hang in there.this is never a one man show.we can kick this diseases ass together,but we use when we are alone.

 do you have a sponsor?how many n.a. meetings do you attend?

what things will you lose if you use again(self worth and self respect,relationships,money,freinds,job etc)

your life,perhaps

just fast forward the tape,and see what it is like after that last hitshotdrink etc...will it be worth it?

these feelings will pass.trust me.

pray about it,whether you feel conected to a higher power or not.

dont use no matter what....

Hi Scott!

Here are some of the tools of recovery that I have to use on a daily basis;

Meetings - Get to as many as you possibly can, it is strongly suggested you try to make 90 meetings in 90 days.

Sponsor - Get another NA member who has been clean for a length of time and who has worked the 12 Steps, to sponsor you simply by asking them if they are willing and then do exactly what they outline for you, such as call them every day.  Even on your good days, this will help make calling them on the bad days a bit easier.

Pray - If this seems to be asking alot right now... just do a one word prayer each morning, "Help!" and a two word prayer each night, "Thank You!"  If praying to the God of your understanding is not a issue, pray lots and lots.  When done.. pray some more.

Get Phone Numbers - Of other members of NA you meet at the meetings and call them.  Doing this will help you develope friendships with people who you have alot in common with and those phone calls will be helping the both of you.

Get your own copy of NA's Basic Text, How and Why, and read a bit of them each day.

Remember the loneliness, the pain and misery - that brought you into the rooms of recovery in the first place and ask yourself do you really want that back??

When that urge hits you, simply tell it, "I hear ya, but I'm not going to entertain you today.  Just for today I am going to stay clean"  If it is really strong, you might try "not right now, I'm going to stay clean for the next hour and in the mean time I'm going to read my NA literature, call my sponsor, post on this message board, and then find out when and where the next meeting is being held."

Talk to someone who is also struggling and help them stay clean by staying clean with them.

Write - 10 examples of Powerlessness... how many times did you say you were going to only do a little and did alot, how many times did you say you'd only spend so much money and ended up spending so much more?  How has using adversely affected your relationships with family, friends, employers, etc?  How many times did you ask for a second chance, promising to stop using and after a short time of "best behavior" ended up using again?  Write, its all inside you, get it in front of you so you can see it in writing.

For me to use is like stepping into a wrestling match with a disease that whoops my butt every time.  The only relief I get from it is when I reach out and touch the rope on the side of the ring.  The the ref stops the fight, but as soon as I let go of the rope I'm back to getting my butt whooped again.  Today I hold on to the rope of recovery for dear life, that rope is the God of my understanding, my sponsor, other members of NA, prayer, the meetings, the literature, the 12 Steps, the paper and pen, etc.  I know when I let go of this rope, I'm stepping back into the ring with my diease and asking for a butt kickin'.  I don't want it any more, so I hold on... one day at a time.

John

Clean Date 12-21-89

a  free text untill you can buy one

http://www.earthgroupna.org/literature/basictext/

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/2098/index.html