Obsession?

[jim bartz]

Mike: I'm trying to move beyond obsessing about the fact that I no longer drink,but I do think about alcohol much of the day. I'm not wanting to drink,but I think about how I am no longer drinking. How do I stop thinking about alcohol? P.S. I do have short and long term goals that are in writing.
Thanks.

[alcoholrehabcoach]

Originally Posted by jim bartz

Mike: I'm trying to move beyond obsessing about the fact that I no longer drink,but I do think about alcohol much of the day. I'm not wanting to drink,but I think about how I am no longer drinking. How do I stop thinking about alcohol? P.S. I do have short and long term goals that are in writing.
Thanks.

Jim,

First, congratulations on your success in managing your behavior, and also setting yourself some goals.

Now it seems you are giving yourself an opportunity to manage your thoughts. A chance to learn what was driving your behavior, and also the chance to give yourself more practice in choosing what to think.

Remember that "Nothing has any meaning except the meaning you choose to give it" So here are two suggestions:

1. Many people get concerned about their thoughts. Often its because they are reacting to every thought as if it were a command, or as if every thought "belongs" to them. What that means is, just because a thought appears in your head, doesn't mean you are obligated to subscribe to it.

For example, if I give you a thought like "go out and eat a jar of jalapeno peppers" you are free to decide whether or not that's for you, right? Or if I say "Stand on your head and recite the alphabet" are you free to simply dismiss that thought and move onto something else? So do you think its any different when its your mind serving up a silly thought to choose from? Can you just as easily dismiss it and move onto something else? If not, what are you gaining from the drama? What's the benefit or upside of feeling that you are powerless?

2. Ask yourself "If drinking is what I DON'T want to focus on, then what DO I want to focus on?" Then you will have consciously given yourself some other options to choose from. If you like, go ahead and write down some of the things you would like to focus on instead, and post them in this thread. Even that simple action will be another step forward in learning to direct your thoughts in a way that truly serves you.


Yes, there are old thoughts, fears, attachments, patterns that will inevitably show up. So you need to give yourself something even better to focus on and believe in, and strengthen those things over time.

Slowly at first, and then exponentially as you gain more solid references, and as you experience more and more positive results in your life, your new identity and beliefs will leave your old patterns in the dust.

If you like, besides telling me some things you would rather think about, tell me more about some of the goals you have right now.


Mike
Good thoughts vs. bad thoughts

[meliboeus]

i needed to hear that advice, i am 4 years sober but i have fallen off the wagon in another addiction (eating disorder). i know the initial topic was drinking thoughts but i am deeply distressed by my food/binging obsession that has come back and the fact that i have been acting out on this obsession day after day for the last 4 months....i feel that the fact that i've relapsed in food is a first step towards alcohol relapse ---even if i have (thank god) no thoughts of alcohol or any desire to drink at the moment.can any other alcoholic help me please. i really dont feel sober at the moment and feel terribly dishonest in meetings when i am in an addiction in another area of my life. i dont want to let it get even worse and end up hitting a bottom i dont need to.i would like some help to start tackling this so i can feel sober and free again.thank you.

[alcoholrehabcoach]

Originally Posted by meliboeus

i needed to hear that advice...i really dont feel sober at the moment and feel terribly dishonest in meetings when i am in an addiction in another area of my life...i would like some help to start tackling this so i can feel sober and free again.thank you.

Hello Meliboeus,

How will you know when you are sober and free again. What will be your evidence or reliable indication of that?

Mike Highstead

[Dreamboat Annie]

Not sure if I can post here (new here)
However I have been sober a long while and when my "other addiction" (food) surfaces I use the 12 steps and the program and WHEN I ask God or help in the morning with my food/eating/addiction I get the help. When I walk in the Grocery store I ask God for help. When I stay concsious and "in the moment" I get the help. It says in our literature if God can remove the "obsession to drink" then perhaps He can help with other issues/obsessions.
Blessings
Annie

[CleverCelt]

Originally Posted by jim bartz

I'm trying to move beyond obsessing about the fact that I no longer drink. How do I stop thinking about alcohol?

Jim I can Identify with your feelings when I first came to the program my primary thought pattern was how and when I was going to get high or drunk. One of my first sponsors told me my mind was like a one car garage and those thoughts were taking up a lot of room. What I needed to do was remove those thoughts to make room for recovery thoughts and how I was going to stay sober. You will learn in time of making it a HABIT of thinking about how to stay sober.

''Staying sober is much easier then' getting sober"