Juliett
55 |
What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
Does anyone know if an addict in the first
month of sobriety is acting normal, or are there things a person
living with him needs to deal with. And what if that person
doesn't know the addict is going through sobriety, just thinks
he is depressed, what will happen? |
| Replies... |
| vctry7 |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
I was as nutty that first month as I was when
I was using. My depression didn't set in until after the first
month. |
| Cassandra |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
i would say that during the first month of
sobriety, if you're talking about meth, the person is going to
be very moody, extremely sensitive, lethargic... probably on
edge because of cravings... having to deal with stress head on,
sober for the first time in a while... and lacking the energy
and motivation it takes to face a normal day... all these things
and more are what my husband went through for a long time.
If I hadn't known he was facing sobriety, it probably would have
been really bad... I wouldn't have known why he couldn't wake up
and get up like a normal person... why he was so on edge and so
sensitive... and I wouldn't have known how to be sensitive
toward his needs or give the support he needed.... |
sickand
tired
77 |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
That first month is kind of tricky...
I would say that the addict's chances of continued sobriety are
greater if those living with him/her are aware of what's going
on.
I'm glad I knew why my husband was so sluggish & moody when he
stopped using- honestly, I don't know how I might have reacted
to him if I had been in the dark.
How a person acts during early recovery can differ greatly...
some will be more "normal" than others. But the person living
with the recovering addict should definitely be in the know...
either way.
JMO. |
Juliett
55 |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
what does it say about the relationship if
the addict is afraid to say the truth to the person he lives
with? |
sickand
tired
77 |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
My opinion? It doesn't necessarily imply
anything negative about the relationship itself (other than the
obvious: dealing with addiction)... just might mean that the
addict isn't completely ready for surrender.
Admitting addiction is tough stuff... it takes LOTS of courage.
Fear of telling loved ones might suggest that the addict is not
quite ready for recovery... or it might just be that they feel
so guilty that they don't know how. |
le
grumps |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
Here is my take, I could be wrong but...
When I first got clean, I thought that I was finally flooding
with honesty. After all, I was finally admitting that I had a
problem and that I did have to make some changes.
But I still had problems being honest about everything. We are
so accustomed to lying and hiding behind layer after layer of
fronts that I would even say that it's virtually impossible for
a newly-clean addict to be perfectly honest about everything
right away.
It takes some clearing of the head to even have an idea what
honesty really means.
Especially if you are referring to honesty about what "really"
happened while he was using.
Things usually get worse before they get better, unfortunately.
With meth, anyway. Just encourage the person that if they just
survive this treacherous time right now, they will never have to
suffer this kind of pain again. |
| Sfj |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
In my early months of recovery - the first
year essentially - I did four things that took up almost all of
my time.
1. I went to rehab at S.T.O.P. I highly recommend a good IOP program for most
people who do not need residential housing assistance.
2. When I wasn't in treatment meetings or groups, I spent my
time on the KCI message board and the KCI chat room.
3. I slept, and slept, and then I'd take a nap, until it was
time for bed and a good night's rest. Then I'd sleep.
4. I ate healthier food than I did as a tweaker. No more Kit
Kats, Reeses, Snickers and ice cream.
I have over five years clean and free from meth. |
danimal
55 |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
Uh huh ...as sfj has effectively
illustrated, there is a big/HUGE difference between early
"recovery" and early abstinence.
Curious 55, is this mystery addict pursuing any form of tangible
recovery?............. aside from lip service? |
Juliett
55 |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
early abstinence it is and trading recovery
for the full time job and AA, which is not bad, but he knew he
needed to take off work. |
nine
years
clean |
Re: What is normal behavior the first month of recovery?
Honestly, I was on pins and needles the first
month I was clean. I didn't know from one minute to the next if
being clean was what I really wanted to do. I knew I needed to
do it, but I wasn't liking it at all, and I kept making deals
with myself, like, okay, make it through today and you can use
tomorrow if you really want to.
Like I said, it was minute by minute most of the time. I was
weary; I was physically exhausted; I was extremely shocked as I
began to realize the damage and destruction my addiction caused;
I wasn't sure I could stay clean.
I was a wreck, and it took a long, long time for me, working the
steps of NA, before I felt like I might be okay.
|
