Re 145: 4 Strategies to Utilize in Social Situations

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These 4 Strategies will help us get through any social situation. Will power can only last us so long.

Accountability
Play the tape forward
Always have an exit strategy
Stop and think. Alcohol is a poison.

Neal, with 20 months since his last drink, shares his story

SHOW NOTES

[8:20] Paul Introduces Neal. I am in my late 50’s. I have 2 boys, 2 grandchildren. I do maintenance work, I like to go camping and spend time with our granddaughter who lives with us.

[11:50] Paul- In 1990, was your wife leaving you what got you sober?

Neal- Yes. I was driving a taxi in Seattle at that time. The AA world convention came to town. It was a huge emotional relief. I cried throughout the whole event.

[16:06] Paul- Let’s back it up to 2008 when you took that first drink after 18 years of sobriety. Can you walk us through that?

Neal- The pressures, and there were times I would tell my wife to bring home a 6 pack of beer. One day she finally did. It took 6 months for me to ramp up to where I was after that.

[25:04] Paul- Curiosity is killing the cat, what was the reason?

Neal- I had to go on Antabuse in November of 2015. I had to go to the pharmacy and take the white pill. Antabuse and alcohol do not mix.

[29:43] Paul- With nearly 20 years of sobriety logged, do you still get cravings, and if you do still get them, what do you do?

Neal- I don’t get any cravings. Like I said, on that day when I read the obsession, the cravings, it was all lifted, it’s gone. I try to remain calm. Step back and take a deep breath. I try to reflect how they affect me.

[33:34] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? I was at a former employers business and I asked my wife to come down to give me a ride home, she came down, and brought somebody else with her and I flew off the handle and was yelling and screaming, and they called the cops. I wouldn’t come out, they couldn’t come in. I finally came out, but it was scary.
Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? It was the last week of my drinking. I laid in bed, and called in sick everyday.
What’s your plan moving forward? To keep connected with AA. Keep going on, and enjoying my 2 grandchildren.
What’s your favorite resource in recovery? I have to say Podcasts. I work alone a lot. I listen to 10’s of 100’s of hours of podcasts.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? Go to meetings, stay connected.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? One day at a time.
You might be an alcoholic if… when you are opening that bottle to take a swig, at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, or 5:00 in the morning just to get another 45 minutes or hour of sleep.