brobo

HI.
I'm in a rehab program and have the 20 negative consequences assignment to do first. I would really appreciate some suggestions or advise on how to do this. The structure they want is like this:

"Because I chose to drink Alcohol .... blah blah...
As a result .... blah blah...
I feel... .... blah blah."

They want this to be about "me" and I'm really struggling with it. Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks~

Taking5

I've been in AA for 4 years (never went to rehab) and I have never been given an assignment like this. It wouldn't be too tough though!

Just think of the times in your life where alcohol caused you a real problem. Then start writing.

Fulldresser4

Well said, Dgillz...I agree. I think if given the time, I could probably do a 1001 negative consequences list In fact, I know I could.

Brobo, can you get to a quiet place with no distractions and just kind of think about all the stuff that happened (the aftermath) when you picked up?

Gypsy Feet

because of alcohol my diets fail and I am a fat ass
because of alcohol I have lost friends
because of alcohol I broke my finger and spent 2 months in a splint
because of alcohol my liver needs some loving
because of alcohol I never could drive anywhere past 6pm
because of alcohol I have wakened next to some really sketchy men
because of alcohol I used drugs I never would have tried sober

That took me about 5 seconds haha

lovinmenow

Anybody know more? I am going to write down my 20 negative consequences tonight. Here is one I made up. Write down 10 things you would rather do than drink. Let's all pitch in a see what we can come up with.

Jomey

Can I just write "anything" ten times? LOL

1. Play with my kids
2. Hang out with my husband
3. Ice Fish
4. Target Shoot
5. Ride my horses
6. Plan my spring garden
7. Help a friend
8. Go to Church
9. Write a gratitude list
10. Take a walk

That took about 3 seconds...I think it would be easier to list things I would rather drink than do!!!



Brobo- There is a book called "How to Recover without AA" or something like that - you can search for it, and it has tons of ideas for excercises like you were assigned. It gives examples, but also lots of ways to get you thinking about how alcohol affected you. ** NOT saying you should or should not go to AA, that's just the name of the book and there is some helpful stuff in there unrelated to the AA decision. **

Mark75

I was in a residential treatment facility for two months. One of the most important assignments we had to do was a first step work sheet. It was organized into areas of our life that had become unmanageble (negative consequences) because of chemicals (alcohol, whatever...). I can find it if you want more info, but it went something like

Family
Social
Work
Home
Spiritual
Recreational
Safety

So think of the different areas of your life, then go through and come up with negative consequences, ie...

I almost burned the house down and destroyed the microwave because I had a kitchen fire....

I wasn't attentive to safety concerns on a camping trip and ....

I had a blackout and became verbally abusive to my family...

You get the idea.

Mark

lovinmenow

Thanks all for the assignments. Today I wrote a list of ten things I would rather do. I also started a Journal in microsft word. In it is a list of things for me to do every day to help myself: Here it is in no special order:

1. Do 1 thing to make myself pretty
2. Read an article on alcoholism that will make me keep from drinking.
3. Read something sexy
4. Clean something
5. Study your craft
6. Do one thing to make you a better person on the inside. (help someone, reach out to some one in the forum, read a self help article
7. Show John how much you love him (my husband)
8. Exercise

lovinmenow

Hey Brobo,
Earlier on this board, I neglected to tell you how much your post affected my attitude. I feel so much better and feel more proactive about my recovery after doing a few assignments. Please tell all your rehab folks that they made a positive change in the life of someone they don't even know.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart.