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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.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Cafe RE– Use the promo code opportunity to waive the set up fee.
Sober Selfies! – Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com
“We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!”
