columbus

Like the prize fighter with a well-known (especially by his opponent, who seeks to destroy him) weakness for the unexpected left hook, the kind that seemingly comes out of nowhere, and so has hundreds of them thrown at him in every sparring match before his upcoming life-and-death championship match...

I’ve been doing the same.
Except my unexpected left hook is:

“That means I can drink again!”

Especially when I’m feeling good.

Out of the blue.

So something I’m doing is INTENTIONALLY
telling myself that, so I can practice swatting it away,
dodging it, ducking it.

Or just standing there as the punches grow weaker and weaker

until I laugh and walk away.

The winner.

I sincerely hope everyone one of us realizes we are in a life-and-death battle with an opponent who wants to destroy us. And that we have to train, prepare, be on our toes, ever-ready for battle.

Never let our guard down.

Because that unexpected left hook, whatever yours may be,

WILL COME.

And I sincerely hope everyone of us understands they can win.

ChloeRose63

Interesting way to think!
BTW what is your avatar? Can't figure it out....

Fusion

Yep, swat, dodge, duck and importantly, ignore it. You are in control, once you stop drinking. The lower brain (addicted) does have the slight second in time advantage of functioning in its fight and flight and remembering dopamine (alcohol) but YOU have the massive advantage of your rational, higher brain which can overide that silly addicted brain: by pausing and recognising the silly habituated brain for what it is: addicted, but it's not you!

Bob4x4

yeah . . . feeling good is a good reason for self destructive behaviour! says the old AV.

Time to be careful when that gem pops up, get some food in your belly fast, well that's what i do - seems like the only thing that works physically when the AV is screaming.

who had more knockouts, Mohammed Ali or Sugar Ray ?

Wholesome

Yeah, my brain tells me that too! One of my AV's greatest lies..... that it's been long enough and now I'll be able to control it, it will be different this time.

columbus

"The lower brain (addicted) does have the slight second in time advantage"

Very interesting. And I think you're right.

That how it's able to strike unexpectedly.

Possibly because it doesn't have any internal blockages or filters.

It just IS.

And that why/how it sneaks up on us.

columbus

"BTW what is your avatar? Can't figure it out.... "

Them's be embryonic turtles(!)

(I think someone was going for Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil)