That picture is everything. You look so joyful and free.
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Ahh thank you for that. That makes sense.
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This is good stuff. Needed to read this, although it was intended for Donna. Thank you. I’ve bookmarked 
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@Hopeful777
This is a perfect picture. You were unaware of the shot and it shows perfectly. You were just enjoying the moment!! Dorothy and yellow brick road come to mind (with Toto tagging along) 
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Checking in sober today, Day 108. After a long period without craving I’ve noticed I’m suddenly having a lot of random thoughts about having a drink: one won’t hurt, I’ve made it to triple digits so I’m doing fine, etc. The other day I was getting ready for a hike and the thought jumped in to bring a drink with me, yesterday I wanted to go for a bike ride and the thought came out of nowhere to bike to the liquor store the next town over… Scary how I’ve done well til now yet out of the blue I’m suddenly being attacked by all these thoughts of a drink! “Cunning, baffling, powerful!” it certainly is… All we get is a daily reprieve, and that only if we work at it!
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It is good you are recognizing the thoughts.
A few things that might help:
-
Play the tape all the way to the end…something like this:
I have one. It will feel perfect at first, but then I will have another and another until I end up blacking out after doing (insert bad things). -
Use DEADS
D = Deny / Delay (Don’t give in to the urge)
E = Escape the trigger
A = Avoid the trigger
D = Distract yourself with an activity
S = Substitute for addictive thinking -
Retrain you mind to replace irrational thoughts with rational ones. Rough example:
Activation -> Belief -> Consequence (ABCs)
Irrational = If I use -> I will be able to control it (like never before) -> leads to blackout and bad things
Rational = If I use -> I will not be able to control it -> I don’t drink and have a positive day and positive things happen.
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Thanks for the tips. I think what took me by surprise was how suddenly and out of the blue the thoughts of a drink hit me. I’m using this as a reminder to never let my guard down. I’ll take it to heart!
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@Jenni I was there 6 days ago. The fact you are sharing here is a fact of hope. My motto is : never give up and if you fall start again immediately 
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Practice these techniques and it helps when they happen. Sometimes recognizing and surfing the urge to the end helps when they come. By all means don’t ignore them b/c they will increase themselves when you do. Train your mind to recognize and deal with them rationally.
Talk to yourself out loud if you need to. I do, and it helps tremendously. I think b/c it is externalizing the thoughts.
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Donna don’t be fooled. If you want every fight you fought to suddenly turn into failure, if you want every good day you had to mean nothing, if you want to feel like it’s impossible to claw your way back to where you are today, if you want to do all this emotional shit again from day one but with times 10 the pressure, if you want to think there is no way back, if you want to be so lonely you can’t even talk to people on here bc your not worthy to be in the same room have a drink.
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thank you and felt it, no temptation to fight at that time 
just enjoying pure nature. Going to continue doing a lot more exploring when the lock-down is lifted or relaxed. All the places I am going to are 15 mins drive from home and I never knew existed.
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How’s life Thomas
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thank you, kind Sir… Yes, it struck a chord when Sam sent me it hence put it on here. I have got shorts on, had to double-take myself 
. Being out like that gives me a sense of freedom and not one thought of addiction pops into my head. Just thoughts of appreciation. Blame normal life!!! But planning some routes for when I can go further afield so that should keep me focused.
Love the Wizard of Oz - I need to click my heels more and make my wish Toto (Lottie) is always near me 
Have a good day and coffee…
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wow, I found that powerful and hard-hitting , but so accurate and true. I know its for Donna, but have copied and pasted it into my book of useful quotes from here, hope you do not mind. Hope you are good ?
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Day 6.
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hey look at you… 
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Thanks Paul; I feel like I just got a spanking, lol.
You know I need to hear it with gloves off…
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Day 776.
Last week I started AA and man…I can’t even begin to explain how incredible it’s been already!!
This photo to me says it all. Sometimes you need to get out if your own way and realize you don’t NEED to do it all on your own.
Hope you all have a great sober Friday!
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My husband is feeling a little better. He starts the day feeling great and tries to do too much just to wind up back in bed 4 hours later totally frustrated. He’s not one to sit still and won’t take it slow. He wants to jump right back into his normal life. Thanks for asking @SoberWalker!
I get into my own head over little things like a sneeze or a cough. To avoid getting anxious, I’m now checking my temperature. As long as I don’t have a fever, I’m fine. You wonderful people are working daily on the front lines being exposed are my inspiration and I’ll be fine. Stay safe and well Claudia.
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it’s how I feel and I don’t want you to feel the same, and I would never spank you, that’s far to much fun for a women like you
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