People often think of quitting drinking as a single challenge to overcome.
It isn’t. It provides some very different challenges that come at different times. It is a staged process. The mistake people often make is that they prepare only for those initial stages. Over the next 8 days I will be doing a blog post each day dealing with the main 8 stages that I have identified, when you can expect them, the challenges they produce, and most critically what tools and knowledge you need to overcome them.
Some of these stages overlap, some may cycle back several times. But I am going to break down each stage so you can recognise them, and most importantly prepare specific tools to help combat them.
The 8 hurdles I will be dissecting and examining are:
- The Physical Withdrawal
- Cravings
- Events Without Alcohol
- Coping Mechanisms
- Fading Effect Bias
- Ambition
- Other Drinkers
- A New Found Confidence
I hope it is useful.
25 responses
Great idea – look forward to reading
Thank you! I hope it’s helpful.
Thanks William. When do the 8 days of your emails? I’m looking forward to it!
Looking forward to your articles
William good morning, from previous communication you know my views chime with yours and that I am convinced of the value and efficacy of your reason. I look forward to your daily development for reminder, reinforcement and renewal of my current resolve to preserve my fulfilment of life, including alcohol abstinence. I hope you and your family are as good as they can be, and look forward to your communication. With kind regards Paul Fletcher.
Looking forward, thank you
Very useful! Many thanks
Hi Williami stopped for 2 months it was relatively easy to stop the first few days were a bit hard then it went quite well i was sleeping better etc then on around the 60th day the longest ive ever gone i just had an overwhelming desire to take a drink i kept a journal up to then but couldnt explain this overwhelming urge to drink just wondered how to prpare for it happening again thanks Ronnie
Hello William. Your books / emails/ musings / thoughts etc etc really helped me when I finally decided to stop drinking. Your straightforward explanations of what alcohol does to our brain and body were really helpful. It’s 3 years now; I stopped on 31 October after lockdown. One time years ago when I gave up, Fading effect bias got me at Christmas when a friend invited us and she’d poured a small glass of some liqueur for everyone and I drank it. I’m aware of that now and it won’t happen again. In fact after 3 years I don’t think I could drink alcohol. I look forward to reading these. Thanks for all your efforts helping others. X
Thanks. This sounds like a good idea and your timing is perfect!
I look forward to your blog posts. Your books stopped me drinking alcohol, for which I am extremely grateful. I’m now 900 days in, and I’m happy and calm. I think fading effect bias is the trickiest to deal with. It’s easy to kid yourself that now that you are ‘fixed’, you can loosen up a bit. Not so.
This sounds great William. Thanks to your books I am now over 4 years AF after 40+ years of drinking. But we all need reminders!
William I am very much looking forward to hearing your perspective. I believe I am in the confidence stage at almost 2 years alcohol free. I am a non drinker by my own definition and I’m loving my alcohol free life! It is definitely a journey with stages.
I should also tell you that your books along with Annie Grace’s tools got me to where I am today!
Same here!!
I look forward to this!
I’ve read both of your books, and others too. Your work is excellent. You have helped many. I’m still a work in porgess.
Looking forward to these posts! I need all of the help I can get
Diane
Thank you. Timely!
Great, thank you
I thought it was Fading Affect Bias? (i.e. “FAB”) Not a big deal. It’s just funny as William is a notorious bad speller, but we love him. It’s his one flaw (a tiny one at that).
I’m so looking forward to this – l feel l need more tools to overcome this dreadful hold alcohol has on me – or rather that l allow !
This is so good William! You see so much content that doesn’t cover the fact that you can love your alcohol free life of three years, but still look at drinkers with a little envy and resentment. In my experience quitting is a long term process and as you’ve said you will pass through different stages to freedom. I think I’m only now getting to the other side. Won’t quit quitting!
wow….thank you….I have been sucked back into the cycle…and will be helpful for me.
Thanks so much I am relived to see your emails and they are so empowering thankyou