A few posts lately reminded me of some additional coping skills I learned while in outpatient treatment so I thought I would share some past homework with y'all.

"""As a person in recovery, you'll occasionally find yourself in situations where you are entertaining the idea of drinking.  Most likely you drank in similar situations in the past, and now you are focusing on those memories. Certain friends who you frequently drank with, the Sunday afternoon football game, staying in a motel, chronic back pain, your favorite bar, or being left along for the weekend, are all examples of situations that could prompt you to drink. 

"If you don't want to slip, stay out of the slippery places!" is a common adage you'll hear from successfully recovering people.  And it's true.  Even though expert rock climbers trust their abilities, they don't stand out on a ledge high on a mountainside;  they stay close to the wall where it is safe.

What the 12 step community refers to as a "slip" is still a relapse.  The term simply points out the differences between a long series of binges, broken promises and tragedy (a full blown relapse) and a single drinking episode that you can learn from.  Though still both dangerous and upsetting, a slip can motivate you to look at why it happened and what you can do to make sure it doesn't happen again. Whether you drink once or a hundred times, you have relapsed.

Before you can stay out of the slippery places, though, you must know what and where they are.  So it's a good idea to think carefully about your world, and places and situations that increase your danger of relapsing.

Name 5 situations that are dangerous for you?

The simplest way to deal with dangerous situations is to stay away from them entirely.  Stay out of bars, don't spend time with friends who drink excessively,  don't keep alcohol in your house.  Read through your first list of dangerous situations and make an X through each one you can avoid.

Most likely, you'll have listed a few situations you can avoid.  Since the world isn't going to stop drinking alcohol for your sake, a plan will help you deal with these dangerous situations. For example, if you must regularly meet with business clients over lunch, decide how you will answer questions concerning your choosing soda water over a drink.  ("I don't like to drink when I'm working, or I'm just not much of a drinker, or I quit drinking" for example.)  If holidays with extended family are especially difficult for you, figure out how you could make things easier for yourself and your sobriety next time around. (Don't stay overnight, or, if you're out of town, find out where the local 12 step meetings are held.)  If you think through the possible options and make a plan, then you'll be ready when the time comes and won't be putting your sobriety in jeopardy.

Choose two of your dangerous situations that can't be avoided and make a coping plan for each.

Dangerous situation one:

How I use to deal with it:

How I will deal with it now that I am sober:

Dangerous situation two:

How I use to deal with it:

How I will deal with it now that I am sober:"""

That's it for this lesson folks!  I'll add more as time permits.

God Bless