Rational Recovery

[MossRose]

I'm positive this has been discussed at length on MWO, but I couldn't find a proper thread to post on, so I'm throwing it out here for those of us just starting out. I was just poking around the Internet, looking for information on Rational Recovery. I have seen the book recommended here many times, and got curious. Unfortunately the book isn't available in a Kindle edition, so I had to order it. But here are a couple of quotes from the author, Jack Trimpey, that I found online.

"The desire to drink moderately is unknown among those who actually drink moderately. Either you do or you don’t. It’s not that you can’t drink moderately; the problem is you don’t want to drink moderately. Under the influence of just one drink, you change your mind and have “just one more.”

"You don’t get drunk and get stupid; you first get stupid and then you drink. Because you are addicted, your thinking is backwards, actually inverted, and you don’t learn from your mistakes."

I've read enough to know that he is very anti-AA, so that may turn some folks off. But I thought this was interesting and just wanted to share. Personally, I agree - the stupid part is making the decision to have that first drink. I know there are people here who have used this method to quit drinking. Any thoughts, suggestions, good threads to check out? I am intrigued by this approach.

ps - for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it's six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow :upset:

[tomthyme]

Rational Recovery

Hello MR!
I haven't been here in a while, but I'm on day 3 AF (just been muscling along so far). The Rational Recovery site seems to make a ton of sense. Thank you for posting this morning.
Tom

[Marylou123]

Rational Recovery

Hi MR and Tom - I received the book this week and I am reading it now. It makes sense to me too and I know others on the site have tried it as well. My plan right now, at day 12, seems to be a mix of MWO (I rely on MWO the heaviest), Rational Recovery (I will never drink again and I will never change my mind), medical supervision (but no Rx meds at this point), diet, exercise, and a TON of reading.

I'll be interested in both your thoughts if you continue to explore this option.

Have a wonderful, AF Sunday.
Mary Lou

[MossRose]

Rational Recovery

Hi Tom and MaryLou. Nice to hear from both of you. Tom - congrats on Day 3 and glad you are back. Stick around this time, ok? It would nice to get to know you.

I've done a bit more research on this today, and think I am going to delve a little deeper into this method. I definitely wasn't strong enough in the very beginning to accept this philosophy of addiction. In my addicted brain - AL was calling all the shots, and I was just a puppet. Night after night, I struggled with my thoughts - and many nights the beast won. I haven't read enough to know if I will agree or disagree with his strategy, but I am interested in learning more. Now that I am stronger and a bit further along in my journey, I am humbled to find out how much I still have to learn about addiction, so I am open to all viewpoints.

Since I subscribe to the philosophy of "change your mind, change your life" in every other area of my life, why not with drinking. I'm sure it's not that simple, but looking forward to adding one more weapon in my arsenal against AL.

It's cold, but sunny here today. A pot of soup is simmering on the stove and I am feeling grateful.
Happy MAE all.

[Dottie Belle]

Rational Recovery

I have looked into this as well..probably have the book in my basement. I know that I have an addictive personality...shows up in many other aspects of my life and wine was just the worst of them. I will see if I can find the book...