How often do you have unwanted thoughts about drinking?
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,950
Originally Posted by BrendaChenowyth 
I have unwanted thoughts sometimes, and I have thoughts about drinking sometimes, but the thoughts about drinking are expected, because I am an alcoholic.
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 847
Originally Posted by bluedog97
I sometimes feel there is this attitude that it is somehow wrong to have a thought of drinking, or a desire to drink... 99% of the time no one speaks up. I interpret this as more of a fear of speaking up... I know Ive often failed to speak up when I was dying for a drink.
I have a desire to drink, which I call the Beast, and an Addictive Voice, which is simply the Beast talking in my head, and that is neither good nor bad. The only thing that can be good or bad is how I handle that reality.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Europe
Posts: 291
I had 2 days last month - after 4.5 years - that I had a few fleeting thoughts. They surprised and annoyed me. But then I thought: "I'm a recovering alcoholic, so it's normal. You don't need a perfect score on never thinking abouf it. You are human after all. Just don't pick up, that's all."
They didn't return, back to normal it seems. So, most of the time it's not a thing.
They didn't return, back to normal it seems. So, most of the time it's not a thing.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,597
Much less often now....it definitely gets better. When AV hits, it's usually the same time and place. At home, alone, at night, and there's some degree or stress occurring. At this point it's pretty easy to overcome simply by playing the tape forward and realizing that if I go out to get beer, I'll absolutely hate myself tomorrow. I know how I'll feel and I won't like myself because of what I did.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 242
Originally Posted by Algorithm
This may open up a can of worms, but I know that you are reading the Rational Recovery book, so I will say this anyway. The idea that it is somehow good to not have the desire to drink alcohol is the Addictive Voice itself injecting doubt about perfect abstinence in the presence of desire that cannot fulfill itself. It is a set-up.
The Beast is essentially saying "Isn't it wonderful that you don't have any desire to drink (ie, that I'm not very active)? It's futile to struggle against me, after all. You are safe for now, though, as long as I'm not very active, and you don't have any desire to drink. Eventually, though, I might get you to drink, so be very scared of me, and hope that I don't return much."
Phrased a little more succinctly, the desire for the absence of desire conceals a plan to drink in the presence of desire.
The Beast is essentially saying "Isn't it wonderful that you don't have any desire to drink (ie, that I'm not very active)? It's futile to struggle against me, after all. You are safe for now, though, as long as I'm not very active, and you don't have any desire to drink. Eventually, though, I might get you to drink, so be very scared of me, and hope that I don't return much."
Phrased a little more succinctly, the desire for the absence of desire conceals a plan to drink in the presence of desire.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,780
At seven years sober I rarely have thoughts of drinking and the thought itself makes me feel repulsed. They do crop up sometimes, but I know, as was said, I don't have to act on them. 
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