I hope you guys & gals will like this idea and will want to participate. So,
here's one to get us started.
1. I visualize a big black train coming I can see it's headlights I can hear
it chugging towards me. As it nears, I can jump on board and ride the
train to relapse. Or I can let the train go by.
I sometimes see that same train coming, but if I don't get myself to a safe place, I see myself getting run over!
one day at a time, cookster
one day at a time, cookster
I just play the tape all the way to the end. If I start thinking I want to drink I sit and remember all the havoc my drinking caused, the heartache and misery and physical sickness and then it doesn't seem so appealing.
I think about coming round the next day and that feeling of utter dread, the gaping void, the horror of what I might have done the night before.
One drink is too many, ten is not enough. It's like quitting smoking and then having that first cigarette--everything collapses and you're right back in the ditch. Addictions suck.
The good news is that there are plenty of us out here who've found methods that work for us.
The good news is that there are plenty of us out here who've found methods that work for us.
I do the same as Idgie...play the tape all the way to the end...it is never pretty or without angst....Also calling a friend and talking about what's on my mind...or when I went to AA, I would go to a meeting...Sometimes I will write out what's bothering me...or read something inspirational....Love Gina
I live in micro brew country and I must say I like the taste,smell and sight of beer. The aroma of BBQ's in the neighborhood, the sight and smell of flowers,the sun, blue sky,the camping and river rafting trips all trigger my senses of my beer drinking days,which in all reality wasn't long ago. Glad they don't trigger my head and other senses into thinking of vodka. So what I've done is to by some organic pomegranite juice give it a splash of 7-up add a lime wedge. This drink satisfies my senses. I did agree that it tasted just as good as any good micro brew. Best of all no negative consequences.
I think about how I will lose my family if I take that drink, it would never be just one. I found a great AA meeting last night. I have 20 phone numbers to call and I had to use it this morning. Being alone is the worst time for me.
missy
PS- I feel like I'm facing that train everyday right now.
missy
PS- I feel like I'm facing that train everyday right now.
I have heard and experienced first hand, that a relapse happens way before I take the first drink/drug...for me, I try to keep my perspective positive and when it shifts toward the negative, I can now recognize it and use my "tools" to get my perception shifted back on gratitude...
When triggers happen today, I get out of the romance of the drink/drug and fast forward to my last drunk and allow the feelings of hopelessness, lonliness, humiliation, and utter despair remind me where I never want to go again...I go to meetings so I am reminded of where I came from and what the solution is today...
Good topic...xoxo
When triggers happen today, I get out of the romance of the drink/drug and fast forward to my last drunk and allow the feelings of hopelessness, lonliness, humiliation, and utter despair remind me where I never want to go again...I go to meetings so I am reminded of where I came from and what the solution is today...
Good topic...xoxo
Gidday Everyone
Back in early recovery a guy who i soon ditched as a sponsor because of his negativety said that it was ok to relapse and that the joy i had at stopping drinking would soon burst and my world would come back to reality.
So i spent 2 weeks working out the ultimate relapse and then at the end of the 2 weeks i said bugga my sponsor and stayed sober and 10 years later i am still sober and i still have the gratitude of the brilliant feeling of being sober, yes there are bad days now and then and they can get worse if i allow them addictive thinking time.
For me relapse is to die, because that is where i was at when i last drank.
Light and love Zac
Back in early recovery a guy who i soon ditched as a sponsor because of his negativety said that it was ok to relapse and that the joy i had at stopping drinking would soon burst and my world would come back to reality.
So i spent 2 weeks working out the ultimate relapse and then at the end of the 2 weeks i said bugga my sponsor and stayed sober and 10 years later i am still sober and i still have the gratitude of the brilliant feeling of being sober, yes there are bad days now and then and they can get worse if i allow them addictive thinking time.
For me relapse is to die, because that is where i was at when i last drank.
Light and love Zac
I educated myself about PAWS,post acute withdrawel symptoms. I couldn't figure out why after ten days of not drinking I felt worse. I couldn't sleep, I was filled with anxiety,agitation & my mind was so confused,fogged over,I had blurry vision,no energy and times of restlessness & lack of appetite. So, I drank to releive these symptoms. I felt like crap for the first two days from the hangover,but the next 7-8 days I felt very good. Then the PAWS would start all over again. Then I realized this was just a part of recovery and I would just have to ride the storm out. If I didn't the whole viscous cylce would start over again. It scared me to read this can happen for up to two yrs. But I just didn't want to start the whole process over again. What was I expecting after 30 yrs. of drinking. The last 12 or so hard. I've had to re-read about them as I couldn't fully comprehend all the info. Today I have tools I learned at rehab to manage them. I'm posting this for us & for the people that just come to this site & read. If you want more info. just do a search on PAWS.
I put my hands low behind my back or a person can raise their hands a little behind the ears & take several deep belly breaths. This releases natural seratonin calms the anxiety. Restores some calmness to the body,mind & spirit. Really helps when your feeling stressed out. It's easy to do anywhere & takes very little time.
Read threads I will not drink today. I find especially useful Zac's thread posted on 5/19. Not only was it true, but it was simple & funny.
Eat chocolate !!!
Remember the reality of pictures of a atomic bomb, my drinking clouds my acces to spirituality and the shockwave of negativety it sends out can and does destroy things for years after
Light and love zac
Light and love zac
Work a program of action....(which has been extremely difficult for me as of late)...
Gidday Everyone
I remember all the good that has happened in my life since i have been sober
Light and love Zac
I remember all the good that has happened in my life since i have been sober
Light and love Zac
When I have negative thoughts I don't dwell on them. If I do, then my feelings can become so powerful, I may not win back the rational part of my thinking.
Oh, another thing that works for me is talking with a newcomer.....and being of service.
Something else that seems to work is takfing a hammer and pounding your thumb repeatedly 'cause it FEELS SO GOOD WHEN YOU STOP!
:)
And costs less, too.
:)
And costs less, too.
