Nothing excites me anymore

When you first come into recovery, you experience a lot of emotions. You can have a sort of mourning towards your old way of life and may even become depressed. Sometimes, you may feel that life has lost its luster and nothing excites you anymore.

This is perfectly normal and is experienced by most of us in recovery at some point or another. With any addiction, you are going to be missing something you used to enjoy. The change to a new life, a new way of living, will take some adjusting but eventually, you see the sober life can indeed be fun.

Your mind and body are changing

In recovery sometimes it can feel as though we don’t like the way our minds and bodies are changing. Rest assured, it’s okay, and this is a normal feeling. Sometimes we gain weight, sometimes we lose weight. Now that we’re not numbing with substances, we may even have some feelings that resurface. And a lot of times we have some mental and/or physical conditions that become part of our daily lives.

We have to learn our new selves so give yourself some time to accept the changes we are going through. It’s hard becoming a new person, but ultimately, although it might not seem like it, it’s worth the hard work and effort.

Some of us in recovery even go through the stages of grief because of the fact that we are letting go of something. The old us is dying, and a new person is being born. There may be some pain and turmoil in the beginning, but ultimately it can be rewarding when you start realizing that the sober life is sustainable.

Finding motivation

Walking into every day with a positive mindset can improve your life. And getting into a routine is a good way to stay motivated.

Here are a few ways you can practice a positive attitude and ease into your new perspective:

1. Use affirmations to practice self-love and radical acceptance. These short statements can help you embrace yourself in recovery and accept you for you. One of the ways I have done this is by looking at myself in the mirror and telling myself, “You are beautiful inside and out, just the way you are!”
2. Tracking your progress and celebrating successes both big and small can also help with a positive mindset in recovery. Small steps may not seem like much, but when you’re in recovery, small wins can give you confidence.
3. Lean on others for support. It’s always important to have a support system. A group or a good friend/family member can help us stay positive and accountable as things change. And when we can’t see ourselves in a compassionate light, the perspective of a loved one can be a game changer.
4. Finding things to be thankful for and engaging with a higher power can also help change your mindset and perspective. Practicing gratitude enables you to notice the little things or not-so-little things in your life that have helped shape you into a person in recovery.

It’s empowering to know that you have control over your emotions and your reactions, which happens as you make progress in recovery! It’s okay to be nervous and uncomfortable. Change isn’t always easy but just know that all of us in recovery have done this and you are not alone in the process.

Finding excitement again

Using and drinking are usually associated with partying and having fun but in recovery, you find a different way to have fun with life. Finding excitement again in everyday life is very rewarding. You get to try different things and find a community that shares your values and supports you while you are there for them.

Give yourself a grace period if things feel unfamiliar. It’s okay to push through until it feels natural. Remember to have fun and the rest will fall into place.

Figure out what excites you

Take some time to figure out what excites you. Make a list! Write down things you enjoyed and things you might want to try. Nothing is too silly—find things that bring you joy.

What excites you now won’t necessarily be what excited you while you were using. Be open to shifting your perspective and trying new things. Remember, you are going through a huge life change so give yourself a chance to experiment with new hobbies and activities.

Here are a couple of activities that have helped a lot of us in recovery regain our composure and our functioning in society:

• Writing in a journal can help you to express some of the thoughts you are experiencing. By writing you are getting out your innermost thoughts, and becoming aware of your feelings. Get creative! Write poetry and/or short stories that aren’t necessarily recovery-related, but allow you to express yourself.
• Adult coloring books are a great stress-relieving activity. They can also be fun and give you a creative outlet if you’re not artistic.
• Creating and/or listening to music is a relaxing hobby. Music is a universal language and it has a way of moving us and allowing us to connect to ourselves and others on a deeper level.
• Organizing or decorating your living space can refresh your environment. Not only are you beautifying your space, but you are also lifting your mood!!

Get support from friends and family

Team up with other sober living people. Recovery isn’t a road you have to travel alone. You can go to a therapist, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, another type of support group, or participate in yoga and fitness classes at the gym.

People in recovery are exciting to be around. Build up your community. Seek support when you need it. Keep working toward your goals. You might just find that you don’t have to use drugs and alcohol to have fun!