Coping problems

There are several problems with abstinence. Here are five major problems you may experience.

There are several problems associated with abstinence. Here are the five major problems you may experience during the initial stages.

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Inability to think clearly

The first problem you may experience is thought process impairment. It will appear as if your brain sometimes works right and sometimes does not. You will not be able to concentrate for more than a few minutes. You may not be able to understand abstract reasoning. You will not be able to take decisions or solve problems. Everything around – even minor problems will look threatening. You feel incompetent and embarrassed. Low self-esteem and fear of failure become evident.

Another common problem is rigid and repetitive thought pattern. The same thought may go round and round in your head and you will be unable to break through this circular thinking in order to put thoughts in an orderly way.

Memory problems

You may not be able to remember things. You may hear everything and understand them thoroughly, but within 20 minutes, you will forget parts of it.

You keep misplacing things. You keep forgetting new telephone numbers. Such incidents result in stress, and this stress aggravates short-term memory impairment. Because of such memory problems, it becomes difficult for you to learn new skills.

Emotional over reaction or numbness

Some tend to overreact during abstinence. When things happen that requires two units of emotional reaction, you react with ten. That is, you feel much more anxious or tensed up than what you have reason to be. This is sometimes followed by emotional numbness. You are unable to express any feeling when there is a really stressful situation. You swing from one extreme to another without knowing why.

Over–reaction on the one hand, and total passivity on the other, cause a lot of confusion and concern for you and for the others close to you.

(To be continued)

(Source: Webhealthcentre.com)