2 Simple Words to consider for relapse--"Why Now?"
 

I have suggested to people who have thought of relapse to give themselves 5 seconds of thought prior to taking that first drink and to contemplate 2 simple words, "Why now?"

"Why now?" do I want to throw away all the good work that I have put into my sobriety?

Is it anger, depression, happiness, revenge, self pity, a party, a funeral, a reunion......

"Why now?" do I think I "need" or "want" this first drink?

There undoubtedly are thousands of reasons or scenarios to consider, but I think if you ask this simple question to yourself prior to picking up and you can rationalize with yourself and truly answer this simple question to yourself, you will be that much closer to never relapsing.

Just two words to remember.....Why now?

My heart and strength is with all of you in our battles, mac911

Thank you so much for this post =) Those are two words I will keep in my mind from now on whenever drinking crosses my mind~

Thanks Again =)

For me, I would have to add Why now... after all this sober time?? And "do I really want to go back there and have to start all over?" But if I play the tape to the end I know my answer will be "NO".

Mine are "3 years."

As in, it would take me 3 years to get back to where I am today. And that's a "best case scenario."

If I drink today, it won't be for just today. I'll drink the next day, and the day after that... it will take me about a year of drinking before I get myself back into treatment, if at all. And then so many months in treatment (last stretch was 5 months in rehab) followed by several months in a sober/halfway house, etc.

And like I said, best case scenario. If I drink today, and then everything follows perfectly, 3 years. It's more likely that it would take longer, plus the added bonus of me possibly dieing while trying.

One drink today and *POOF*, 3 years (minimum) are gone just like that. I don't have 3 years.

Thanks for this post Mac!

I was so sick mentally, and soul sick..that I relapsed after the denial was gone.

I knew I was alcoholic..I willingly went back into it.

Told myself I had a broken heart. Shaming, blaming others.

Poor me..it was all about me.

I had more than 5 seconds...I wish someone had taken me somewhere..

no, that's not right. My girl tried..and I would have none of it!

I was in too deep already..and oh..the magnitude of wreckage I'm

still cleaning up after that last big run.

Please people..do consider. It doesn't get better when we go out.

Never.

Relapse prevention?
This is what I've used for my successful recovery Thanks for letting me share...:a122:

I'm not willing to waste one more minute.

That is why I don't now.

I was just speaking last night after an AA meeting with a person who is in recovery and he was about ready to pick up and I asked him those two simple words, "Why now?"

He thought a bit before he started to reply about some personal problems he was experiencing and I just listened as he talked his way though them. He went on for a while and while he was doing it, he verbally rationalized his situation to me and pretty much provided himself the answer.

I did not have to say anything and he was sober for another day.

that's awesome mac! thanks for the post & the share! i like it alot!!

Lisa :)

What an incredibly timely reminder. I am very thankful this got bumped up, today of all days.

Thank you.

Wow M,
Thanks for the post. This is an interesting thread. Personally when I ask why now, the little devil on my should can give me a million reasons to take that drink. Since reading your post I have decided that when the little devil gives me an excuse to drink, I gonna ask him "Why?" The little voice will say drink because of:
Company coming...I'll say why should I.
Funeral...Why?
Celebration...Why?
Why should I disrespect all that sober time and give in to one drink.

Mac this post really made me think real hard about the deep reason why I would drink. Thanks for opening my eyes. You rock.

Great Thread
Thanks

thank you :)

What a wonderful post. I came real close to relapsing a couple of weeks ago. I've been clean for 153 days, but I almost blew it. But thanks to my Higher Power and the support I found here, I resisted. Since then, I feel stronger than ever, which leads me to believe that the more I resist, the stronger I become! :ghug

Sorry to be off topic here (I too love this thread) but Nobodyknows you have to post your avatar on the funny animals picture thread on Cafe Central it deserves a bigger audience. x

Perfect!