Post before.....rather then after....
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 421
Post before.....rather then after....
Posting after you drink is of course encouraged as well!
Before I get started, I wanted to make sure everybody knew what I meant by the title, simply, to post for support before you drink and get that backing to quit before you even start.
I haven't made a thread in awhile but I wanted to today for a couple of reasons.
1) To avoid working, it's been a slow and mundane day and I can't seem to motivate to find things to do.
2 (and more importantly): To share my personal approach when I'm struggling with my sobriety. I wish I could say I can do this every time, but I can't. But my self-awareness is getting better and to PLAN my recovery plan ahead of time greatly improves my ability to stay sober.
My story is very similar to most addicts, I have had great success at times with my sobriety, and epic failures. Those failures have been wonderful learning experiences for me. I'm about two and a half weeks into my current stretch of sobriety and I'm finally getting those cravings. I want to grab some beer so badly tonight after work, go home, sit on my patio, crank some heavy metal, and sit in the sun until it departs and get a "gentle" buzz.
First thing I need to do is recognize why? Why is this appealing to me today? For me, habit is a big one. Changing the routine I ground into myself for ten years. I also have learned to believe this is how one needs to relax and I want to relax tonight. I have learned to recognize these are irrational thoughts and driven solely by addiction.
Next I need to remind myself (as if I don't do this enough) what drinking has cost me in my life. Ten years of my life wasted and nothing to show for it. The last year of my life has been better then the previous ten and it certainly isn't a coincidence it's when I started to take my sobriety seriously.
I have to convince myself that drinking in moderation isn't a possibility anymore. I could maybe go home and drink lightly tonight, but it will only creep into my life again and I've proven to myself that isn't possible.
Next, my plan. How am I going to remain sober tonight? I'm going to do almost the exact thing I want. I'm going to go home, sit on my patio, crank some rock and roll, and drink water, probably while playing games on my phone. I've learned through this journey I can do THE SAME THINGS drunk or sober. I don't need to change much of anything.
Back-up plan: Have an out. If the urges get to be so strong I can't handle them, what do I do? I have Sober Recovery bookmarked on my phone, I know to come here. I have one of my best friends always available to call. I have been biking lately and taking walks and I know this is a great outlet for me.
Sobriety isn't a fleeting thing. It takes work, commitment, planning for those tough days. This is a tough day for me, but I know I'll be posting again tomorrow, sober, and proud, that I overcame the demon tonight.
Good luck friends, stay safe.
Before I get started, I wanted to make sure everybody knew what I meant by the title, simply, to post for support before you drink and get that backing to quit before you even start.
I haven't made a thread in awhile but I wanted to today for a couple of reasons.
1) To avoid working, it's been a slow and mundane day and I can't seem to motivate to find things to do.
2 (and more importantly): To share my personal approach when I'm struggling with my sobriety. I wish I could say I can do this every time, but I can't. But my self-awareness is getting better and to PLAN my recovery plan ahead of time greatly improves my ability to stay sober.
My story is very similar to most addicts, I have had great success at times with my sobriety, and epic failures. Those failures have been wonderful learning experiences for me. I'm about two and a half weeks into my current stretch of sobriety and I'm finally getting those cravings. I want to grab some beer so badly tonight after work, go home, sit on my patio, crank some heavy metal, and sit in the sun until it departs and get a "gentle" buzz.
First thing I need to do is recognize why? Why is this appealing to me today? For me, habit is a big one. Changing the routine I ground into myself for ten years. I also have learned to believe this is how one needs to relax and I want to relax tonight. I have learned to recognize these are irrational thoughts and driven solely by addiction.
Next I need to remind myself (as if I don't do this enough) what drinking has cost me in my life. Ten years of my life wasted and nothing to show for it. The last year of my life has been better then the previous ten and it certainly isn't a coincidence it's when I started to take my sobriety seriously.
I have to convince myself that drinking in moderation isn't a possibility anymore. I could maybe go home and drink lightly tonight, but it will only creep into my life again and I've proven to myself that isn't possible.
Next, my plan. How am I going to remain sober tonight? I'm going to do almost the exact thing I want. I'm going to go home, sit on my patio, crank some rock and roll, and drink water, probably while playing games on my phone. I've learned through this journey I can do THE SAME THINGS drunk or sober. I don't need to change much of anything.
Back-up plan: Have an out. If the urges get to be so strong I can't handle them, what do I do? I have Sober Recovery bookmarked on my phone, I know to come here. I have one of my best friends always available to call. I have been biking lately and taking walks and I know this is a great outlet for me.
Sobriety isn't a fleeting thing. It takes work, commitment, planning for those tough days. This is a tough day for me, but I know I'll be posting again tomorrow, sober, and proud, that I overcame the demon tonight.
Good luck friends, stay safe.
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,499
Excellent post!
The only thing I would amend - based on my own experience - is that it's also OK to change things up in your life to avoid the old triggers. At least until the sober muscles have grown stronger.
Example 1: I avoided my couch and TV in the evenings after work for about 3 months, because that's where I used to drink the most. I changed that around to reading SR and surfing the Internet in my study. Example 2: I avoided listening to my favourite kind of music in the evenings (used to be smooth jazz with a glass of vino in hand). Again, took me a few months to get back to that music.
It doesn't have to be a permanent change.
Just my personal experience.
The only thing I would amend - based on my own experience - is that it's also OK to change things up in your life to avoid the old triggers. At least until the sober muscles have grown stronger.
Originally Posted by SaturatedSeize 
Next, my plan. How am I going to remain sober tonight? I'm going to do almost the exact thing I want. I'm going to go home, sit on my patio, crank some rock and roll, and drink water, probably while playing games on my phone. I've learned through this journey I can do THE SAME THINGS drunk or sober. I don't need to change much of anything.
Back-up plan: Have an out. If the urges get to be so strong I can't handle them, what do I do? I have Sober Recovery bookmarked on my phone, I know to come here. I have one of my best friends always available to call. I have been biking lately and taking walks and I know this is a great outlet for me.
Back-up plan: Have an out. If the urges get to be so strong I can't handle them, what do I do? I have Sober Recovery bookmarked on my phone, I know to come here. I have one of my best friends always available to call. I have been biking lately and taking walks and I know this is a great outlet for me.
It doesn't have to be a permanent change.
Just my personal experience.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 421
Originally Posted by MissPerfumado
Excellent post!
The only thing I would amend - based on my own experience - is that it's also OK to change things up in your life to avoid the old triggers. At least until the sober muscles have grown stronger.
Example 1: I avoided my couch and TV in the evenings after work for about 3 months, because that's where I used to drink the most. I changed that around to reading SR and surfing the Internet in my study. Example 2: I avoided listening to my favourite kind of music in the evenings (used to be smooth jazz with a glass of vino in hand). Again, took me a few months to get back to that music.
It doesn't have to be a permanent change.
Just my personal experience.
The only thing I would amend - based on my own experience - is that it's also OK to change things up in your life to avoid the old triggers. At least until the sober muscles have grown stronger.
Example 1: I avoided my couch and TV in the evenings after work for about 3 months, because that's where I used to drink the most. I changed that around to reading SR and surfing the Internet in my study. Example 2: I avoided listening to my favourite kind of music in the evenings (used to be smooth jazz with a glass of vino in hand). Again, took me a few months to get back to that music.
It doesn't have to be a permanent change.
Just my personal experience.
Thanks for adding your experience!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 421
Good Morning everyone. Proud to report I stuck to my plan and am feeling great today.
If you are struggling, please post. The power of putting your plan down and to hold yourself accountable coupled with the support of everybody here is a wonderful feeling.
If you are struggling, please post. The power of putting your plan down and to hold yourself accountable coupled with the support of everybody here is a wonderful feeling.
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