An older drunk back on day one. Who's with me?
Ths is a bit long, so apologies for the scrolling through, but i think some folk will enjoy the read. Take what you need and leave the rest, as they say.
Issue #16
Recovery Tasks, The First 3 Years
When you finally accept that you have the disease of alcoholism, you realize that lifelong abstinence must be your goal. This can seem overwhelming at first and even impossible.
I find it helpful knowing what to expect at different stages of my recovery. Therefore, I will be discussing the four stages of recovery which cover the rest of your new life. Each of these stages have tasks to guide you which positively influence your success.
Stage 1 - Early Recovery - The first 3 years
The goal in early recovery is to put your sober self back in charge.
This is definitely the most difficult stage because of the many mental and physical changes you go through. But don't get discouraged. You can get through this stage by working on the following tasks:
Acceptance Of Addictive Disease
Obviously, accepting that you have the disease of alcoholism must be the first step or you will be unable to commit to recovery. This seems really simple, but it always amazes me how creative the addictive mind is in finding ways to justify drinking.
Understanding Alcoholism
Moving beyond denial can be achieved by learning about your disease. If you read books about alcoholism, you will begin to accept that you are an alcoholic and you cannot drink. Here are a few things I learned that I wish I had known when I first quit drinking:
1. I would go through all the classic stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance.
2. The first 3 months of sobriety is considered the honeymoon phase because once you get through the first week or so of withdrawal you feel so much better physically.
3. Between 3-6 months of sobriety is the peak of PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). This is caused by changes and damage to the nervous system from the past consumption of alcohol. Symptoms include: can't think clearly, memory problems, overreaction, feeling numb emotionally, sleep problems, and high sensitivity to stress.
It takes the body 6-24 months to heal the damage that alcohol has caused. Symptoms can be helped by good nutrition, exercise, relaxation, talking to others, and protecting yourself by setting boundaries and reducing stress.
Here is a link to some of my favorite books:
Recovery Books
Finding The Purpose Alcohol Served
Although alcoholism is a physical disease, there is a large component of mental addiction as well. Discovering the emotional reasons why you drank helps you look for new ways to take care of your needs.
Whenever you feel a craving for alcohol, notice your mental state. Are you feeling angry, overwhelmed, fearful, or sad? I used to drink because I felt I deserved a break! I worked hard all day and didn't take enough time for myself. I also used to drink because I was feeling angry but I was too fearful to confront the person.
Resolving The Pain Of Addiction
Overcoming feelings of shame and no longer allowing yourself to be a victim of your past is part of the process of recovery. There are various ways to resolve these issues.
You can learn more about the physical aspects of your disease so that you can dispel the myth that you are morally weak. You can write in a journal to help yourself become aware of how you react to painful situations. You may need to meet with a counselor to learn new ways of coping and to release the pain of your past.
Participating in a group gives you the opportunity to hear the stories of others so that you don't feel so alone. You receive validation of your experience, useful advice, and affirmation of your present progress so that you can leave the pain of your addiction behind.
Developing A Positive Attitude
If you don't work on your mental state in recovery, you will continue to be bored, restless, angry, and resentful that you cannot drink. It takes conscious effort and a desire to change in order to create a happy sobriety.
This is where the Women for Sobriety Program came to my rescue. By working this Program daily, I grew into a contented, positive, and empowered woman! Here is a link to the Program's 13 Statements of Acceptance:
Women for Sobriety
Words of Encouragement
Remember that long-term sobriety is only achieved a day at a time. If you can get through today, you can get through tomorrow. Before you know it, months have passed and you are a new person! Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I still can't believe I have 10 years of sobriety!
Recovery Tasks, Years 4+
Tomorrow I will send you the recovery tasks for Stages 2-4 which cover year 4 through the rest of your new life.
Also included is a list of benefits you receive from attaining long-term sobriety so don't miss this important e-mail!
With love and support,
Jeannie
Ths is a bit long, so apologies for the scrolling through, but i think some folk will enjoy the read. Take what you need and leave the rest, as they say.
Issue #16
Recovery Tasks, The First 3 Years
When you finally accept that you have the disease of alcoholism, you realize that lifelong abstinence must be your goal. This can seem overwhelming at first and even impossible.
I find it helpful knowing what to expect at different stages of my recovery. Therefore, I will be discussing the four stages of recovery which cover the rest of your new life. Each of these stages have tasks to guide you which positively influence your success.
Stage 1 - Early Recovery - The first 3 years
The goal in early recovery is to put your sober self back in charge.
This is definitely the most difficult stage because of the many mental and physical changes you go through. But don't get discouraged. You can get through this stage by working on the following tasks:
Acceptance Of Addictive Disease
Obviously, accepting that you have the disease of alcoholism must be the first step or you will be unable to commit to recovery. This seems really simple, but it always amazes me how creative the addictive mind is in finding ways to justify drinking.
Understanding Alcoholism
Moving beyond denial can be achieved by learning about your disease. If you read books about alcoholism, you will begin to accept that you are an alcoholic and you cannot drink. Here are a few things I learned that I wish I had known when I first quit drinking:
1. I would go through all the classic stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance.
2. The first 3 months of sobriety is considered the honeymoon phase because once you get through the first week or so of withdrawal you feel so much better physically.
3. Between 3-6 months of sobriety is the peak of PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). This is caused by changes and damage to the nervous system from the past consumption of alcohol. Symptoms include: can't think clearly, memory problems, overreaction, feeling numb emotionally, sleep problems, and high sensitivity to stress.
It takes the body 6-24 months to heal the damage that alcohol has caused. Symptoms can be helped by good nutrition, exercise, relaxation, talking to others, and protecting yourself by setting boundaries and reducing stress.
Here is a link to some of my favorite books:
Recovery Books
Finding The Purpose Alcohol Served
Although alcoholism is a physical disease, there is a large component of mental addiction as well. Discovering the emotional reasons why you drank helps you look for new ways to take care of your needs.
Whenever you feel a craving for alcohol, notice your mental state. Are you feeling angry, overwhelmed, fearful, or sad? I used to drink because I felt I deserved a break! I worked hard all day and didn't take enough time for myself. I also used to drink because I was feeling angry but I was too fearful to confront the person.
Resolving The Pain Of Addiction
Overcoming feelings of shame and no longer allowing yourself to be a victim of your past is part of the process of recovery. There are various ways to resolve these issues.
You can learn more about the physical aspects of your disease so that you can dispel the myth that you are morally weak. You can write in a journal to help yourself become aware of how you react to painful situations. You may need to meet with a counselor to learn new ways of coping and to release the pain of your past.
Participating in a group gives you the opportunity to hear the stories of others so that you don't feel so alone. You receive validation of your experience, useful advice, and affirmation of your present progress so that you can leave the pain of your addiction behind.
Developing A Positive Attitude
If you don't work on your mental state in recovery, you will continue to be bored, restless, angry, and resentful that you cannot drink. It takes conscious effort and a desire to change in order to create a happy sobriety.
This is where the Women for Sobriety Program came to my rescue. By working this Program daily, I grew into a contented, positive, and empowered woman! Here is a link to the Program's 13 Statements of Acceptance:
Women for Sobriety
Words of Encouragement
Remember that long-term sobriety is only achieved a day at a time. If you can get through today, you can get through tomorrow. Before you know it, months have passed and you are a new person! Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I still can't believe I have 10 years of sobriety!
Recovery Tasks, Years 4+
Tomorrow I will send you the recovery tasks for Stages 2-4 which cover year 4 through the rest of your new life.
Also included is a list of benefits you receive from attaining long-term sobriety so don't miss this important e-mail!
With love and support,
Jeannie
So, I drink. Not tonight though.
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