SDH73

Have the next few days off, and actually a really light work schedule this week. The kind of week my alcoholic self loves, only 2 scheduled shifts and they should both be relatively easy. Was productive today, workout and got some school stuff done.

Now my AV is SCREAMING at me to stop being a sissy and chill out for the rest of the night with a few drinks. Apartment is clean, the day's work behind me, nowhere to be tonight or for the next couple of days. This is exactly the perfect moment for the alcoholic in me.

It's going to be a really tough night.

ScottFromWI

Play the tape forward....you know it wont be just "a few drinks". Spend some time here on SR, plan out some activities at home, go to an AA meeting. You know it won't be pretty if you pick up the first one, right?

VikingGF

Go to the movies!! I forgot how much I LOVED to go to the movies, and now I go once a week. My drinking self would never go- no drinks there! Change up your routine- do things you stopped doing or do new things. Just don't drink, no matter what.

Soberwolf

This

SDH73

I know, a few drinks does not end well for me. Feeling a bit lethargic and don't feel like getting out again tonight. Maybe I'll try and watch a movie on netflix.

SDH73

I just need to get through the next few hours. After 10 or so my AV should settle down a little. Sober me begins his bedtime routine around 11 and after that I'm pretty much home free.

Thepatman

Dido

Dee74

some great tips here

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html

D

biminiblue

You can always go to bed early. I don't stay up past nine very often anymore. Then I can be up and ready to go at five.

SDH73

Well, I ate a sandwich and took a nap. A little groggy, but not drunk. Yay, me!

Should be good from here. Thanks, guys!

dwtbd

Good job
Guess who's idea it was that it would be difficult, ..I suspect someslimy little windbag, next time remember to mention it happens to be totally doable !
You got this

matilda123

Yeah you is right! And you did just the right thing to post.

I, too, will sometimes just go to bed early if the cravings are strong!

least

Do anything but just don't drink!

dwtbd

And if you happen to find yourself with some free time to soak up, two word suggestion:
Neal Stephenson.

SDH73

A few days ago I read a craving checklist sort of thing somewhere here on SR. It was a list of things to consider when you're craving alcohol, like "are you hungry? are you tired?"

Can someone help me out with that list? I'd like to have it handy. I think last night I was tired and hungry, maybe that's part of the reason I was jonesing so hard.

Soberwolf

D has posted it in this thread already check above but here it is again http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-cravings.html

and here is a link on urgesurfing

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...e-surfing.html

SDH73

Thanks, wolf. I did read Dee's post, this was different. It wasn't about things to do when you're craving, it was about checking yourself for possible reasons you're craving. There were a few given reasons, I just remember "are you hungry?" and "are you tired?"

If I know that being tired or hungry can set my AV off I can battle it preemptively by making sure I get enough sleep and not forgetting to eat (yes, I sometimes forget to eat until I'm REALLY hungry).

JanieJ

in AA, there's the HALT acronym:

Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired

But also, thirsty can do it too.

Don't know where the post you are talking about is located though.

SDH73

I think that's it, JanieJ. Thank you!

Dee74

Keep posting here SDH - if you have nothing to say for yourself, help someone else...I wiled away a lot of hours here that way in the early days

D