top ten tips for the first year
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,781
My biggest help in staying sober and happy is GRATITUDE!! When I started expressing my gratitude every day I became happier, calmer, more productive, and not likely to drink as it would take away everything I was grateful for.
Now I start each day with gratitude and end it the same way. It makes such a difference.
Now I start each day with gratitude and end it the same way. It makes such a difference.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1
First post for me I quit on Feb. 8th of this year after 10 years of drinking. I wrote a letter, every little thing I went thru I wrote down. It was a way for me to say good bye to my disease. Whatever works, right? Good luck, we are all in this together.
I quit on Feb. 8th of this year after 10 years of drinking. I wrote a letter, every little thing I went thru I wrote down. It was a way for me to say good bye to my disease. Whatever works, right? Good luck, we are all in this together.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SoCal CA
Posts: 1,319
If you are strong enough to keep drinking even if you don't want to you are also strong enough to quit. You just need to change your focus.
Many will change their focus to AA, HP's and spiritualality, I focused on self improvement, the joy and freedom of sobriety, and physical fitness.
If you focus on the fact that you can't drink, your brain will continue to tell you it wants a drink.
I wish I would have realized the simplicity of it when I started the journey.
Many will change their focus to AA, HP's and spiritualality, I focused on self improvement, the joy and freedom of sobriety, and physical fitness.
If you focus on the fact that you can't drink, your brain will continue to tell you it wants a drink.
I wish I would have realized the simplicity of it when I started the journey.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: « USA » Recovered with AVRT (Rational Recovery) ___________
Posts: 3,680
Originally Posted by Supercrew 
If you are strong enough to keep drinking even if you don't want to you are also strong enough to quit...
If you focus on the fact that you can't drink, your brain will continue to tell you it wants a drink.
If you focus on the fact that you can't drink, your brain will continue to tell you it wants a drink.
Then, I realized that I indeed could drink, as long as I was willing to accept the probable very bad consequences that would result because of it. Since I don't want those very bad consequences, though, I will not drink.
Put that way, not drinking does not seem so bad. :-)
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by keithj
Have a spiritual awakening as the result of the 12 Steps by about day 45. The remainder of the year (and the other 9 tips) will take care of itself.
It is not even a ODAAT program for me anymore. I can afford to carry a resentment or ignore my prayer life for several days at a time. At least until I start to get restless, irritable and discontented. Then I need to do some work to get my equanimity back.
And I might add, it did not take me a full year to get 100% free of the obsession to drink. In my case it took 5 months. Others claim it only took a few weeks and I don't doubt them. The results are based on action, not calendar days.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 375
some really good tips here. will see if i can remember some thangs that helped me.
* make a list of things you can do sober that you can't do while drinking
* at every opportunity burn bridges that head back to your old ways
* be honest with yourself and others about what you're doing
* treat yourself. exchange the drink for somehing else you like. you're going to save a fortune not drinking!
* be proud of yourself. more people wish they could quit than you imagine!
* keep busy!
a few there. hope they might be useful to someone.
* make a list of things you can do sober that you can't do while drinking
* at every opportunity burn bridges that head back to your old ways
* be honest with yourself and others about what you're doing
* treat yourself. exchange the drink for somehing else you like. you're going to save a fortune not drinking!
* be proud of yourself. more people wish they could quit than you imagine!
* keep busy!
a few there. hope they might be useful to someone.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
