I’ve been trying to treat my depression without reaching for alcohol or anything else to change how I feel. That sounds straightforward, but the evenings are still hard. I remember sitting in my car after work, feeling completely flat, and thinking that using would be easier than going inside and sitting with it. I went in anyway, made some food, and called someone before the urge got stronger. It didn’t fix the depression, but it helped me get through that night without making things worse.
Therapy and medication have helped some, though progress has been uneven. I’m learning to notice the difference between wanting relief and actually wanting to use, which isn’t always obvious in the moment. What has helped other people get through those low periods without reaching for something?
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Calling someone before the urge got stronger was a smart move. I’ve found that waiting until I feel completely overwhelmed makes everything harder, so I try to reach out when I first notice myself withdrawing.
One small thing that helps me in the evenings is changing rooms and doing something simple with my hands, like making tea and washing up while listening to a familiar podcast. It doesn’t lift the depression, but it gives the next half hour some structure.
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@Stephen_Holmes, noticing the withdrawal early is probably half the battle. Once I’ve gone quiet and started telling myself I’m fine, reaching out feels way harder than it should.
The hands busy part makes sense too. I’ve had evenings where washing dishes or making something basic gave me enough of a pause to avoid acting on the urge. A familiar podcast helps since I don’t have to concentrate much. It’s not a cure, but getting through the next half hour is sometimes the whole goal.