a weak moment & pattern
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: east coast
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a weak moment & pattern
I've noticed I crave drinking everyday around this time 4 pm) which is when I leave work & normally chase my bottle of wine at the liquor store. I'm really struggling but know it will pass....it helps me to say I want to drink ( on here & outloud). So glad I have an aa meeting lined up later because its keeping me accountable. As i think thru the drink now I know it would end up leading to feelings of guilt & shame. And I'm smoking cigarettes like they're going out of style ugh. Thanks for reading my vent.
I had a similar trigger for 6pm - that was alcohol o clock (before things got even more out of hand)
I made sure I was busy busy busy at that time. Anything from dog walking to a bath or to the gym. Even a different way home broke the habit after about 3-4 weeks
An evening AA meeting is also a go way too - as you say it keeps you accountable and focused.
Good luck on your journey
I made sure I was busy busy busy at that time. Anything from dog walking to a bath or to the gym. Even a different way home broke the habit after about 3-4 weeks
An evening AA meeting is also a go way too - as you say it keeps you accountable and focused.
Good luck on your journey
This will go away in time if you stay on the path. I found it helps to think of it as a "body memory" , "urge" etc. The first step in mastering the situation you have already done ie
It may help to do a search on urge surfing, there is a good article somewhere here. I found that understanding the above helped 'separate' me from the experience. The other thing that helped was a bit of chocolate about half an hour before they usually come on.
If you stay on the path- in time this type of experience will be a thing of the past
- you know there is a pattern and the pattern repeats
- you have an explanation for why they are occurring
- you know they subside
It may help to do a search on urge surfing, there is a good article somewhere here. I found that understanding the above helped 'separate' me from the experience. The other thing that helped was a bit of chocolate about half an hour before they usually come on.
If you stay on the path- in time this type of experience will be a thing of the past
Good for you for recognizing that you can get through these thoughts.
I found that changing my daily routine helped me a lot. For example, can you take a different route home so you don't go by the same store or shop at a different store? Little things like that helped me through the early days.
I found that changing my daily routine helped me a lot. For example, can you take a different route home so you don't go by the same store or shop at a different store? Little things like that helped me through the early days.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: east coast
Posts: 1,711
Thanks for the great advice instant, I will definitely look for that article, And Anna, I really can't take a different way home because I am literally right off the highway but I have been stopping to run errands before heading home. Today, I went to the bookstore to return something and that in itself changed my routine. Drove right past the liquor store down the block and sucked it up. However, this craving is lasting longer than usual. I know its because Thursdays I hit the bottle hard because I don't work on Fridays. Anyway, I am going to get ready for my meeting. Will dress nice and put some make-up on. If I can't totally feel normal right now, I can at least try and look it!
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Midwest
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Mine's 8:00. Right before the liquor store closes. I'd start "pre-gaming" at home, get dressed, and go to the bar.
I've been trying to stay online during that time to distract me. So far, so good. This site is great.
I've been trying to stay online during that time to distract me. So far, so good. This site is great.
Hope you had a good meeting. I too don't work on Fridays and cracked a bottle of wine at 4 pm ish. It did help me to keep busy and even out of the house at first. Took long walks and ran errands.....cleaned like crazy too.
Good for you, sounded like you had a good plan. 4pm is my hardest time of the day too, but after month I learned to just ride it out and within an hour or two the craving is gone and I can just go about my night sober and without that uncomfortable urge.
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