Becoming Sober (Page 8)

Remember you are Human, things happen.   There are setbacks and missteps.   It's up to you to get back on that sober horse/bike and get and keep that streak going.

The best thing you did was admit the failure.  They happen.   Takes a big man to admit something like that on COJ.   

If I may ask,  did you get into a situation where you were around booze or did you go out and find it.   Reason I ask,  I walked through my grocery store and through the wine section, but I didn't buy any bottles.   Thought about it, but used the excuse of my colon problems to not inbibe.

Remember to take it a day at a time.  When the urge happens, do something else.

Is drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco the same type of addiction?  I just remember a class in HS that a teacher talked about physiolocgical and psycholgical factors.

Thanks all for your stories and your lives.  It truly is inspiring.

And thanks RushTogether for the last sentence in your last post:  "But, I will try again...."

 Is drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco the same type of addiction?  I just remember a class in HS that a teacher talked about physiolocgical and psycholgical factors.

  Congrats on taking steps to better your life.  One of my inspirations is a guy named Todd Crandell and Racing for Recovery. (www.racingforrecovery.com)  I knew Todd in high school and he was as messed up as the video below talks about.  Todd was over the top.  He found his way out through triathalons as a way to stay focused.  He has now raced in IM's and Ultras around the world.  Team Racing for Recovery is an on-line support group to help.  Something to at least check out.  Although based in Ohio, Todd helps people all over the place.

ESPN did a segment on Todd several years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgmDMEaZlwE&feature=player_embedded

A documentary, Racing with Demons, was just recently released.  This is a trailer:

www.racingwithdemons.com

https://www.facebook.com/#!/Running.with.Demons

Congratulations.  Sometimes, when I was feeling down, watching Todd's video's helped me to know that if he could come back from where he was that I could do it too.  Thought I would forward it along.

How we all doing out there?

I am going for a long bike ride tomorrow with my sponsor, pretty excited about that!!

How we all doing out there?

I am going for a long bike ride tomorrow with my sponsor, pretty excited about that!!

Yes. Addictions are associated with your brain's production of dopamine by the brain. You take a drink/drag/hit, get a rush of dopamine, the pleasure center of your brain registers it, and you get "rewarded" for your action. After a while, it takes more of whatever substance/activity (it can be gambling, sex, drugs, alcohol, shopping, whatever) for the reward to register. And unfortunately, even though your conscious brain doesn't want to imbibe, that pleasure center is a powerful thing. We get the same feelings when we eat, have sex, exercise, or do anything that feels good. With addictions, for some reason, there is only 1 thing that becomes the primary source of that dopamine production. Some people's brains are more prone to addictions due to genetic differences (hence family histories of alcoholism). Replacing an addiction with a *variety* of things you enjoy is key.

Unfortunately knowing all this doesn't necessarily help people conquer their addictions. Behavior modification is definitely part of the process but so is the determination to stay sober and having support to do it. And sobriety is always a learning process. Sometimes you do hit bumps in the road. Reframing them as learning experiences rather than failures can really help.

I talk all day long with smokers struggling to quit and hear that even the determination isn't enough sometimes. I talked to a guy yesterday who's been trying to quit for 10 years. He has had 2 surgeries for throat cancer and knows smoking is killing him. He told me he'd cut off his legs if someone told him that would help him quit smoking.

Healing and loving thoughts to all of you grappling with your addictions. You have so much courage and strength, even if it might not feel like it sometimes.

This alone would make me seek out some sort of help.  I went through my insurance and started some counseling.  this led me to A.A. Meetings.  I didn't want to go to meetings at first, now I look forward to them.  

Maybe you should just make a phone call.  A.A. was started by one alcoholic choosing to talk to another alcoholic about it.

x2 to this.  Don't hit rock bottom before you get help.  I am not saying you will, and I do not know your whole situation.  I think the one thing that was the kicker for me was finally getting to step #1 admitting I was powerless over the addiction and my life had become unmanageable.