Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

[IamMary]

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.

What's the 10 days? Your deal with yourself? I think the 'never ever' bit is always problematic. Just think today, this week. Do we really want to be those hairy tongues?? Wake them up, it's gone 10am!!!

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

OK -- to both Tabbers and Tony who are maybe experiencing similar feelings -- what made ALL the difference to me was -- knowing the facts of what would happen when I lifted a drink after a week/month/year into sobriety -- and there's science behind this too - I'm sure wiser than me can 'do the science' - but this is what WOULD happen to me -- I would be back to where I was on my WORST Day 1 -- and worse.... much worse - cos I would also have the grief of knowing that sober time was for nothing -- yes - for nothing - this is harsh and potentially controversial around here and I may get hopped on -- so be it -- it's harsh getting sober --
All the improvements I have made to my life, my emotions, feelings, relationships, everything -- screwed... and WORSE --- all those longings/cravings/thoughts/urges are back -- and tenfold -- cos you know what -- I have had weeks/months/years under my belt and now I've thrown them away -- it's going to take me all that time just to get back to square one. My confidence and pride in myself is shattered - as is our loved ones... but to me - the worst part is that all that 'need' for alcohol floods back into our system --- and subsequent quits keep getting harder and harder
NOW -- tell me what drinking session (cos it WILL end up a session -- maybe not that day - maybe not for a week or a month -- but it WILL) warrants all that --- what recall of our LAST drinking days was so glorious that we will risk all that?? cos it will be like our last drinking days -- it will NOT be raising a lovely icy glass of sauvignon blanc in our best bib and tucker at some celebration -- it WILL be waking up on that couch at 3am knowing that we've done it again --- don't doubt that --- don't entertain the fact that it will EVER have any other outcome -- and then look at that thought -- that longing -- that NEED even --- and ask yourself ----- REALLY??????

said with love xxxx

Belief is everything, and since most people BELIEVE that one drink puts you back to day one, why risk it???

I am not sure whether the current science actually supports this position BUT the BELIEF that one drink puts you back to day 1 will, sadly, make it a reality for most people.

Cherish your sobriety.

Drinking alcohol was ALWAYS a nonsense so why go back there?

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

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

What's the 10 days? Your deal with yourself? I think the 'never ever' bit is always problematic. Just think today, this week. Do we really want to be those hairy tongues?? Wake them up, it's gone 10am!!!

It is how long I have been having this conversation, on and off.

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

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Molly & Kuya, I have no doubt where one drink would lead, doesn't stop my brain from shouting out THE question to me from time to time though, not a lot I can do bar keep working at what I am doing and what is clearly working for me personally. Thanks for your input.

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Molly & Kuya, I have no doubt where one drink would lead, doesn't stop my brain from shouting out THE question to me from time to time though, not a lot I can do bar keep working at what I am doing and what is clearly working for me personally. Thanks for your input.

Knowing yourself is the key, is paramount.

You KNOW where one drink will lead.......trust your own self knowledge and don't go there.

[tonyniceday]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Morning all

Thanks again for all those comments and suggestions. I think Molly hit it on the head - we're addicts...simple as! How can I expect to just sail along without those cravings sometimes... I think I was just taken by surprise that such a strong urge came on me so suddenly.

I really must get round to looking at those 3 Ps at some point, it's just that very title "3 P's" there is something in me which has stopped me from even looking at it. It's like the "12 steps" or even the "10 commandments" - those titles just stop me from turning the page - Just my own mental block with names like that!! - I'm not criticising the 3 P's I just have never looked at them!!!

When all's said and done, the Antabuse did it's job...I knew the physical consequence of a drink...it's just that it took me totally unawares... and really, that is what addiction is all about ... I should expect and accept it for a while yet.

Thanks for being there, it's good to know people have "got your back"!

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Morning all

Thanks again for all those comments and suggestions. I think Molly hit it on the head - we're addicts...simple as! How can I expect to just sail along without those cravings sometimes... I think I was just taken by surprise that such a strong urge came on me so suddenly.

I really must get round to looking at those 3 Ps at some point, it's just that very title "3 P's" there is something in me which has stopped me from even looking at it. It's like the "12 steps" or even the "10 commandments" - those titles just stop me from turning the page - Just my own mental block with names like that!! - I'm not criticising the 3 P's I just have never looked at them!!!

When all's said and done, the Antabuse did it's job...I knew the physical consequence of a drink...it's just that it took me totally unawares... and really, that is what addiction is all about ... I should expect and accept it for a while yet.

Thanks for being there, it's good to know people have "got your back"!

3Ps is nothing like 12 steps. 3Ps simply informs you as to how thought works. We are each simply creating our own reality moment to moment......including our desire to drug and numb our feelings.

12 steps suggest that we are all the same.....3 principles is the almost diametric opposite. Yes, we are all human, but no, we do NOT all see the world the same way.

We are shaped by our thoughts and beliefs and, obviously, those of us reared with the same cultural beliefs will be prey to the same belief systems (and weaknesses).

Since I have been immersing myself in this understanding I have realised how much I (and those around me) have been 'making up' our reality.

Addiction is (for me now) more of a decision than a compulsion. There is a physical component but most of it is psychological...... belief.

[Guitarista]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Here's a thread from another boozer/drug forum called sober recovery. It talks about AVRT (Addictive voice recognition) which comes from the Rational recovery/Jack Trimpey approach which has been around for years. Given the above posts, a few of yiz might find the thread useful reading.

What do you tell yourself when you KNOW it's your beast talking. - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

[tonyniceday]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

3Ps is nothing like 12 steps. 3Ps simply informs you as to how thought works. We are each simply creating our own reality moment to moment......including our desire to drug and numb our feelings.

12 steps suggest that we are all the same.....3 principles is the almost diametric opposite. Yes, we are all human, but no, we do NOT all see the world the same way.

We are shaped by our thoughts and beliefs and, obviously, those of us reared with the same cultural beliefs will be prey to the same belief systems (and weaknesses).

Since I have been immersing myself in this understanding I have realised how much I (and those around me) have been 'making up' our reality.

Addiction is (for me now) more of a decision than a compulsion. There is a physical component but most of it is psychological...... belief.

Kuya. I WILL look at it - it's just the label thing - I know it's me being stupid but it's just things that are numbered in their title ... I have a silly issue with those things before I've even looked at them... I'll make time to read the basics of it later today - promise!

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Kuya. I WILL look at it - it's just the label thing - I know it's me being stupid but it's just things that are numbered in their title ... I have a silly issue with those things before I've even looked at them... I'll make time to read the basics of it later today - promise!

You really don't have to promise me anything Tony. 3Ps is simply a different way of seeing ourselves

[JackieClaire]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

[MENTION=21798]Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)[/MENTION].........might be worth a look at Kindling ..............I was going to post some links but there's a mountain of them.

[MENTION=7261]Guitarista[/MENTION]............would you believe that was one of them I found.

[MENTION=8529]mollyka[/MENTION]...........of course it was said with said with love and I agree entirely with you.

Have I been brain washed into believing this...........no. Its happened to me and each time getting off the drink has been harder and more stressful to my body. Nobody has to tell me that the next de-tox will probably kill me.

Like I said yesterday don't let thoughts become actions.

[kuya]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Have I been brain washed into believing this...........no. Its happened to me and each time getting off the drink has been harder and more stressful to my body. Nobody has to tell me that the next de-tox will probably kill me.

Like I said yesterday don't let thoughts become actions.

I am starting to wonder if our problem is that we are comparing apples with oranges! I never meant to suggest you are brainwashed.....simply that what we are TOLD about addiction may influence our experience in a detrimental way.

When I drank I consumed 10 units per night, most nights. Never much more or much less. When I didn't drink I felt 'odd' but I didn't have what seems to be called withdrawal.

I have acedemic knowledge of kindling but no personal experience. I realise I speak as a chronic heavy drinker and probably have no idea of the effects of severe heavy drinking/kindling/repeat detox.

I am only sharing my own experience.....who knows what the listener may actually be going through.

[Mr Vervill]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Great discussion here, Thanks. Nothing to add at this point, but good reading.

[Pavati]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

This IS good reading.

One thing NoSugar said in the nest about thoughts - we can have them, and while they're annoying, we certainly don't have to act on them. Imagine if you acted on every thought you had?! I'm not sure some of my co-workers would be alive today. I would have a very BAD tattoo. And there's a chance I could be camped outside of George Cloony's house. It is a GOOD think I don't have to act on all of my thoughts.

Alcohol thoughts are annoying, and it is good to recognize and deal with them, but like JC says - thoughts don't have to become actions.

Happy SOBER Sunday, Army.

Pav

[JackieClaire]

Re: Join the Army Against Alcohol-June 2017

Evening all.
Lovely to see you Pav, don't be a stranger.
Mr V..........when you're ready we'll be listening.

The end to another glorious day..........ended up in the shade and tomorrow's going to be the same Resisted the temptation to buy loads of summer clothes on-line as mostly I've been in a pair of cut off trousers and one of Mr JC's t-shirts all weekend.

Go and get your notes out, Molls, and educate us..........please use words of one syllable my brain's hot.