How do you manage the temptation to drink?

Good news.

I got a new job. I said that last time, didn’t I?

Well, as a matter of fact, I got one offer and then I got an interview for another job. The same day I had the interview, I got the offer for a second job. I decided to take it. I start in seven days.

Very excited. I’m excited, but I’m also anxious to get started. Like I have filled out all the HR forms I need to for now, it’s just a waiting game.

It’s in the heart of the city. I mentioned that to my psychologist, and said it’s going to be a little terrifying being in the city again considering I had a rather large breakdown last time I went there.

There are hotels EVE-RY-WHERE in the city.

She said that I needed to find a backup plan. I enjoy bars and alcohol because I need an escape from the overwhelm that can come from work. But there are other ways to find a quiet place. So whenever I want to drink alcohol, I should stop at a cafe and drink coffee instead. Or go to a bookstore.

In fact, there’s a bookstore that has a cafe inside of it, so I can basically eat, drink AND read there.

Eat, drink and be merry, literally.

She recommended that if I am really serious about cutting alcohol out of my life, I can go to an AA meeting. Then she said something else, though, which kind of contradicted what I thought AA meetings were. She said “the point of AA is recognising that alcohol is a part of your life, and recognising what role it does play and what role it shouldn’t play in your life”.

I thought AA was all about complete abstinence.

For people who have managed an alcohol problem, do you cut it out completely or have you learned to drink in moderation. I have heard that before, “certain types of people can’t drink” or “once you cross that line, you can never go back to social drinking”. Is that true or is it kind of outdated?

Edit: Apparently there is a program that talks about drinking in moderation, but even then, you have to go 30 days without ANY alcohol first to learn if it’s right for you, identify how to control triggers and apply a back-up plan as well.