Allen Carr – Easy way to Stop Drinking
While this one is written specifically for those of you who have decided you want to totally stop drinking. Again, like his other book, it concentrates on the cognitive aspects of your alcohol problems – what you are telling yourself internally about alcohol.
I posted here back about 6 months ago and I thought I was over the alcohol trap. Since then, I have slid back down a handful of times – I can’t understand what my mental hurdle is. It seemed to be a monthly occurrence initially and then I got drunk 3 times in the past 2 weeks so I know where this is going. I look at hard liquor and spirits and beer as “Yuck – who would want to drink that.” But margaritas or white wine – one glass becomes a bottle (or even 2) and then you know the rest. I have lost about 10 pounds since January (quite a feat) and thought I would celebrate with a glass of wine. What a wonderful celebration that ended with a 2-day hangover.
I am re-reading the book again. I used his method to quit smoking and I used to sing the song, “I want to break free” by Queen in my head anytime I was tempted to smoke – maybe I need to do that with alcohol as well as visualize the little monster sitting in the glass! I would never touch cigarettes or try heroin – why don’t I see all alcohol in the same light yet?
I see through the blatant advertising of alcohol on the TV as a crock – how are they allowed to advertise how fun and cool it is? I have felt the peer pressure to have a drink even though I didn’t want it – I “pretended” to have a sip and then just tipped the contents in my husband’s glass. I don’t want to be seen as “uncool” or an alcoholic or someone who has a drinking problem. Where do I get my confidence to stand up to the 90%? I never had to deal with this when I quit smoking since it is so socially unacceptable!
Part of my problem is my husband still partakes – he comes home and “works” in the basement with his 6-pack or bottle of wine after we put kids to bed. I find that we are living separate lives so I don’t know where this might go…
I go to bed a lot earlier and have so much energy nowadays – the best part is that I am not grumpy mommy. You know I never envied a smoker after I quit because Allen Carr showed me how. Since becoming more aware when out with friends and I am sober, I have felt sorry for my buddies who have too much to drink in an evening – boy, they will feel it in the morning I say to myself – thank goodness that’s not me.
But I am looking for the Eureka and A-ha moment to know that I am over this time. I am still at that stage that I feel deprived some of the time (when I look at my favorite tipple). Has anyone else experienced this?
Hi I was doing so well for the fags was on my 4th month feel so low now, went back on the cigs a few days ago when I had a one night stand, I read Alan Carr Book before , and gave them up for few years , I do belive in everything he saids , I am also a bringe drinking drink alone and crying ,I feel , Iam not needed in life have no job or partner feel empty inside the drink is making me ten time worse now cigs , in parts of like I would go to the gym most days and for swim love the out doors long walks, keep a nice home i outside world would not know, except for freinds that are big drinkers
Chris
You can get back on top of it – I know you can.
I used to smoke lightly but managed to stop when everyone stopped pestering me which reminded me TO smoke; I simply forgot to. Which proves some of Allen Carr’s theory on alcohol – I wasn’t physically addicted.
I am however struggling with alcohol addiction – which proves another of his points; there is no such thing as an “addictive personality”. I have read his “control [stop] alcohol” book once in part and failed to follow all his instructions (I was rushing to finish it before Lent) and have not managed to make any change, despite the fact that I wholeheartedly agreed with every single one of the arguments he makes. I ended up in tears of frustration with myself the first day after Lent started and I’d hit the wine bottle again. Partly because I know I am strong willed (enough both to get myself annorexic as a teenager, and be able to make myself eat my way better, out of it!); partly because I know – as I am sure you do – I am not stupid (I have a PhD in Biochemistry – how stupid is that!).
I’m going to finish the Allen Carr chapters I have not read; then read it from start to finish again – some of the wonderful contributers on here appear to have success after reading twice – and follow ALL his instructions this time. And book up for an Allen Carr alcohol clinic to hammer it home to myself.
Like you I love going for a swim every day – I will start that again too, to make good use of all this time I will now have on my hands not obliterated by booze.
Do this with me, would you? And ditch those “friends” – they are not your true friends, as I’m sure you know. I’ll be your online friend if you like!
Keep in touch through this website would you?
Kat x
Hi jlg
My advice is just to not panic, reset and then restart. I know that when I used the easyway to stop smoking, it took two attempts, but only two, and I quit for life. Re-reading is good, because the ‘inside out’ model of the books means that when it really works, it’s because it has taken away the desire to drink, rather than just convincing us to quit to avoid negative consequences. Persevere, Christmas was always going to be a difficult time, but you WILL get to the point where drinking becomes irrelevant in your life.
Read your book, alot of unaswered questios So what do you do if you mess up the Day after you finish the book but truly want to.
Hi all its Xmas eve 1430 have drank half bottle of wine after 3 months off-was given wine as a Xmas present at work a couple of weeks ago and am terrified of myself!!! Thinking I can hold on….but terrified…any advice? Have read Allen cares amazing book and am now re reading it…
Allen’s book is all about putting you in the drivers seat. You call the shots and put the monsters in their place. Right now you are being deceived. You are in a position where you are being controlled by alcohol and the thoughts are such that you feel sorry for yourself and self-sabotage will be the result. Re-read the book. Put yourself in control, climb back out of that pitcher plant and live !!!
I found your story inspiring Amanda. I feel I can do this too because you had the courage to share that story. You’ve all reminded me that the only traps are the ones you set in your own mind when you give false power to alcohol. The power is inside us all the time.
Thanks to Amandan and everyone for having the guts to share your experiences.
I would like to thank Allen Carr for giving me the tools to save my own life. 2 years ago, in October I on a stupor drank to the point of a semi-comatose state, that next morning I knew had to drive my children to school. They were having a Halloween party and I had to make sure they got there with all the goodies to share with the class. Knowing how inebriated I actually was… I still chose to drive them. “I thought to my self… I got this.” I am NOT proud of this. Not 5 minutes after my children arrived safely at school, I thank my childrens guardian angel’s. I passed out at the wheel… totaling our car wrecking into an on coming truck who pushed me into a phone pole…You would think after that day I would have learned my lesson…In fact it only caused me to drink more. The more I drank the lower I became… I have got so low, that I actually did in fact blame my drinking on my stress that everyone else gave me. I also told myself, I can stop… But I never did.
I have just finished Allen’s book. Merely 30 minutes ago. I started to read his book last Thursday December 6th 2012. The thought of quiting did scare me, after all drinking heavily for over 4 years… The last thing anyone could dream of is the EasyWay, to quit.
The last chapter where he asks you to take that last drink, I had no desire or need to, My last drink was December 8th 2012.
After I finished the book I cried I still can’t believe. I AM FREE!!! I WIN!!!
THANK YOU ALLEN.
You are a hero in my mind.
I quit smoking with Allen and now I’m gonna quit drinking and you’ve inspired me.
Hugs to you
what an inspiring story will order today. Well done
I see that you are concerned about your dad lalit? I think you should realize that your dad is doing something that is negative (getting drunk), but for a positive reason (to forget the stress of business). He is in a trap, but only he has the key to get out of the trap. Comment on the positives when around him. Don’t try anything negative. And be a role model. At least he has a positive reason, but he needs to realize that he does not need alcohol and that it is only making his life worse. You, on the other hand, have no reason for drinking, you just do. Be a role model. When your dad sees that you are no longer involved with alcohol he may picture himself alcohol-free. When he decides that he might want to seek help, get him Allen’s book.
Hi everyone,
i am a student n i drink ocassionally…
For me its not a bad thing because it aint my habit.
But the problem is my dad’s drinking habit regularly disturbing my studies.
I dont know what to do…i can’t evn shout at him because its not in my eticates.
He drinks regularly to forget the tenshion of business.
Plz suggest me, what should i do, how can i help my dad.?
I must get this book… Thank u
Quite simply the greatest book ever written. Enlightening. Once your eyes are opened to the truth about alcohol you will not need or desire it ever again. Rather than thinking I will never be able to drink again, you will find yourself thinking “isn’t it great to no longer need to drink.” You will cherish your freedom and be constantly amazed at how completely everyone else has been fooled.
One day this man’s genius will be properly recognized.
I am 48 yrs old, single mom of three and struggled with a dependance on alcohol. My drinking history would be intermittent. I would start by having a few beers once a week working up to a 6 pack every other day. then the guilts set in and i would abstain. after i divorced my husband (a heroin addict), i moved my kids and i from Long Island to Buffalo where i am originally from. I had lost everything the big house, our printing business, etc. that’s when my drinking was almost daily. i put myself in aa and quit for 5 months. thought i could “control” it and had a glass of wine. it built up again where i hid the wine in my closet and sipped on it throughout the nite. (hiding it from the kids because i had made a big deal about me going to aa and quitting i didn’t want them to know i started again. then i got a dwi. wow! it was scary and humiliating. i went into treatment and started hearing the aa dialogue. i knew that didn’t work for me. then i remembered “easy way” i had bought the book 5 years ago and skimmed it quit for 57 days. i went down in my basement and searched through boxes found it read it, highlighting important information that clicked for me. i feel free! it makes sense. removing the brainwashing was the key. i am almost done with my group part of treatment. people can see the change in me. i explained to them about the book and how concentrating on your quit date creates a sense of deprivation. i am amazed that lately i have had some trouble to deal with and i don’t immediately think “i want a beer” it has been lifted. i keep re-reading the book at night to reinforce the info, because sometimes i wonder if this is too good to be true. i acknowledge that thought and don’t dwell on it and go on about my day as a nondrinker. thank you alan for all you have given us!
Hi everyone,
I read Jason vale’s book and felt that it really helped me to see things clearly. I stopped drinking for six months and then started again. After months of feeling miserable, trying and failing to control my drinking, I read Allen carr’s book and I think I now understand where I went wrong the first time. I was always thinking, I hope this approach works and, I hope I never drink again. I think I had missed the point of Jason Vale’s book. Now having read the easy way, I realize that the only way I will drink again is if I decide to. It is up to me whether I drink again and like Allen said in his book, I only have a drinking problem if I drink the stuff and have that first taste! I always remind myself of the pitcher plant story and that it is all or nothing for me. I have no control when I drink and never will. I have been sober for a month now and am really happy. Today I felt like I wanted a glass of wine and before I would have panicked. This time I just thought that is only a dangerous thought if I act on it. I re read the book and the feeling passed. Good luck everyone x
Read the book 2 or 3 times – didn’t quite sink in. Booked a session with the AC therapist in Birmingham. Went last Friday and now on day 8 – no craves – quite brilliant – I feel free!
I heard the sessions are powerful. Wish they were held in the US too. Good luck.
Hi this is my first day of not drinking again. I have stopped for short spells, once for over a year by going to AA but it really isn’t for me. Great people but the same stories over and over again were doing my head in. I have enjoyed reading your stories and feel inspired to really get my head round Allen’s easyway. I think I will start reading the book again. My husband drinks but if he wants to pour poison down his throat then that’s his choice. I started drinking to keep up with him but it is now affecting my health and I can’t go on or I will kill myself. I feel positive and more confident than ever before.
Iv ordered Allen Carrs book can’t wait to read it. I will keep ye posted after Iv started.