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4 years sober but fear may start again

Old 09-02-2016, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by oldsoul112249 View Post
In my experience arriving at a goal or achievement can be a letdown. The excitement, striving and anticipation is gone..sort of an empty feeling. Maybe set a new goal, something to look forward to..replace it. I also craved when something good happened. I wanted to celebrate and feel even better. A trigger I need to watch out for.
The above really resonated with me. Having reached a goal of any kind can be a major trigger. The "empty feeling" cries out for alcohol to fill it. It's better to set a new goal.
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Old 09-02-2016, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Cascabel View Post
The above really resonated with me. Having reached a goal of any kind can be a major trigger. The "empty feeling" cries out for alcohol to fill it. It's better to set a new goal.
It resonated with me too. Retail therapy, career advancement, lust (once you've got it you don't want it) all come to mind.

Whenever a goal was achieved, a new posession, a promotion, status, etc, I was dissapointed that I was still the same person. This external achievement didn't change anything internally. There was instead an emptiness and the way to fix that is to set another goal......

It took me a long time to learn that lesson. The big book talks about "worship of other things" (than God) and I think I now understand what is meant. I need to be working on my relationship with Him, my internal condition, and my external world will be fine regardless of what is happening.
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Old 09-02-2016, 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Gottalife View Post
It resonated with me too. Retail therapy, career advancement, lust (once you've got it you don't want it) all come to mind.

Whenever a goal was achieved, a new posession, a promotion, status, etc, I was dissapointed that I was still the same person. This external achievement didn't change anything internally. There was instead an emptiness and the way to fix that is to set another goal......

It took me a long time to learn that lesson. The big book talks about "worship of other things" (than God) and I think I now understand what is meant. I need to be working on my relationship with Him, my internal condition, and my external world will be fine regardless of what is happening.
Yes. 'Ways of the flesh' v.'Fruits of the Spirit'.
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Old 09-02-2016, 11:46 PM
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whoao 4 years i cant put together a week and yes and drunk and no you are not missing anything. this is an insidious disease plese dont give up please do it for me give me hope
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Old 09-03-2016, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by oldsoul112249 View Post
In my experience arriving at a goal or achievement can be a letdown. The excitement, striving and anticipation is gone..sort of an empty feeling. Maybe set a new goal, something to look forward to..replace it. I also craved when something good happened. I wanted to celebrate and feel even better. A trigger I need to watch out for.
You have hit the nail on the head exactly. The empty feeling, desire to feel something apart from emptyness. Thank you to all of your words of advice and wisdom. My cravings have subsided and I'm so incredibly great full to you all. Xxx
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Old 09-03-2016, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Soberandhealthy View Post
whoao 4 years i cant put together a week and yes and drunk and no you are not missing anything. this is an insidious disease plese dont give up please do it for me give me hope
I used to reward myself at the end of each week with a new dvd. I found that really helped me in the start. Now I have a huge photo of my favourite place in the world new York. Each week I add a playing card to the boarder of this photo. (52 weeks in a year - 52 cards in a deck) I now visually reward myself with a new card each week and the picture grows. Perhaps this is something you could try? It's by no means an easy journey but it's worthwhile.
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