What to do when you have obsessive idea?

First off, kudos to you for being self-aware about this. Seriously - take time to give yourself a pat on the back, for naming the problem (obsession): that’s the first step to change.

We all have obsession during our addiction and for a time after we start our recovery. (As someone wiser than me once said, if drinking is getting in the way of your life, you have a problem; if life is getting in the way of your drinking, you’re an alcoholic.) Our addiction builds our whole lives around one activity (the addiction). It’s understandable that our minds - full of routines and habits - would protest when we try to change. (And in the case of alcohol, the problem is amplified because your brain has adjusted its chemistry to anticipate the depressive effects of alcohol on the body; it’s anticipating that chemical intake every day.)

You’re learning how to live present and sober in your life. It will take time, but the good news is you are 100% capable of doing this.

A lot of people find it helpful to join a meeting. It replaces time that would otherwise be spent getting drunk (it also saves money that would otherwise be wasted on booze! :smile: ) You can go to as many meetings as you want; some people do 3-4 a day, to power through hard times - and with virtual meetings it’s not hard to find one:
Online meeting resources

Another trick is power walks while listening to audiobooks or music. Eric (Dazercat), in his early recovery, would spend hours walking with hard rock music blasting in his earphones.

Personally I find it soothing to listen to guided meditations (I also do meetings and walks; the meditations help me understand my thoughts & process them). This one is called “Healing through letting go” & for me it helped me understand my obsession & let go of my attachment to it; I was clinging to escape that wasn’t helping me, but I clung to it desperately because it was familiar & I was scared and felt helpless to be anything different:

https://insighttimer.com/sarahblondin/guided-meditations/healing-through-letting-go

Take care & never give up. Never give up. Search for sobriety the same way you search for water in the desert. It’s the most important thing in the world to you; you will find it. :innocent:

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