• HEALTH & RECOVERY
    Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules Thread Directory 1 Thread Directory 2
    Mindfulness Links Addiction & Mind
    Sober Living Partner Program (SLiPP)
  • H&R Moderators: streaM Freak

Sober?

C

Crampz

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 29, 2012
Messages
189
How do people become/stay sober without AA or anything like that. I am not implying that AA helps people get sober (in fact, I think the opposite is true in a lot of cases) it is just that whenever someones mentions wanting to be sober AA etc are some of their first words out of the other persons mouth.

So I guess my question is, does anyone have any strategies for doing this without some formal 'programme'? Sorry if my post is abrasive, I just want to be sober but don't want the AA/recovery group side of things.

Thanks
 
Hey cramps.. you will then need to formulate your own recovery plan that will promote a peaceful existence, combat the addiction, heal you from the injuries the addiction has left, help you successfully battle the paws, allow you to psychologically clear your emotional system, identify and address and think abnormalities resulting from the addiction, and identify and deal with the roots of the addiction.

Although it sounds like allot its not really to hard to come up with a good starting plan and then to begin to work that plan making any adjustment needed along the way.

What drugs are looking to get off and how long have you been using them if you want to share.
 
Hi

Alcohol and Benzos, alcohol about 10 years, benzos maybe 3-4 years.

I have started an assertiveness course and am going to be doing a self esteem course in a few weeks. Do you think these courses will be useful?
 
What's wrong with recovery groups, if I may ask? I find that they can be useful – even if I don't share, I sometimes pick things up that can help me stay sober. I don't do the steps (although I might some day), but it still helps to have face-to-face contact with people going through the same shit.

As to your question: Yes, anything you do that gets you out of the house and away from drugs is a good thing. Without drugs, the addict is left with a hole, so doing something useful with your time is a positive step.
 
Well there are certain people on bl I can relate to fairly well. I guess thats a support group in a way. I can't stand the grovelling to a 'higher power'. I have tried them twice in the past and even though there was 'no pressure' and all the slogans that went with it, both times someone tried to indoctrinate me with the 12 steps.

I'd much rather try and build a normal life but I'm not sure where to begin!
 
AA and NA are far from the only support groups.

Give Life Ring and Smart Recovery a search on google. There are also DBT groups, more for some of the mental health issues that many addicts can probably relate to, as well as Rational Recovery I believe. I also particularly like Buddhism in Recovery meetings.

Aside from support groups, you could always just see a regular therapist - one who knows about/specialized in addiction would be particularly useful, especially if support groups aren't for you. Talking to somebody who at least understands addiction conceptually, if not experientially, is a huge help.

As NSA said, identifying the mental and emotional abnormalities as well as the patterns of thinking and behavior that were not only caused by your addictions, but the ones that existed before the addictions. Meditation and writing can be a great tool for this, as well as talking about it all with somebody. Getting things out of your own head and getting a clear perspective on things always makes a difference.

Develop a way in which to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle - Exercise, healthy diet, recreation, reading, etc.

If you haven't detoxed yet, be careful! Alcohol and Benzos are both very dangerous to come off of on their own, let alone coming off them together. Be safe, and stay motivated. As NSA said, it's not as much work as it sounds like - and honestly, think about how much effort you put into staying fucked up 24/7 and then tell me getting clean is a lot of effort. lol.
 
Thanks for all the input guys. However, the urge to just kill myself is getting stronger and stronger, it would solve all of my problems.
 
^^Not really, you might just find yourself in a worse situation with no memory of how you got there.
I think you are better off working through your current issues with full knowledge of what they are in the present moment.
At least that's the way that I've come to look at it; this life is a precious opportunity to work on gaining personal insight.
Everything that "is," is subject to change.
Being an "addict" for the time being is just a temporary blip.
 
There's a yoga studio in my town that has a class specifically for recovering addicts. They hold discussions before they do yoga or w.e

For me the main thing is to stay busy. I just need to keep my mind off it. Whenever I get $ the first thing that goes through my mind is to pick up.

It's different for everyone, for me I'd say it's more will power. Whether I have aa, a job, structure, support group or w.e if I wanna get high I will get high
 
Crampz said:
the urge to just kill myself is getting stronger and stronger, it would solve all of my problems.
Click to expand...

Don't buy into that Crampz. And the will the stay alive will come back even stronger I promise you that. There is no magic cure in self help groups or psychology or rehabs. If you truly have the resolve to get better, you can get better. If you choose to remain sick, it's up to you bro. There are no easy solutions but you need to keep trying, whatever it takes keep yourself alive. What alternative do you have?

I was told more than a year ago that if I continue on the same path, I was facing certain death. I had made myself so sick there was no hope for me: buy a life insurance policy and leave something for my loved ones. But I wasn't ready to go just yet and I had to make some changes to save my life. Nobody could do it for me. Truth is, nobody knows how much time they have left. As redundant as life can get, you have to keep going!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top