I'm sure this has already been posted, and my apologies... I just finished the movie "Smashed" and while yes, it is inspirational and helpful, it is also triggering things in me... during the beginning as she had the flask in her car and drank before work, I definitely wanted to drink whiskey. (I didn't!)
So, basically, I'm asking if anyone else has watched the movie and what their responses were.
Good morning, Chelsea....
I haven't seen it. I like watching movies which show people struggling with this addiction like me and by the end of the movie they come to realize that they are powerless and are seeking help for themselves. I am not sure how long you have been sober. Whatever time it is, be grateful for it and as Pappy suggested on another post, going to AA meetings will help reinforce staying sober. At first, I couldn't watch any shows with alcohol in them. Gave up a lot of my mushy Lifetime movies because a great majority of them have drinking scenes. So I started watching some of the old Turner Classic movies. Same thing. (Geesh). So if you don't mind a suggestion, maybe if those type of scenes bother you to the point you are thinking about drinking again, you might want to avoid them for the time being. Like I said, I can watch them now and have seen a few great movies which are very inspiring to me and have helped me stay sober instead of get drunk.
I think it is great that you didn't drink and you should pat yourself on the back. Oh, and I hope you don't feel like you have to apologize for posting about something just because you think it may have already been posted in the past. This was obviously bothering you and I am glad you posted it, as I went through the same thing myself and others no doubt are, too, and you can help them by posting. (And I apologize for overusing the word "posting" too much trying to explain that :)
Take care.
I used to think AA meetings made me want to drink, and grocery store liquor departments, and beer commercials, and my dad drinking around me, and the 38 bars in our little town, and beer t-shirts etc etc etc etc
Then I learned that actually I have the disease of alcoholism which makes me want to drink. A lot. Often. When it's not good for me because I can't stop. When I'm hurting myself and others - and when it's killing me. Kind of insane huh? There is a solution in AA for that insanity and allergy of the body that makes it impossible to stop and stay stopped.
Keep coming back : )
__________________
Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
I saw the movie recently. I didn't find it triggering, but I might have in very early recovery. I did find it really uncomfortable watching at times because it was so realistic. For the most part, drinking scenes in movies and TV don't bother me now.
Weirdly, I do find scenes of certain drug use in movies and TV quite triggering.
Like you, RT, I did find the movie incredibly realistic... how interesting, I did not think of it until now but I too was uncomfortable at times due to how accurate it was... for me, the beginning part where she's drinking every day after work, waking up in weird places, throwing up at work and taking shots/drinking a beer before work in order to help a hangover made me cringe.
Thank you justadrunk too- I am early on in recovery and am still working on the realization that it's me, not other objects/visions that make me want to drink- it's my own allergy and disease doing that. I try to keep remembering about how before I started drinking I NEVER had the urge. I know that it's highly unlikely for me to feel that way again; however, it's something to strive for to have it lessen.
At least for today, I remained sober. So thankful.
Welcome to MIP Chelsea, ... can't remember if I said that yet or not, but to answer your concerns here, we are told in the book the following: (and I've come to know it's true)
And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone-even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutralitysafe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition. It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of Gods will into all of our activities. How can I best serve Thee-Thy will (not mine) be done. These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.
So you see, given enough time, we can and do make progress when we follow a few simple directions ... have a great day !
God Bless, Pappy
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Friday 25th of October 2013 06:41:06 AM
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone-even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutralitysafe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition. It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of Gods will into all of our activities. How can I best serve Thee-Thy will (not mine) be done. These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.
Pappy, You never cease to amaze me with your postings! Keep them coming!
Welcome to MIP Chelsea, ... can't remember if I said that yet or not, but to answer your concerns here, we are told in the book the following: (and I've come to know it's true)
And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone-even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutralitysafe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition. It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of Gods will into all of our activities. How can I best serve Thee-Thy will (not mine) be done. These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.
So you see, given enough time, we can and do make progress when we follow a few simple directions ... have a great day !
God Bless, Pappy
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Friday 25th of October 2013 06:41:06 AM
Thank you so much for this. I love it! It truly takes effort every day to maintain that spirituality... I forget that sometimes and feel so overwhelmed... or I simply wake up in a bad mood and don't remind myself of God as I know him, his love, etc... I'm sure in time things such as the movie and other things, tv shows, certain friends, etc... won't trigger me as much.
Just so you know, that's on page 85 of the AA Big Book ... ... ... I highly suggest you read it 3 or 4 or 12 times ... LOL ... some of the old timers, I'm convinced, have memorized this whole book ...
I bet Stepchild is close ... along with a few others here ... ... ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
