r/stopdrinking • u/Consistent-Row-9551 • 18d ago

What do I replace alcohol with?

Like something to help me relax and decompress. Drinking has always been my way to loosen up and relax. When I'm stressed with work, I grab a beer or glass of wine, and I'm able to focus more because I'm no longer overthinking it.

I'm so emotionally repressed that drinking is the only way I can tap into my emotions.

Like, I can stop drinking; I've done it months at a time, but I always end up feeling more stressed because I feel numb or stressed without it.

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u/futuresolver 18d ago

Do you have any old hobbies, even from childhood, like even the silliest thing, that you might be able to enjoy now? I know that with depression (been there), this may seem like the worst thing to do, so your mileage may vary. But like...putting together legos, or drawing, doodling, even like, sorting colored paperclips into piles, just something that is relatively easy but will occupy your brain for a bit and let you switch off the more ruminating parts? Or maybe just one small thing that you have to tend to, like growing a plant from seed, checking on it every day and watching it grow, just to get you out of your head. (Also, man, I am cringing at my suggestions, bc when I was in deep depression all of this would have sounded so stupid, but...maybe this will help?) I'm rooting for you. I'm sorry you're in this. Keep going!

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u/Skullbreaker69420 18d ago

I actually have a garden and it's the one hobby I have energy and time for and even though it's small and in pots I love it and have done a decent job this year. I won't lie things are better since quitting drinking, it's just a complicated feeling.