what is "normal"

[livyspop]

Notice how whenever most of us use the word normal in terms of the feeling we put quotation marks ("normal"). This leads me to ask the question, what is normal? I know its different for everybody. What do you think normal is? Id love to hear everyones take on feeling "normal". Its almost like the word "time" you grow to hate the word but cant wait for the "time" to pass so you can feel "normal" again.

[ActingBrandNew]

My mom used to tell me (and still does) that there's no such thing as normal. Im not saying shes right...just sharing what shes pounded into my thick skull since I was a little one.  Because your right...what really is "normal"? It would be an individual standard right? How one would expect to feel but not necessarily how the next person expects to feel. So in essence, "normal" would be how one felt on his or her best day....but as we get older, it seems a bit hard to experience that feeling...its like chasing a dream...or that first high. I guess feeling normal is just being content in ones own skin.

[ROSYouralright]

Exactly right my friend! This was a great post! Loved reading all the answers... Looks like we are all getting our normal back! :-))

[dominosarah]

Good question........I am not sure what normal is.  Maybe getting up and going to work, eating, showering, stuff like that.  Nothing is the same as it used to be for me other than those things.  I am now "living" and that feels awesome~

[ricart70]

Thus my normal = happy, social, energetic, morning person

Here's the amount of days it's taken me for each:

happy - 14 - 20 (and still sporadic days where I feel "off" mentally)

social - 15 (I'm full blown back to being social and doing so better than my "best" day on pills)

energetic - day 32 - 35 (and I still get tired easily. I need to do more exercise but I definitely have more energy and motivation to go do things AND I have more energy than I did in my last couple months on pills).

morning - day 35 (man I'm loving the mornings! I can hop right out of the bed when my alarm goes off and I'm clear-headed and ready to face the world).
  
This is such a great description and timeline Happy!! .They should put this up permanently because this is how it really is. People always say the physical lasts a few days and then comes the mental but really it is physical and mental healing that happen together and it happens over a longer period than a few days. Both parts affect and play off of one another and one who is going through detox should know that they are still continuing to heal after those first few super flu days.  There may very well be a mental battle to fight after months of sobriety but for the first month or so it is really a matter of healing mentally and physically.It is a biological process that runs it's course just like the acute withdrawal does. I wish I would have known this the first several times I tried to get clean because I would get 10-20 days and go back because I thought that was the way I was going to feel from then on. I went back at 23 days once and I would bet if I would have stuck it out just a few more days I would have made it to happiness. Hang in there everyone !   You will know when you reach your normal ;))

[livyspop]

Its absolutely different for everybody. Thats why I thought it would be a good question to ask. Like I said before I dont really remember my old normal. Im playing this one by ear. There are things I strive for that I consider to be normal. Right now normal seems a little abnormal at times.

[ROSYouralright]

Normal, for me, would probably seem weird to u! I'm creating an entire new normal for myself... I'll let u know when I get it figured out.. If ever!
This is what my dictionary said about it
conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.
2. serving to establish a standard.
3. Psychol.  
(a) approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.
(b) free from any mental disorder; sane.
4. Biol., Medical  
(a) free from any infection or other form of disease or malformation, or from experimental therapy or manipulation.
(b) of natural occurrence.
So WHO determines what normal really is? I think its different for everyone

[ncgirl01]

Normal is relative. Right now the "normal" I subscribe to is being a productive member of society. What I have to do to maintain that is probably not what my next door neighbor is doing to be "normal". I have to use medication to maintain the facade. I've also been "really normal" for periods where I didn't use meds and I really liked that and I'm trying to get back to that "normal"

[BearsFan1966]

normal would be loving myself again!

[Wildewoman]

Very well said!!

[Heather8448]

Learning to feel emotions again good and bad, and being okay with it!!

[VICourageous]

Learning to LOVE again!!!!

[Butterfly1503]

Normal for me is being high on life. Not chasing pills, and freaking out when I run low. Dealing with life's emotions the healthy way and natural way!! Living life without being dependent on a substance that makes me fake!

[glamisgirl]

What a good question. I would say I just want to feel normal  again a lot in the beginning of withdrawal. I think normal for me was not feeling like I was in a constant fog, normal to me was also having the ability to get excited about little or big things coming up in life. To have the energy to do things through out my work day and then still have the energy to maybe go out to dinner with friends after work or shopping. Stuff I would see everyone else having no problem doing that is what normal means to me. I had lost the ability to feel, I had no energy and no motivation while I was using, all things that I would consider normal and I wanted those things and feelings back.

[livyspop]

I dont know that I accurately remember my old normal. Normal for me and think Im begining to feel it is; HAPPY! being outward about my feelings, emotional wether it be a belly laugh or being pissed off or even crying but to just feel emotion. To have a peice of mind without wondering when Im going to run out of pills or if I took to much and will I wake up. Clear thoughts. I guess we all want similar things in life. I hope you all find your normal. I think Im almost at mine.

[kyle505]

Normal is being able to face each day, good or bad, without having to depend on the false sense of well-being that using produces. It is not having to plan every waking minute around do I have enough pills, when will I run out, where can I get more, when can I use again. Normal (as Sarah has said) is feeling; not masking your feelings with meds, but feeling each life experience as it comes, and dealing with them with a clear mind. Finally, normal is feeling good, high, naturally - an experience so many of us lose when we're using. It is much better than anything any pill can do.
K

[Wildewoman]

Oh Happy -  Bravo!!

I feel like I have an agenda to my normal now too!!

Thanks so much!!

[HappyDays2Come]

I can only by my past experience of my personal normal.

For me normal is going out and doing things without the need of a pill to make me social, happy, and energetic. Normal for me, also, means having enough energy to not want to crash in my bed by 7pm and being about to wake up in the morning without my head being in a fog or feeling completely exhausted.

Thus my normal = happy, social, energetic, morning person

Here's the amount of days it's taken me for each:

happy - 14 - 20 (and still sporadic days where I feel "off" mentally)

social - 15 (I'm full blown back to being social and doing so better than my "best" day on pills)

energetic - day 32 - 35 (and I still get tired easily. I need to do more exercise but I definitely have more energy and motivation to go do things AND I have more energy than I did in my last couple months on pills).

morning - day 35 (man I'm loving the mornings! I can hop right out of the bed when my alarm goes off and I'm clear-headed and ready to face the world).

I'd probably add patience to the list but even before I took pills I was never the best at this one:). Therefore I'm going to say that one will be a work in progress.

[Wildewoman]

I am detoxing now - and normal to me is not feeling bad.

I am a feeling very raw - emotionally.

So normal would be free from anxiety.