ljc267

I have only been here a very short time, but have read quite a bit and learned a lot about myself, my disease, and gained a lot of tools I can use to stay sober.

The one thing I think I am missing is the idea of a sober plan. What does this mean exactly?

Forward12

Pretty much your plan of action you will take to stay sober. Be it attending AA meetings, seeing an addiction therapist, rehab, self help techniques, smart, avrt, reading,.. really there are numerous paths to the same destination, you just have to go with what feels like it would work best for you and go for it.

Michael66

For me it is this like how to avoid situations in early recovery where other people are drinking, how to deal with cravings, how am I going to relax, how am I going to spend the large quantity of time that is freed up, what to do if I think I am about to drink, and (I plan for this not to be necessary) what to do if I do relapse.

ljc267

I kind of figured that's what was meant, but are there specific courses of action or is it just what works for the individual.

I ask this because I don't go to AA or anything like that and I quit on my own, so I didn't know if there were other things that should be done.

ljc267

Well I have addressed all of those things, aside from relapse which I haven't considered.

I do find this place helpful as there a lot more people like me then I thought.

Mattq2

I quit on my own only using SR. In the beginning i planned every few hours out. Get home at 6, eat dinner, get a glass of tea, read SR till I was tired. Etc

Then came my first sober weddings and other events. Planned out everything. How I would respond if asked why I wasn't drinking to how if it got to bad I could make a early get away. Now with some sober time I think more of how to improve me and my thought processes and to identify why I drank. As I learn more about me, I adjust my plan accordingly. I think a plan is a very personal thing. Others can give you ideas but I had to fill in the small details.

One more thing. I didn't plan for relapses. They were not an option. Period, only way it worked for me

ljc267

Thanks that is very helpful, and that is exactly what I meant by relapse.

Forward12

There are plenty of people that have gotten, and stayed sober without outside help beyond this site. I agree with setting a gameplan of your day and what you are going to do besides drinking is a good start.

Mattq2

Ijc,
I'm always around most days at this time as are many others. Just reach out my friend if things get tough. I found I could really get through craving by reading and posting.

ScottFromWI

This is a great read if you haven't seen it yet. A sobriety "plan" is basically what it sounds like...a method/technique/lifestyle/community designed to help you get and stay sober. If you are going on a trip, you make a trip plan/itinerary, right?

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html

ljc267

Thanks Matt. I appreciate it.

ljc267

Makes sense. My first goal was to quit and stay sober. That was my plan. Now I'm coming up on 4 months and would like to work on more to get better.

Thanks!

Mattq2

Wow four months is great. Very well done.