Idea for when you feel cravings....
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,222
Idea for when you feel cravings....
I had lunch today with an old friend that I hadn't seen in a while. I had heard that he had dropped the booze a while ago but we never spoke about it. Turns out he is also an alcoholic and worked the steps. I told him that I was 10 weeks in and the conversation turned to cravings. He had a tip that I thought was interesting.
One of the guys in his AA group had been suffering from bad relapses which ended in binges every time, as they do. On one of these benders he got emotional and burst into tears and ranted and raged for a while. One of his friends recorded this on his phone for about 10 minutes. He edited the worst parts down into a one minute recording and stores it on his phone. When he feels the urge to drink he has a record of himself in an awful state that he listens to and its powerful enough to stop him from taking that first drink.
Got me thinking about making my own voice memo to myself. Sober but telling myself in direct uncertain terms how it ends. Sometimes playing the tape forward or trying to remember where it all ends if not strong enough especially if you are out. Maybe a voice memo giving myself a bloody good talking to would a useful tool. What if a couple of my friends recorded it, that might be even more impactful? Anyway just an idea.
One of the guys in his AA group had been suffering from bad relapses which ended in binges every time, as they do. On one of these benders he got emotional and burst into tears and ranted and raged for a while. One of his friends recorded this on his phone for about 10 minutes. He edited the worst parts down into a one minute recording and stores it on his phone. When he feels the urge to drink he has a record of himself in an awful state that he listens to and its powerful enough to stop him from taking that first drink.
Got me thinking about making my own voice memo to myself. Sober but telling myself in direct uncertain terms how it ends. Sometimes playing the tape forward or trying to remember where it all ends if not strong enough especially if you are out. Maybe a voice memo giving myself a bloody good talking to would a useful tool. What if a couple of my friends recorded it, that might be even more impactful? Anyway just an idea.
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Someone once told me they requested and received a copy of the police dashboard video of them being arrested for DUI. Plays it whenever the urge strikes. How's that for a powerful reminder? Zoiks!
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,476
Sobriety through fear can work, I've seen it work for some people.
However, it's a temporary solution as I see it.
Ask anyone running that type of program how they relapsed and the answer will be the same.
Fear of consequences is not enough
When sobriety through fear became unbearable for me and I was left suicidally "Dry Drunk "...... The consequences of not drinking were worse than the consequences of drinking.
When faced with going off a bridge with a barbell chained to my legs or getting rid of those thoughts by taking a few drinks..... The answer was obvious.
Take a drink.
Sobriety through fear is not something I plan on going back to, that was long term, excruciatingly painful.
Although it was ok for around 9 months, and then the rot set in.
Clancy I gives a good talk about this issue.
However, it's a temporary solution as I see it.
Ask anyone running that type of program how they relapsed and the answer will be the same.
Fear of consequences is not enough
When sobriety through fear became unbearable for me and I was left suicidally "Dry Drunk "...... The consequences of not drinking were worse than the consequences of drinking.
When faced with going off a bridge with a barbell chained to my legs or getting rid of those thoughts by taking a few drinks..... The answer was obvious.
Take a drink.
Sobriety through fear is not something I plan on going back to, that was long term, excruciatingly painful.
Although it was ok for around 9 months, and then the rot set in.
Clancy I gives a good talk about this issue.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,442
There was video somewhere of me completely wasted (it wasn't videoed for my benefit).
It stopped me drinking ...for a time...but I eventually rationalised that was a 'bad night'....
If it helps others thats great....but some of us (i.e. Me) can be pretty stubbornly stupid...
:
D
It stopped me drinking ...for a time...but I eventually rationalised that was a 'bad night'....
If it helps others thats great....but some of us (i.e. Me) can be pretty stubbornly stupid...
:D
Sober Soldier
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,911
I'm all for doing whatever works for you as an individual. But I think the one thing that applies to everyone is addressing the underlying issue behind your drinking.
Just my opinion, but if you just "quit" without trying to figure out what void alcohol is filling, then you are simply distracting yourself, which is a setup for a setback.
I think a voice memo reminding yourself of why you want to be sober, as opposed to one reminding you of why you avoid drinking, would have a more positive impact.
Just my opinion, but if you just "quit" without trying to figure out what void alcohol is filling, then you are simply distracting yourself, which is a setup for a setback.
I think a voice memo reminding yourself of why you want to be sober, as opposed to one reminding you of why you avoid drinking, would have a more positive impact.
Recoverist
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Hull, UK
Posts: 28
Originally Posted by mns1 
I'm all for doing whatever works for you as an individual. But I think the one thing that applies to everyone is addressing the underlying issue behind your drinking.
Just my opinion, but if you just "quit" without trying to figure out what void alcohol is filling, then you are simply distracting yourself, which is a setup for a setback.
Just my opinion, but if you just "quit" without trying to figure out what void alcohol is filling, then you are simply distracting yourself, which is a setup for a setback.
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