Anyone that has struggled with substance abuse issues will no doubt also suffered from severe anxiety. I know while actively drinking, the intensity of my anxiety attacks was directly related to the level of my blood alcohol content. The lower it went, the more I suffered from withdrawals and reality – both would set off the shakes, sweats, and manic incoherency.
I still find myself dealing with anxiety, it’s human nature and not something unique to those of us in recovery although I feel for us it does present a greater danger. I know at least for me the natural tendency is to dwell on and obsess over negative issues and situations. An uneasy feeling turns to anxiety and with procrastination (I am a Jedi-procrastinator), anxiety transforms into fear. That’s why my recovery program stresses ACTION more than anything, I cope by doing. Sometimes even busy work can therapeutic.
The key to overcoming anxiety in recovery though is keeping things manageable, one day at a time, and remembering even the worse days sober are better than the best days as a drunk.
