I can totally relate. My first 6 months I felt like a child; painful aware of my patterns of avoidance. I got into the habit of taking a walk when I was really having lost moments and, slowly this grounded me. The empty feeling, I am discovering every day, is all about loving myself. I spent years not knowing how to do this so it stands to reason that it is taking time to learn.
I have come to love my quiet time. I could work in my garden all day if I didn’t have other responsibilities. My perfect vacation is a week walking in the mountains…. Still mind can feel empty until I surrender to it and then I suddenly realize that I am whole. I find that it’s a process. Take a breath, remember that I don’t need anything, feel peace, then, eventually my mind gets busy again…. Then breathe….
There’s talks on non duality that I find interesting. Emptiness is big in Buddhist philosophy… I think that a majority of people are uncomfortable with empty because it makes the connection with ourselves, or lack of, very visible. Just like fear, embracing it takes away its power and the perception that it’s bad.
Patience and being gentle with ourselves is how to build self love. One day at a time:)

I understand the feeling. I have not had a drink in a long time but have a constant pit of my stomach ache. It’s anxiety is what I have come to believe. Anxiety about my past and my future. I suggest some self care exercises. Take some long walks. The AA I go to has suggested to pray and meditate and that will help. I don’t believe there is a God and that somehow translates to fear. Fear of everything, life, death, and people.

I suggest getting the eyes checked as at first I was wearing glasses with an old prescription and this causes me to have a vertigo. Take a moment to make a gratitude list. The fear of what I don’t have or may lose is so great inside me that it causes my stomach to knot.

I’m also wondering if I have some sort of mental illness as I gravitated to alcohol as a relief at an early age of like 14. It was a drug that took these anxieties away and made me feel normal. Problem was I used booze every day and more and more and then was not even living anymore but more like a hunk of matter that would wake, drink, and sleep.

The good part is you are not drinking. The other good part is you recognize this. Try some meditation. I will try too. I can’t meditate for more than 10 seconds. My mind is in an overactive state that is just the way I am.

I will pray to a the power of the universe that you can find some help and relief. Talk about it with some people. I find that taking actions is helpful. When I sit I go spiraling down the hole of regret and remorse.

Practice forgiveness. Forgive yourself for the past and believe the future will be better it will get better , prayers.

I had anxiety that was through the roof. I didn't want to feel my feelings so I numbed them with drugs and alcohol for many years. This was a mistake because it stunted my emotional growth, so when I quit drinking and druggin, my emotions hit me like a ton of bricks.

The only way I could stay sober was by reaching out to others....like you are doing here.

. Remember that you are human like the rest of us and we all make mistakes in life so just forgive yourself, that's all.

There is a universal law that says, "What you give your attention to will grow and what you withdraw your attention from, will fade away".....Try to focus on positive things in life, and do the things that make you happy......The present moment is the most valuble time you have. It's the only time we can change so do creative things that make you feel good about yourself.. Be kind to yourself and Love yourself....

All of this takes practice but it's well worth the effort!

God Bless

Hi, well, totally comprehensive as most of my time before my abstinence, was focused on drinking, or "dreaming awake" on my fantasies, that would of course start with a drink. (I mean wondering about romantic adventures, meeting wonderful woman, dreaming how important I was, or how rich I will become.
So quit drinking, first of all, leaved me a lot of free time and a lot to think.
I was lucky I got sober in AA, and also that I still had a wife (although almost to leave me), and a job.
Going to meetings, and being in contact with other people, who had my same problem, fill the gap of free time, and also gave me a new open window of what was my problem, and how to help getting myself better.
Focusing on my family time, instead of being away drinking, helped me fill also a facet of life that keeps me occupied and centered on my life.
Professionally, as being more able to do my job, I had been able to keep myself updated and improving through courses and studies, as also learning languages.
And also coming back to my sports days, specially this, makes me active, keep fit, and with a very clear mind. As well as feeling that I am doin something for my own benefit.
Then adding stretching (Adding yoga postures), and meditation with this postures, keeps me thinking in a positive way.
But what indeed helps more is keeping in touch with other AA, my meetings , and being active in the community, with service, always thinking in how to help others.
Hope , my experience can be useful for you