Once you get sober, there is probably a feeling of impending doom at times that can be associated with all the feelings coming to the surface that have been suppressed for a long time. Your emotions can be directly related to your past negative endeavors. Feeling shame and guilt can lead to having a case what recovery people call “the RIDs”.
Restless, Irritable, and Discontent are the emotions that are typically associated with someone that is sober but still craving the substances that they are addicted to. Addiction took up a ton of time during its command and stopping something that made you get high to forget about the worries of life, can make you get RID. To keep you from being a dry drunk because your addiction has remained untreated, you must go to any lengths to staying sober including taking certain actions to rid yourself of the RIDs.
Replace addiction with new recovery activities.
If you used drugs or alcohol right when you woke up, then you should find new recovery activities to do as soon as you get up to counterbalance those feelings. If you went to happy hour every night to blackout and pass out, try going to a meeting every night at the same time instead of being at home feeling restless, irritable, and discontent while white-knuckling your cravings.
Call someone who is sober.
Having support from someone who can relate is crucial in staying sober. When you talk to someone about the restlessness, irritability, and discontentedness you are experiencing, it takes the power out of your feelings. The thoughts that are swimming in your head can control your mental state. If you let them out by sharing them with someone else, they do have to dominate you any longer.
Go be of service to someone who needs it.
The last thing that you probably thought to do while you were participating in your addiction was to help someone else. In recovery, it is paramount to give back to others. You might not be so restless, irritable, or discontent if you were helping someone else that requires some assistance. It is much easier to stop thinking about yourself when you are thinking about others.
Getting sober and feeling good about your decision to do so just needs to be worked through in many circumstances. Most people that have struggled with addiction do not come out of the fog unscathed and usually have felt restless, irritable, and discontented in one way or another. The great news in recovery – you never have to feel that way again.
Serenity Oaks Wellness Center has a 5-week treatment plan to help you to stop feeling restless, irritable, and discontented. Our holistic therapy and 12-Step aspects can assist anyone struggling with drugs and alcohol to not have to feel that way again.
Call us today:
844-720-6847
