Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT) Discussion Part 2 Continued from http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...iscussion.html This is a thread for discussion on the method of Rational Recovery®, called Addictive Voice Recognition Technique®, or AVRT®, which is described in detail in the following book: "Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction" by Jack Trimpey |
Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT) Discussion Part 2 Continued from: Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT) Discussion Just to remind everyone of the rules:
Originally Posted by AVRT (Terminally Unique)
(Post 3067313)
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As I have been particularly remiss in violating rule 1, I will not be participating in this thread. I suggest that anyone interested in discussing any topic not directly related to the practice of AVRT do the same. |
Sorry. It remained closed when I copied it. |
I have a question: once someone has been practicing AVRT for some time do you sometimes forget that you use it? Right now, for me, I think about it a lot as it's a relatively new thing and I'm still honing it. While it is very simple I wouldn't yet describe it as effortless as I have to keep screening my thoughts for Beast activity. |
Kanamit, I've been using it for almost four years now. It does get automatic, it seems to me. I rarely have a thought about drinking and don't feel concerned when I have to be around alcohol. I am often in business situations where drinking is going on. It happens so smoothly in my mind, it doesn't even pop up. I don't have alcohol in my house and prefer social situations that are alcohol free. hope this helps! lenina |
Thanks for the reply, very useful. Funnily enough, I find it easier when around others drinking as the language they use to justify it and the things they do once drinking remind me of the reason I quit. Beast activity is biggest when I'm on my own. I'm interested in AVRT users who have read the Allen Carr book. How do you use them together? I like the feel good factor of Carr but it's not watertight like AVRT. |
Originally Posted by Lenina
(Post 3126372)
Kanamit, I've been using it for almost four years now. It does get automatic, it seems to me. I rarely have a thought about drinking and don't feel concerned when I have to be around alcohol. I am often in business situations where drinking is going on. It happens so smoothly in my mind, it doesn't even pop up. I don't have alcohol in my house and prefer social situations that are alcohol free. hope this helps! lenina |
Originally Posted by kanamit
(Post 3126411)
Thanks for the reply, very useful. Funnily enough, I find it easier when around others drinking as the language they use to justify it and the things they do once drinking remind me of the reason I quit. Beast activity is biggest when I'm on my own. I'm interested in AVRT users who have read the Allen Carr book. How do you use them together? I like the feel good factor of Carr but it's not watertight like AVRT. |
Originally Posted by AprilMay1895 Oh head noise you want, head noise you got. lol Right now it's "April, you are so stressed out this week. Doesn't it seem silly you're forcing this abstinence thing on you this week of all weeks??? You need to relax this weekend and just let it all go. You don't have the kind of personality that succeeds at this stuff anyway, I give you a week until you're back at it." Of course it's saying it in 1st person tho. Think to yourself "IT is lying, IT wants that deep pleasure. Too bad for IT, because I never drink." This is also a good time to re-state your Big Plan, which has five words, just like your hand. Try saying them once per finger, so that when you get to "never," you send a fitting message to the SOB. If you have any doubts as to who is in control, wiggle your fingers, then stop and look at your hand. Challenge the Beast, over which you are supposedly powerless, to do the same. Think "OK, mighty Beast, if you can wiggle my fingers, I'm going to get loaded real good." Of course, IT won't be able to do that, which should remind you that the Beast (addictive desire) is a quadriplegic, and cannot do anything without your consent. You are in charge. |
Originally Posted by kanamit
(Post 3126367)
I have a question: once someone has been practicing AVRT for some time do you sometimes forget that you use it? Right now, for me, I think about it a lot as it's a relatively new thing and I'm still honing it. While it is very simple I wouldn't yet describe it as effortless as I have to keep screening my thoughts for Beast activity. I actually have to think about this a little when responding to posts here, because while I remember there being about four-five months of insane, daily Beast activity when I quit, the actual subjective experience is not quite as fresh in my mind. I did get lots of practice during that time, though. |
If you think you drink to "cope" or to deal with stress, etc, recall the last time you had a bad day at work and decided to go to the bar afterward. Do you remember what you were feeling as you were driving to the bar? I'm willing to bet that you were so focused on anticipating that drink that your mood was elevated, even before you had your first drink. In other words, even while your BAC was zero, the original reason (excuse) for drinking became irrelevant. So, ask yourself: if you were already feeling good, did you really need that drink to cope, or was it your Beast that wanted a drink? See "Figure 4: The Feeling of Alcohol" on page 183 of "RR: TNC" for a nice illustration of this phenomenon. |
Originally Posted by kanamit
(Post 3126367)
I have a question: once someone has been practicing AVRT for some time do you sometimes forget that you use it? Right now, for me, I think about it a lot as it's a relatively new thing and I'm still honing it. While it is very simple I wouldn't yet describe it as effortless as I have to keep screening my thoughts for Beast activity. At about 6 months in I accidentally googled RR. I incorporated AVRT into my thought processes and never looked back. My beast still tries me from time to time. It's almost always when I'm tired, frustrated, and/or angry on my way home from work. "You've had such a hard day and you work so hard. You deserve something to take the edge off." Edit: Sorry for the long-winded answer. AVRT is rarely a conscious thought for me. I must attend business functions where cocktails are served and I have also been to reunions and parties that included alcohol. I still ramp up my beast radar in those environments and probably always will. |
Thanks for the answers. How does AVRT work if you still think there is some pleasure in alcohol? I.e. that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. As I've mentioned before what helped me was Allen Carr's EasyWay in which he claims there are no advantages to drinking alcohol. Not everyone will agree with Allen Carr in this but I do. So alcohol is simply something I never want in my system and AVRT ensures it never gets there. However, if you think that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages is it not possible for you (not the Beast) to feel like you're missing out on the pleasurable, advantageous effects alcohol brings? |
Originally Posted by kanamit
(Post 3126573)
Thanks for the answers. How does AVRT work if you still think there is some pleasure in alcohol? I.e. that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. As I've mentioned before what helped me was Allen Carr's EasyWay in which he claims there are no advantages to drinking alcohol. Not everyone will agree with Allen Carr in this but I do. So alcohol is simply something I never want in my system and AVRT ensures it never gets there. However, if you think that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages is it not possible for you (not the Beast) to feel like you're missing out on the pleasurable, advantageous effects alcohol brings? |
For me, alcohol is no longer pleasurable. It still may be pleasurable for The Beqst, but not for me. So it doesn't matter because I will never drink again. Lenina |
It was probably a stupid question in hindsight. After all, once you have a Big Plan, whether you find alcohol pleasurable or not is irrelevant. |
Originally Posted by kanamit
(Post 3126573)
How does AVRT work if you still think there is some pleasure in alcohol? I.e. that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Originally Posted by kanamit
(Post 3126632)
It was probably a stupid question in hindsight. After all, once you have a Big Plan, whether you find alcohol pleasurable or not is irrelevant. Spend some time shifting back and forth between the two mindsets to get the idea. Read pages 202-203 ("Shifting") in conjunction with the Relapse Anxiety Grid on Page 190. Actually, I would commit the bottom chart to memory. You may also want to read "Aggressive Listening" and "Attack your Beast" on Pages 205-206. The split is the key. Visualize the Beast if you have to. Here's a picture to help you. http://www.openclipart.org/image/250...vil_s_Eyes.png |
I have a picture of myself at my drunkest and fattest on my computer desktop and it serves as a good reminder of what my Beast looks like. I've been finding it much easier to cut any stirring off even before it has the chance to become a thought. I dont take it seriously either. I also have a Pros of Abstinence versus Cons of Abstinence wall chart up. Pros 15 - Cons 0. |
More Beast Bait Your desire for any special conditions in order to abstain is nothing more, and nothing less, than a plan to drink/use in the absence of those conditions. The list is probably endless, but here are some typical examples:
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