I am sharing this across several boards that I am involved with (two on Facebook, and In The Rooms website)... so it's sort of generic.... but I really wanted to share it here too!
I have been an alcoholic for 23 years, more heavily the past 8 years. I had my first alcohol-free day last night, since I had my third child 2.5 years ago! Everything has sort of fallen into place. Well, three things came to light. First off? the following brain-opener!
I have always said ?How can I do what they always tell me to do, which is to ?find something else to do during the times that I typically use?? Well, I typically USE to get through my nightly routine! I have always said that I HAVE to drink to complete all the chores I have to do before going to bed at night. Three young kids and a husband with ADHD, and I'm usually the one doing everything. So when I've heard to change your routine, I thought, how the Hell am I going to do that? I can't just up and leave to go workout when I have all this stuff to do! Then, God brought an idea to my childlike brain! I CAN change my routine! I will eat with my kids (which I never did before because I didn't want to get too tired so as not to complete those daunting tasks), then I will have quiet time with my kids reading. And then I will go to bed EARLY not thinking about any chores! I will get up early and take care of them in the morning! I do better in the morning anyway!
After this revelation, I found a link to an article about ?21 days to break a habit? and how one should mark their calendar (see link below). So I marked my calendar on yesterday's date with a big heart. Then, counted 21 days and circled that day with a big heart. Then wrote a positive reason what I want to change (I want to be sober and clear headed) and why I want to change (I want to remember being a mom). And thought that now I will take it one day at a time, writing daily in my big calendar and making hearts around each day as I turn out the light at night. Just doing this was encouraging!
So yesterday evening, when I got home, the third occurrence? I remembered the 12-step principle "One day at a time". However, last night I took it to mean "One MOMENT at a time". And I actually LIVED in the moment when I had to drive to the store. SOBER. LIVED in the moment when I had to serve my kids dinner. SOBER. Etc. Etc. Funny thing is, I actually ended up doing some chores. And I lived in the moment and enjoyed it SOBER. Now, the strange part. When I went to bed I didn't want to pick up an addictions book or a fiction book. I always did that before. I wanted something different. I picked up (at random) "Wherever You Go There You Are" which is all about ?Mindfulness?. I didn?t even know I had this book! I will try to find time to list some quotes from it later. It?s mindboggling how much it relates to recovery and living in the moment. I am very excited!
Further notes? I've been following the diet from the book ?How to Quit Drinking Without AA. It?s a Macrobiotic Diet. Yin and Yang. Eat neutral foods. Cut out eggs, dairy, beef, potatoes, tomatoes, spices, peppers, and white flour (although, yesterday I cheated and had coffee, eggs, cheese and a potato!) I've also been using the info from "My Way Out" website using the medicine Topamax (for cravings) and at-home hypnotherapy CD ?Control Drinking? which I bought for only $30 from Flora Clinics (online).
I am also a Christian, and have been praying, and I know my husband (who is also trying to recover) has been praying for me too!
I hope some of these tips help someone else!
http://www2.fiu.edu/~oea/InsightsFal...e%20habits.htm
I have been an alcoholic for 23 years, more heavily the past 8 years. I had my first alcohol-free day last night, since I had my third child 2.5 years ago! Everything has sort of fallen into place. Well, three things came to light. First off? the following brain-opener!
I have always said ?How can I do what they always tell me to do, which is to ?find something else to do during the times that I typically use?? Well, I typically USE to get through my nightly routine! I have always said that I HAVE to drink to complete all the chores I have to do before going to bed at night. Three young kids and a husband with ADHD, and I'm usually the one doing everything. So when I've heard to change your routine, I thought, how the Hell am I going to do that? I can't just up and leave to go workout when I have all this stuff to do! Then, God brought an idea to my childlike brain! I CAN change my routine! I will eat with my kids (which I never did before because I didn't want to get too tired so as not to complete those daunting tasks), then I will have quiet time with my kids reading. And then I will go to bed EARLY not thinking about any chores! I will get up early and take care of them in the morning! I do better in the morning anyway!
After this revelation, I found a link to an article about ?21 days to break a habit? and how one should mark their calendar (see link below). So I marked my calendar on yesterday's date with a big heart. Then, counted 21 days and circled that day with a big heart. Then wrote a positive reason what I want to change (I want to be sober and clear headed) and why I want to change (I want to remember being a mom). And thought that now I will take it one day at a time, writing daily in my big calendar and making hearts around each day as I turn out the light at night. Just doing this was encouraging!
So yesterday evening, when I got home, the third occurrence? I remembered the 12-step principle "One day at a time". However, last night I took it to mean "One MOMENT at a time". And I actually LIVED in the moment when I had to drive to the store. SOBER. LIVED in the moment when I had to serve my kids dinner. SOBER. Etc. Etc. Funny thing is, I actually ended up doing some chores. And I lived in the moment and enjoyed it SOBER. Now, the strange part. When I went to bed I didn't want to pick up an addictions book or a fiction book. I always did that before. I wanted something different. I picked up (at random) "Wherever You Go There You Are" which is all about ?Mindfulness?. I didn?t even know I had this book! I will try to find time to list some quotes from it later. It?s mindboggling how much it relates to recovery and living in the moment. I am very excited!
Further notes? I've been following the diet from the book ?How to Quit Drinking Without AA. It?s a Macrobiotic Diet. Yin and Yang. Eat neutral foods. Cut out eggs, dairy, beef, potatoes, tomatoes, spices, peppers, and white flour (although, yesterday I cheated and had coffee, eggs, cheese and a potato!) I've also been using the info from "My Way Out" website using the medicine Topamax (for cravings) and at-home hypnotherapy CD ?Control Drinking? which I bought for only $30 from Flora Clinics (online).
I am also a Christian, and have been praying, and I know my husband (who is also trying to recover) has been praying for me too!
I hope some of these tips help someone else!
http://www2.fiu.edu/~oea/InsightsFal...e%20habits.htm
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