How did you stay sober from alcohol when everything triggers

How did you stay sober from alcohol when everything triggers you?

It’s not triggers it’s excuses you’re mind makes up for you to trick you to drink. How are you trying to stay sober? AA? Smart recovery. CBT. Literature research?

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It definitely wasn’t easy for me in the beginning when most of my excuses for drinking were when I was stressed out or frustrated with life in general. The majority of my drinking was because I was scared to open my mouth up about how I feel about things, and once I got past the fact that I can speak on how I felt with certain people I was able to open up to without judgement, I didn’t need to drink to suppress my feelings and thoughts. But I know it can be different for other people as well, because people drink for different reasons.

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I drink usually socially and for some of those same reasons you said. I’m going to my first AA meeting tonight because I have not one sober friend in life. Usually “it’s a hot nice day or going out to eat” are my reasons for drinking. I’ve cut back soooooo much I used to binge drink every day! And over the years I have prayed and prayed about it taken some steps in the right direction where I may not drink at all or have 1 or 2 but it’s the hanging out socially that has me in a choke hold, because for that one day with my friends that aren’t sober I will drink EXCESSIVELY and then I’m depressed and anxious and sick /full of shame the next day.

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You’re absolutely right! And I just downloaded so apps now to join a meeting tonight

Your best bet is to discover said "triggers" and get real with yourself as to why they're still so present in your life. In my early sobriety I went through a lot of effort to minimize myself from things that I knew I was prone to have emotional reactions to. Negative or dramatic people are the biggest ones. Take a break from negative or depressing people. Focus on the things that you're interested in pursuing in sobriety. Research something new. And obviously you'll want to avoid situations or environments where you feel like you'd be tempted. This is not a forever scenario. It's just until you can build some time under you. As well as figuring out new ways to positively react to negative situations. Your mind will often look for the path of keasy resistance in early sobriety. Because the autonomy of just giving up and getting drunk or stoned is so much easier. As I say often, life likes to hit you with a stick.. Trying to drink the problem away only makes the stick get bigger.

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Pelligrino!

Tonight for the first time in a while I went to pick up out Chinese food. Remember sitting at restaurant several times drinking. Watching the people at the bar having martinis and bowls. I left there so mad at myself for being an alcoholic. I wanted things to be like they were until I got home. Thank god it passed. Sometimes it gets overwhelming to watch people sit at a bar and drink normal. I just thought of all the work I have done. 19 month sobriety. Home and safe.

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Emotionally triggered yesterday. Thought about a drink then thought about where that drink will lead me every time. Hit my knees and prayed, not a regular practice for me. Reached out to 4 sober friends no one answered, got in car and ran errands. 2 of those friends called back Talked about what was going on and then went to an evening meeting even though I felt better and didn’t really want to go. Great meeting.
Went to bed sober. Thanked God and woke up free. :relaxed:

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I pray the serenity prayer.

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Call my sponsor when it’s real bad, go to a meeting on zoom or in person. I’m in the no matter what club. I remind myself if I use, I lose it all. And I’m not losing anything else to addiction, no matter what!

My first year went to meetings everyday for a year .and work .stayed busy.meet a lot of people.no excuse no triggers.aa 35 years.