What I've learned to do is make yourself as busy as you can. That can be cleaning, journaling, exercising, comming here on D.S, going to meetings, or just about anything. We put a lot of energy, and effort into getting, and using our drugs, and we need to do that at times with our recovery. Sitting, and wishing it to go away won't work. Recovery involves action on our part. If you find your dwelling on thoughts of using, make yourself all the more busy. Sometimes if I get a thought of wanting to use, I get some paper and write all the bad things that have, or might happen. Usually when we get thoughts of using, our minds seem to forget all the bad stuff. We only think of the high. That's our addictive thinking. If you burn yourself on a stove, chances are you will remember that pain and not do it again. Not so with addiction. No matter how bad the pain was, most times we are unable to bring that to mind when we get thoughts of using, and we do it over, and over. Wish you all the best. James

hi well done on your clean time, i started using coke when i was 18 and my clean time is dec 8 2009 and im 23 now - so not so disimilar from yourself. i think what jamesross said keeping yourself busy, i try and have a plan for the day. i do the just for today readings in the morning and say the serenity prayer every morning. i think surrounding yourself with recovering addicts is important, so when ive been close to relapse i have to pick up that telephone and ring someone from the fellowship - do you have people numbers? Also working a 12 step program with my sponsor has helped alot understand this illness and take action in my life to stay clean.

if i dont do anything in the day to keep myself to stay clean then the urge to use grows. So today i have a driving lesson, im going to learn some lines because i volunteered to be in a play and i will probably to a bit of cleaning. tonight im going to ring someone up from the fellowship coz i have a few things floating around my head that i need to share.

thank you guys for responding. I am in a 12 step program and have a sponsor but sometimes i feel it is not enough. I do not have any friends here that are recovering addicts. I am basically starting over because my close friends gave up on me long ago because of my addiction and all the friends after that are still using. I did get a new phone and number but I worry I might run into someone. I am thankful for the advice you both gave. I will try to find something to occupy my mind.

Say to yourself and really believe this too shall pass, take it one moment by moment. If you believe in a higher power, ask for help. Believe me there is a such thing as divine intervention.

I used to not be spiritual at all but since this last time of rehab, I have become more so. I know that I am meant to kick this habit but it is so hard. I had to call my sponsor tonight because I really could not stop thinking about using. I know that I need to ask for help more often than I do.

You know, don't be scared of those thoughts. Getting them is an oportunity for you to grow, and learn that those thoughts, and your addiction are not who you are. I have many thoughts go through my mind daily, but I've learned that I don't have to associate myself with them. I know who I am, and I've learned about my God through doing the steps. If my thoughts don't align themselves with what my God wants for me, I disregard them. I don't have to live according to my thoughts. They can be deceptive, just as feelings can. What I feel is not always right. I look at my thoughts like a play. They all try to say, and do all sorts of things, but I've chosen one director to run the show, and I listen to that. Takes time, and practise, but you can do it. All the best. James

one of my biggest fears is of being alone, it was inevitable that i would loose alot of friend when i went into recovery because its too dangerous for me to be around people using, if they want to visit me then they can, some have but alot havent! my sponsor told me you will never be alone coz you will have the fellowship, i thought no one wants my number or want to talk to me, but i pushed myself to get those numbers coz i had to to stay clean and i ring them and you know its not up to me to say they dont wanna hear me, because i am powerless over people, and me ringing them could be helping their recovery, now because i ring them i get phone calls back asking for help and i feel useful again!

well early on it was meetings,meetings,meetings..then i ventured out 2 doing stuff i use to like b4 using like going out to eat ,movies,flea marts,etc...then gradually i went after new things like school,new hobbies..i realized there was a lot of time avalible now from not having to use and the point is enjoy whatever ur doing stay in the day and keep coming back til u get it right..this is ur recovery u have to figure out what brings u serenity and peace threw out it ..

Thanks to all of you for your support. This is more than I thought I would ever get. One thing I always struggled with was getting lost in my thoughts and emotions which at times fueled my using. It is hard for me to stop myself and think rationally but I am working on it. My biggest fear was to be alone. I am alone now and it is scary but through here I feel like I can do this and that I really do have friends and people to help me through. I go to my meetings a lot and I spend a lot of time calling my sponsor but I hope I can get to the point where I can help myself more. Sometimes I feel so dependent on others but after being so dependent on drugs for so long, I know I will be independent soon.

there is a thing called cognative therapy..i took this along wth a/a and n/a in early recovery..i taught me how 2 challenge my negative thoughts something i had never done..i found those thoughts had very little validity unless i gave them validation..when i had rested my disease i could began to rebuild and rethink those negatives and turn them around..right now there are a lot of negatives in my life but the tools i take with me keep me..dont feel bad leaning on others in the program thats what they are for ..learning not to bottle it all all and do it my way was a challenge but my reward is being free from alcohol and drugsand that far outweighs my pride..when it comes to asking for help i have none even still i pour my heart out at meeting, to sponsers, councelors, etc..i know staying clean is the most important thing in my life..the rest can be worked out in time.

Thank you.I am going to start cognitive therapy soon. I had tried it before but I think because I was not ready to challenge my thoughts, it did not work. I have always hated asking for help with anything but after everything, I know it is a good thing to ask for help when I need it.

I agree with everyone else and the most common response sounds cliche but is really true...it is VERY much one day at a time...sometimes one minute at a time...I feel like cravings can be powerful but they DO have a limit. In other words...they will come on but they WILL go away...if you have to, dont let yourself go anywhere until the urgent feeling has passed. I have found if I make a move during the worst of a craving, I regret it.

thank you. it is very much one day at a time for my recovery. im very stressed out and its hard for me to resist the cravings. I am hoping to not relapse again.

congrats on yours sober time. i am so proud of you!! keep it up.. one day at a time. keep reaching out for support.

you have only ONE thing to do everyday.

DO NOT PICK UP. no matter what.

keep it up!!

Congrats!!!! I woke up one day and surrender to a higher power walked in to a NA meeting and then church and haven't looked back. I will admit that I got rid of all those who I hung around with and found this site. We are addicts and always will be. I did it for 27 years and we do not get rid of the urges over night. As you stay away from the evil each day every day gets better than the day before. Hang in there and my prayers go out to you and know that there are a lot of good people here and their wisdom is second to none!!!!