Something strange has happened... I think I'm over-confident...
I have a little different take on this. The ways we "keep shooting at it" are varied, and some are more effective than others. I will use this analogy, and it may not make sense to some but it works for me. I had this dog I got from the pound. He was an uncontrollable jumper. I tried everything I knew but he jumped on me, the kids, everyone who entered the house. People didn't even want to come over. I put him away for periods, but when let out the jumping started all over again. I had a trainer come to the house. I told the guy, "he's going to jump and knock you over when you come in, just keep yelling at him to stop" (like I had the answer LOL) he replied, "Oh, he won't jump on me". When the guy got there, the dog was jumping and scratching at the door. When I opened it, the dog began to jump, but the trainer calmly put his hand down, did not make eye contact, did not even acknowledge the dog really. He began talking to me. He did not engage whatsoever with the dog. The dog just sat there and I'm telling you I could not believe my eyes.
By not engaging with the "addict mind", by fully understanding that all thoughts that even remotely have to do with drinking or using are all lies, that some such thoughts are cleverly disguised but they too are lies, then the full force battle and all the anxiety that goes along with it do not have to be employed. Some who use AVRT may understand this form of "beast whispering".
By not engaging with the "addict mind", by fully understanding that all thoughts that even remotely have to do with drinking or using are all lies, that some such thoughts are cleverly disguised but they too are lies, then the full force battle and all the anxiety that goes along with it do not have to be employed. Some who use AVRT may understand this form of "beast whispering".
Pigtails,
I have followed your story since you arrived here and I have been so impressed how you managed to stop drinking and move forward with your life. I have thought to myself that you are so lucky and wise to have been aware enough to know what was going on and to decide that alcohol was causing you problems.
I have followed your story since you arrived here and I have been so impressed how you managed to stop drinking and move forward with your life. I have thought to myself that you are so lucky and wise to have been aware enough to know what was going on and to decide that alcohol was causing you problems.
I ditto what Anna said (and everyone else, too!)
I know the feeling and it feels strange, doesn't it? I don't think I fully trusted myself until after a year sober. The first couple months I had to convince myself at least once a day that my alcoholism was real. It was pretty easy, though - I just came here and read some posts until I felt grounded again.
I didn't want to let go of that ground because in the past, I had several years of sobriety and started drinking again. In fact, after getting sober for another 3-4 years, I did it AGAIN, so TWICE. It was the same kind of thinking: the first time was about feeling like I was over my depression. The second time was after I got divorced: "maybe I only drank too much because I was in a bad marriage - now that I'm happy again, I'd never get that bad again."
I think it's good to be on top of what's going on in our heads. You really have come a long way, Pigtails - you're an inspiration for sure!
I know the feeling and it feels strange, doesn't it? I don't think I fully trusted myself until after a year sober. The first couple months I had to convince myself at least once a day that my alcoholism was real. It was pretty easy, though - I just came here and read some posts until I felt grounded again.
I didn't want to let go of that ground because in the past, I had several years of sobriety and started drinking again. In fact, after getting sober for another 3-4 years, I did it AGAIN, so TWICE. It was the same kind of thinking: the first time was about feeling like I was over my depression. The second time was after I got divorced: "maybe I only drank too much because I was in a bad marriage - now that I'm happy again, I'd never get that bad again."
I think it's good to be on top of what's going on in our heads. You really have come a long way, Pigtails - you're an inspiration for sure!
By not engaging with the "addict mind", by fully understanding that all thoughts that even remotely have to do with drinking or using are all lies, that some such thoughts are cleverly disguised but they too are lies, then the full force battle and all the anxiety that goes along with it do not have to be employed. Some who use AVRT may understand this form of "beast whispering".
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,146
PT, you're feeling good because you're doing some stuff and it's working well and you're not doing the things that before made you feel continually lousy.
Some call it 'feeling your sobriety'.
Of course you could go back to what you had before, and feel every bit as awful as you did then.
Anytime at all you can withdraw, there are no contracts or promises to continue one more day. If you ever find you don't care for how good you feel and how well your life operates sober, back off.
Or watch and listen to the crowd dragging in after NYE who did that. If what they say sounds attractive to you, then you most certainly can have the same.
Some call it 'feeling your sobriety'.
Of course you could go back to what you had before, and feel every bit as awful as you did then.
Anytime at all you can withdraw, there are no contracts or promises to continue one more day. If you ever find you don't care for how good you feel and how well your life operates sober, back off.
Or watch and listen to the crowd dragging in after NYE who did that. If what they say sounds attractive to you, then you most certainly can have the same.
It sounds like you are experiencing the proverbial "Pink Cloud."
The "pink cloud" is best described as a period of time where the addict or alcoholic experiences a reprieve from the struggles associated with early recovery. These struggles are generally associated with the feelings of depression, anger, resentment, self pity and the realization of where their drug addiction or alcoholism has taken them.
Upon experiencing this phenomenon for the first time, the addict or alcoholic is understandably excited. They begin to believe they now "hold the key" to their recovery. This is where the seed for relapse is planted. They begin to believe more in themselves than in the process they have been following. Without the pain as a daily reminder, they tend to forget about what it took for them to embrace recovery. Denial rears its ugly head and they minimize how devastating their drug addiction and alcoholism really was and that they have a disease of drug addiction and alcoholism that requires attention on a daily basis. Relapse prevention becomes an afterthought as the person becomes defiant and rebellious regarding suggestions contrary to their desires. Without resorting to drugs or alcohol, the individual in recovery is one step away from relapse. Remember, relapse is not an event, it is a process.
Article Source: Relapse Prevention and the Pink Cloud
The "pink cloud" is best described as a period of time where the addict or alcoholic experiences a reprieve from the struggles associated with early recovery. These struggles are generally associated with the feelings of depression, anger, resentment, self pity and the realization of where their drug addiction or alcoholism has taken them.
Upon experiencing this phenomenon for the first time, the addict or alcoholic is understandably excited. They begin to believe they now "hold the key" to their recovery. This is where the seed for relapse is planted. They begin to believe more in themselves than in the process they have been following. Without the pain as a daily reminder, they tend to forget about what it took for them to embrace recovery. Denial rears its ugly head and they minimize how devastating their drug addiction and alcoholism really was and that they have a disease of drug addiction and alcoholism that requires attention on a daily basis. Relapse prevention becomes an afterthought as the person becomes defiant and rebellious regarding suggestions contrary to their desires. Without resorting to drugs or alcohol, the individual in recovery is one step away from relapse. Remember, relapse is not an event, it is a process.
Article Source: Relapse Prevention and the Pink Cloud
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