new year
 

Let's be clean in 2018

Interesting Guardian article here:
How did I let drinking take over my life?

It has a tenuous connection with New Year so hope the OP doesn't mind that I posted it here.

That really was a great read AlericB. I would love to be able to capture my thoughts so accurately.

Yes, it's very well written. I liked the bit about the dog and the fridge and it's why with an AVRT Big Plan you remove the Option of drinking completely from the table.

"During the times I did not drink, I was not aware of wanting to drink. I did not crave it or sneak around and drink secretly. Being sober made me think of chainsmokers whose craving disappears on long-haul airline journeys. They know they can’t possibly smoke, so they just put the whole thing out of their minds.

Marc Lewis, a neuroscientist and addiction expert, told me it was the same thing as when you put a piece of meat in the fridge, and your dog paws at the door, whining and trying to force the door open. But if you convince the dog the door is locked, it will stop whining and walk away.

Every year, I stopped whining and walked away. I went to pubs and bars and drank fizzy water. In the evenings I drank tea."

A great read, thank you!

That was a great read and one I needed to read. I realize now that I let myself drink over and over till near death and still the AV will call to me that this person, or that situation caused me to drink. Wrong. Finally I know it was always me. There has been a great freedom for me this new year as I continue to work on this knowledge. Yes the dog and fridge piece was EXCELLENT! Thank you all for your shares and help in waking me up!!!! Even at near 62 I can have a lot of life to live.

Aleric, that was a superb read, specifically, the neuroscience references, half way through the article!

Great article. Thanks for sharing it.