Hi everyone! I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately. And from time to time this is a struggle I have. Home is where I was most comfortable drinking....so how do you exist in your home and not have constant triggers? I've decided the best answer is time, a resolve, planning and hangovers. The circle of these three things. Here's what I'm thinking.....
Resolve--You have to dig your heals in and make a resolve to make a change in your life. Only we can decide to make this change. Only we can make the resolve to stop the maddness and get control over our life. No one can decide for us no matter how much they yell.
Planning--It takes time for your brain to rewire so you have to plan to be busy---plan for your brain to say let's drink. Plan for slow times. Plan to get healthy again. Plan for situations when we have to say no. (I'm a bad planner--that's something i need to work on)
Hangovers--hangovers help because if you have a setback after you've been AF for any length of time you are knocked for a loop, if you have a slip and then get a hangover. I say this from experience because, once I felt really great then I could really see how bad a hangover is. Once you get out of the haze of alcohol you can really feel what it does to your mind/body/spirit once you fall back in it.
My example of this is this past Sunday, my husband said to me...."I think you would like to drink today. It's been a while and the thiming is right for you to binge. I'm here for you." I said back...."you know what, the thought hadn't occured to me until you mentioned it just now. You might be right though on my AV working silently on me. BUT---here's the thing....while my AV might want a drink. The rest of me DOES NOT want a hang over. Those are just not worth it...."
Home is my favorite place....I want it to be AF and I enjoy my home more when it's AF....Life is better without alcohol and so is home. Planning and wanting are the key's I think. Just my thinking on this subject, anyway. :-)
Hope you are all well!