Developed a plan and working it now
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Reno, Nv
Posts: 873
Developed a plan and working it now
I am serial relapse extraordinaire. After many relapses and lots of learning about me, I've developed a plan. My plan looks like this
1. Never have free time "idle hands are the devil's workshop" I don't do free time anymore. If by chance I have free time that is difficult to feel, I either go to a meeting or call someone that I can talk to that is a sober person.
2. When urges happen, immediately determine why I am having urges. I realized in the past I wouldn't give any thought to my urges I would just try to ignore them. Ignoring might work, but I find if I try to identify the root cause, I can try and avoid the trigger or triggers in the future.
3. Identify the positive I can affect on my life today. Instead of drinking, I might clean, read a positive comment on the forum. or lately try meditating. Picture a 6' 3' 240 mans man, type person logging into a guided yoga meditation on a video site or something. It really is funny!
4. NEVER, EVER ACT in the moment give it time, even a 10 second count down before I make a decision, choice, whatever... 3 seconds of stupidity can screw up lots of positives for me ( or anyone for that matter) Very hard for me, I have impulse control issues. HUGE impulse issues ( this came to head for me big time this week) but my newest thing focusing on making good decisions..... Even if it takes a few minutes.
5. I've outed myself now as an alcoholic, this was hard for me, but basically telling the whole world I am an alcoholic help me to feel like I am accountable. This has also shown me that more people than I thought have issues they too are trying to work on, or even issues with alcohol... This has a been an awesome communication tool for me.
6. Speaking of communication in my last one, communication is becoming key for me, if I have an issue or want to convey a message I am just saying it now. This line of communication helps me to be honest, and not pin up my emotions.
7. Helping others with addiction issues, or just in general. I am not to far into my recovery, but it sure makes me feel good when someone tells me hey what you said yesterday helped me keep sober. Or when I called last night and we talked, or whatever it was I did to help..... I am learning that everyone has an experience and even if they have but only one day of sobriety or really even one minute more than you, they have just that much more experience to expend or receive as I do.
8. Finally, no more non sober friends... I am not saying people who can control the drink, I am talking about people I know that are active in there habit. I did what was best for and told them we can't hangout anymore or talk unless you are willing to do it sober. Sadly, I had to politely refer a friend to help earlier this week, and decline talk with him in the moment, but it helped me to thwart that temptation in the moment.
9. Never let my guard down, things happen daily, hourly by the minute. I need to be aware and ready to make a plan.
Anyways, I seem to fall off a lot around 2 to 3 weeks and now that time is upon me. However, this time, I have my plan and I am going to work it. What else can one do, but learn and try and expand themselves. I've come a long way and feeling better by the day!
Stay safe and sober as always friends TDG.
1. Never have free time "idle hands are the devil's workshop" I don't do free time anymore. If by chance I have free time that is difficult to feel, I either go to a meeting or call someone that I can talk to that is a sober person.
2. When urges happen, immediately determine why I am having urges. I realized in the past I wouldn't give any thought to my urges I would just try to ignore them. Ignoring might work, but I find if I try to identify the root cause, I can try and avoid the trigger or triggers in the future.
3. Identify the positive I can affect on my life today. Instead of drinking, I might clean, read a positive comment on the forum. or lately try meditating. Picture a 6' 3' 240 mans man, type person logging into a guided yoga meditation on a video site or something. It really is funny!
4. NEVER, EVER ACT in the moment give it time, even a 10 second count down before I make a decision, choice, whatever... 3 seconds of stupidity can screw up lots of positives for me ( or anyone for that matter) Very hard for me, I have impulse control issues. HUGE impulse issues ( this came to head for me big time this week) but my newest thing focusing on making good decisions..... Even if it takes a few minutes.
5. I've outed myself now as an alcoholic, this was hard for me, but basically telling the whole world I am an alcoholic help me to feel like I am accountable. This has also shown me that more people than I thought have issues they too are trying to work on, or even issues with alcohol... This has a been an awesome communication tool for me.
6. Speaking of communication in my last one, communication is becoming key for me, if I have an issue or want to convey a message I am just saying it now. This line of communication helps me to be honest, and not pin up my emotions.
7. Helping others with addiction issues, or just in general. I am not to far into my recovery, but it sure makes me feel good when someone tells me hey what you said yesterday helped me keep sober. Or when I called last night and we talked, or whatever it was I did to help..... I am learning that everyone has an experience and even if they have but only one day of sobriety or really even one minute more than you, they have just that much more experience to expend or receive as I do.
8. Finally, no more non sober friends... I am not saying people who can control the drink, I am talking about people I know that are active in there habit. I did what was best for and told them we can't hangout anymore or talk unless you are willing to do it sober. Sadly, I had to politely refer a friend to help earlier this week, and decline talk with him in the moment, but it helped me to thwart that temptation in the moment.
9. Never let my guard down, things happen daily, hourly by the minute. I need to be aware and ready to make a plan.
Anyways, I seem to fall off a lot around 2 to 3 weeks and now that time is upon me. However, this time, I have my plan and I am going to work it. What else can one do, but learn and try and expand themselves. I've come a long way and feeling better by the day!
Stay safe and sober as always friends TDG.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 430
I found that it was very important for me to stay busy in early sobriety, especially during my normal "witching hours." And one of the neat things about positivity is that you never know who will be touched or inspired by something you've said or done.
Good stuff, TDG. Thank you for sharing!
Good stuff, TDG. Thank you for sharing!
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,892
I love plans! Plans mean action. Plans mean initiative and prevent being reactive. Victim no more. This is good stuff!
I especially like this. Observing the urge. What can it do? Want can't it do? What does it want? Why is it here?
Originally Posted by Thatdeliveryguy 
2. When urges happen, immediately determine why I am having urges. ...
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,580
Originally Posted by Thatdeliveryguy
2. When urges happen, immediately determine why I am having urges. I realized in the past I wouldn't give any thought to my urges I would just try to ignore them. Ignoring might work, but I find if I try to identify the root cause, I can try and avoid the trigger or triggers in the future.
I probably sound like a broken record..but I just can't stop touting how helpful the H.A.L.T. acronym has been for me when a craving has hit.
Am I hungry? angry? lonely? tired?
It is almost always one of those. Even if triggered by being around others drinking...you are feeling lonely in the sense you feel...disconnected..not belonging.
Anyhow..nice work.
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