H.a.l.t.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 6
H.a.l.t.
Hi
Today will be day 7. Yesterday was the first time I experienced a real craving for beer since I made up my mind to quit. My Wife and Daughter had just left after a visit (they have been out of the house for 4 months). My wife refuses to live with me while Im in active addiction but still supports me and believes I can get back on track.
Anyway after they left, I had a really bad craving and was ready to go to the store across the street for a 12 pack. I was anxious as hell: my hands were shaking and I was pacing. I then realized that I hadnt eaten anything all day so I forced a sandwich down. The craving went away. I dont know maybe just the act of making something to eat took my mind off of the urge to drink. Turned out to be the best sandwich I`ve had in a while. Though it tasted like hell, it kept me from going to the store.
Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired - when alcoholics are most vulnerable
Today will be day 7. Yesterday was the first time I experienced a real craving for beer since I made up my mind to quit. My Wife and Daughter had just left after a visit (they have been out of the house for 4 months). My wife refuses to live with me while Im in active addiction but still supports me and believes I can get back on track.
Anyway after they left, I had a really bad craving and was ready to go to the store across the street for a 12 pack. I was anxious as hell: my hands were shaking and I was pacing. I then realized that I hadnt eaten anything all day so I forced a sandwich down. The craving went away. I dont know maybe just the act of making something to eat took my mind off of the urge to drink. Turned out to be the best sandwich I`ve had in a while. Though it tasted like hell, it kept me from going to the store.
Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired - when alcoholics are most vulnerable
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 55
Good for you! Working on day 7 here too. I'm really excited to have made it through my first Friday and Saturday sober in....gosh...probably 2008 when I was pregnant.
I hadn't heard HALT before, thanks for that. It's so true and I'll keep it in mind.
Again, congratulations to you for making the right choice!
I hadn't heard HALT before, thanks for that. It's so true and I'll keep it in mind.
Again, congratulations to you for making the right choice!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
Great job. I'm soooo vulnerable when I'm hungry. My blood sugar dips and my habituated mind immediately tells me to drink. It tells me drink no matter what 'system' is off....its just what it does. I have to remember to detach from that part of me and eat, drink water, rest, distract, come here....almost always does the trick.
Craig
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 18
Good job! My counselor told me anytime I have a bad craving to go eat something. It is amazing how something so simple works.
H.A.L.T. is definitely something everyone should know. It is simple little things that make all the difference.
H.A.L.T. is definitely something everyone should know. It is simple little things that make all the difference.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 962
H. A. L. T. - ME
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired ... plus ... ME
'I' was my Trigger. When I was bored, I would drink. When I was pissed at my Wife or Boss or _ _ _, I would drink 'to calm down'. When I was stressed, I would drink to 'calm my nerves'. When I experienced sadness or grief, drinking would be my 'consolation'. When I was nervous or fearful about a situation I needed to deal with, drinking would 'help bolster my nerves'. When I was shy or apprehensive, drinking would 'give me confidence'. When I was going to do something fun, drinking would 'make it that much better'. When I was experiencing gut-wrenching terror about something I did when I was drunk, drinking would help bring 'oblivion'.
When it all caved in on me, and I went thru years of experiencing repeated Pitiful & Incomprehensible Demoralization, I had to Do the Work to get FREE from my own Self-Will-Run-Riot, which was ME as the Trigger. And yes, I have to recognize that when I am in tense states, such as being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, etc - I have to do the Inner Work needed to keep separated from it leading directly to my 'automatic behavior' of drinking as the solution I inherently have.
RDBplus3 ... Happy, Joyous and FREE
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired ... plus ... ME
'I' was my Trigger. When I was bored, I would drink. When I was pissed at my Wife or Boss or _ _ _, I would drink 'to calm down'. When I was stressed, I would drink to 'calm my nerves'. When I experienced sadness or grief, drinking would be my 'consolation'. When I was nervous or fearful about a situation I needed to deal with, drinking would 'help bolster my nerves'. When I was shy or apprehensive, drinking would 'give me confidence'. When I was going to do something fun, drinking would 'make it that much better'. When I was experiencing gut-wrenching terror about something I did when I was drunk, drinking would help bring 'oblivion'.
When it all caved in on me, and I went thru years of experiencing repeated Pitiful & Incomprehensible Demoralization, I had to Do the Work to get FREE from my own Self-Will-Run-Riot, which was ME as the Trigger. And yes, I have to recognize that when I am in tense states, such as being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, etc - I have to do the Inner Work needed to keep separated from it leading directly to my 'automatic behavior' of drinking as the solution I inherently have.
RDBplus3 ... Happy, Joyous and FREE
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 937
My wife refuses to live with me while Im in active addiction but still supports me and believes I can get back on track
No beer in the universe can compete with the prospect of reinventing yourself, which it appears you have the opportunity to do. It sounds like she loves you and wants to be with you still - but would prefer to live with a sane and sober person. You are blessed man! Stay the course!
No beer in the universe can compete with the prospect of reinventing yourself, which it appears you have the opportunity to do. It sounds like she loves you and wants to be with you still - but would prefer to live with a sane and sober person. You are blessed man! Stay the course!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
Good job on 7 days. I hope you come to the conclusion that your wife and child are more important than any booze on the planet. I also implement HALT when necessary. For some reason my favorite is a hamburger with fresh bun, 2 slices of Swiss cheese and pickle. It HAS to have the pickle!
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