SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - Blogs - The Raven and the Frog by adore79

7 symptoms of alcoholism

adore79 — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:41:40 GMT

Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence

* Neglect of other Activities: Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use;

* Excessive Use: Alcohol is consumed in larger amounts over a longer period than intended;

* Impaired control: Ongoing, unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol consumption;

* Persistence of Use: Alcohol consumption is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely caused or exacerbated by alcohol;

* Large Amounts of Time Spent in Alcohol Related Activities: A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain, use or recover from the effects of alcohol;

* Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking;

* Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

i need to step it up

adore79 — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:24:36 GMT

ive been slacking lately on my spiritual development. i need to go back to maintaining mindfulness more, praying and meditating more, reminding myself of my gratefulness more.

Sublime- badfish, just for fun

adore79 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:43:49 GMT

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Prayer

adore79 — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:41:18 GMT

Please God, show me the right things to do today.
Please God, help me stay away from that first drink.
Please God, help me stay on the right path.
Please God, let me be a power for good in the world.Please God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Words cant describe

adore79 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:12:38 GMT

I often do or say things on impulse and then regret them because I realize they can be taken different ways by those around me. Is this a lack of impulse control or do I just second guess myself too much? I've been pondering this question a lot lately.

I dont have much experience with friends, Ive never really had any since high school, and even back then it was only one girl, my best friend whom I followed around like a puppy and worshipped. I would get extremely jealous when she hung out with someone else, which was often since she was extremely sociable and likable and trancended high school cliques.

Since then I havent had friends not because Im incapable of making them but because I didnt want any. So it should not come as a shock to me now that I am not to good with interpersonal relationships that arent completely based on business and work.

I recently hurt a friend's feelings but didnt know how badly they were hurt until today and I am completely lost. I have to own up to my behavior though, although I said things on impulse and I wasnt in a very healthy mindset at the time there was still a part of me that knew what I was doing was wrong. Responsiblility, owning up to my actions, accountibility; these are fundamental in recovery. I have to practice them or I will drink again and eventually die early.

I can only do what my friend asked of me: to bare with him. I will, for no matter how long it takes.

Wiki article- cognitive distortions

adore79 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:30:29 GMT

Cognitive distortions are inaccurate thoughts or ideas identified in cognitive therapy and its variants, which maintain negative thinking and help to maintain negative emotions. The theory of cognitive distortions was first proposed by David D. Burns, MD. [1] Eliminating these distortions and negative thought is said to improve mood and discourage maladies such as depression and chronic anxiety. The process of learning to refute these distortions is called "cognitive restructuring".

[edit] List of distortions
Many cognitive distortions are also logical fallacies; related links are suggested in parentheses.

All-or-nothing thinking - Thinking of things in absolute terms, like "always", "every" or "never". Few aspects of human behavior are so absolute. (See false dilemma.)

Overgeneralization - Taking isolated cases and using them to make wide generalizations. (See hasty generalization.)

Mental filter - Focusing exclusively on certain, usually negative or upsetting, aspects of something while ignoring the rest, like a tiny imperfection in a piece of clothing. (See misleading vividness.)

Disqualifying the positive - Continually "shooting down" positive experiences for arbitrary, ad hoc reasons. (See special pleading.)

Jumping to conclusions - Assuming something negative where there is no evidence to support it. Two specific subtypes are also identified:
Mind reading - Assuming the intentions of others.
Fortune telling - Predicting how things will turn before they happen. (See slippery slope.)

Magnification and Minimization - Inappropriately understating or exaggerating the way people or situations truly are. Often the positive characteristics of other people are exaggerated and negative characteristics are understated. There is one subtype of magnification:
Catastrophizing - Focusing on the worst possible outcome, however unlikely, or thinking that a situation is unbearable or impossible when it is really just uncomfortable.

Emotional reasoning - Making decisions and arguments based on how you feel rather than objective reality. (See appeal to consequences.)

Making should statements - Concentrating on what you think "should" or ought to be rather than the actual situation you are faced with, or having rigid rules which you think should always apply no matter what the circumstances are. Albert Ellis termed this "Musturbation". (See wishful thinking.)

Labeling and Mislabeling - Explaining behaviors or events, merely by naming them; related to overgeneralization. Rather than describing the specific behavior, you assign a label to someone or yourself that puts them in absolute and unalterable terms. Mislabeling involves describing an event with language that is highly colored and emotionally loaded.

Personalization (or attribution) - Assuming you or others directly caused things when that may not have been the case. (See illusion of control.) When applied to others, blame is an example.

Meetings are hard to do

adore79 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:37:13 GMT

They are really hard to do. I dont know what is more difficult, going to them or staying sober. I am bad at calling people, the phone isnt just heavy it is unliftable. Oh well, at least I am getting to some. I've decided to not do one a day but go down to four a week, and go to extra ones if I am craving badly, at least it is a place to go where I know I wont drink. I guess Im not desperate enough but again, I am going to them. I really need to start working on step four every night.

Great meeting this morning

adore79 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:27:22 GMT

I like the cozy little meetings. I felt comfortable at this one, and greeted people and this time really thought that their greetings were real and heartfelt. Im looking forward to the noon meeting and the evening one.

Will start work on step one with my temp sponsor tommorrow. Finally, after all this time Im actually getting things done.

Feel good today. Still feel guilty and like I am a major burden on my folks, but that is what I am working on changing, so... Just a little longer, I'll become healthy or I will die and that is life.

Close call

adore79 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:34:39 GMT

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Nothing changes

adore79 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:39:33 GMT

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I miss the silence

adore79 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:53:51 GMT

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Not sure

adore79 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:28:01 GMT

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A step backward

adore79 — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:00:27 GMT

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Bottled anger

adore79 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:24:46 GMT

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To October

adore79 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:29:27 GMT

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