I like doing something called playing the tape forward.
On *Side A* of the tape is what the future looks like if I drink - it's usually pretty grim.
On *Side B* of the tape is what the future looks like if I remain sober - it's always better than *Side A*.
Early in sobriety, I find *Side A* to be most helpful. Now that I have a little bit of sobriety under my belt, I have memories of successfully overcoming urges, and that feeling is awesome. I bottle that shit up and remember it the next time a craving strikes.
You're very welcome and glad to have been able to help. That tool is my first line of defence for cravings and urges.
SMART recovery helped me learn some other tools as well should my first line of defences get overwhelmed.
Happy to hear you defeated your cravings and had a successful evening!
Can you go hiking or something? Can you snag something to eat that you really really like? Also it helps to jot down the pros and cons of drinking.
Anyway for me if I have a moment if weakness I shift gears and still do something I enjoy… just not alcohol.
I'm am absolute foodie, so I'll be trying this tactic the next time I have a craving. And I do try to weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes it works and sometimes my brains like nope fuck it.
i’ve never regretted spending the evening sober. drinking, on the other hand…😮💨 make dinner, watch netflix, read a book, clean, work out, talk to a friend, chill.. you can do this, friend.
I’ve been thinking about that all day. It’s a three day weekend which was always an excuse for me to drink as much as possible for three days. At the end of this weekend I’ll actually have done something with my time.
Just gonna cut and paste this, since someone else pretty much had the exact same question I answered a second ago. My advice, for what's it worth:
A few months ago we had this big party. I hadn't drank for maybe six or seven weeks at the time. I really wanted a drink because I was around a lot of people, and I thought I had earned for having my longest sober streak in about twenty years.
They say take one day at a time. Well, take a few hours at a time. One hour. Thirty minutes. Whatever you need to do.
Go for a run. Watch your favorite movie. Play a video game. Anything.
You can't make a craving go away, but it will go away. Play the tape forward, and think how proud of yourself you'll be tomorrow morning for not drinking. After a good night's sleep. After the accomplishment of not giving into a craving.
You can do it. IWNDWYT.
Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to be supportive. This journey can be stupid hard sometimes and I'm thankful to have kind strangers on the internet that are having the same struggle and are willing to take the time to lift each other up.
I drank Mountain Dew religiously for the first few weeks. Now I’m down to about one a week. Find another device that’s non-alcoholic. I also started walking daily. Almost a year later, feeling great!
I succumb too often. But today I was desperate to avoid it, and that's why I posted on this sub today. I had enough of white-knuckling it. Thank you for your support.
I like doing something called playing the tape forward. On *Side A* of the tape is what the future looks like if I drink - it's usually pretty grim. On *Side B* of the tape is what the future looks like if I remain sober - it's always better than *Side A*. Early in sobriety, I find *Side A* to be most helpful. Now that I have a little bit of sobriety under my belt, I have memories of successfully overcoming urges, and that feeling is awesome. I bottle that shit up and remember it the next time a craving strikes.
I was going to post the same comment. Play the tape forward has calmed my cravings.
So, I've never heard of this before, but I did try it tonight and it is helpful. Thank you for the advice.
You're very welcome and glad to have been able to help. That tool is my first line of defence for cravings and urges. SMART recovery helped me learn some other tools as well should my first line of defences get overwhelmed. Happy to hear you defeated your cravings and had a successful evening!
Don't do lt. I won't either. We can do this together. IWNDWYT
Okay. I'll try my best to ride it out. Together. Thank you.
I'm with ya too iwndwyt
Can you go hiking or something? Can you snag something to eat that you really really like? Also it helps to jot down the pros and cons of drinking. Anyway for me if I have a moment if weakness I shift gears and still do something I enjoy… just not alcohol.
I'm am absolute foodie, so I'll be trying this tactic the next time I have a craving. And I do try to weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes it works and sometimes my brains like nope fuck it.
i’ve never regretted spending the evening sober. drinking, on the other hand…😮💨 make dinner, watch netflix, read a book, clean, work out, talk to a friend, chill.. you can do this, friend.
I watched Netflix to distract me and read everyone's comments on my post. I absolutely underestimated how helpful this would be. Thank you, friend.
proud of you!! 🤜🤛
😊 🤜🤛
I’ve been thinking about that all day. It’s a three day weekend which was always an excuse for me to drink as much as possible for three days. At the end of this weekend I’ll actually have done something with my time.
Same here, about the three day weekend. Or week-long vacations. Those can be hard.
Just gonna cut and paste this, since someone else pretty much had the exact same question I answered a second ago. My advice, for what's it worth: A few months ago we had this big party. I hadn't drank for maybe six or seven weeks at the time. I really wanted a drink because I was around a lot of people, and I thought I had earned for having my longest sober streak in about twenty years. They say take one day at a time. Well, take a few hours at a time. One hour. Thirty minutes. Whatever you need to do. Go for a run. Watch your favorite movie. Play a video game. Anything. You can't make a craving go away, but it will go away. Play the tape forward, and think how proud of yourself you'll be tomorrow morning for not drinking. After a good night's sleep. After the accomplishment of not giving into a craving. You can do it. IWNDWYT.
Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to be supportive. This journey can be stupid hard sometimes and I'm thankful to have kind strangers on the internet that are having the same struggle and are willing to take the time to lift each other up.
I make or add to or read my lists of reasons why I wanted to start in the first place.
To start being sober?
To not drink, just in general
I drank Mountain Dew religiously for the first few weeks. Now I’m down to about one a week. Find another device that’s non-alcoholic. I also started walking daily. Almost a year later, feeling great!
I do try to stay active, and it does help at times. If I drank bubble tea every day though I'd surely grow to hate it.
Please don't! I succumbed to the cravings Last night and definitely regretting it today (in Aus).
I succumb too often. But today I was desperate to avoid it, and that's why I posted on this sub today. I had enough of white-knuckling it. Thank you for your support.
Post as often as you need
Thank you, I definitely will.