How can I keep from falling off the wagon while visiting my family (stress!)?!
Question: Hi. I've been slowly reducing my heavy drinking (on Wellbutrin, couldn't cold turkey) and am very proud of my progress. I don't go to AA, I tried and it's not for me. I do visit an addiction specialist weekly. My problem is that I will fly to visit my whole family shortly and #1 they drive me bat$hit crazy, #2 they are all heavy drinkers. But I love my grandparents and want to see them.
My doctor has offered me a short term script for Xanax, I don't know if it's a good idea.
I did a bad job wih my drink count last time, and really don't want to slip up again.
Thanks for any tips or tricks to help my not drown the whole thing in a bottle of wine!!
Answers: Hi. I've been slowly reducing my heavy drinking (on Wellbutrin, couldn't cold turkey) and am very proud of my progress. I don't go to AA, I tried and it's not for me. I do visit an addiction specialist weekly. My problem is that I will fly to visit my whole family shortly and #1 they drive me bat$hit crazy, #2 they are all heavy drinkers. But I love my grandparents and want to see them.
My doctor has offered me a short term script for Xanax, I don't know if it's a good idea.
I did a bad job wih my drink count last time, and really don't want to slip up again.
Thanks for any tips or tricks to help my not drown the whole thing in a bottle of wine!!
I am also a recovering raging alcoholic and I haven't touched a drop since 2000. I go to bars with my friends and I always remember why I quit in the first place, My life was unmanagable. My children were starting to hate me. I can have a good time without drinking. So what I am trying to say is ALWAYS REMEBER WHY YOU QUIT. You are setting a good example. I am proud of you for changing your life. When a person quits drinking they have to change their normal schedule. For instance on Fridays was pay day for me, so instead of heading for the liquor store, I went shopping instead for a reward present for myself. It really works. Make sure you reward yourself with something every month. Eventually you will forget about drinking. Don't stress yourself out. Stress makes you want to pick up that bottle. If you have to talk to someone and you think you are going to slip. Tell someone, talking helps. Make sure you don't take xanax and drink. It is proven that if mixed with alcohol it could shut down the respiratory system. Good Luck my dear.
Take plenty of non alcoholic wine with you. Get a hotel/motel room: limit the duration of your visits. See stress treatments, at ezy build, below on page 42. Practise daily, one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i; whichever works best for you, but the mindfulness breathing for 15 - 20 mns is ideal, although the progressive muscle relaxation can be learned quickly, and takes only several minutes, if pressed for time. Employ the EFT version for use in public, for which you can reasonably claim that you have a headache, as you massage/tap your temples, but it may be advisable to restrict yourself to subvocalising (saying it to yourself, in your mind, not aloud). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o refer. "Even though I sometimes suffer from stress, I deeply and completely accept myself".
You can also multitask, using the gazing technique, as you walk/jog or exercise, by focusing on a distant object, noting any thoughts which flash across your mind, without pursuing any particular train of thought, just gently redirect your focus to the gazing. Yoga, or Tai Chi may suit others, better. For some people, visualisation of a quiet, relaxing scene, like a tropical beach, (feel the sun warming you, as a gentle breeze caresses your skin lightly, inhaling the tangy, salt laden spray from the sparkling, translucent, aqua waves, crashing on the white, sandy beach, as the seagulls swoop and cavort playfully overhead in a cloudless, azure sky; you feel just like one of them; free to soar and cartwheel, or just glide, in the moist, heavy air, and that this moment will last forever.....) works well for them.
Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements, or a teaspoonful of the oil (I spread mine on toast, and mask its strong taste with fishpaste, and pepper), in the winter months only. Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve. Eat healthily, in accordance with your "nutritional type" as determined at http://www.mercola.com/ SEARCHBAR.
Try having a cup of "Tension Tamer", herbal tea (from supermarket tea aisles) from Celestial Seasonings, or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable). C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk.
Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey, because these will reduce "sugar spikes", which later deplete you of energy. Minimise/eliminate consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grain products, such as white bread, donuts, cake, cookies/biscuits, or anything with sugar. Opt for more wholefoods, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit. http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris
it ain't gonna be easy but first off you need to be strong secondly you need to have your own secret little place in your mind where only you can go when the going gets tough thirdly take great satisfaction watching everyone else get hammered and seeing how their behaviour changes i cant promise it'll work for you but it works for me always look for the funny side good luck
Piggy backing on "Aqua's" comment. Remember why you decided to quit, and keep that in the forefront of your mind. It will be tough, but do whatever you need to do to keep your mental focused on "remembering why you gave up your bad habit"