Radiant Redemption

As I sit down to write this blog post, I can’t help but laugh at how wild and unpredictable my emotions have been lately. One minute, I’m feeling hopeful and optimistic about my recovery journey, and the next, I’m on the verge of tears and wondering if I’ll ever feel “normal” again.

It’s no secret that alcohol messes with your emotions. It can amplify negative feelings like anxiety and depression while numbing positive ones like joy and happiness. So, it’s no surprise that when you take away the booze, your emotions can go haywire.

I remember one day, shortly after I got sober, I was watching tv and burst into tears because of a purina commercial. I am sure my family thought I was crazy. But the truth is, my emotions were just all over the place. Ah, the joys of early sobriety.

It’s hard to explain the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with early sobriety. Some days, you feel like you’re on top of the world, and other days, you feel like you’re barely hanging on. It’s like riding a wave, and sometimes that wave can feel like a tsunami.

But here’s the thing: it gets better. As you work through your recovery, your emotions will start to stabilize. You’ll learn how to cope with stress and anxiety in healthy ways, and you’ll begin to feel more in control of your feelings.

I’m not going to lie, there are still days when I feel like a hot mess. But those days are becoming fewer and farther between. And the best part is that when I do have a bad day, I have the tools and support I need to get through it without turning to alcohol.

One thing that’s helped me a lot in my recovery is finding humor in the chaos. Laughing at myself and my wild mood swings has been a game-changer. It reminds me that I’m human and that it’s okay to not have it all together all the time.

So, if you’re in the midst of the emotional rollercoaster that is early sobriety, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to feel like you’re losing your mind sometimes. But trust me when I say that it does get better. And in the meantime, don’t be afraid to find the humor in the chaos. After all, laughter is the best medicine.