Defense against picking up the first drink or drug

[admin]

What is your defense against picking up the first drink or drug?

[kaistevens]

Staying close to my Higher Power, staying in his will is my only defense.:33:

Cause I never know what lies ahead. I don't know what situation is coming up, that I need to be prepared for. So, I rely on staying in the will of my Higher Power, being in the right places, at the right times, etc.

For example, let's say I have made plans, and I know I will be seeing my mother and sister. :sad:
So, I get all prayed up, :13:
I get ready, :275:
I may even go through some of the things that may happen and
prepare myself, make a plan that will help me keep my cool. :162:
It's like studying for a test.

But...

What if, after a stressful day at work, I run into my mother and sister at the market? :226:
Like a pop quiz, and I didn't have a chance to prepare. :19:
I better have 'the man with the plan' in my pocket, :176:
cause I may not have packed my bag for this, :277:
when I left the house this morning.

I never know what's next, and only God does. I have had really great days that turned bad in an instant, and really bad days that turned good just as fast. The only sure defense against ANYTHING, for me, is my Higher Power, cause no matter what happens, he's ready.

Love ya later.

Kai

[clean42day]

:idea:working a daily 10th step and prayer.:195:

[scottl]

- Going to meetings on a daily basis if possible.

- Using HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired).

- Calling or talking to someone when I need to.

- Playing the tape all the way through. Remember that 8 months ago I was tired of living and scared to die. When I see a happy hour sign or someone having a drink at a restaurant and my disease tells me that looks really good, I think about where I will end up. Maybe not today, it may take a few weeks or a few months but I will be waking up puking in the toilet needing vodka to stop the shakes. I will make the ulcers on my small intestine (I have from years of heavy drinking) bleed and I will start getting fat on my liver again and elevating the enzymes in my liver. I will get closer to the point of scarring my liver and doing irreversible damage. I will die and/or end up in jail and lose my wife, my 7 year old daughter, my 3 year old son, my house, my job, etc. That drink never looks quite as good after I do play the tape through and remember the hell I had created for myself. That first drink triggers my allergy and the mental obsession begins, then I'm defenseless.

[sioux]

Keeping spiritually fit and connected to my females/fellows in recovery keeps me from taking that first drink. Of course having 12 steps in front/behind/next works better than one step does too.

[Prescott]

All of the above :42::1:

[Rockin Big Daddy]

- Going to meetings on a daily basis if possible.

- Using HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired).

- Calling or talking to someone when I need to.

- Playing the tape all the way through. Remember that 8 months ago I was tired of living and scared to die. When I see a happy hour sign or someone having a drink at a restaurant and my disease tells me that looks really good, I think about where I will end up. Maybe not today, it may take a few weeks or a few months but I will be waking up puking in the toilet needing vodka to stop the shakes. I will make the ulcers on my small intestine (I have from years of heavy drinking) bleed and I will start getting fat on my liver again and elevating the enzymes in my liver. I will get closer to the point of scarring my liver and doing irreversible damage. I will die and/or end up in jail and lose my wife, my 7 year old daughter, my 3 year old son, my house, my job, etc. That drink never looks quite as good after I do play the tape through and remember the hell I had created for myself. That first drink triggers my allergy and the mental obsession begins, then I'm defenseless.


Three words that I say to myself if I even have a thought abought a drink..... AND THEN WHAT!:mad:

[barbie25]

Ditto!!!!!!!! on everthing said also keeping my real friends close to me and picking up the phone.:42:

[Montauktammy]

Steps, meetings, Sponsor, network, Tratitions, God of my understanding, I don't wanna use! 1 is to many and 1,000 is never enough!

[Coffeebeing]

The steps, Meetings for the fellowship and for keeping the memory of my inevitable unmanageability alive, my relationship with my higher power, stopping-thinking- then acting (or not acting) as a regular practice, speed dial!, keeping my 24 hour chip in my pocket and grabbing it when necessary, when I get up in the morning - among the first thoughts I have are "I am an Alcoholic" and I ask my Higher power to help me stay sober for that day......

George

[manny Salsiao]

Don't go to places that you know that will make you commit the crime again. If it couldn't be helped just fight the urge. :1:






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[Rockin Big Daddy]

Keeping my memory green knowing that the three c's of my disease: chaous, confusion and consequences are ready to take over if I pick up that first drink. I remind myself of three words, "And then what", as the aforementioned are inevitable if I were to drink.:9:

If I stray to far from the pack I will be picked off, and, for today, I will stay in order.:29:

Thanks for saving me a seat!!! :42:

[CD BUCKBERRY]

:29::29:Go to meeting whenever you can and share.:29::29:

[McDaniel N.]

Use phone number list,read recovery books,call sponsor;and get to a meeting "ASAP".While at the meeting hear what i needed to hear.Also find out what happens to people who stop going to meetings.Or keep searching for meeting i need by the time i find one 24 hours has past.
One to remember to do what i did yesterday,and do that today don`t drink. :162: :idea: :D :42:

[shydawg]

1st thing to come to mind is "DON'T USE NO MATTER WHAT" slogan.aint nothing soo good or bad that using going to make better -my using is only going to make it worse - the problem will still be there when the buzz wears off .I gotta get my a$$ outta the situation as soon as possible & call somone . anyone .tell on myself 'cuz I'm in trouble & the Sh!ts about to hit the fan ...remember the 7 t's --" take time to think the thing thru" ASK MYSELF."DO I LIKE MYSELF BETTER NOW OFF THE DRUGS OR WHEN I AS USING?"

[bnepro]

Steps, meetings, Sponsor, network, Tratitions, God of my understanding, I don't wanna use! 1 is to many and 1,000 is never enough!

sponsor, serenity prayer, and 'yours, not mine' breath prayer.

[annalittlebit]

I originally became sober in 1983---And I remained sober for 20 years--I did not during that period of time get involved in AA--I was intimidated by it when I attended my 1 and only meeting. I was actually very happy in my sobriety but did not have the education that AA provides. I guess you could say I was Happy, Joyous & Free and I never had the desire to drink. Not once, until I was diagnosed with cancer. I really didn't believe a beer would hurt after all that time. I was wrong--I did not know to be on gaurd for that ungaurded moment. I know now that AA for me is the only way to go. My sober date is 1/21 of this year and my 1st day out of rehab I went to a meeting. I did more than 90 in 90, got a sponser and am now working the steps and have a huge WE that I am in constant touch with. My Higher Power, this program and people like all of you save my life every day. Don't ever get complaciant (sp?) with your sobriety. It's a gift that can disappear if you let your gaurd down. I'm thrilled with this new life that I have been given!!!!

[sonia n]

GOD is what keeps me clean. And this is what I always, always tell people I NEVER EVER FORGET WHERE I CAME FROM!!!! The pain I caused people, myself,
and remembering waking up sick among so many other things. That is what keeps it real for me!!! NEVER FORGET and KEEPING IT GREEN:25:!!!!! Some people get into recovery and they go around acting like their **** don't stink!! NOT GOOD........KEEP IT REAL!!!!!!!!!!

[gettinfree]

Wow...What a question...It sounds so simple...the solution must also be simple...maybe not. This whole subject is full of depth. I drank like most of us. Every time I drank...it would be different. It never ever was. Always returned to the same place...Desperation, agony, pain, remorse and on and on. For me, it wasn't the drink...it was the compulsion.
I haven't had a drink in 18 years. I hit bottom 27 days ago behind pot, pain pills and valium...those were the least of my problems...My biggest problem, and you-all know this, was me. I had been trying on my own will to hold my life together for years. Totally ran out of gas...Nothing would fix me. Why didn't I drink. Fear? had plenty of that going on. I didnt't want to die. In my heart, I knew that if I drank...I would kill myself...God kept me from taking that first drink. God must Love me Very Much. Therefor I didn't take that first drink...Because of Love...Not a simple question...No simple answer...or is it?...Mike