Nonsensical

I dislike this terminology because I think it is misleading. It connotes that substance addiction is a learned behavior that can be unlearned. While you must learn new behaviors to defeat your addiction, your addiction itself can never be unlearned.

Part of your brain is physically addicted to alcohol. It has made the same connection for alcohol that it has made to other activities necessary for survival. Nothing you or I can do can ever break that connection. I will be addicted to alcohol until I am dead. It must be dealt with every day if I am going to stay sober. They tell me it gets easier over time. I hope that is accurate.

Oh, and you CAN resist the cravings - you just haven't YET.

Good Luck on your journey.

RobbyRobot

I experienced addiction as BOTH physical and psychological. I also experienced recovery, and finally being recovered physically and psychologically.

For interest sake, this link talks about both. I agree with this kind of understanding of addictions.

Physical addiction or psychological addiction

seanie1888

Hi Robbie.

Another paddy here.

I found great help in the rooms off AA.
I tried Avrt and other books, I wish it was that simple. Though I could do it on my own
Make a plan to just never drink again etc
Worked for a while, but always ended bk drinking.

Have a talk with your doctor anyhow even if u don't need help detoxing.

I wish u well pal

Dee74

Hi Robbie

Some great advice here

if you want to change your life, you can do it - it won;t be easy but there's a ton of support here.

it all starts with a day one

D

fini

Do I just need to use will-power against them? Is that all I can do?

no, not by a long shot. there's lots more you can do. a good place to learn about different "tools" is reading here on the forums.
going to face-to-face meetings with real life people.
and since you're in Dublin, you not only have AA meetings but also LifeRing, which is a secular self-help (via peer-support) meeting. (google LifeRing Ireland, i think)

lots of things you can do rather than just sit and will yourself against your craving!

good to see you here reaching out.