Class of September 2013 - Part 30
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,534
"I've mentioned before that my D&A specialist says it takes 9-12 months before your behaviour patterns make a solid imprint on the brain. I am focusing on that for now !"
Kane
So, Kane, I am curious what this really means. I don't know anything about how the brain works, so I wonder what a solid imprint on the brain means. Is it like how habits are formed and broken or what? Just very curious about this. Any details you can give would be appreciated!
Kane
So, Kane, I am curious what this really means. I don't know anything about how the brain works, so I wonder what a solid imprint on the brain means. Is it like how habits are formed and broken or what? Just very curious about this. Any details you can give would be appreciated!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Strailya
Posts: 8,009
Hey Grace
It's to do with neural pathways. How it was explained to me was that when we start repeating a pattern of behaviour, then after a period of time, a pathway is formed in the brain with those neurons. As you keep repeating the patterns, the pathway become deeper, like a groove. This is how habits are established, repetitive behaviour patterns. Its also why the saying "old habits die hard" is meaningful because it means that the groove is so deep, it takes a lot of effort to break out of it. Having said that, we can establish new behaviour patterns such as a recovery program
and the reason for sticking to it is to remove the old groove (drinking) and replace with the new groove (sobriety). My D&A specialist says it takes 9-12 months for that groove to become solidly embedded within the brain.
Clear as mud ?
It's to do with neural pathways. How it was explained to me was that when we start repeating a pattern of behaviour, then after a period of time, a pathway is formed in the brain with those neurons. As you keep repeating the patterns, the pathway become deeper, like a groove. This is how habits are established, repetitive behaviour patterns. Its also why the saying "old habits die hard" is meaningful because it means that the groove is so deep, it takes a lot of effort to break out of it. Having said that, we can establish new behaviour patterns such as a recovery program
and the reason for sticking to it is to remove the old groove (drinking) and replace with the new groove (sobriety). My D&A specialist says it takes 9-12 months for that groove to become solidly embedded within the brain. Clear as mud ?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Soberspace
Posts: 591
Well done on getting through mothers day mimosa free 
I'm spending a few days in Berlin to rest and recuperate again and got in touch with some AA's there, they have evening meetings in english.
Perfect, it's after museum hours around 7.30 pm. I'm still no good at sharing though Quite nice just to listen.
Lots to see here, Berlin isn't as chic as Paris but that's fine with me, reasonably affordable instead. Saw the Brandenburg gate, the Reichstag
and went to see the bust of Nefertiti in the new museum yesterday. More ancient stuff and long deceased people today waiting in the Pergamonmuseum
Maybe our consumerist societies will entertain the generations of the future?
The age of excess...Haha!
I'm spending a few days in Berlin to rest and recuperate again and got in touch with some AA's there, they have evening meetings in english.
Perfect, it's after museum hours around 7.30 pm. I'm still no good at sharing though
Quite nice just to listen.Lots to see here, Berlin isn't as chic as Paris but that's fine with me, reasonably affordable instead. Saw the Brandenburg gate, the Reichstag
and went to see the bust of Nefertiti in the new museum yesterday. More ancient stuff and long deceased people today waiting in the Pergamonmuseum
Maybe our consumerist societies will entertain the generations of the future?
The age of excess...Haha!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Strailya
Posts: 8,009
Originally Posted by Renarde 
Kaneda, I too have wondered about people who relapse after extended periods of sobriety. It scares me.
I think it might have been Dee who said that if you make it to 3 years the odds you will relapse drop...?
I think it might have been Dee who said that if you make it to 3 years the odds you will relapse drop...?
Again my D&A specialist claims that if you remain sober for 3-5 years, there is an 86% chance that you will maintain sobriety.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,374
I've heard 5 years from the George Vailliant Harvard Study that's been going for 70 years or so now.
Grant Study - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I still think you're either motivated to change, or not
D
Grant Study - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I still think you're either motivated to change, or not
D
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Strailya
Posts: 8,009
*sigh* another rejection at the final step. I am disappointed and the reason given for selecting another candidate was puzzling at first. Then I realised that the client wanted a cheaper candidate than me. Oh well, their loss. Pay peanuts and you will get a monkey !
Still I do wonder whether there is a different path I am meant to follow ?
Anyway, onwards I go....
Still I do wonder whether there is a different path I am meant to follow ?
Anyway, onwards I go....
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,554
Sorry to hear that Kaneda. It sounds like you are highly specialized or highly senior(in your position) so it is a tough sort of job to find and land. I hope you get something soon. Your outlook on life is very inspiring, as you deal with uncertainty.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,178
We have a guy in our AA meetings who always says this: "I have alcohol-IS-m, not alcohol-WAS-m." He's been sober 31 years and comes to several meetings every week. His wife has 20-some years of sobriety and comes, too. They are both founts of sobriety brilliance, truly. Here are some things I've learned from them about staying sober:
* We're never cured. When we don't drink, our disease kinda goes into a remission of sorts. But, the second we take a drink, it will be right there in full force. Even 31 years later.
* There's nothing so bad in our lives that taking a drink won't make it worse.
* Alcoholism is sneaky. Often you make it through the big challenge and then it creeps up on you in the quiet, unassuming moment.
* AA is a program about NOT DRINKING. It's not about how to handle your alcohol better.
* Isolation (especially from meetings and sober friendships) is a glaring warning sign of an upcoming relapse.
* The best way to stay sober is to keep doing the steps, especially the ones about helping OTHER alcoholics to stay sober.
I haven't gotten to the point of being a sponsor (I'm still working on my first go-around of the steps myself!), but I know that continuing to give back in that way will keep me focused, remind me of how bad it really was (because, even though I'm aware of it, I still tend to romanticize my drinking), remind me of how hard it was to break free and how much I don't ever want to have to do that again, keep my head in the game, help me to recognize little ways that I might be straying BEFORE it gets to the point of relapse, and allow me use the pain I went through for someone else's benefit, so that it wasn't in vain.
One of the promises of AA is that "we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it." By using what I went through to help others, my past becomes a power tool that can change lives instead of a shameful, useless, embarrassing stain that I try to forget.
* We're never cured. When we don't drink, our disease kinda goes into a remission of sorts. But, the second we take a drink, it will be right there in full force. Even 31 years later.
* There's nothing so bad in our lives that taking a drink won't make it worse.
* Alcoholism is sneaky. Often you make it through the big challenge and then it creeps up on you in the quiet, unassuming moment.
* AA is a program about NOT DRINKING. It's not about how to handle your alcohol better.
* Isolation (especially from meetings and sober friendships) is a glaring warning sign of an upcoming relapse.
* The best way to stay sober is to keep doing the steps, especially the ones about helping OTHER alcoholics to stay sober.
I haven't gotten to the point of being a sponsor (I'm still working on my first go-around of the steps myself!), but I know that continuing to give back in that way will keep me focused, remind me of how bad it really was (because, even though I'm aware of it, I still tend to romanticize my drinking), remind me of how hard it was to break free and how much I don't ever want to have to do that again, keep my head in the game, help me to recognize little ways that I might be straying BEFORE it gets to the point of relapse, and allow me use the pain I went through for someone else's benefit, so that it wasn't in vain.
One of the promises of AA is that "we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it." By using what I went through to help others, my past becomes a power tool that can change lives instead of a shameful, useless, embarrassing stain that I try to forget.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 776
~~Food for Thought ~ Thoughtful Tuesday Edition~~
~~Choose Your Own Reality~~
Welcome to the day that you realize that the quality of your life will always be based on the reality you choose to accept!
Today Daily Word is dedicated to being selective! Depending on who you ask you will get different definitions of what reality is. There is the optimist, the pessimistic, the dreamer, the doer, the good life, the bad life, rich, poor, and everything in between. Within these different realities it is important to note that reality is NOT a fact… It is merely a strong opinion! While you navigate through this thing we call life many people will attempt to force their reality onto you…. DO NOT ACCEPT IT ALL!!
Be selective about what you allow into your world and only create the life that YOU truly want for yourself! They say those who say it is impossible should not interrupt those who are already doing it! Make sure you NEVER allow anyone to tell you what reality should be!
Whatever your wildest dreams are, is exactly what you should be working towards everyday without limits. Contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all!! Live your life and be as you see fit to be! Create the life of your dreams and NEVER settle! BE SELECTIVE!-Ash’Cash
~~Healthy Snacks~~
“It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.”-Bill Watterson
“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”-Douglas H. Everett
“Our thoughts create our reality — where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.”-Peter McWilliams
“Whatever you believe with feeling becomes your reality.”-Brian Tracy
“If you don’t set a baseline standard for what you’ll accept in life, you’ll find it’s easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that’s far below what you deserve.”
-Anthony Robbins
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”-Denis Waitley
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”-Jesse Owens
~~Choose Your Own Reality~~
Welcome to the day that you realize that the quality of your life will always be based on the reality you choose to accept!
Today Daily Word is dedicated to being selective! Depending on who you ask you will get different definitions of what reality is. There is the optimist, the pessimistic, the dreamer, the doer, the good life, the bad life, rich, poor, and everything in between. Within these different realities it is important to note that reality is NOT a fact… It is merely a strong opinion! While you navigate through this thing we call life many people will attempt to force their reality onto you…. DO NOT ACCEPT IT ALL!!
Be selective about what you allow into your world and only create the life that YOU truly want for yourself! They say those who say it is impossible should not interrupt those who are already doing it! Make sure you NEVER allow anyone to tell you what reality should be!
Whatever your wildest dreams are, is exactly what you should be working towards everyday without limits. Contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all!! Live your life and be as you see fit to be! Create the life of your dreams and NEVER settle! BE SELECTIVE!-Ash’Cash
~~Healthy Snacks~~
“It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.”-Bill Watterson
“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”-Douglas H. Everett
“Our thoughts create our reality — where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.”-Peter McWilliams
“Whatever you believe with feeling becomes your reality.”-Brian Tracy
“If you don’t set a baseline standard for what you’ll accept in life, you’ll find it’s easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that’s far below what you deserve.”
-Anthony Robbins
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”-Denis Waitley
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”-Jesse Owens
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