Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

[IamMary]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

On another subject....

Any thoughts on why, after 148 days sober, and not having had any drinking thoughts for ages, last night when I got in from work I had a really really strong craving. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm on Antabuse I may well have caved in...not had it for ages and there wasn't even a "trigger" so I just don't get it...I know most of you on this thread are way ahead of me in sober time, but do any of you remember getting this at an inexplicable time?

Im not that far ahead of you Tony.. 148 days is a fantastic amount of time, but its still early days.. those bastard cravings wont give up that easily, but neither will you, your way past gig.. not letting the thought linger is key - I know, sometimes its easier said than done, but thats the difference between a serious craving and a passing thought. Well to me anyway. Maybe you need a distraction plan (I bet you rarely get cravings when your up to your oxters in work). food, book, music, stock up on an interesting drink with a ginger/lime kick..
BEst news is that you won. again. Well done sir..

[IamMary]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Tony [MENTION=16547]kuya[/MENTION](hopefully did that right) knows a lot about the chemistry of the brain and the ups and downs of healing, hopefully she'll pop in and give some info

Yep JC - and the 3P's definitely helped me along the way too - I found myself thinking about the craving thought and who was in charge of it. me obviously.

[IamMary]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

- it does get easy xx

I used to hang onto those words Molly.. not quite believing them sometimes.. but your right, it absolutely does.

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

On another subject....

Any thoughts on why, after 148 days sober, and not having had any drinking thoughts for ages, last night when I got in from work I had a really really strong craving. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm on Antabuse I may well have caved in...not had it for ages and there wasn't even a "trigger" so I just don't get it...I know most of you on this thread are way ahead of me in sober time, but do any of you remember getting this at an inexplicable time?

I remember being 4 months or so sober.....sailing along thinking I was bullet proof.

It was the first proper summer day for swimming and I was delighted and excited to go swim.

I was totally devastated when, out of the blue I was hit by cravings so bad they made me CRY.....I mean I was literally weeping as I swam. Afterwards I realised that my brain had always connected a good swim with a good drink after, so it didn't matter that I had not had alcohol for 16 plus weeks.

Most of addiction is NOT about anything physical...........physical addiction is EASY to overcome.......the hard part is about mental association.

That is why we remain vulnerable to relapse if we try to simply have our 'old' lives without our drug of choice. The daily triggers to use can simply wear us down.

This is why safe sobriety is an ongoing WORK. We cannot simply remain the 'old' you sober. We HAVE to change and evolve. We often need to change a number of factors to make the 'old' life so 'new' we no longer respond to the old triggers to use.

Simply being sober for days, weeks, months, years or even decades does not afford any protection from the old triggers.

That is the 'bad' news......the good news is that we can change our thinking about our 'old' lives and then start to perceive it differently.

We can see our old thinking in a new way.....whether it be through new philosophies such as 3Ps or seeing our peer group through new eyes.

The hardest thing to accept when getting sober is that we may well have outgrown the social/intellectual/dynamic group we used to hang out with. You were not simply a drunk....you were a drunk interconnected with your social set up. That social group may NEED you to BE a drunk/fun person/clown/entertainer

It may not be anything to do with physical addiction to the drug that pulls us back to drinking/drugging but our role within the group and social dynamic.

[tonyniceday]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

THank you guys for the responses
As Mers said, up to my oxters in work just now, just took a quick 5 mins breather (fag break!) and saw all this - I'll read it all through when I get home later

[JackieClaire]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

On another subject....

Any thoughts on why, after 148 days sober, and not having had any drinking thoughts for ages, last night when I got in from work I had a really really strong craving. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm on Antabuse I may well have caved in...not had it for ages and there wasn't even a "trigger" so I just don't get it...I know most of you on this thread are way ahead of me in sober time, but do any of you remember getting this at an inexplicable time?

Bless your heart and its fab that you've got 148 days.

It got to the point I didn't need a trigger..........I could conjure up one out of thin air to justify why I would drink.

I do remember a time 4 years in...........we were having a big BBQ and a mate of the son & heir's turned up with a bottle of vodka.........for a few moments I thought .............I want that, I need that, I can start again tomorrow, no-one will blame me I've got 4 years I can easily start again. It shocked me. Really, really shocked me. I had to take 10 minutes away from all the goings on to pull my big girls pants on and slap myself around the head...............it passed.

With each of this challenges/triggers recognise them for what they are............thoughts..........don't put those thoughts into actions.

Like Mers says, it gets easier and it gets better. Promise.

[JackieClaire]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Our garden thermometer which I placed in the sun hit over 43C+ (110F). I actually put it there that so I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on about how hot it was this aftie.

The son and heir's just been round he's dropped his car off and he's away to Sten party (Stag and Hen). The couple are getting married in July but have lived together for donkey's years and they thought it was daft as they share so many mutual friends to separate them.

[IamMary]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

I do remember a time 4 years in...........we were having a big BBQ and a mate of the son & heir's turned up with a bottle of vodka.........for a few moments I thought .............I want that, I need that, I can start again tomorrow, no-one will blame me I've got 4 years I can easily start again. It shocked me. Really, really shocked me. I had to take 10 minutes away from all the goings on to pull my big girls pants on and slap myself around the head...............it passed.
.

Its stories like that JC that keep my antenna up. I had a dragging thought a couple of months ago, took a week to shift, really pissed me off. I didnt mention it here, cos.. well I was keeping it to myself obviously..and I think I was starting to entertain it. I was the same, telling myself that I could just pick up again.
Ongoing work is right [MENTION=16547]kuya[/MENTION].. or vigilance anyway.

Right [MENTION=8529]mollyka[/MENTION], dont come back here tomorrow and say you didnt go down the slide at least once, get in early, before the fairy liquid and hose comes out :biglaugh:

[IamMary]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

My son just sent me this.

Press TV UK - Angry and emotional resident says aid effort...


Grenfell Tower: Using fire-resistant cladding on Kensington block 'would have cost PS5, extra' | The Independent

Today I went on google earth and realised my old home was actually about 100yards down the road from this tower. The area has changed a bit but this is still where I spent my formative years.

Seeing the unity of that community, so mixed and so caring, makes me so glad I was raised there.

[JackieClaire]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Good morning and its another glorious day on the Costa del Tyne.

[MENTION=22411]IamMary[/MENTION]............glad that helped. Weirdest feeling at the time that's why the memory stuck.

[MENTION=8529]mollyka[/MENTION].............come here, you will sit in the garden and not help............let them treat you. Promise.

[MENTION=9094]satz123[/MENTION]..........come give us a wave, pet.

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Morning folks, some great discussions here the past couple of days. Just opened the greenhouse up, already 48 degrees in there at 8 am, going to be another HOT day, almost like being off on a foreign holiday for us Irish folks, don't forget the sunscreen.

[JackieClaire]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

I'm always nice except when I'm not.

Going to whizz through a pile of ironing before it gets too hot. Then I can get outside and finish my book. Had a crafty home-made lasagne in the freezer so dinner's sorted

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Hello JC, I do like the heat Molly dear and can withstand quite high temperatures, not sure where that came from in my DNA.

How have I been? Well I suppose while not actually having any cravings as such there has been a little on going conversation/debate this past week - 10 days as to whether or not I can have a drink at any stage in the future and control it.
Needless to say, seeing as I am still here, logic won out but it is a little disconcerting to say the least but only to be expected.

So I have been pottering around the house this morning listening to some Hindu morning mantras, very peaceful & centering I find, and thinking I do badly need to the grass. Now preferably before it gets too hot but maybe it is too early to potentially disturb the hairy tongue people, I dunno.

[IamMary]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Morning...
Another cracker of a day. Great to see you Tabbers.
We're all hanging on here for you [MENTION=8529]mollyka[/MENTION]!