Here's the article:
SMART RecoveryŽ - On Self Control
I can relate to the article. I was out of control, self or otherwise in active addiction. For the longest time I thought self-control was an inherent ability that I naturally possessed. So when it came time to clean up my act, I had a hard time staying off the dope. I didn't know anything about developing skills that would help me. I just thought getting off drugs was a simple as saying no.
For not giving in to the urge I like to "identify I'm having an urge" and put my mind to task by challenging it. I think of my mind as my friend and not my enemy. The urge is the enemy that I can either put my mind to challenging it or basically watch passively as my mind takes to the urge and runs with it.
Being able to identifying when I'm having an urge takes effort. Otherwise I may have some fleeting or even persistent feeling that is in fact an urge and not recognize that I may be very close to using. Its like I'm happy today and a cold beer would be nice but I cant. Here I still have the connection between an emotion and a drink. When it is I have an urge to drink and being happy or sad or every point in between is, I just want to drink...urge.
Anywho I'm not sure if I made a coherent point or what
but there it is. Please feel free to discuss the article and/or my commentary.