TOPIC: What Ways To TRAIN Your Brain To Avoid Drinking Or Using
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,237
TOPIC: What Ways To TRAIN Your Brain To Avoid Drinking Or Using
Hello SR Newcomers and Oldtimers.
Fellow Members, friends and family.
Are there helpful ways to TRAIN our BRAIN
so that we don't pick up a drink or drug? Yes
there is.
I'm Sharon and I'm an alcoholic living
in recovery. Applying recovery tools
and knowledge taught to me 24 yrs ago
and continued learning over the years
to help me remain sober one day at a
time.
Family intervened on me sending me
to rehab where I stayed for 28 days,
my choice, so that I could learn how
not to pick up a drink once I returned
home.
I learned that its not just not drinking
but rather training my brain new healthy
ways to avoid running to my drug of
choice to deal with life on life's terms.
In that first year sober, I was just like
many of you with running thoughts
of how to cope without drinking. To quiet
those thoughts, I realized that I needed
to feed my mind with recovery thoughts.
Back in the day, 1990, I plugged in Speaker
cassette tapes and wore my headphones
thruout the day listening to those share
their own stories, their own ESH - experiences,
strengths and hopes of what their lives were
like before, during and after alcohol.
I listened to soothing music for calm and
inspiration. Then, I began to incorporate
recovery items around my home, in my
reach as a positive reminder not to drink.
Training our brains in recovery is just like
training for a race. Like training for job.
Like training for a spelling bee. Like training
for a competition.
What would you do to train for something?
You study. Right? We cant learn something
if we don't study for it. Right? Say you want
to learn how to train for a marathon. You
have to first learn what to do. How to prepare
ourselves so that we can train properly and
be healthy enough for that event.
You have to learn what right foods to eat.
A good healthy nutrition to feed our bodies.
Proper warm up and cool downs for our
muscles. You don't just put on a pair of shoes
and expect to win a race. Right?
Same thing with learning how to live
without drinking or using. You don't just
stop and expect to never drink again unless
you have the right information in ur brain
to help you. Right?
There are many helpful, healthy, useful,
positive ways to train your brain to remain
sober or clean a day at a time for years
to come.
What are your own ways you have trained
your brain to remain sober today?
Fellow Members, friends and family.
Are there helpful ways to TRAIN our BRAIN
so that we don't pick up a drink or drug? Yes
there is.
I'm Sharon and I'm an alcoholic living
in recovery. Applying recovery tools
and knowledge taught to me 24 yrs ago
and continued learning over the years
to help me remain sober one day at a
time.
Family intervened on me sending me
to rehab where I stayed for 28 days,
my choice, so that I could learn how
not to pick up a drink once I returned
home.
I learned that its not just not drinking
but rather training my brain new healthy
ways to avoid running to my drug of
choice to deal with life on life's terms.
In that first year sober, I was just like
many of you with running thoughts
of how to cope without drinking. To quiet
those thoughts, I realized that I needed
to feed my mind with recovery thoughts.
Back in the day, 1990, I plugged in Speaker
cassette tapes and wore my headphones
thruout the day listening to those share
their own stories, their own ESH - experiences,
strengths and hopes of what their lives were
like before, during and after alcohol.
I listened to soothing music for calm and
inspiration. Then, I began to incorporate
recovery items around my home, in my
reach as a positive reminder not to drink.
Training our brains in recovery is just like
training for a race. Like training for job.
Like training for a spelling bee. Like training
for a competition.
What would you do to train for something?
You study. Right? We cant learn something
if we don't study for it. Right? Say you want
to learn how to train for a marathon. You
have to first learn what to do. How to prepare
ourselves so that we can train properly and
be healthy enough for that event.
You have to learn what right foods to eat.
A good healthy nutrition to feed our bodies.
Proper warm up and cool downs for our
muscles. You don't just put on a pair of shoes
and expect to win a race. Right?
Same thing with learning how to live
without drinking or using. You don't just
stop and expect to never drink again unless
you have the right information in ur brain
to help you. Right?
There are many helpful, healthy, useful,
positive ways to train your brain to remain
sober or clean a day at a time for years
to come.
What are your own ways you have trained
your brain to remain sober today?
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
Great Thread!!!
I am still working up to the marathon! But, in new sobriety - 170 days thus far - I had to learn new habits to the old bad ones.
Daily readings, steeping myself in sober literature - SR friends, meetings - are all hugely intricate in the training process. I listen to speakers on youtube for support as well. A plethora of great wisdom just a touch away!
Recently wife started weight watcher / point system. This is helping both of us
Training the body with "good food" instead of binge eating handfuls of crap.
Still have not really done what I need to in terms of exercise, but it will come.
The most important training using my tool belt is living in today, no doubt! It is as if a magic potion has been given freely to me in this understanding. Knowledge is great, but I have to take action! Like typing this for example..........
Again, great topic = Very Helpful! Can't wait to read more from others.
FlyN
I am still working up to the marathon! But, in new sobriety - 170 days thus far - I had to learn new habits to the old bad ones.
Daily readings, steeping myself in sober literature - SR friends, meetings - are all hugely intricate in the training process. I listen to speakers on youtube for support as well. A plethora of great wisdom just a touch away!
Recently wife started weight watcher / point system. This is helping both of us
Training the body with "good food" instead of binge eating handfuls of crap.
Still have not really done what I need to in terms of exercise, but it will come.
The most important training using my tool belt is living in today, no doubt! It is as if a magic potion has been given freely to me in this understanding. Knowledge is great, but I have to take action! Like typing this for example..........
Again, great topic = Very Helpful! Can't wait to read more from others.
FlyN
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Hi and thanks for the topic.
To this day, many years after AA helped me to stop drinking I still go to a lot of meetings to REMEMBER WHEN. Fortunately I haven’t had a desire to drink in many years but I know what can happen in a flash.
I’ve seen too many for whatever reason relapse and know that only about 3% can recover again. Scary!
A sober friend scared me with something that happened to him. He was sober about 9 years and met some old friends and one offered him a drink and another one said “Oh he can’t drink anymore.” My friend was overcome with a feeling “OH I’ll show them” but fortunately had a quick remember when and caught himself. Constant vigilance is our friend.
BE WELL
To this day, many years after AA helped me to stop drinking I still go to a lot of meetings to REMEMBER WHEN. Fortunately I haven’t had a desire to drink in many years but I know what can happen in a flash.
I’ve seen too many for whatever reason relapse and know that only about 3% can recover again. Scary!
A sober friend scared me with something that happened to him. He was sober about 9 years and met some old friends and one offered him a drink and another one said “Oh he can’t drink anymore.” My friend was overcome with a feeling “OH I’ll show them” but fortunately had a quick remember when and caught himself. Constant vigilance is our friend.
BE WELL
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,237
Thank you guys for sharing your ESH on
this topic.
Purpleknight....Wasn't 'smurf' playing Dubai
this past weekend? I thought I saw him playing
but didn't stay watching. Im still waiting for my
Favorite Tiger to begin playing next month I
believe. He will have a new Swing Coach.
Okay back to the topic......
My mind is more fresh and strong in the
morning when I have all kinds of recovery
experiences, strengths and hopes to share
with you guys.
Let me see, I was thinking this morning
about my experience on riding a motorcycle.
I didn't just one day hop on a bike and ride
off successfully.
I first had to sit in class and be taught
the parts of a motorcycle. Then learn
about safety, proper riding gear, etc,
then take a written test before the riding
test.
I had to listen, learn, absorb and eventually
apply what I learn to riding before I could
officially get my endorsement. Even with all
that I did learn, it took me awhile to grasp
what I learn with practice, determination,
then a set back with hip replacement surgery
to then get endorsed.
Nothing happens over night. Right?
Think of things in your own life experiences
that you had to be taught step by step before
you learn how to do a new job, maybe a new
sport, an instrument, etc.
this topic.
Purpleknight....Wasn't 'smurf' playing Dubai
this past weekend? I thought I saw him playing
but didn't stay watching. Im still waiting for my
Favorite Tiger to begin playing next month I
believe. He will have a new Swing Coach.
Okay back to the topic......
My mind is more fresh and strong in the
morning when I have all kinds of recovery
experiences, strengths and hopes to share
with you guys.
Let me see, I was thinking this morning
about my experience on riding a motorcycle.
I didn't just one day hop on a bike and ride
off successfully.
I first had to sit in class and be taught
the parts of a motorcycle. Then learn
about safety, proper riding gear, etc,
then take a written test before the riding
test.
I had to listen, learn, absorb and eventually
apply what I learn to riding before I could
officially get my endorsement. Even with all
that I did learn, it took me awhile to grasp
what I learn with practice, determination,
then a set back with hip replacement surgery
to then get endorsed.
Nothing happens over night. Right?
Think of things in your own life experiences
that you had to be taught step by step before
you learn how to do a new job, maybe a new
sport, an instrument, etc.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
