Helpful - knowing the triggers...
Hi,
It's Saturday and somehow I made it through with my husband leaving on Thursday and not coming back until tomorrow night..... I realize what a trigger that always was for me and how it can happen so easily and boom you can go off track. But - - - though I had thoughts about going, I talked to a friend about it and before I knew her she had had a problem with drugs and overcame it. She's grown and changed so much even since I've known her - the last 3 years. Anyway, addiction is addiction to some degree; she had a little bit of the gambling bug as well. So - one thing that she told me that she learned in her counseling was when you have thoughts of relapsing - think of why - the letters H A L T help us because these are very common triggers. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired... you can add ones that you've experienced but these are four basic ones - mine was lonely now that I think back - my husband was traveling a lot and I was lonely at times and then got hooked. It sounds so simple and logical, but when I was in it it sure wasn't. :] Anyway - here I am today, staying away, one day at a time.
Hope all is well & that these letters help someone today.
Take care,
Smokeygirl
It's Saturday and somehow I made it through with my husband leaving on Thursday and not coming back until tomorrow night..... I realize what a trigger that always was for me and how it can happen so easily and boom you can go off track. But - - - though I had thoughts about going, I talked to a friend about it and before I knew her she had had a problem with drugs and overcame it. She's grown and changed so much even since I've known her - the last 3 years. Anyway, addiction is addiction to some degree; she had a little bit of the gambling bug as well. So - one thing that she told me that she learned in her counseling was when you have thoughts of relapsing - think of why - the letters H A L T help us because these are very common triggers. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired... you can add ones that you've experienced but these are four basic ones - mine was lonely now that I think back - my husband was traveling a lot and I was lonely at times and then got hooked. It sounds so simple and logical, but when I was in it it sure wasn't. :] Anyway - here I am today, staying away, one day at a time.
Hope all is well & that these letters help someone today.
Take care,
Smokeygirl
Replies
That\'s really good. Thanks for that. Well, I am always hungry, but I always eat. lol. hugs barb
Having the bf go away was always a good reason for me to escalate my gambling!
I\'ve realized lately that when I was gambling, I had gotten to a place where I had given up on life.....didn\'t have a goal I was working toward....unhappy with my relationship....not happy with me and had given up on things getting better. Depression....definitely. Angry about it....definitely!
When I cultivate hope and excitement, add goals I\'m wanting to reach....the idea of returning to gambling actually disgusts me! I still have thoughts from time to time....a local casino still sends me \"free money\" offers (yeah, right!) but I know what that \"free money\" leads to.....
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired....leads to weakness, comfort-seeking, and maybe a little entitlement as well....quite the recipe for succumbing to a self-destructive behavior with short-term rewards!
I used to attend a support group called \"The Solution\" which was based on asking ourselves \"How do I feel? What do I need? Do I need to get help?\" Although it was aimed at weight-loss, I think it can apply to any behavior we might use when HALT is on the scene...
I feel hungry, bored, lonely, tired....do I reach for a supersize bowl of ice cream (or run to a casino)?
Or instead....
identify the feelings....angry, sad, lonely, tired, scared.....
what do I need?.... a light snack...a nap....an accounting of my blessings....reaching for a good book........
Do I need help?.....calling a friend or going to a meeting......
Thanks for bring up the HALT concept. It makes a difference to be conscious of the things that can trigger the behaviors I want to avoid!
Congrats on avoiding the traps and staying on track!
ODAAT works for me!
Hugs, Dianne