Some Longer Term Actions To Prevent Relapse:

[Time2Surrender]

SOME LONGER TERM ACTIONS TO PREVENT RELAPSE:

A. LEARN TO PRAY AND MEDITATE.
Pray a minimum of three times each day, upon awakening, upon retiring, and before eating. Ask others how they pray. Experiment. Ask your Higher Power how you should pray. Become a student of meditation techniques. Practice the one(s) that work for you.

B. TAKE THE TWELVE STEPS.
Make the 12 steps an integral part of your life. Take steps 10, 11 and 12 every day. Take steps 1 through 9 in order. Try to be well into step nine for your first sober birthday.

C. LEARN TO TAKE DIRECTION.
You got yourself into your drinking pickle. Doing your very best on your own will probably not get yourself out of it and into a quality sober life. Pick a person to take you through the steps and follow their suggestions.

D. ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF A.A.
We have lots of fun in A.A. Introduce yourself to the winners who are making it. Join up with them before and after meetings.

E. FULFILL A.A. COMMITMENTS.
Get to meetings early. Leave late. Take on obligations to do something for A.A., such as bring supplies, setting up/cleaning up the meeting place, making coffee, taking care of literature, greeting at the door, introducing yourself to newcomers, etc.

F. STUDY THE BIG BOOK, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.
Weekly membership in a Big Book Study or a Step Study is essential.

G. SPONSOR SOMEBODY.
Get out of your own problems and into those of somebody else. Develop a deep understanding of the A.A. message by carrying it.

H. GET A JOB.
Sometimes we have too much idle time on our hands. The truly sober alcoholic is not a burden upon others.

I. VISIT THE SICK. An alcoholism ward in a public hospital will show you where you might wind up.

J. PRACTICE THESE PRINCIPLES IN ALL YOUR AFFAIRS.
Your family, friends, employer, neighbors and all those you meet should be better off because of you.







These same principals can work in ANY 12-step recovery program.

The concept of recovery is no longer limited to alcohol; it takes in the rest of the chemical spectrum - coke, pot, tobacco, heroin, and beyond. The BEYOND includes nearly any obsessive compulsion, a thing or a behavior carried to excess. Eating Disorders, sex addiction, rageaholism, workaholism, and the compulsion to spend and spend, an extremely rigid and legalistic approach to living, and so on. These disorders and many others affect the family and close associates (also called co-dependents) who may suffer as severely as the dependent or sometimes more so.









Beattie's book, Beyond Codependency, explains how it is okay to change the rules (false beliefs) that we've learnt from the past. It expalins that we learn this gradually from people in our recovery support groups, counselors, healthy friends, and recovery literature and tapes. It also says that if we try to change our behavoiors without changing the rules, we may find ourselves in conflict within ourselves.

The first new rule is that it is okay to change the rules (false beliefs). We have the power, the ability, and the right to change the rules. Whether we've been recovering for ten minutes or ten years, it is never too late or too early to assertively - even aggressively - change the rules. We can take back our personal power. We'll be empowered. And when we change the rules, our behaviors will change.

My new rules are:
It's okay to feel my feelings and talk about them when it's safe and appropriate, and I want to.
I can think, make good decisions, and figure things out.
I can have, talk about, and solve my problems.
It's okay for me to be who I am.
I can make mistakes, be inperfect, sometimes be weak, sometimes be not so good, sometimes be better, and occasionally be great.
It's okay to be selfish sometimes, put myself first sometimes, and say what I want and need.
It's okay to give to others, but it's okay to keep some for myself too.
It's okay for me to take care of me. I can say no and set boundaries.
It's okay to have fun, be silly sometimes, and enjoy life.
I can make good decisions about who to trust. I can trust myself. I can trust my Higher Power, even when it looks like I can't.
I can be appropriately vulnerable.
I can be direct and honest.
It's okay for me to be close to some people.
I can grow and change, even if that means rocking a bunch of boats.
I can grow at my own pace.
I can love and be loved. And I can love me, because I'm lovable. And I'm good enough.
I can solve problems and let go of the ones that I can't solve.

Working to change the old rules (false beliefs) help us reclaim us and reclaim our life.

Rules are rules....but some rules are made to be broken.




Other things to think about...

We will never know what we can do until we have tried it.
We may not know what we already have until we get grateful.
We can work to be greatful and come to the understanding that we deserve the best.
We may already have more than what we think....and tomorrow might be better than anything we can imagine.


Acceptance:

Our basic recovery concept that never loses its
power to work miracles is the concept called
acceptance.

We do not achieve acceptance in a moment. We
often have to work through a mirage of feelings--
sometimes anger, outrage, shame, self-pity, or
sadness. But if acceptance is our goal, we will
achieve it.

What is more freeing than to laugh at our
weaknesses and to be grateful for our strengths? To
know the entire package called "us"--with all our
feelings, thoughts, tendencies, and history--is
worthy of acceptance and brings healing feelings.

To accept our circumstances is another miraculous
cure. For anything to change or anyone to change,
we must first accept ourselves, others, and the
circumstance exactly as they are. Then, we need to
take it one step further. We need to become grateful
for ourselves or our circumstances. We add a touch
of faith by saying, "I know this is exactly the way
it's supposed to be for the moment."

No matter how complicated we get, the basics never
lose their power to restore us to sanity.

Today, God, help me practice the concept of
acceptance in my life. Help me accept myself,
others, and my circumstances. Take me one step
further and help me feel grateful.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This comes from the book
The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie copyright 1990

[Andy F]

And don't tip a drink down your neck no matter what, under any circumstances at all.

[BikerBill8]

Good post T2S, Keeping youself active in the followship keeps me sober. Also I read the big book i practice the steps in my life. Be Cool. BikerBill8

[EdLova]

The obsession to drink will stay with you until God says different

[Time2Surrender]

Originally Posted by EdLova

The obsession to drink will stay with you until God says different

I wont argue with that one.