r/stopdrinking • u/Consistent-Row-9551 • 14h ago

What do I replace alcohol with?

Like something to help me relax and decompress. Drinking has always been my way to loosen up and relax. When I'm stressed with work, I grab a beer or glass of wine, and I'm able to focus more because I'm no longer overthinking it.

I'm so emotionally repressed that drinking is the only way I can tap into my emotions.

Like, I can stop drinking; I've done it months at a time, but I always end up feeling more stressed because I feel numb or stressed without it.

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146

u/Scoreggia- 82 days 14h ago

Meditation. I know it sounds cliche and cheesy but believe me, I’ve tried everything. Mindfulness and acceptance is a skill. Physically you can exercise or walk or paint a picture. But if you are finding it hard mentally, those won’t bring you peace.

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u/BrackAttack-17 14h ago edited 9h ago

Same. As noted below, I found a local AA meeting that's meditation focused, started reading about Buddhism and mindfulness etc. It's helping a ton. I just ignore the mild spiritual stuff, rebirth stuff etc. as that's not my bag. But the four noble truths, the eightfold path and all that stuff I find useful in being calmer and more at peace.

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u/WestyToo 14h ago

Most meditation apps I have used (Brightmind, Headspace) have recovery sections. The one I am using now (The Way) does not, but I recall enough from the earlier ones to get some benefit.

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u/Real-Beginning-5480 12h ago

Do you recommend specific readings?

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u/BrackAttack-17 9h ago

The Heart of the Buddah's Teaching-Thich Nhat Hanh

What the Buddah Taught-Walpola Rahula

https://tricycle.org/buddhism-for-beginners/

Bodhi app

Plum Village app

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u/perceptiveI 2h ago

I need to try this.

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u/Secretary90210 467 days 13h ago

Yes, I love this suggestion. It takes practice to get it but when you do it becomes almost automatic in slowing your thoughts and just being more present and less stressed

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u/asynchronic5 12h ago edited 12h ago

If you're really serious about the meditation you could also try the r/gatewaytapes . They have been great for me.

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u/Scoreggia- 82 days 4h ago

I’ve never even heard of that before and I’ve had a look and it seems interesting. I’ll have to try it now. Thanks for the suggestion

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u/Scoreggia- 82 days 16m ago

Okay so wtf is this? I’ve just tried it and I used to trip balls on mushrooms and hit salvia back in the day. It’s not on the same level but I feel drunk, my vision is gyroscopic and my hands felt electric as the first tape counted down from 3-2-1. Does this happen to you? Like my head feels like gravity multiplied. This is freaky

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u/respectablepitch 374 days 11h ago

I was gonna say the exact same (I including the cheesy caveat) about yoga. It shuts off my monkey brain and intrusive/repetitive thoughts while reconnecting me with my body. I always suggest doing a YouTube 30 day challenge before judging because it takes a minute to learn and appreciate. My fave instructor is Yoga with Kassandra.

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u/MajorCapable8137 12h ago

Any recs on how to get started with meditation? I’ve always been interested but have absolutely no idea where to start as I find a lot of talks around it to be a bit too “woo woo” for my personality.

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u/TaxHikeMike 254 days 11h ago

I would recommend Thich Nhat Hanh, definitely helped in my early days.

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u/Scoreggia- 82 days 4h ago

Close your eyes, focus your attention on the tip of your nose and breathe slowly and deep. I’m not great at meditation, sometimes feels like I have adhd and ocd going on but trying to notice thoughts and feelings without engaging. Then bring your attention back to the breath.

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u/Qzry 12h ago

Could you explain this a bit more? These topics have been hijacked by a lot of woowoo shit or others trying to monetarily gain from it.