Instead Of
The following is a paraphrase of Jack Trimpey's book page 103 - 106 (Rational Recovery: The New Cure of Substance Addiction).
We all know the excuses we give to continue to drink. Here is a list of the instead ofs; like for example instead of doing anything that most other people would do in life's situations, we choose to drink or use.
1. Instead of naturally relaxing we drink and drug (hereinafter called d & d).
2. Instead of awkwardly fitting in or leaving we d & d.
3. Instead of seeking life's common rewards, as other do, we d & d.
4. Instead of pursuing goals and overcoming disadvantages as others would, we d&d.
5. Instead of participating in the activity we choose to d&d.
6. Instead of feeling the discomfort of boredom to the point of doing something to relieve it, we d&d.
7.Instead of applying oneself to a task, we d&d.
8. Instead of writing a letter or calling someone, we d&d.
9. Instead of pushing against depression with activity, or getting psychological or medical help we d&d.
10.Instead of experiencing or expressing the feelings of anger and allowing them to dissipate we d&d.
11. Instead of experiencing intense realistic grief over loss, we d&d.
12. Instead of experiencing the physical desire to drink or the physical discomfort of withdrawal we d&d.
13.Instead of acting on one's better judgment and quitting for good, we d&d.
14. Instead of learning to abstain from alcohol and drugs, we d&d.
In a nut shell this is saying, instead of living our lives like other people live their lives without drugs and alcohol, we decide to drink and use drugs at every turn of events, whether positive or negative.
I have made a Big Plan to quit for good. It feels good.