Mcaodha! So glad you posted! I've often wondered how you are doing and you've brightened my day by checking in. Thank you and "Well done!" on 10 months. That's amazing. Please check in a little more often :)
I can relate to the occasionally feeling like having a drink. I don't treat that as a bad thing though because sometimes I can look at a totally decadent dessert as well and think the same thing, however, I know if I ate that dessert I'd feel terrible. Same with having a drink. I don't get bent out of shape about it because I appreciate it from a distance and let someone else indulge.
One thing that I have found to be extremely helpful over the past year and bit is to try not to let my feelings and emotions to get too extreme where drinking is concerned or when dealing with stress. When I say that I mean letting myself get too high about success (excited and elated) and too low (as in extreme anxiety, sadness, resentment). Both are at the extreme ends of the spectrum and have the capacity to shut down the critical thinking part of our brain. Optimum learning typically takes place in the middle of that curve, with a little stress keeping our attention focused. Ever notice how stress can shut down our thinking? Even something like criticism can cause our thinking processes to shut off. Assertiveness is a great skill to develop to assist in keeping grounded.
Great plan mcaodha by doing new activities. It breaks you out of the comfort zone and expands the learning while getting comfortable with not drinking. It continues to get easier. It's so important to live through the experience of abstaining from drinking, especially in the trigger situations, because once you get through them you now have the capacity to challenge them and think through them on later occasions.
TS, I was exactly as you describe with the mental rehearsals and continuous focus. Still am to a degree but in a different way. It can be tiring however it will become easier. At the front end we seem to be faced with a lot of trigger situations and that makes sense because we drank a lot for a variety of reasons. We're relearning and re-wiring. Building new pathways can sometimes feel like walking up stream, a bit of a struggle depending on the strength of the current. . Eventually we'll find those calm spots so we can relax, gather and absorb our thoughts, and prep for the next test. You're on the right track and a great inspiration for the others here.
Great topic ND! You're doing great, keep going.
All the best,
Dave
