Newbies Nest

[Fin]

Newbies Nest

Howdy folks,

Well after just shy of two weeks it happened...I caved. It wasn't a bad fall at all, but a fall nonetheless. We hosted a party at our house on Sat night and I had 4 IPAs over the course of about 4 hours. So, I wasn't hammered by any stretch, just sipping socially.

Thing is I woke up the next morning so bummed that I'd just erased 13 days of hard work. Seems like I could get back to socially drinking and responsibly but the thing I lament the most is that on the days I'm not drinking I'm thinking about it -- that's what I want to get rid of. I want to get to the point where I can go a full 24 hours without thinking about AL.

So, here I go again...committing to the 30-day boot camp on day one again.

[Fin]

Newbies Nest

LillyE;1343836 wrote: Hey all!

Sorry I didn't roll call yesterday. When I don't have to work on the weekend I try to take a computer break - which means I read on my phone but don't post - though that will likely change with the iPad reward, which should be arriving tomorrow!

I would do roll call now but I'm afraid it might confuse people with the time change and most of you being in another zone so I'm going to leave that to Boot Camp Arse Kicker Grand Master Fin Fin, I really hope when you read this you've proudly made it through your second weekend AF. (But if not, please post anyway!)


FIN, you'll love this, because you were so right? not one but TWO friends have now said to me separately that they really respect my not drinking!! Including one who kept going on about alcohol being so much fun and not drinking being boring and I had got the impression she thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill. (As she'd also told me I don't really have a problem etc.) WOW.


Lilly

Thanks SO much for the permission and encouragement to give it another go. And yes, I do love the feedback you're getting. That's awesome. Now I have to remember that it's OK to pass in these social situations -- it's my biggest challenge. Anyway, I'm once again inspired to get back on track.

[LibraryGirl]

Newbies Nest

Back again and reporting in. At work but have been researching a vacation spot ... small one bedroom cottages are not in high demand apparently, lol. And pet friendly? forget it!

Lily, I didn't mean to sound condescending, if I sounded that way. I expect that people on this site are adults and TBH I never thought about starting cravings in someone by what I post. It was something someone else pointed out, so I am trying to be more mindful.

Ok, roll on 5'oclock!!!!! One more day to work this week!!!!

LG

[Litre2]

Newbies Nest

So here I am Day 2 AF, fell on day 3 last time, but I feel for confindent now. I have found that a good book and water go pretty good together. And yes no hangover (Destiniey). Cravings very true, but not as bad as they were a week ago. I know I cut down during that week and lessened the AL in my system, could be why. So here I am again, tis a rough journey we are embarking on, but a journey worth taking. See you here later and for sure on my day 3.

[Lavande]

Newbies Nest

Hi Nesters,

Happy Monday to one & all

I just ran across this article & thought I'd share it with all of you:
I think a lot you would benefit from this right now

How to Banish Unwelcome Thoughts and Cravings (borrowed from the Promises Treatment Centers website)

For those of you who think there’s nothing that can be done to rid yourselves of unwelcome thoughts and cravings – take heart. With a few simple tips and techniques – and a bit of practice – you can banish those devilish and determined invites to trouble each and every time.

1. Recognize it for what it is. – Before you can act to get rid of an unwelcome thought, desire or craving – to pick up a drink, to use, to gamble, or engage in any addictive behavior which has plagued you in the past – you need to recognize what’s happening. Acknowledge that what you are experiencing is a craving or desire to resume your additive behavior. Actually voice that acknowledgement, as in: “I know that what I am thinking is just a craving, a desire to go back to my addiction.” By voicing your recognition of the thought or craving, you are deflating its power. In essence, you are stopping it in its tracks, removing the forward momentum that, if left unchecked, could propel you into giving in. Once you recognize the thought/craving, you are ready to move on to the next step.



2. Employ distraction. – Thoughts that tempt you to use or engage in addictive behavior (such as the urge to join your friends at the bar, where you know you’ll get into trouble), are generally short-lived. Their purpose is solely to get you to succumb to the sometimes overpowering desire to resort to your previous comfort zone – using. A technique that is very effective is simply to use distraction to get your mind off of the craving. Don’t worry that you won’t be able to fight it off forever. Right now, you’re only interested in this moment, today. What kind of distraction should you employ? The answer is anything that works for you. It could be that you pick up the pile of bills and start prioritizing them. You could work on a Sudoku or crossword puzzle to challenge your mind. If your mind is occupied in thinking about something else, working out mathematics, trying to calculate dimensions in a home remodeling project, for example, it can’t be filled up with cravings. There’s no room for it – at least for now. Some individuals in recovery have reported great success in counting, or reciting the alphabet forwards and backwards, or trying to memorize or recall passages of verse. After 15 or 20 minutes, the unwelcome thought or craving has usually dissipated.

3. Talk with a friend. – A trusted friend can be one of your best defenses in the fight against unwelcome thoughts and cravings. The friend should be one that you’ve known for a long time, one who is very familiar with what’s gone on in your life, including your recent treatment for addiction. But, and this is important, it may very well be a friend that you’ve met who doesn’t know about your past. If you share a meaningful friendship that’s based on your new goals in recovery, a mutual interest in recreation or hobby or intellectual pursuit, by all means contact the person. Getting together in person is better than just chatting on the phone. There’s something about making the plans to get together and actually doing it that is very uplifting. You anticipate the meeting and your thoughts go in an entirely new direction. The cravings are replaced with a concrete plan of action. By getting out of the current physical location and meeting with your friend, you are engaging your mind and body in a constructive activity.

4. Call your sponsor. Go to a meeting. – That’s what 12-step sponsors and allies in the self-help group meetings are all about. They’ve been through exactly what you are experiencing and likely have many helpful strategies that you can adapt and use for yourself. Many times cravings seek to take over at oddball times. They’re not on a schedule and, therefore, pop up at the most inopportune moment – like when you’re trying to get to sleep, or early in the morning. You can’t just go see your trusted friend at this hour. Maybe there isn’t a meeting at this time of day or night. But you do have your list of people to call, those who have repeatedly assured you to give them a call no matter what time of day it is. They’ve said this for a reason: they want to offer you the support and encouragement you need. Go ahead and call your sponsor or 12-step buddy (someone you’ve become close to in the meetings or with whom you share similar background). Get through the craving by talking it out with them. When the hour is right, get yourself to a meeting. You’ll be amazed at how effective both of these strategies are at reducing and eliminating unwelcome thoughts and cravings.

5. Get physical. – When you find yourself caught up in negative thoughts and cravings, it’s time to do something physical. This could be a physical workout at the gym or your home using weights, elliptical machines, treadmills, exercise bikes, stretching bands and stability balls, or it could be simply taking a brisk walk or hike in the neighborhood, nearby community park or recreation area. Join a sports team in your community and play basketball, soccer, floor hockey or another competitive sport. Find a buddy and take up racquetball or tennis. Go swimming – again, this can be at home (if you have a pool and the weather permits), or at the beach or indoor athletic area.

Why is getting physical exercise so important? For one, physical exercise – vigorous exercise – produces endorphins in the brain. These are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals that do exactly that – they make you feel good. Physical exercise gives you a kind of jump-start, not only to your metabolism, but also your spirits. For another, physical exercise helps tone your muscles, trim away excess inches and pounds, beefs up your cardiovascular system and helps all your organs function better. While it’s a good practice to do some form of vigorous physical exercise every day, start slowly and build up your stamina.
Maybe begin with stretching exercises and a short walk of an easy pace for about 15 to 20 minutes. Do this 3 to 4 times a week. Then, increase the time and pace of the walk to 30 to 45 minutes and a moderate pace – and still do it 3 to 4 times a week. It should get easier the more you do it. After another week or two of this pace, step it up some more so that you’re at maximum (brisk) pace and walking or hiking for at least one hour – and do this 5 times a week. The beauty of using walking or hiking as physical exercise is that you can do it anywhere – in the parking lot, the mall, the park, neighborhood, beach, etc. – and you don’t need any fancy equipment, just a good pair of walking/hiking shoes.

6. Work with your counselor. – Maybe there’s some reason why you seem to be stuck with these thoughts and cravings that you haven’t yet worked on. Even though you’re finished with treatment and are in recovery, that doesn’t mean that you can’t avail yourself of continuing aftercare counseling – especially if this is part of your overall treatment program. Many residential addiction treatment programs have comprehensive aftercare counseling and follow-ups as part of the package. But if your program doesn’t include this, there’s still help available. Ask your 12-step sponsor for recommendations, or look up low- or no-cost assistance that may be available in your community. Let’s face it. You’re probably not a psychiatrist or professional addiction treatment specialist. So you can’t be expected to know everything that could be going on in your sometimes jumbled thoughts. Even if you are a psychiatrist or treatment professional, if you’re in recovery, you’re not your own best counselor. You need unbiased advice from an outside professional.

What you’ll work on with your counselor may be how to overcome some of the mind blocks that cause these cravings to keep cropping up. Some persons in recovery report that they’ve gone for weeks, even months, without cravings only to have them suddenly occur. Finding the reason behind this resurgence of cravings you thought long gone is important to getting rid of them for good.

7. Recurrence of cravings is not a failure. – Just because you experience cravings, it’s not a reflection of failure. It doesn’t mean you are bad or worthless or don’t have a backbone. It only means that addiction to a particular substance or behavior has been very powerful. It may be more deep-rooted than you recognized, or you may have thought that now that you’ve completed treatment, all cravings and negative thoughts would be gone for good. It doesn’t work out that way. As stated earlier, some thoughts and cravings occur months or years after treatment, and well into what would be considered a successful recovery. Take comfort in the knowledge that having cravings is perfectly normal. The sign of how successful your recovery is, however, is what you do about those cravings when they occur. Having an arsenal of helpful strategies is often the best way to deal with them. Just remember that you are not a failure, and your recovery is not in jeopardy simply because you experience cravings.

8. Check your nutritional intake and sleep routine. – We often neglect to take into consideration our nutritional needs and how much sleep is necessary for optimum health. When you first come out of treatment, your physical condition may not yet be back up to par. You may find it difficult to sleep through the night, or have nightmares, all of which contributes to a feeling of unsettledness, being out of sorts the next morning. After a few or longer nights of this, you’re already set up to be more vulnerable to unwelcome thoughts and cravings. In addition, what you consume in the way of meals is also important to your overall health and well being. You need a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables – the fresher and more organic, the better – lean meats (avoid fatty, high-marbled meats), fish and poultry. Avoid the whites – no white bread, white rice – and high-carbohydrate foods. Steer clear of too much fatty desserts, with all their empty calories. Watch your salt intake as well. Too much salt increases your blood pressure, which increases fluid retention and can contribute to a feeling of malaise – a perfect breeding ground for unwelcome thoughts and cravings. If you’re feeling out of sorts, the tendency for cravings to overpower your determination to stay clean and sober magnifies. Do yourself a favor and get your nutrition and sleep routine into balance.

9. Stimulate your mind. – Life isn’t only about existence – or it shouldn’t be. What better way to enrich your existence than to encourage your mind with creative or stimulating activities? You could start off reading books that you’ve always wanted to get into but somehow never found the time. If you don’t have a list of titles that interest you, check out the New York Times Bestseller list and find one or two that you like. Go to the library or bookstore and browse through them to see if they are intriguing. You don’t have to buy the books, either. Libraries lend out books, often for free or only for a nominal membership fee if you live in the neighborhood. You can also sit in the library and read through the books, periodicals and magazines for free. This is another good way to stimulate your mind and do something that gets your mind off your cravings – and it’s free.
Another way to stimulate your mind is to be creative in an artistic endeavor. This could be oil painting, charcoal or watercolors. Maybe it’s jewelry making or cabinetry or gardening or cooking. The act of being creative utilizes the part of your mind that requires imagination, dreaming, conceptualizing the abstract and making it into reality. Creativity helps banish unwelcome thoughts and cravings. Go ahead and give it a try.

10. Meditate. – Sometimes emptying your thoughts and disciplining yourself to concentrate on your breathing – also known as meditation – is the best way to eliminate persistent thoughts and cravings. The practice of meditation isn’t all that difficult. You can buy books, CDs and DVDs on the subject, or obtain instruction from a certified meditation practitioner. Simply put, you get into a comfortable sitting position on the floor, close your eyes, empty your thoughts, and breathe in and out deeply while concentrating solely on the sound of your breathing. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of the breathing helps you to soothe your troubled nerves and calm negative thoughts, emotions and cravings. Do 5 to 10 minutes of meditation once or twice a day and you’ll find your mind clear of the intrusions of unwelcome thoughts and cravings.
Are there other techniques and tips to help ward off cravings and unwelcome thoughts? Some individuals in recovery – along with thousands in the general population – swear by the various forms of yoga. Like meditation, you can buy books, CDs and DVDs on the subject, or get instruction from a certified yoga professional. There are many different kinds of yoga, so investigate to see which one appeals most to you – or start with the basic form and progress from there.

In addition, there is acupuncture and acupressure, and hypnosis – methods that may work for some, but not for others.
Whatever techniques and strategies you employ to banish unwelcome thoughts and cravings, keep this in mind: be proactive and diligent and strive toward the achievement of your goals. When you are looking forward and are actively involved in the pursuit of your dreams, you won’t find yourself mired in the maelstrom of negativity that plagued you in the past during your addiction. Be positive, be active, be involved – and be happy in your recovery.

[Gdog]

Newbies Nest

Mid day report on day two: All systems good. No sight of asteroids, vulcans, klingons, etc. The 5 oclock meteor shower is on the radar per my first officer. We are taking the evasive actions per the manual of walking, coffee, playing games with kids, etc. Not sure why those work in deep space but hey my way blows so I am all in.
First goal is three days rocketing away from Planet Alcohol. About half way on that leg. Staying hopeful.

Fin - great work on getting 13 days and getting back at it.

[scottish lass]

Newbies Nest

I'm back

Well, here I go again.
I am back. Today is day 1 yet again. I started this year so well and managed quite a lot of success and then went on a holiday in April and that was the beginning of my down fall.
A lot has happened since then, and I have not drunk every day, which I suppose is some kind of success - but the main thing is that I am sad. I really don't want to use AD's, but maybe its time.
I really like wine and enjoy the first glass or two - and so don't want to give that up - the only thing I want to give up is the rest of the bottle! However, that does not seem possible, so it seems that I must give it all up.
I really don't want to be sad any more - so I will have to try to stop drinking I think.....
Step one, post on MWO....done
Step two, throw out all AL in the house....done
Step three, sleep well tonight - I really hope so, that will help a lot....

[Byrdlady]

Newbies Nest

GDog, your posts are killing me!!! How appropriate to our current star date! I wish we had a Vulcan Mind Erase to take out the Clingon thoughts about AL. They cling all right!! Even with our shields up they get in. Dam them!
This is going to be a tough week (at least here in the US) with all the 4th of July doings. All I can say is grab your weenees and hold on! It's just another day...don't give in to the Aliens no matter what or no matter who!! We are all in this together! Byrdie

[Litre2]

Newbies Nest

Welcome back Scottish Lass, this is Day 2 for me. I am the same, I enjoy a few glasses of wine, but it does not stay there, so I cannot have any. I have also branched out and like the odd glass of beer, but again after the second it is better. I also cannot have it around.
I managed for 3 months a few years back, then 1 month. I have not really tried until a few weeks ago, got to day 3 and caved. So we can do this walk and offer a shoulder for the next day and the next. You did it before, you can do it again. So can I.

[Wildflowers]

Newbies Nest

Lavande;1344767 wrote: Hi Nesters,

Happy Monday to one & all

I just ran across this article & thought I'd share it with all of you:
I think a lot you would benefit from this right now

How to Banish Unwelcome Thoughts and Cravings (borrowed from the Promises Treatment Centers website)

For those of you who think there?s nothing that can be done to rid yourselves of unwelcome thoughts and cravings ? take heart. With a few simple tips and techniques ? and a bit of practice ? you can banish those devilish and determined invites to trouble each and every time.

1. Recognize it for what it is. ? Before you can act to get rid of an unwelcome thought, desire or craving ? to pick up a drink, to use, to gamble, or engage in any addictive behavior which has plagued you in the past ? you need to recognize what?s happening. Acknowledge that what you are experiencing is a craving or desire to resume your additive behavior. Actually voice that acknowledgement, as in: ?I know that what I am thinking is just a craving, a desire to go back to my addiction.? By voicing your recognition of the thought or craving, you are deflating its power. In essence, you are stopping it in its tracks, removing the forward momentum that, if left unchecked, could propel you into giving in. Once you recognize the thought/craving, you are ready to move on to the next step.



2. Employ distraction. ? Thoughts that tempt you to use or engage in addictive behavior (such as the urge to join your friends at the bar, where you know you?ll get into trouble), are generally short-lived. Their purpose is solely to get you to succumb to the sometimes overpowering desire to resort to your previous comfort zone ? using. A technique that is very effective is simply to use distraction to get your mind off of the craving. Don?t worry that you won?t be able to fight it off forever. Right now, you?re only interested in this moment, today. What kind of distraction should you employ? The answer is anything that works for you. It could be that you pick up the pile of bills and start prioritizing them. You could work on a Sudoku or crossword puzzle to challenge your mind. If your mind is occupied in thinking about something else, working out mathematics, trying to calculate dimensions in a home remodeling project, for example, it can?t be filled up with cravings. There?s no room for it ? at least for now. Some individuals in recovery have reported great success in counting, or reciting the alphabet forwards and backwards, or trying to memorize or recall passages of verse. After 15 or 20 minutes, the unwelcome thought or craving has usually dissipated.

3. Talk with a friend. ? A trusted friend can be one of your best defenses in the fight against unwelcome thoughts and cravings. The friend should be one that you?ve known for a long time, one who is very familiar with what?s gone on in your life, including your recent treatment for addiction. But, and this is important, it may very well be a friend that you?ve met who doesn?t know about your past. If you share a meaningful friendship that?s based on your new goals in recovery, a mutual interest in recreation or hobby or intellectual pursuit, by all means contact the person. Getting together in person is better than just chatting on the phone. There?s something about making the plans to get together and actually doing it that is very uplifting. You anticipate the meeting and your thoughts go in an entirely new direction. The cravings are replaced with a concrete plan of action. By getting out of the current physical location and meeting with your friend, you are engaging your mind and body in a constructive activity.

4. Call your sponsor. Go to a meeting. ? That?s what 12-step sponsors and allies in the self-help group meetings are all about. They?ve been through exactly what you are experiencing and likely have many helpful strategies that you can adapt and use for yourself. Many times cravings seek to take over at oddball times. They?re not on a schedule and, therefore, pop up at the most inopportune moment ? like when you?re trying to get to sleep, or early in the morning. You can?t just go see your trusted friend at this hour. Maybe there isn?t a meeting at this time of day or night. But you do have your list of people to call, those who have repeatedly assured you to give them a call no matter what time of day it is. They?ve said this for a reason: they want to offer you the support and encouragement you need. Go ahead and call your sponsor or 12-step buddy (someone you?ve become close to in the meetings or with whom you share similar background). Get through the craving by talking it out with them. When the hour is right, get yourself to a meeting. You?ll be amazed at how effective both of these strategies are at reducing and eliminating unwelcome thoughts and cravings.

5. Get physical. ? When you find yourself caught up in negative thoughts and cravings, it?s time to do something physical. This could be a physical workout at the gym or your home using weights, elliptical machines, treadmills, exercise bikes, stretching bands and stability balls, or it could be simply taking a brisk walk or hike in the neighborhood, nearby community park or recreation area. Join a sports team in your community and play basketball, soccer, floor hockey or another competitive sport. Find a buddy and take up racquetball or tennis. Go swimming ? again, this can be at home (if you have a pool and the weather permits), or at the beach or indoor athletic area.

Why is getting physical exercise so important? For one, physical exercise ? vigorous exercise ? produces endorphins in the brain. These are the body?s natural feel-good chemicals that do exactly that ? they make you feel good. Physical exercise gives you a kind of jump-start, not only to your metabolism, but also your spirits. For another, physical exercise helps tone your muscles, trim away excess inches and pounds, beefs up your cardiovascular system and helps all your organs function better. While it?s a good practice to do some form of vigorous physical exercise every day, start slowly and build up your stamina.
Maybe begin with stretching exercises and a short walk of an easy pace for about 15 to 20 minutes. Do this 3 to 4 times a week. Then, increase the time and pace of the walk to 30 to 45 minutes and a moderate pace ? and still do it 3 to 4 times a week. It should get easier the more you do it. After another week or two of this pace, step it up some more so that you?re at maximum (brisk) pace and walking or hiking for at least one hour ? and do this 5 times a week. The beauty of using walking or hiking as physical exercise is that you can do it anywhere ? in the parking lot, the mall, the park, neighborhood, beach, etc. ? and you don?t need any fancy equipment, just a good pair of walking/hiking shoes.

6. Work with your counselor. ? Maybe there?s some reason why you seem to be stuck with these thoughts and cravings that you haven?t yet worked on. Even though you?re finished with treatment and are in recovery, that doesn?t mean that you can?t avail yourself of continuing aftercare counseling ? especially if this is part of your overall treatment program. Many residential addiction treatment programs have comprehensive aftercare counseling and follow-ups as part of the package. But if your program doesn?t include this, there?s still help available. Ask your 12-step sponsor for recommendations, or look up low- or no-cost assistance that may be available in your community. Let?s face it. You?re probably not a psychiatrist or professional addiction treatment specialist. So you can?t be expected to know everything that could be going on in your sometimes jumbled thoughts. Even if you are a psychiatrist or treatment professional, if you?re in recovery, you?re not your own best counselor. You need unbiased advice from an outside professional.

What you?ll work on with your counselor may be how to overcome some of the mind blocks that cause these cravings to keep cropping up. Some persons in recovery report that they?ve gone for weeks, even months, without cravings only to have them suddenly occur. Finding the reason behind this resurgence of cravings you thought long gone is important to getting rid of them for good.

7. Recurrence of cravings is not a failure. ? Just because you experience cravings, it?s not a reflection of failure. It doesn?t mean you are bad or worthless or don?t have a backbone. It only means that addiction to a particular substance or behavior has been very powerful. It may be more deep-rooted than you recognized, or you may have thought that now that you?ve completed treatment, all cravings and negative thoughts would be gone for good. It doesn?t work out that way. As stated earlier, some thoughts and cravings occur months or years after treatment, and well into what would be considered a successful recovery. Take comfort in the knowledge that having cravings is perfectly normal. The sign of how successful your recovery is, however, is what you do about those cravings when they occur. Having an arsenal of helpful strategies is often the best way to deal with them. Just remember that you are not a failure, and your recovery is not in jeopardy simply because you experience cravings.

8. Check your nutritional intake and sleep routine. ? We often neglect to take into consideration our nutritional needs and how much sleep is necessary for optimum health. When you first come out of treatment, your physical condition may not yet be back up to par. You may find it difficult to sleep through the night, or have nightmares, all of which contributes to a feeling of unsettledness, being out of sorts the next morning. After a few or longer nights of this, you?re already set up to be more vulnerable to unwelcome thoughts and cravings. In addition, what you consume in the way of meals is also important to your overall health and well being. You need a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables ? the fresher and more organic, the better ? lean meats (avoid fatty, high-marbled meats), fish and poultry. Avoid the whites ? no white bread, white rice ? and high-carbohydrate foods. Steer clear of too much fatty desserts, with all their empty calories. Watch your salt intake as well. Too much salt increases your blood pressure, which increases fluid retention and can contribute to a feeling of malaise ? a perfect breeding ground for unwelcome thoughts and cravings. If you?re feeling out of sorts, the tendency for cravings to overpower your determination to stay clean and sober magnifies. Do yourself a favor and get your nutrition and sleep routine into balance.

9. Stimulate your mind. ? Life isn?t only about existence ? or it shouldn?t be. What better way to enrich your existence than to encourage your mind with creative or stimulating activities? You could start off reading books that you?ve always wanted to get into but somehow never found the time. If you don?t have a list of titles that interest you, check out the New York Times Bestseller list and find one or two that you like. Go to the library or bookstore and browse through them to see if they are intriguing. You don?t have to buy the books, either. Libraries lend out books, often for free or only for a nominal membership fee if you live in the neighborhood. You can also sit in the library and read through the books, periodicals and magazines for free. This is another good way to stimulate your mind and do something that gets your mind off your cravings ? and it?s free.
Another way to stimulate your mind is to be creative in an artistic endeavor. This could be oil painting, charcoal or watercolors. Maybe it?s jewelry making or cabinetry or gardening or cooking. The act of being creative utilizes the part of your mind that requires imagination, dreaming, conceptualizing the abstract and making it into reality. Creativity helps banish unwelcome thoughts and cravings. Go ahead and give it a try.

10. Meditate. ? Sometimes emptying your thoughts and disciplining yourself to concentrate on your breathing ? also known as meditation ? is the best way to eliminate persistent thoughts and cravings. The practice of meditation isn?t all that difficult. You can buy books, CDs and DVDs on the subject, or obtain instruction from a certified meditation practitioner. Simply put, you get into a comfortable sitting position on the floor, close your eyes, empty your thoughts, and breathe in and out deeply while concentrating solely on the sound of your breathing. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of the breathing helps you to soothe your troubled nerves and calm negative thoughts, emotions and cravings. Do 5 to 10 minutes of meditation once or twice a day and you?ll find your mind clear of the intrusions of unwelcome thoughts and cravings.
Are there other techniques and tips to help ward off cravings and unwelcome thoughts? Some individuals in recovery ? along with thousands in the general population ? swear by the various forms of yoga. Like meditation, you can buy books, CDs and DVDs on the subject, or get instruction from a certified yoga professional. There are many different kinds of yoga, so investigate to see which one appeals most to you ? or start with the basic form and progress from there.

In addition, there is acupuncture and acupressure, and hypnosis ? methods that may work for some, but not for others.
Whatever techniques and strategies you employ to banish unwelcome thoughts and cravings, keep this in mind: be proactive and diligent and strive toward the achievement of your goals. When you are looking forward and are actively involved in the pursuit of your dreams, you won?t find yourself mired in the maelstrom of negativity that plagued you in the past during your addiction. Be positive, be active, be involved ? and be happy in your recovery.
Thanks for posting & sharing this! I printed this, adding it to my helpful folder, in times of need...

[Gdog]

Newbies Nest

First asteroid bounced off. It was low blood sugar darn life is hard and you deserve a break today sort of asteroid. Going to get that fam stuff going and plug away to finish line. Everyone to there battle stations for this evening. Byrd was right as Planet Alcohol throws the 4th at us for another challenge. Festive friends, come on everyone. Planet Alcohol reminds me of that Island Pinnochio went to. Come on guys! Fun fun fun. Uh wait a minute. Why is my wife telling me I look like a jackass? Hmm.

Set phasers on full and hunker down.

[Destiniey]

Newbies Nest

Litre....I was wondering where you went to! It seems as though alot of us have caved recently. There's not much to do except try not to beat outselves up and get right back into the nest! There's a bunch of us on the same AF day....together we can do this!!!!!!

Fin....congrats on 13 days and for climbing right back into the nest!

Scottish...welcome back to the nest. We are all going through the same thing and there is comfort in knowing that you are not going through it alone!

Lav....once again your post has inspired me. I am going to print it out and stick it to my damned forhead! Ha!

Gdog....dodge those asteroids....you can do it!

[pixie]

Newbies Nest

Thanks to all for the welcomes. Day 27 for me.

I hope everyone in the US has a plan for July 4th - go in with a plan and you're less likely to cave. I've found that if I try to wing it ("Let's just see how the day goes"), I've already given myself an out, and I usually use it.

Lilly - you said you were afraid that coming here after your slip might be bad as it would inject negativity into the forum. I think it's the opposite - by being honest and real, you keep what we're doing here valid. If everyone who slips just slinks away, it's more 'feel good' than real, and I think we need real. My two cents anyway.

Gdog - my phaser is NOT set to stun, and I'm aiming for those Klingons and their $%#@ cocktails.

[LibraryGirl]

Newbies Nest

Hi Pixie, Dest, Gdog, Litre, Wildflowers and Byrdie. Sounds like everyone is doing well in the Nest today. Monday's are great for new starts! I have not drank since Fri. and haven't felt any desire to do so. I trust my attitude will continue this way. The cravings do subside after a time AF, but they will sometimes inexplicably and randomly hit, and I am no exception. However, cravings don't last as long as a hangover, lol. Diversion, diversion diversion!

I hope I am still welcome in the Nest these days. Seems a little less welcoming lately, but I'm still here until someone says otherwise.

LG

[Butterbean]

Newbies Nest

LillyE;1344381 wrote: Yep and ditto.

Thanks IT, I needed that. I am feeling so sad today.

The only good thing I can see from this is it resolves any question I had around whether I can drink "moderately" - nothing moderate about that behaviour at all.

*Sighs*

Yep, I'm going to get my ass back in the Nest and hang tight til July 31st and beyond.

Lilly,
Bless your heart. I am so proud of your brutal honesty. You picked yourself up and started over, that is the positive.

:l