A Surefire Way to Quit DrinkingUsing
by Bob J. (Santa Rosa CA)
Change your self-image to a non-drinker/user. While this is much easier said than done, consider the benefits once it’s achieved.
- You don’t feel sorry for yourself because you can’t drink or use because you don’t want to.
- You aren’t jealous of people who do drink or use because that’s not you anymore.
- You won’t relapse because, eventually, you won’t even get the urge.
- You don’t have to attend endless meetings to stay clean and sober.
- You don’t have to worry about never being able to drink or use again because you don’t want to anymore.
- You avoid all the baggage associated with “alcoholic” (whatever that means) because you are a “non-drinker”.
How to get there:
The mind is a powerful thing controlling all our behavior. Consciously, or subconsciously, we all act on or reflect our self-image. Consider the come-from- behind victories won by Joe Montana and Michael Jordan. They knew they were going to win, their teammates knew they were going to win, and, I’ll bet, even their opponents knew they were going to win. Positive thinking brings positive results.
Technique:
Tell yourself you’re a non-drinker/user. When the urge comes DON’T GIVE IN! Say: “I’m a non-drinker/user”. Then distract yourself with another activity until it passes and you’ve won that round. Don’t give in the next time. Tell yourself the same thing. The urges become weaker and less frequent as this process continues until they disappear and you’ve become a non-user/drinker. You’re just like the huckster who falls for his own line.
I’m not saying this is an easy task. It is not. In fact it is difficult and takes time and effort. However, if you decide to abstain and commit yourself to this process you will find your urges almost disappear and you will be enjoying a vastly improved life free from having to decide whether you should drink/use or not.
Results:
I guarantee that this technique works. It’s essential that you make the decision to quit and a commitment to that effort. Thinking about it, discussing it or reading about it won’t suffice. Decide to DO IT. One of our members with 2 months sobriety used this technique. He enjoyed drinking fine wines with friends. The first time the group went out after his decision it was difficult for him to abstain. Later it became easier. Last night he said that abstaining didn’t bother him at all because he is a non-drinker.
This has worked for some. I hope it works for you.
for anyone interested, there is a conversation going on intermittently on the lifering forum about the concept of an “identity-switch” from “drinker” to “non-drinker”. (at the moment, some of this is being discussed under “new thread” in the General Interest category)
it is something that initially appealed to me, but doesn’t anymore. alcoholic will do fine.
**I guarantee that this technique works. **
no offense, Bob J, but how can you guarantee such a thing? and no offense or distrespect to your sober-two-months member, but one person’s two sober months is hardly proof of anything regarding this method, except that it has worked for this person for this length of time. which is great, of course.
apologies if this comment is inappropriate in this venue; this post just popped out at me.
margit
I am one of those people whose brains are just not made for moderate or social drinking. I accept that as the way it is and I do not drink at all. I used to and to hideous excess and much sickness, injury and a shambles of a life.
So during my last spree, I decided it was just too much and I stopped with some medical help. I did SMART for several weeks. Now I am someone (one of many) who simply does not drink or use non-prescribed drugs or gamble, ever. No more of it.
In seven months, no cravings or urges. Some people scoff, but it is true. I know I am going to be abstinent, that that is what I really want, so there is no point even flirting with the idea of drinking. No idea of drinking even a little and therefore no urges. I dropped drinking pals, dropped drinking places. While I feel confident, I am not smug: I do not put myself into difficult, uncomfortable situations. I avoid the slippery slopes in part from fear, but also because they really are unattractive.
Everyday there is something that I notice, something good, something rewarding and I take second to realize, “Wow, I am abstinent.”
I am not “an alcoholic,” I am an abstinent person and I never want to put alcohol in my body ever again.
This is how I spontaneously gave up smoking… I had a dream that I was reaching for a cigarette and right before I woke up I said the words “What am I doing? I’m a non-smoker!”
From then on, whenever the addict cried for a cigarette I just responded with “I’m a non-smoker”, and that was all I needed to do to avoid any cravings and successfully quit 🙂