WELCOME IN a newcomer’s story My first 3 months – by Ed-T What was the turning point that What are your biggest sources What are the biggest challenges made you seek help? of strength or motivation? you faced in your recovery? When I realized that my body was The fellowship is a huge source of Withdrawals and temptations are not functioning as well anymor motivation. These are people wh your biggest enemies. Withdrawal e an d tha tI wa s physicall y abusi o understan d wha tIa m goi s will tell you that you need a fix f ve with my ex-girlfriend at that time ng overcome throug h. wh at I fee l, a nd h ow or your screwed up sleeping patte . I as ked her to bea motiva tor hurdles! rns but t hat is fal se. Temptati ons fo rme to at l east cut dow n or will tell you that you are safe no quit but she got more addicted How has your relationships with w and can drink, but that is also false. than I ever was. That was when I family and friends change? It is som ethin g tha tI do no t state knew I neede d help. I wa sn’t in the want being to ch all enge or test anymore It’s hard explaining to people who of mind. in the program for 3 months. are not alcoholics, but there ar e those close friends who have t Briefly describe your life prior? What’s the most significant moment he same drinking patterns and k or milestone in your recovery? I started drinking in early teenage now the struggl es. Now t hat I’m years on family holidays. The olde off alcohol, I can see that my fr In my second month of recovery, r boys on the tour were drinking a iends genuinely care for me. I try Step 2 just clicked. The Buddhis nd my fathe r, an alcohol ic t to get my mot her to go to BR t Heart Sutra teachings says “Matt oo, allo wed me to dri nk. Drink ing IDGE (a session av ail able at N er is no differe nt fr om emptine and smoking came like second nature. AMS IMH) albeit not being an AA sess ss, emptin ess is no differ ent ion, it’sa glimpse of it so that from Mat ter. Ma tter it sel f is empti and my family can und erstand my ness, empt iness i tse lf is mat te that I’m not alone. r.” If dr ink ing is my “every thin g” and if “eve rythin g means no thin What has been most effective in g”, then for what reason do I drink overcoming cravings or triggers? if it has no Keeping your mind active and focused and not at your usual fi x timings . Sleepin gon a regul ar patte rn hel ps to o! Althou gh it wo uld t ake s ome t ime get ting adju sted bac k to “norm al” , it What is a higher power over wi ll be all wort h it. An other alcohol? The container that holds it metho dw ill be the “diet pat tern . Without it, it would fall to gravity a ”. W hen one s tarts a diet, oft ent nd air would evaporate it. All these imes o ne w ould s ay “i’ ll start it t are Higher alcohol Powers that are greater omorrow”, use the same method fo and even yourself! r alcohol, “start it tomorrow” just get and through this 24 hours, one hour repeat it again and again.