TOPIC: You're Going To Stay Clean or Sober No Matter What. How Will U Do It?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
TOPIC: You're Going To Stay Clean or Sober No Matter What. How Will U Do It?
Hi my name is Sharon and Im an Alcoholic.
By the Grace of my HP and people like
you here in SR I havent found it necessary
to pick up a drink since 8-11-90.
For that and you I am truely grateful.
Ok, so we r in the mist of the holiday
season....lots of stress, frustration,
aggrivation, expectations, emotions,
anxiety, depression........u name
it and it will get the best of us if
we allow it.
Now that you have been exposed
to recovery, how are you going to
avoid all that the holidays bring to
you? How are you going to stay
clean or sober?
As we know our will power is weak
to none....everytime we tried to control
our urges to stop we fail...BIG TIME.
So what are you going to do to avoid
a slip?
Are the tools of recovery close at hand?
What are they?
You are planning to stay sober and clean
no matter what, right? How are YOU
going to do it?
Me....i have the tools of recovery embedded
in my head, my heart my soul and every
breath i take.....from early on in recovery,
the tools ...12 steps, suggestions which
were all freely passed on to me, have been
practiced in my everyday life....
I know to have a plan in place during
the holidays....one is to avoid people
places and things that would trigger
thoughts of drinking.....i go in my own
car and have a good excuse to leave
if i am uncomfortable....
That way u dont have to rely on a ride....
You can escape as quickly as u can.....
Meetings are very important.....not only
will u hear what u need to hear but u
a definitely not alone.....there r many
in recovery experiencing the same things
u r.....
The phone.....with new technolegy today...
there is a cell phone right at hand to
call a friend for comforting words of
encouragement....
You know your will power is practically
nill.....we cant stay clean and sober
for any length of time on our own....
For me i do add prayers to my daily
agenda....Just simple words ...Please
help me....or the Serenity Prayer....
There is a Force out there that is always
with me....I need that Force in my life
to guide me and care for me.....
Share with the many others in SR that
may be facing the holidays for the first time
in how u r staying clean and sober.....who
knows...ur words may help another person
in recovery today.....
Thats also a good way to safe guard urself
from slipping.....helping another person
in recovery.
Thanks for letting me share.....
By the Grace of my HP and people like
you here in SR I havent found it necessary
to pick up a drink since 8-11-90.
For that and you I am truely grateful.
Ok, so we r in the mist of the holiday
season....lots of stress, frustration,
aggrivation, expectations, emotions,
anxiety, depression........u name
it and it will get the best of us if
we allow it.
Now that you have been exposed
to recovery, how are you going to
avoid all that the holidays bring to
you? How are you going to stay
clean or sober?
As we know our will power is weak
to none....everytime we tried to control
our urges to stop we fail...BIG TIME.
So what are you going to do to avoid
a slip?
Are the tools of recovery close at hand?
What are they?
You are planning to stay sober and clean
no matter what, right? How are YOU
going to do it?
Me....i have the tools of recovery embedded
in my head, my heart my soul and every
breath i take.....from early on in recovery,
the tools ...12 steps, suggestions which
were all freely passed on to me, have been
practiced in my everyday life....
I know to have a plan in place during
the holidays....one is to avoid people
places and things that would trigger
thoughts of drinking.....i go in my own
car and have a good excuse to leave
if i am uncomfortable....
That way u dont have to rely on a ride....
You can escape as quickly as u can.....
Meetings are very important.....not only
will u hear what u need to hear but u
a definitely not alone.....there r many
in recovery experiencing the same things
u r.....
The phone.....with new technolegy today...
there is a cell phone right at hand to
call a friend for comforting words of
encouragement....
You know your will power is practically
nill.....we cant stay clean and sober
for any length of time on our own....
For me i do add prayers to my daily
agenda....Just simple words ...Please
help me....or the Serenity Prayer....
There is a Force out there that is always
with me....I need that Force in my life
to guide me and care for me.....
Share with the many others in SR that
may be facing the holidays for the first time
in how u r staying clean and sober.....who
knows...ur words may help another person
in recovery today.....
Thats also a good way to safe guard urself
from slipping.....helping another person
in recovery.
Thanks for letting me share.....
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
aasharon for me the urge/need has been lifted thanks to the 12 steps, my HP, and practicing the principles of the 12 steps in all of my affairs. I have found that as long as I am spiritually fit I can go any where I wish as long as there is a reason for me to be there.
My toolbox consist of as you mentioned, meetings, the phone, prayer, working with others, staying in the program and not on the outer fringes of it, service work, reading, meditating, and simply enjoying life.
Now in early sobriety I did not have all of those tools to lean and depend upon, so I did avoid events where I felt there was even a chance of me being tempted to pick up, but today is different, going to events that have alcohol is not a problem for me, but I will not go to an event that revolves around the consumption of alcohol. Why? Well what reason do I as a recovered alcoholic have to go to a kegger, a happy hour, or a wine tasting? NONE!!!! There is only one reason to go to any of those events and that is to drink, I have no reason to go except to tempt fate.... not thanks!
A football game, a Christmas dinner or party, etc....... they are not solely about drinking, some folks drink there, some folks don't, the focus of the event is not drinking, if I want to go, I go.
My toolbox consist of as you mentioned, meetings, the phone, prayer, working with others, staying in the program and not on the outer fringes of it, service work, reading, meditating, and simply enjoying life.
Now in early sobriety I did not have all of those tools to lean and depend upon, so I did avoid events where I felt there was even a chance of me being tempted to pick up, but today is different, going to events that have alcohol is not a problem for me, but I will not go to an event that revolves around the consumption of alcohol. Why? Well what reason do I as a recovered alcoholic have to go to a kegger, a happy hour, or a wine tasting? NONE!!!! There is only one reason to go to any of those events and that is to drink, I have no reason to go except to tempt fate.... not thanks!
A football game, a Christmas dinner or party, etc....... they are not solely about drinking, some folks drink there, some folks don't, the focus of the event is not drinking, if I want to go, I go.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: anomaly
Posts: 2,180
I got up today. It was freezing.lol
Freeze and all...that's about all i can do it for ...Just for today.
Maybe tommorow.
Will..having been clean and sober for a while. I'm not as depressed
as i use to be straight across the board. And there's a fair amount
of recovery program in me to help me with my emotional soberiety.
I have good self esteem and bascially I don't really give a rats ass
what anyone thinks or say about me.
I don't compair myself to others. There's alway going to be
people better off than me and there's always going to be
people worst off than me. So i just learned to live under my
own skin over the years.
I have living problems like everyone else..so I'm not that special.
I might get overwhelm sometimes..but i know a drink or a fix
won't resolved any of my challenges. i still have an over all
posistive attitude. I just don't walk a tight rope..kind of like
bending so i don't break.
I don't know if god is looking out for me ??? beats me....
I just do my part and do the best i can with what i have.
Sponsor say the only step i have to get correct is the first one.
The would be "Don't pick up no matter what"s
Freeze and all...that's about all i can do it for ...Just for today.
Maybe tommorow.
Will..having been clean and sober for a while. I'm not as depressed
as i use to be straight across the board. And there's a fair amount
of recovery program in me to help me with my emotional soberiety.
I have good self esteem and bascially I don't really give a rats ass
what anyone thinks or say about me.
I don't compair myself to others. There's alway going to be
people better off than me and there's always going to be
people worst off than me. So i just learned to live under my
own skin over the years.
I have living problems like everyone else..so I'm not that special.
I might get overwhelm sometimes..but i know a drink or a fix
won't resolved any of my challenges. i still have an over all
posistive attitude. I just don't walk a tight rope..kind of like
bending so i don't break.
I don't know if god is looking out for me ??? beats me....
I just do my part and do the best i can with what i have.
Sponsor say the only step i have to get correct is the first one.
The would be "Don't pick up no matter what"s
Forum Leader
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family!
Posts: 23,056
I've been doing some simple thinking the last few days-
I spent years feeding my addiction. I need to feed my recovery even more.
Meetings, prayer, meditation, service, whatever it takes to maintain my sobriety. And it's all good!
I spent years feeding my addiction. I need to feed my recovery even more.
Meetings, prayer, meditation, service, whatever it takes to maintain my sobriety. And it's all good!
Old & Sober Member of AA
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey
Posts: 5,174
Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your point of view), I won't have much trouble avoiding "drinking situations" here in the nursing home. Of course, you never know who might be smuggling in some "holiday cheer"...so, I'll be on my guard.
When I was newly sober, it was just before the holidays, and I stayed very close to AA...went to AA functions, meetings, invited AA's into my home.
But, I had always promised myself, if I was ever seriously tempted to drink, I would get right to the detox/rehab where I got sober, and ask for their help. I've known alcoholics who were in such a bad state...even though they hadn't yet relapsed...they signed themselves back into rehab!!!
If we "go to any lengths" to get sober, we should go to any lengths to stay sober.
When I was newly sober, it was just before the holidays, and I stayed very close to AA...went to AA functions, meetings, invited AA's into my home.
But, I had always promised myself, if I was ever seriously tempted to drink, I would get right to the detox/rehab where I got sober, and ask for their help. I've known alcoholics who were in such a bad state...even though they hadn't yet relapsed...they signed themselves back into rehab!!!
If we "go to any lengths" to get sober, we should go to any lengths to stay sober.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 190
Originally Posted by jcham5150 
I really love it here, you mean kind of like an Escape Clause?
Well let’s see I'm not going to do anything to avoid what the holidays bring. I’m not missing out on all the fun, did enough of that while I was drinking? I will not avoid people places and things, that’s what I did when I was drinking?
Any scheme of combating alcoholism which has the purpose to shield me from temptation is doomed to failure. People say I must not go where liquor is served; I must not have it in my home; I must shun friends who drink; I must not go into bars, etc, etc, etc.
Booze is everywhere and I must meet these conditions everyday. I know that if I cannot meet these conditions I still have the mind of an alcoholic and there is something wrong with my spiritual nature. Let’s face it if I were sent to the North Pole in an attempt to stay sober I'm sure even an elf would show up with a bottle of absolute and ruin everything.
No I don’t have an Escape Clause for I have stopped fighting anything and anyone even alcohol. I got an AA sponsor and put the steps of recovery in my life and sanity has returned. I am seldom interested in liquor but if tempted I react sanely and normally, and I have found that this has happened automatically. I have been given a new attitude toward liquor and it has been given to me without any thought or effort on my part. It just comes; it’s like a miracle on 34th street.
Well let’s see I'm not going to do anything to avoid what the holidays bring. I’m not missing out on all the fun, did enough of that while I was drinking? I will not avoid people places and things, that’s what I did when I was drinking?
Any scheme of combating alcoholism which has the purpose to shield me from temptation is doomed to failure. People say I must not go where liquor is served; I must not have it in my home; I must shun friends who drink; I must not go into bars, etc, etc, etc.
Booze is everywhere and I must meet these conditions everyday. I know that if I cannot meet these conditions I still have the mind of an alcoholic and there is something wrong with my spiritual nature. Let’s face it if I were sent to the North Pole in an attempt to stay sober I'm sure even an elf would show up with a bottle of absolute and ruin everything.
No I don’t have an Escape Clause for I have stopped fighting anything and anyone even alcohol. I got an AA sponsor and put the steps of recovery in my life and sanity has returned. I am seldom interested in liquor but if tempted I react sanely and normally, and I have found that this has happened automatically. I have been given a new attitude toward liquor and it has been given to me without any thought or effort on my part. It just comes; it’s like a miracle on 34th street.
Heres another 'new idea', read the Big Book.
I believe God, not people, keeps alkies safe.
Guest
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southern New Hampshire
Posts: 746
You're Going To Stay Clean or Sober No Matter What. How Will U Do It?
Well, for starters I won't be keeping myself sober, I don't know how to do that. I will continue my relationship with God, asking only for knowledge of his will and the power to carry that out. God has removed the problem, God keeps me safe and protected. The steps were the mechanism that directed me to God, it's a pretty good deal.
Well, for starters I won't be keeping myself sober, I don't know how to do that. I will continue my relationship with God, asking only for knowledge of his will and the power to carry that out. God has removed the problem, God keeps me safe and protected. The steps were the mechanism that directed me to God, it's a pretty good deal.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 5
Thanks for your thoughts...
Me problem is when I'm out on a fishing boat. Not Holidays or other social events.
When we would fish, we would drink. Now normally one could leave the environment, but when I go fishing we're out to sea for three or four days a hundred miles out in the ocean.
I just need to figure out some good methods and stick to them. That’s going to be my biggest challenge.
Me problem is when I'm out on a fishing boat. Not Holidays or other social events.
When we would fish, we would drink. Now normally one could leave the environment, but when I go fishing we're out to sea for three or four days a hundred miles out in the ocean.
I just need to figure out some good methods and stick to them. That’s going to be my biggest challenge.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: anomaly
Posts: 2,180
will...when i was kid..i wannan wannanana to be able to play the guitar.
So I put a pick under my pillow.. and pray for my playing to get better.
will..I guess i had an awakening sorts in my consicousness , oneday.
i sucked ass until i practice, practice, practice :rof
So I put a pick under my pillow.. and pray for my playing to get better.
will..I guess i had an awakening sorts in my consicousness , oneday.
i sucked ass until i practice, practice, practice :rof
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
We r in the mist of the holiday hecticness.....craziness
People panicing to get things completed for Christmas....
Here it is a beautiful day of celebrating the importance
of this day...the birth of Jesus many yrs ago....however
over the yrs....commercialism has over powered its
special importance.....
At our bakery we have beautiful Christmas cakes
made available to the public....one in particular
is called the Birthday Jesus Cake.....its a round
chocolate cake covered in white icing decorated
with red pointsettias ....the words Happy Birthday
Jesus in the center and a row of red candles bordering
the top cake...very lovely....and meaningfull.
I took quite a few orders from folks asking for
the Jesus cake and that made me think that
they had the meaning of Christmas in their
hearts and minds.....
Am I going to stay sober this holiday season...
Well....TODAY I am.....Just for today because
tomorrow has come yet...
While all the craziness is around me i will make
sure i take care of me first.....take care
of my H.A.L.T.....Hunger, Anger, Loneliness,
And Tiredness....
I will also take care of R.I.D....
my Restlessness, irritability and Discontent
Making a meeting is great....its a place i
can go to...escape to.....to get away
from the craziness and aggrivation
around me.....and to know a peace and
calmness to bring me balance back into
my mind heart and soul.
The holidays can be beautiful if the
joy and happiness experienced
in not being drunk or high is practiced.
Happy Holiday to my SR family.
Love and Care always.....
People panicing to get things completed for Christmas....
Here it is a beautiful day of celebrating the importance
of this day...the birth of Jesus many yrs ago....however
over the yrs....commercialism has over powered its
special importance.....
At our bakery we have beautiful Christmas cakes
made available to the public....one in particular
is called the Birthday Jesus Cake.....its a round
chocolate cake covered in white icing decorated
with red pointsettias ....the words Happy Birthday
Jesus in the center and a row of red candles bordering
the top cake...very lovely....and meaningfull.
I took quite a few orders from folks asking for
the Jesus cake and that made me think that
they had the meaning of Christmas in their
hearts and minds.....
Am I going to stay sober this holiday season...
Well....TODAY I am.....Just for today because
tomorrow has come yet...
While all the craziness is around me i will make
sure i take care of me first.....take care
of my H.A.L.T.....Hunger, Anger, Loneliness,
And Tiredness....
I will also take care of R.I.D....
my Restlessness, irritability and Discontent
Making a meeting is great....its a place i
can go to...escape to.....to get away
from the craziness and aggrivation
around me.....and to know a peace and
calmness to bring me balance back into
my mind heart and soul.
The holidays can be beautiful if the
joy and happiness experienced
in not being drunk or high is practiced.
Happy Holiday to my SR family.
Love and Care always.....
Old & Sober Member of AA
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey
Posts: 5,174
Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your point of view), I won't have much trouble avoiding "drinking situations" here in the nursing home. Of course, you never know who might be smuggling in some "holiday cheer"...so, I'll be on my guard.
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