Beyond sobriety

✨ The Dry Drunk Syndrome

The aftermath of sobriety.

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

I’ve been sober for over a year now, but there have been times when I’ve felt like a dry drunk. My emotions were all over the place, I was constantly irritable, and I had a hard time connecting with others. I felt like I was trapped in a cycle of negativity that I couldn’t escape.

I remember one particular day when I was feeling especially down. I had been working on a project at home, and I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. I started to think about all of the things that I had missed out on because of my drinking. I felt like a failure, and I started to doubt my ability to ever be happy again.

I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, and I saw a bottle of vodka on the counter. I picked up the bottle and held it in my hand for a moment. I wanted to drink so badly, but I knew that I couldn’t. I put the bottle back down and walked out of the kitchen.

I went to my bedroom and sat down on the bed. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and I started to cry. I cried for all of the pain and suffering that I had caused myself and my loved ones. I cried for all of the lost opportunities and the years of my life that I had wasted.

As I was crying, I thought about all of the people who had supported me during my recovery. I thought about my therapist, my sponsor, my friends, and my family. I realized that I wasn’t alone in this, and that I had people who cared about me and wanted to see me succeed.

I took a deep breath and wiped away my tears. I knew that I couldn’t let my feelings get the best of me. I had to remember why I had gotten sober in the first place. I had to remember that I was worth it.

I got up from the bed and went to the living room. I put on some music and started to dance. I danced until I was out of breath, and I felt the tension and stress melting away.

When I was done dancing, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I knew that I would be okay. I had faced my demons and come out the other side stronger.

I’ve learned that dry drunk syndrome is a real challenge, but it is not insurmountable. With the right support, you can overcome it and continue on your journey to recovery.