I'm in outpatient treatment..usually it is the same ole' bla, bla, bla...which we know but can't change by ourselves!
Anyway, I DiD find something in my "class" yesterday to be useful. I tend to get very "gay" when sober and I TRY to change...because if nothing changes, nothing changes (AA saying).
The suggestion was to make a first aide kit or a "soothe" bag.
So I'm going to buy a 5 dollar bag at my dollar store....they have pretty ones here....just a plain like (lunch tote bag).
In the bag I am going to put items that soothe me (as suggested) when I am STRESSED to the max.
Things like - a coloring book, a medallion with a butterfly on it that a friend gave to me. A CD of Ekhart Toole, maybe some magazine clipping of inspirational sayings...etc...I'm sure the bag will grow from a 6x6 to a BACK PACK...cause I need LOTS of soothing. Hope this is an idea some others can use .
The key to this concept is DISTRACTION...when I feel stressed if I have the bag to dig into it and DISTRACT myself.
I was given many sites to visit for Funny Videos, Online drawing and Painting, Feel Good Videos....if anyone wants a listing of any of these sites PM me...as I can't list them here....2 of the sites are UK sites which I found interesting and thought of you guys.
Brilliant idea misssy, love it. Will let you know what I'm going to put in my "soothe bag "later. You do make me smile and cheer me up when I'm depressed. Your "1 goal each day" thing is brilliant too.
Misssy, look up a website called Calm (dot) com, they have a smartphone app too. They offer guided meditations, but you can also just look at the scenery and listen to the sounds. If you view it on a PC, you can choose from different scenes on the right hand side.
I like to read everybody's discussions on here but I don't like to post a lot. I didn't drink for 4 months and now I have to taper off in two days. I'm freaking out and my wife is about to leave me and I don't know what to do. If anyone has any suggestions please help
I forgot about the 1 goal...the old habits take over quickly. thank you for reminding me!
My goal today was to go get another coloring bag set up for me since I gave mine to my neice last night - LOL. complete!
Yes, give ideas for soothe bag...right now mine is the coloring bag with colored pencils, some markers and adult coloring books. And a "pencil" holder...I'm so pleased...lol.
171207...I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles and pain. My heart goes out to you as alcohol took nearly everything from me too. I am still struggling, though I feel I've gone a long way and because of this site, the people on it, I'm making positive steps, very slowly with blips along the way, but I'm defiantly moving forward.
I hope that people on here, with more professional experience than me will step in with good advice.
The demon drink gives us so much pleasure for years, but for a lot of us, it then starts to take everything we love. You have to find something that will help, whether doctor, aa, group therapy or medication. As you realise there are lots on this site that have got well and leading happy lives. I think personally that campral or naltrexone with group therapy is your best option. I really hope that you find something before it's too late xx
It's not the only alternative, but it does have about an 80% success rate. If you've relapsed a number of times, this can help you cut the craving that drives you to drink.
Thank you. I've been seriously thinking about that because when I want to have a beer I can only have one but when I want to drink vodka I have to have 20. I don't know what the problem is. I live in California so I haven't asked my dr. Yet because I'm too afraid of what he's going to say. I detoxed at least 4 or 5 times in the last year. I think I'm starting the Kindle. I drink as soon as I wake up or when I try to sleep
When you cross over that line where you start drinking to get you to sleep and/or when you wake up sadly there is no turning back to normal drinking. Now you must face up to this and get help either to control it(Sinclair method) or to abstain( campral). I'm sorry if I sound blunt but I know from experience sadly. You have to get help now. I think you said you are in US, not familiar with the system there but Misssy and ADE can advice. Bless you x
Check out the CThreeFoundation website, there's a link called "Find A Physician" that might help. If you don't find anything there, I know of a couple others in California. The ones marked Verfied know how to prescribe per TSM.
Odd, about the beer / vodka thing. Have you tried sticking with beer for a day?
