You likely have a lot of emotion that has been bottled up for a long time. Sometimes a breakdown is just what we need so we can have a breakthrough. The fact that you are staying sober is to be celebrated! All of this is difficult work but the progress you have made so far and the promise of a beautiful future are so worth it. Be sure to take time everyday doing something you enjoy and when you feel the negativity creep in, see if you can find something positive to replace the negativity. Have a blessed day.

octoberrust, just hang in there. Things will get better. I know that there are days when it just gets to be too much. If you can, just back away and make sure you are taking care of yourself first and foremost. (I know that sounds difficult to do when you have a family.) If you have a support system, this is the time to lean of them, whether it's adult family members, friends, AA, church, counseling, or even a journal or some simple self-care, like a long shower or bath. You can do this. The hardest first days are over. Look ahead to a brighter future. HUGS!!

Hi there :) I love what Ataylor said about breakdowns and breakthroughs. I couldn’t agree more. After the first few months of sobriety I had so many emotions boil over because the alcohol wasn’t there to numb me. So got rid of tv and dove into reading about emotions and how to calm their influences. Feel them so as to accept not avoid. At the same time understand that you are so much more than your emotions. Everyday take a few moments to breathe and practice sending love to yourself. For me this took a lot of practice as I hadn’t ever given that to myself. Because I didn’t feel deserving. I’m changing that a little bit each day and it really works. It centers you in a more solid mind so when the emotional storms whip up they don’t take you along for a ride. I read a nice visualization where we are a tree rooted well by practice (one day at a time) and live in our trunk where it’s firm. The branches are our emotions and they can blow wildly in the wind but down near the earth we’re safe. Bests

Old habits are very hard to shake in those early stages, I found....feeling os loss and isolation, or I'm not good enough, or I can't do this, would keep popping in my mind relentlessly and my AA sponsor would bail me out on a number of occasions. There were times when it seemed that I was more important to him then his own wife was because I would talk to him for hours, at times when those cravings came. His wisdom and friendship were the only thing I had that helped me when I was alone and had just his voice on my phone to get me through the rough times.

Now is the time to rely on your support network, If you can get past those first few months, it gets progressively easier afterwards.

Don't give up now. We can easily see how bad you want sobriety and believe me, it's well worth the early struggles. Take it from one who has been there.

God Bless