Triggers: how do you cope with them?

[katydid]

I think I really need to pay more attention to what triggers off my drinking. I think one of the worst things is seeing someone else drinking and enjoying it. Thankgoodness my OH doesnt bother with alcohol. The other thing is watching people on tv drinking and enjoying themselves. If they made alcohol illegal I think it would be relatively easy to give up.

[Finley]

Hmm Katy. I know what you mean. I can actually enjoy being out with people who are drinking while I am not - for a short time only though. I will arrange to be driving when I meet friends for dinner in order to stay AF but then I find drunk companions extremely boring after a while so it always ends up with an early night for me. Funnily enough, people drinking (and enjoying it) on TV shows is a much greater trigger for me - Come Dine with Me in particular. It triggers drinking thoughts on a regular basis and I have enjoyed so many times sitting down with a glass of chilled white wine to watch the show - BUT CDWM is only on for an hour and I'm afraid me giving into the wine bottle usually results in me finishing the lot If I want to avoid that situation I have to make sure I'm not actually thirsty and not hungry either...

I'm not 'sorted' by any means but I do find it helps if I can anticipate triggers in advance and make a decision about what to do about them. I need to start off by telling myself I won't drink today (and usually posting on the I won't drink thread too, just as an extra affirmation to myself) and then thinking what is it that might trigger me. If it's a stressful thing coming up (whether work or personal) it's really important for me to make sure I have a plan for what to do immediately afterwards - often involves drinking large amounts of fizzy water and as soon as I can, running a deep and relaxing bath.

The most difficult triggers though, are the ones we can't anticipate - and I'm afraid I'm still struggling (not always successfully) with them

[MissCheese]

I agree Finley, I find being around drunk people, even those slightly drunk really boring now. Watching people enjoying a drink can be a trigger though!

Katy what I do in those situations is try to project forward and think about how sick they are going to feel lying in bed with the room spinning and how bad their hangover will be. That often helps me but if not then I move onto distracting myself and/or removing myself from the situation.

Have you been out with people socially who are drinking yet? They are so dull!!

[katydid]

Thanks for your suggestions finlay . I'd just typed a long post and now Ive gone and lost it. I'll do the same as you and go on the no drinking thread.
Most of the post was about CDWM which I used watch all the
Id better post this now before I lose it

[Finley]

I'm watching CDWM now - accompanied by my 3rd large glass of fizzy water

[katydid]

Well done on the water I used get something to eat so I could join in. I liked the ones where they show 4 or 5 shows 1 after the other

[Finley]

Yeah - I like the 'omnibus' editions too - even watch repeats sometimes (sad isn't it?) but lots of water and a full belly are essential if I'm to watch without being tempted by the EAF x

[faith2be]

Large quantities of fizzy anything helps me - but this last week I have been guzzling AF beer. I know it doesnt help everyone, but it is helping me right now, and it got me through a huge trigger yesterday.

The amazing thing though is - how hard it is to drink even 4 cans of AF beer - but there was never any problem polishing off far more than that of the evil variety
I worked out the volumes of liquids, wine, beer etc that I was consuming, it was terrible (not to mention the calories). Well, AF beer isn't exactly slimline either, but much better than the alternative - especially since I excercise more now (instead of sitting around drinking...)

I agree Miss Cheese - and many of you have posted about doing the fast-forward 12 hours excercise when a trigger arises. I visualise having passed out, woken with a mortal hangover, and desperately struggling to function at work (or not) - and that really does help.
I took a photo of my face on my mobile - one desperately hungover day - and whenever I wobble - I look at that. Puffy face, bright red blotches, swollen lips ( ), sunken eyes... WHAT a mess - and I actually went to work looking like that (I blamed it on post-flu).

Yepp - that pic and the 12-hour fast-forward is a great trigger-killer
Day 5 here, although would have been day 10 if friday hadnt happened. Ho hum.
sorry long wittering post....

[Finley]

Fantastic Faith It's not 'just' day 5 - it's nine days out of ten AF and that's no mean achievement
How brave of you to take a photo of yourself like that - I avoid even looking in the mirror when I'm hungover. It's terrible, that sense of self-loathing that occurs when I've binged. I feel old, ugly, useless, lack confidence....the list of negatives (which probably should be posted on another thread) goes on and on. It's amazing though, how wonderful it feels to wake up and realise I didn't drink the night before (sometimes it takes me a few moments to realise this in the mornings - does that happen to anyone else?).

I have been suffering whisperings from the EAF this last hour or so and Faith, your post here has helped me. I will force myself to visualise my face in the morning if I give in - and I will resist....I will resist.....I will....xxxx

[faith2be]

Finners, dear - get something AF down your neck immediately! Have something to eat, then do something nice, if you're finished work. Walk the dog - and do not buy wine.
Fast forward to the morning, where you will feel incredibly proud and happu to wake without a hangover (unless withdrawal kicks in??)
Be strong - I'm here to bop the EAF for you. Just bring her on - I'm ready

[katydid]

Katy what I do in those situations is try to project forward and think about how sick they are going to feel lying in bed with the room spinning and how bad their hangover will be. That often helps me but if not then I move onto distracting myself and/or removing myself from the situation.

Have you been out with people socially who are drinking yet? They are so dull!!

I know what you mean Miss Cheese, but the people on tv rarely seem to get hangovers or they get over them very quickly, they just seem to enjoy drinking a lot and the person in real life that I was thinking of doesn't seem to get them either, just enjoys a few drinks most days. Of course the reality is that if I drink, the room will be spinning and I will be ill.

Actually, I was thinking anyway that there are other things too that are perhaps greater triggers - feeling stressed about various things in my life and not being able to get things done. That's what I'll have to deal with