sunny053

Hello all, this is my first time posting here and I have to say I hadn't heard of AVRT until I came across this forum. It feels a bit awkward posting because this is the first time I've ever reached out and been honest about the fact that I'm not happy with my drinking or my relationship with alcohol. From everything I've read I think AVRT appeals to me the most.

So this is me taking a real first step. For so long I've felt powerless over picking up the next drink, but I've realised that it's me who is accountable and I need to own that and be responsible. I'm young and will benefit so much from stopping now. The main thing for me is, so much of my life and my social circles revolve around alcohol. Everyone I know drinks. I've always felt like I have to drink to fit in, to be able to socialise, and also because if I have one sip of alcohol that's it, I'm getting drunk.

BUT...I've made many new connections and friends lately, and I've realised that if I don't like my environment then I'm going to change it, because I'm the only person who has the power to do so. Separating AV thoughts from my own actual self helps me put it into perspective. This post is more for me to hold myself accountable for quitting alcohol. I can do it. I'm not addicted to anything else - I barely even drink coffee! - so I know I can do it. I've struggled with alcohol but I'm determined to start enjoying and loving life as much as I can. I want to hang out with my friends and experience everything with a clear mind (and be able to remember the good times too!)

Thanks for reading and for all of the other posts on this forum that I've read so far.

stargazer016

AVRT got me to stop drinking after decades of daily drinking. The short course on the rational.org site is profound and was the basis of my quitting. Once we realize that we have control over our addictive voice, we can get our life back.

Read through the quick course, and ultimately the book. You can do this sunny!

tursiops999

Welcome sunny, it's good to have you here. Good for you, for realizing at a young age that you can choose to quit, and shape a more positive future for yourself. AVRT is a powerful technique that really works. We're here to help, so feel free to post questions and thoughts as you figure out what works for you. There's so much more to life without alcohol!

Fusion

Welcome Sunny, I'm glad you've found AVRT at a young age. AVRT is an extremely effective technique for stopping drinking alcohol, forever, without any feelings of loss or deprivation, which by their nature would be the AV, therefore instantly dismissed as not your true self, the authentic you.

I thought I was a lost cause, after daily drinking for over twenty years. I'd tried almost every program and treatment. Thankfully, I suspended disbelief after reading supportive posts from fellow AVRTers on SR; applied myself to learn AVRT and made a Big Plan.

It is such a relief to be recovered and freed from the burden of daily drinking and I'm thoroughly enjoying rebuilding and renewing my life.

Sunny, this may be a pivotal point in your life - you can do it!

PhoenixJ

welcome

Algorithm

Hello Sunny,

Much of your post is Addictive Voice, and I would encourage you to try and spot it on a re-read, but the part above really sticks out to me.

The AV is saying that quitting drinking is a long, drawn out process, requiring many steps along the way before it's actually done, and that even then, it's not really over until it's over, so you have to hold yourself accountable, or the Beast might get you.

Yes, you can indeed do this, but the Beast can also sense what you are up to, and it will try to draw this thing out as much as possible.

Don't let it.

PhoenixJ

Welcome Sunny. A good thing that- accountability. When I drank- my word meant squat- so I do not say anything- unless I carry through with it .
Honesty is so important to self. Keep us updated on the book. On other threads- some people share exercises and homework they are doing in their recovery. Always gets a positive response.
Support to you. PJ

GaryB1

Hello Sunny Alogorithm is right. In AVRT there are no conditions set upon not drinking. Accountability to others is not a requirement for using this method.
Have you read the long sticky post at the top of the page (AVRT explained)
In AVRT stopping drinking is not a process, it's an event. Make your Big Plan when you are ready (ie I will never drink again and I will never change my mind). Then use the technique of avrt .. which is separating yourself from the desire to drink (called the Beast in avrt) when urges or thoughts of drinking come up
You stay "you" (the authentic, real you who knows drinking is a bad idea and ruining you) and IT ( the I must have a drink now at all costs ) becomes separate from you
You then recognize any thought or feeling which advocates drinking for any reason as the AV (addictive voice) which belongs to the Beast (the urge to drink). Once recognized as the AV (the voice of the Beast looking for a way to get you to put alcohol into your body) You shut that voice down by dismissing it out of hand. Whatever problem, thought, feeling it is suggesting a drink for, dismiss out of hand, it is not you wanting a drink, you know drink is not the answer, you do not drink. It is IT, the Beast wanting alcohol, its what IT lives for
Above all, when the urges and AV strike, remember your Big Plan I will never drink again and I will never change my mind

EasterlyAnt

I might give this concept a whirl myself. I like the sense on empowerment and accountability or AVRT.

Fusion

Hi EasterlyAnt and welcome to Secular Connections. I stopped drinking by learning RR AVRT. It's a fantastic technique that provides freedom from drinking, without fear of relapses or triggers. Just freedom to live my life as I wish and address any issues I have. Stopping drinking isn't contingent upon attending or doing X, y or z (I'm not allowed to mention a certain religious/spiritual recovery group here in secular). Although, AVRT may be successfully practised by those of a religious/ spiritual orientation.

As you've noticed, AVRT places power and accountability within you - and not extraneously. Rational Recovery has a website, with a free crash-course, plus I'd highly recommended reading a sticky post above, the author is Freshstart57 (AVRT explained long) and the main AVRT discussion six part thread, started by Terminally Unique.

Additionally, recently folks (such as myself) )haven't added to the main thread but opened their own and there's some great information within the replies to Flame11s and Behappy1s threads, plus my own thread.

If you are interested, it may be beneficial to post your own thread (to keep a record of replies to you) or add to the main AVRT thread started by Terminally Unique. I'd also recommend reading anything by Algorithm, who has a fantastic way of explaining the nuances of the technique.

EasterlyAnt

Thanks. I've been reading through some of the information on the the topic and it seems like a good construct to employ. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
For some reason I can't post new threads- I get diverted to a page that says manage extensions; anyways I'll get to the bottom of that later.
I think I'll be dropping in here sporadically over the next few weeks. I'm sure there will be a few questions to be asked and advice sought.

How long has it been since you started using AVRT in your life Tatsy? If you don't mind me asking.

Algorithm

This is subtle, but consider that it is your Beast asking this question. IT will be very interested in lousy recovery statistics, what "works" and what "doesn't work", and how long others have been abstinent using AVRT. Your Beast may even suggest that since nothing works for everyone, that nothing will work for you.

Much like the "accountability" and "steps" ideas injected by Sunny's AV, doubt is the name of the game here. More than a few have literally wasted years "program shopping" instead of quitting drinking. You can see your AV throwing up road blocks and trying to drag this thing out with qualifiers in your previous post. What is all this "might" and "a whirl" business about?

With AVRT, you are on your own against your Beast, and it is often best to think of oneself as the first person in history to ever quit their addiction. Forget about recovery statistics and other people's "sober time", and instead, focus on recognizing your own Beast's stall tactics, which are designed to keep the addiction going.

Go to the RR web site (rational.org), take the excellent free AVRT crash course therein, and get yourself a copy of the book Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction by Jack Trimpey.

While you wait for the book to arrive, and after taking the free crash course, you can read through some of the various threads previously mentioned here. This would give you an excellent foundation in AVRT.

1. RR
2. Tatsy's Thread -
   
3. Flame11's Thread -
   
4. Behappy's Thread -
5. Freshstart57's Thread -
6. Tursiops999's Thread -
   

There are also various other threads tagged as relating to AVRT on the forums if you are interested in reading even more threads.

EasterlyAnt

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my comments. I'll read through those posts. I watched a few videos with Jack Trimpey on youtube and I can relate with his words and philosophy on how we treat addiction.

I think in essence it is a quite practical and common sense ethos to having one's own sense of accountability for their actions. I'm looking foreword to reading some of the posts you outlined.