo.com

I am also in recovery and I take medication for depression and anxiety.Depression and anxiety are common reasons why we start to drink in the first place.You should see a psychiatrist who can evaluate you and decide if you should take medication.There is nothing wrong with taking antideppresants,it will more than likely improve your mood which can aide in keep your sobriety on track.

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. You're not self-centered at all - your sponsor is probably just saying that to try and jolt you into another way of thinking. You must take care of yourself to take care of others, isn't that right? The following steps will eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) your panic attacks and help you feel better about things:

1.Breathe properly - if you control your breathing, you control panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better.

2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy! CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks, OCD and anxiety etc. It takes a bit of work, but it is super effective. (After 15 years of panic attacks, mine stopped completely). You can speak to your doctor about taking a course or you can take a course for free online at: www.livinglifetothefull.com

3. Try relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really help if you practise often enough. You can get free downloads online, e.g. http://www.studentservices.utas.edu.au/c...

With each step practise makes perfect. (i.e. practise the steps every day, not just when you are feeling bad). I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck!

Well, I am an alcoholic too, but am very sober now. I believe the anxiety/depression was the cause. I have this mood disorder because I have a chemical imbalance . There's not enough seratonin flowing to my brain. Sounds scientific and eerie, but it's not. Seratonin is the stuff that keeps our emotions in check. I take Paxil, an antidepressent that keeps those "dark" feelings at bay and I haven't had a panic attack since! Anxiety is a rush of adrenalin that makes us panic. And when it's over, your mind and body feel drained and you become depressed. Sometimes even complete with suicidal thoughts. So, the panic attacks make you sometimes feel like your on the edge of insanity or death and the depression makes you wanna crawl in a hole and "croak!". Vicious cycle, but good news, it can be helped! I can't snap out of it with therapy, vitamins, blah, blah, blah! I've tried. No more than a diabetic can control their glucose levels completely with "happy thoughts!". It's a real ailment, seriously. Without it, I would probably be sittin' in a corner huddled up to a bottle of booze! Let people judge, who cares! Go to the doc, they will help you. It took me a couple docs and a couple different meds, but, damn it was worth it!!

I can't stop feeling sad. I'm trying to shake it. I know the cause. It's my new lifestyle.?

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