Addiction By Definition

I'm glad you can tell the difference.

Know something like how that feels -- I had neuropathy in my feet following chemo (side effect), and it made my feet nerves fire indiscriminately, and I could not distinguish false signals from real ones, and this created balance problems. Gone now, thankfully. Of course it counts, but be careful ... healthy living can be addictive [/kidding]

Today is the hundredth day of sobriety and I am starting to feel fear ratyher than simply anxiety. The fear is about events, circumstances, and people in my past. Some of these problems are mean't for today....like the fear of losing my legs to diabetes or the fear that I wont get my job back and that I will be broke and sick in my older years.Of course, God has blessed me and I have the intelligence and ability to fight these circumstances....but it is almost like ringo is prophetic---in another thread he says I have an obsession about having things done for me...and perhaps my fear is rooted way back in childhood about having to grow up without a father.(he died when I was 17) and I was always provided for and taken care of.Im not gonna get too psychoanalytical, but I will report that as of today I am experiencing some unfamiliar emotions.

The unfamiliar feelings are a sign of progress, getting out of the old rut comfort place and stepping out on your own.keep it up.<3

That may be good, as it may have been the familiar ones that were the problem?

You can do it, Phat!Who knew that the new-you (one no longer in the habit of gambling and drinking) could come with some new-emotions? Hang in there, and keep fighting the good fight.100 days, whoo!!!

I am very proud of you. I know a few people with addictions and can say very few get as far as you have. Keep it up. Do whatever you need to do to be successful in moving forward. You have done the hardest part.
Remember your friends(yes friends) here at EVC support you and are rooting for you and ready to do what needs to be done to continue to support you.

Thank you, Theodoric. That means a lot. According to Dr.Carnes, the emotions will intensify after roughly 130 days for several months. I plan on reporting my progress every 20 days or so...and recording what I feel. I have a counselor, the support of my church, and am attending a step group.Now that the initial addiction is under control, my secondary addiction of emotional co dependence is looming large. I have always had friends younger than myself...many of whom are now like younger brothers--but at the time I met them I identified with them so much I nearly lived vicariously through them.As a future leader---I want to become a chaplain rather than just a volunteer--I need to be emotionally healthy.My 3rd addiction is overeating or hi sugar foods---which I cannot handle, being diabetic. What most people do not fully understand is that once I choose to become sober from all of my habits, the root cause of the addictions manifests as a deep pained anxiety which I have yet to identify.We all have our challenges in life, though---and my hope and prayer is that by my journaling this stuff, perhaps others can someday follow the sober path.

Doing it for science! Ha ha

Today is Day 105! I am facing pain and anxiety off and on, and hypothesize that I always have felt these things yet previously self medicated through addictions which i have now stopped.God plays a big role in my recovery, but He does not do it for me...He gives me the mindfulness to remain sober.I dont have anything new to report, but I sense that the feelings will intensify in the next ...oh lets call it 90 more days. Pray that I stay sober. I believe that God wills that I make it, but He wont stop me should I trick myself into a relapse.

Every day is a new thing. Keep up the good work.

Keep on plugging Phat. I am glad to hear about your success.

I applied the 4 step method to my anxiety and also prayed and today my mind feels like im a new person!

quote:

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Step 1: Relabel. Identify the deceptive brain messages (i.e., the unhelpful thoughts, urges, desires and impulses) and the uncomfortable sensations; call them what they really are.

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Step 2: Reframe. Change your perception of the importance of the deceptive brain messages; say why these thoughts, urges, and impulses keep bother you (it's not ME, it's just the BRAIN!).

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Step 3: Refocus. Direct your attention toward an activity or mental process that is wholesome and productive - even while the false and deceptive urges, thoughts, impulses, and sensations are still present and bothering you.

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Step 4: Revalue. Clearly see the thoughts, urges, and impulses for what they are: sensations caused by deceptive brain messages that are not true and that have little to no value.

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I knew about Schwartz a year ago, but am now applying his 4 step method to deal with the feelings I am experiencing.

You GO dude!

It seems that I am in a feisty argumentative mood as day 107 is lived. I feel like defending and defining or redefining my faith as I believe it.One Pastor challenged me---do I trust God or science?Personally I don't see the two as mutually exclusive.I definitely believe that trusting someone greater than I is crucial to success.Jeffrey Schwartz, in explaining his 4 step method, maintains that the way to overcome the stuck brain is to observe ones irrational feelings from a 3rd person perspective. He calls such a mindset the "impartial spectator". It is definitely one way to make it through the irrational feelings phase of healing.