Argh man I have SO many voices in my head it spins. They are always arguing. And sometimes I want to hit myself. Does that make sense? I feel like Fred Flinstone with that little green alien on his shoulder.

I have used meditation to observe these "voices" more then get upset by them. I am trying to get to the point where I can be simply here and now-in a place of no-mind, no voices. But until then, it is not something I take too seriously anymore.

I see it mostly like jibber jabber-especially when it comes to worrying and predicting the future.

I can definitely relate to that. Thank God they've quieted down in recovery.

In my early days, I heard alcoholism referred to as the 'thinkers disease' and I think that is so true when it comes to 'voices'.

It is funny to come here and read about this as I have just said to my sponsor about this very thing.

Last night I had a family situation and I thought I handled it well. Then my 'stinking thinking' (the voices) come and say 'well you shouldve done this, you shouldve said that, you shouldve left it, etc etc) then.......this morning......

I wake up from a dream like the morning you describe for you. My HP tells me that 'all will be revealed' and that I do not have to know all the answers right now.

How freaky to come on and this post to be top of the list!

HP sure does work in mysterious ways :))))

Yes!! I too had to ,Really start to learn to separate those voices. In NA at the beginning , they suggested never to act on my first thought. The AA ers called it the The committee .Yes!! John Bradshaw and My therapist said it was My critical parent, still shaming my actions and thoughts. I remember Alicia and I were real into prayer , being nice to one another and trying to not pre- judge ,stupid shit coming out of each others mouths Lol Through all of this constant mind attacking my mind stuff Lol The rule of thumb was long talks with Ed as he ,though sober 18 yrs. and had only just begun to go to meetings. Very useful to get Ed's take on his head constantly berating him...Ed said he'd in a non - threatening way ask is head ..'Where did come up with that Info ? I reject that idea Ha!!! some call this ism In my head , Ego state or "the mind slayer of the real" the Course in Miracles,covers negative self talk in a very direct way (lots of examples) Many different approaches I've taken ( allgood) but meetings , prayer and mediation , Fellowship and step work the foundation for me .All the rest a product of ,or just icing on the Cake Yummmm!!!None easy but attainable:)
Billy

if I listened I wouldn't be typing this right now. The voice in my head told me to go back to sleep.

Ha!!! nice D/t a little distraction k Lionel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FMOf0luheM

Redo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14l75vz-R9w

My wife's sponsor used to call it "The Itty Bitty Shi**y Committee."

I think that's about right.

Ohhhhh those voices! LOL. I have 2 "people" in my head, and one is always talking!!! The other is just listening. I've put faces on them and one is a woman (I don't know why) and the other is a wuss of a man. (can't figure that out) The woman talks constantly, trying to confuse the daylights out of me!!! The man just sits there, saying nothing.

So when they get too loud, I've conjured up this clear "wall" and I push this "button" and the wall goes up so she can talk her head off but I can't hear her. Then things get quiet! That's the ONLY way I can stop the voices in my head. But hey, it works!

My shrink said it was great ~ so guess I'm not nuts. lol.

I totally understand what you mean when you say voices in your head. They tell me to be sneaky and stop at the liquor store. Or they tell me that no one will know if I drink. They chime in when my fiance goes to work and say things like "you totally have time for a few drinks before he gets home". These voices are horrible and since I have joined dailystrength I come here when these voices act up.
I think of it sometimes like those two beings on either shoulder. On your right shoulder is your angel and on your left is your devil. For me it seems like my devil is ten times louder than my angel but with work and sharing with others like myself I think I am getting it under control.

4S it makes sence to me. Billy dont fence me in. That reminded me of how my head was. lol Only mine had this constant all in tag team wrestling match going on.

Some of the names you used tell me I wasnt the only one with these voices.
jibber jabber " The Critic! ", "The Itty Bitty Shi**y Committee." Angel-devil. They all sound familiar.

When I said I was left with this one voice I think it became my conscience and helped me know right from wrong in recovery.

One example. I was a compulsive thief, it was as though I had Velcro fingers everything I touched seemed to stick to them. Them one day I took a packet of double A batteries from the office at work for my cassette player.

And as I was leaving work to go home this voice said to me what are you doing you are trying to live a honest life now and this is not honest. Bloody voice.

So I turned around went back to the office put the batteries back and just as I was leaving the manager walk in and I said do you have a couple of batteries I can use he said yea take as many as you like.

I have found it amazing what happens when I listen to my conscience.

I have a CD and tape by Bob Earl it was done in the 80s its called Headtrips. If you get a chance to listen to it I am sure you will like it.If you go to this site you can download it for free and have a listen.

bob-e-ranchomirage1980.mp3 / then click on xa speakers .

Thanks for the replies .

God Bless

Lionel

Love that post and the responses:) Yes, I felt like I had a chorus in my head the few months before I stopped drinking. I wasnt sure I had a drinking problem, I was SURE I had a voices problem. Funny thing is, about 2 weeks after stopping the drinking, increasing the mindfullness through yoga, therapy, etc. the voices quited down. I still have to occasionally settle them down, but its peaceful in my own skin now. For that I am so thankful!

Before I came around A.A. I had those something bad. I dreaded nightime and being alone. Took me awhile to understand about them. In meetings I heard people refere to them as the chipmonks, or the commity. I don't have much trouble with that now, accept when I'm alone too much, and start worrying, but at least I recognize it now, and I know it's just yacking going on for whatever.

I have 2 brain cells left and all they do is argue.
I also used to compare my brain as a television screen with all the teleprompters going along the bottom & top of the TV screen.
Temperature, time and the stock markets running non' stop.
Really is a great thing to be given some tools to combat this shit.
Thanx for letting me share.