Beat Alcoholism with Positive Thinking
Focussing on negative thoughts as opposed to positive ones leaves you feeling depressed and unmotivated.
If you concentrate on how many mistakes you’ve made, or how you haven’t managed to stop drinking like you wanted to, maybe how you’ve ‘failed’ yourself and those around you, then of course you won’t feel good about yourself. Notice when you’re thinking these thoughts, and take control of them. Here’s where you need to make a choice to -
Concentrate on positive thoughts instead :
- What will improve in your life when you’ve cut down or stopped drinking?
- How much better will you feel?
- What improvements have you already made?
- Have you managed some slight reductions already?
- If so, what benefits have you started to notice because of that?
- Are you still essentially a good person, even though you’ve made mistakes?
The theory of ‘negative suggestion’ warns that if you focus on NOT doing something, it’s more likely that you’ll end up doing it, than if you were focussing on something else entirely. So if you find yourself thinking, “I must not drink, I must not drink” it’s a warning sign that you need to start concentrating on something else instead - distract yourself with another task, something absorbing. Just telling yourself “I mustn’t think about not drinking” is clearly still in that loop.
Likewise if you need to quit for a while, but you’re thinking, “Oh no, I’ll never be able to drink again“, then that will undoubtedly keep you focussed on the negative. Maybe you can drink again in the future; you don’t need to decide that now, focus on the present moment, and how good you feel about not drinking today.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
that was a great article above, it is monday and yesterday was mothers day I had the best time of my life it was the first weekend in a very long time I was sober but I still wanted that drink even though I was happy and nothing was going wrong, I came in to work today wondering what is wrong with me and feeling like crap because of all the weekends i was so drunk to play with my son and how this weekend was so fun. i missed all them fun weekends because I was too hung over . thanks for the article it was a very good thing for a monday morning
August 3rd, 2008 at 2:43 am
i no exacly how u feel.things have been hard for me too.i have a loverly partner and two loverly kids you can do this,but only you can do it.theres lots of help out there ,ive very nearly lost everything.i realize now i wot i have and have been very selfish.you can stop punishing yourself!!!just try its not easy be prepared,ive been in detox and failed.but my family have suffered greatly. try not to be too hard on yourself.its never too late too get help then your little one can have his mummy back.and you can be you again .its a great feeling ive been there i just messed up.but not this time !!! i want me back an most of all normality for my family.you can do it keep trying an if at first you dont succeed try and try again .remember your not on your own.
August 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
that s what best about this site i felt so alone before, like i was the only one but now i realise i have to do something.
Do u know what s worse seeing the sadness in my husbands eyes in the morning
tee xx
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
I found this site yesterday and it has really strengthened my resolve. My drinking has gradually increased over the last few months so I’m cutting down.
I realised that I needed to start getting out and about doing activities that weren’t about the pub so I started Kickboxing with my son on saturdays (it’s fab - I recommend it for stress!) and this will be the first class I’m going to that I don’t have a slight hangover.
I mean, who doesn’t want a drink on a friday night? That’s what the Brits do isn’t it? You work all week then get pissed on friday night. It’s a basic human right! Well I’ve decided I like my weekends more than I like being drunk and although I still like drinking, especially out for a meal, I absolutely HATE hangovers! I have a 2 year old and the two don’t combine AT ALL.
Me and my husband went to see and outdoors film screening in a park last night and I only had one (complimentary) glass of champagne. I did think about having a glass of wine when I got in, but I thought about how I felt at kickboxing the week before (tired, couldn’t concentrate, bit wobbly, very sweaty) and then I visualised how great I would feel in the morning if I had a sober, early night. And guess what? I feel bloody marvellous - now I’m off to be a ninja.
I gave up smoking with positive thinking - it is hard to give anything up because it’s a loss. I gave up smoking because I decided to try for a baby, so I had a really exciting positive reason to stop. With drinking I’m replacing all the negative stuff with a new slimmer, fitter me. My son is 9 and has just got to the age where we can do more stuff like climbing, sailing, horseriding etc. so I’ve scheduled in weeks and weeks of really high energy activities with him. Maybe I will end up having to drag my sad ass along hungover to some, but everytime that happens I know I’ll regret it even more and want it to happen even less.
The amount I was drinking was just stopping me having fun and my new years resolution was to have more fun. For me, planning something pleasurable and exciting every free day I have helps me focus on a positive future and helps me resist that glass of wine if I’m tempted.
This is a great site and I shall definately be dipping into it as and when I need to. Thank you!