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newpolliiiiii
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Location: « USA » Recovered with AVRT (Rational Recovery) ___________
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I digress. I failed to recognize that S.R. needs a forum for every conceivable type of recovery. Obviously I am not welcome here. Even though I have been labeled secular by many Christians for my Taoist and Zen beliefs, I am not nearly secular enough for this forum which appears to be designed specifically for epistemological solipsism.
* not to be confused with "materialistic" in the economic or monetary sense by those without a philosophic bent.
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Exactly.
I would say that if alcohol is troubling somebody's life enough that they have to search out an Internet forum on the subject, they are at least an entry level alcoholic. Some here may be new alcoholics, some may be holding their lives together but alcohol has had a distinct negative impact on their and their families lives, some may have lost all they once held dear, and some are near death when they join SR.
We are one and all, alcoholics, but have come here at different points along that one-way downward slope. It's as confusing to me as racism when one alcoholic can tell somebody they aren't a "real alcoholic" just because they didn't get as far down slope as they did.
I would say that if alcohol is troubling somebody's life enough that they have to search out an Internet forum on the subject, they are at least an entry level alcoholic. Some here may be new alcoholics, some may be holding their lives together but alcohol has had a distinct negative impact on their and their families lives, some may have lost all they once held dear, and some are near death when they join SR.
We are one and all, alcoholics, but have come here at different points along that one-way downward slope. It's as confusing to me as racism when one alcoholic can tell somebody they aren't a "real alcoholic" just because they didn't get as far down slope as they did.
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☯ ⓌⒾⓁⓁ☯
Thread Starter
Welcome:In the spirit of unity.
Welcome to the Alcoholism forum.
In here we share our experiences strengths and hopes as it relates to the issue of Alcoholism.
Please feel free to participate and tell us about your own particular method of dealing with alcohol,bearing in mind to always be respectful of other members and to whatever method they might employ for staying sober.
There are many roads to recovery and we don't all choose the same one.Remember it is not our place to try and decide what is best for another.
The written word is a powerful instrument.It has the power to heal as well as to cause injury.Please share responsibly.
By helping to maintain an atmosphere of encouragement and support we can all hear a message of hope and walk away with something useful.
In a spirit of unity all of us are winners.

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☯ ⓌⒾⓁⓁ☯
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Boleo
I am not nearly secular enough for this forum which appears to be designed specifically for epistemological solipsism.

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Boleo... you are welcome here as far as I can tell. All are. That's the big difference in a Secular thread and a non-secular thread... we don't push people out or censor. Even if we disagree. Censorship is a flat out crime and abomination... to the individual.
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Great attitude!
Some of those distractions can be darn near life threatening. In the argumentative phase of my recovery (the first 3 or 4 months) when I was actively sharing and defending my theories and choices, I was accused several times of not being a "real alcoholic".
Some of those distractions can be darn near life threatening. In the argumentative phase of my recovery (the first 3 or 4 months) when I was actively sharing and defending my theories and choices, I was accused several times of not being a "real alcoholic".

probably because we all bring different stuff to the table and when we are fully invested in one method of recovery, we don't need to hear people who are 100% vested in a different one with opposing views telling us we're wrong, no matter how much they may believe that to be the truth.
it's not helpful, not supportive, and under the right (or wrong) circumstances could be damaging, or even deadly. it's also kinda petty...

going back to the original topic, the psychological (or maybe more behavioural?) tip that's working best for me right now is to distract myself in a positive way when something stirs up my addictive voice/'beast' (i'm assuming many of you know the terminology of avrt) - this stops me falling into the trap of arguing with it, which i would lose because its a mindless thing that exists for only one purpose.
i did that today when the idea of a relaxed glass of wine (my poison of choice) with lunch looked appealing (backed up with 'you've been so good now' etc!), so i bought a novel and read that instead - not earthbreaking but within 10 mintutes i was into the story and because i can't read drunk, it killed the whole temptation of 'relaxing' ie lossening my grip on clear-headedness.
obviously this doesn't mean all we boozehounds ever had to do in the past was grab a book, whoopdidoo problem solved forever, but recognising the right distraction for the right occasion is something i've been finding helpful especially after the first 2 weeks.
anyone else do anything like this?
debs
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Originally Posted by DoubtfulDebs
anyone else do anything like this?
Also, I start celebrating my birthday a week before the actual birthdate (you never know if you'll survive until the next birthday, so I make it unapologetically self-indulgent) so this week I've been eating ice-cream and cupcakes more than usual... and just tonight I took myself shopping for clothes. I also got a haircut. So... all these things are ways to have fun, boost the self-esteem a little, and stay sober.
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Happy Birthday, Jennie! A week early sounds good to me. I never celebrate mine on the actual day anymore.
Debs, I do distract myself. Sometimes, I just can't get centered enough to pay attention to my thoughts so I need to hyperfocus on something like a book or the computer.
Debs, I do distract myself. Sometimes, I just can't get centered enough to pay attention to my thoughts so I need to hyperfocus on something like a book or the computer.
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Books...that takes me back.
I graduated from high school in 1978, back when drugs were clean and sex couldn't kill you. I was getting really paranoid by 1980, felt like I was losing control, so I stopped all drugs (except the booze) cold turkey. I used to buy the biggest, most lavish books on artists who inspired me that I could find. I also started buying books to study the large format photographic techniques of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Minor White.
Those books lit a flame in me stronger than the pull of the drugs.
Thanks for sparking that memory
I graduated from high school in 1978, back when drugs were clean and sex couldn't kill you. I was getting really paranoid by 1980, felt like I was losing control, so I stopped all drugs (except the booze) cold turkey. I used to buy the biggest, most lavish books on artists who inspired me that I could find. I also started buying books to study the large format photographic techniques of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Minor White.
Those books lit a flame in me stronger than the pull of the drugs.
Thanks for sparking that memory

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Thanks for the early b-day wishes, Raindancer & Zencat!
Zencat... that cupcake looks DELICIOUS!! Guess what I brought home today?? 3 different types of cupcakes... a chocolate one, a red velvet one... and 12 vanilla ones

Zencat... that cupcake looks DELICIOUS!! Guess what I brought home today?? 3 different types of cupcakes... a chocolate one, a red velvet one... and 12 vanilla ones

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