I have been trying to get alcohol free for a long time but I keep relapsing. I have more than enough reasons to want to do it and more than enough resource to support me but I keep finding myself picking it up. I tell myself no but somehow my body just takes me there. What are some tips to get through this?
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I am in the same place but not with alcohol. I struggle with pornography and masturbation but I just can figure out what I am doing wrong. I try to have a positive outlook but it is getting hard.
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Tips? Millions of them and approaches on how to stop & stay stopped. But for me, It took till I was so defeated inside my own head for me to finally become willing to admit & accept the fact that I needed help. Treatment-AA-therapy-daily application of the steps in my life. It’s worked well so far & no relapses.
When we are done, we’re done and not a sip, hit or clip sooner. The struggle is real and always but it gets better & easier. We press forward folks or we die a little bit more each time we go back to it.
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It takes work, and you have to be ready and willing to put in the work.
Understamd that drinking and alcoholism is a symptom, not the problem. Work on the root cause and your desire to drink lessens.
Surrender. Stop fighting and surrender. You can’t win the battle against addiction, so it’s best to surrender and stop fighting. What does surrender mean to you?
Understand that you can’t quit because you won’t quit. You can quit, anyone of us can. We think we can’t, but the reality is that we won’t.
Work on self discipline. Self discipline is doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether you want to do it or not. Sharpening this skill today will help you tomorrow.
Go to AA meetings everyday. If you are a habitual drinker at 5PM, go to a meeting at 5PM.
Get rid of any and all alcohol in your home
Remove people, places, and things from your life and daily routine that involve or encourage your use of alcohol.
Take a week off work while you detox and go through withdrawals, the less responsibilities in this period the better.
H.A.L.T. - Cravings & how to beat them, Isolation vs. Connection, H.A.L.T
Come here everyday. Check in on the check in thread.
Take it one day at a time. Just be sober today, that’s all you need and can do.
Go to rehab.
All this is not easy, but it’s worth it. You’re worth it.
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100% agree. I once read “You never choose your rock bottom, but your rock bottom will eventually choose you.”
@Meg24 Admitting you have a problem is the first step, and a massive one too, so congratulations! The second step is asking for help - do you have anyone around you who can help motivate you? Friends/family/social worker/alcohol counsellor/support groups/etc.
Ultimately, and the hardest part for any addict to accept, is that we are the only ones in control of our addictions. You may feel like you have no choice but to pick up the bottle, but you do. No one is going to force you to drink but yourself. Throw out all the cans and bottles and give yourself another chance.
Try and make some new routines, go shopping without any ID (if you’re lucky enough to be asked for it!), buy alternative drinks like juice or pop, or coffee if you need that boost.
Be kind to yourself, you deserve it.
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To get past the physical craving and dependence, I used Antabuse and enforced accountability - if I drank I would be taken to jail.
To get sober, I used AA and counseling.
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Do you find yourself in envy of those who can drink “normally” and wish you could? If so, 2 books shifted my perception of alcohol forever, maybe they can help you see the truth as well. Allen Carrs “Easy way to Control alcohol” and Annie Grace “This Naked Mind”. I did the audio book version, you could probably get them free with a trial to audible.
If books are not your thing here are some tips linked below.
You can do this, best wishes.
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Just keep trying! Don’t get discouraged if you relapse just try again! Keep talking to people on here and you may need to stay away from drinkers for a couple weeks. Go to the store and find something crafty to make or join a gym. Try to stay busy. I listen to sober podcasts every day. Im also newly sober - 20 days. Everyone on here is so supportive!
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Try to identify the times and circumstances that lead you to pick up. For me I had to stop going to the bottle stores I used to, if I had to go by that way on my way home I’d be listening to sober podcasts on the way home.
Had to pass up a few social events in the first few weeks.
This is my first shot at sobriety using this app, I’m checking in daily and reading posts when I need to reaffirm.
Im at a couple months now and previously I was only getting to a week, at most,before picking up again
A saying that has helped me is ‘one day, or day one’. Its taken on a different meaning Ibthink from when I first started, but it got me through a few cravings. Maybe find a mantra that works for you and just stick with it when the going gets tough.
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