It's not what you think
+ a new free gift to help you through the holidays
Come with me now to a pub in the mid-nineteenth century where the Scottish surgeon, Robert Macnish, is brushing off the dust from his black leather boots and penning the final words to his book, “The Anatomy of Drunkenness.”
He shares this:
Man is very much the creature of habit. By drinking regularly at certain times he feels the longing for liquor at the stated return of these periods—as after dinner, or immediately before going to bed, or whatever period that may be. He even finds it in certain companies, or in a particular tavern at which he is in the habit of taking his libations.1
Photo by Nicolas Hoizey on Unsplash
Ole Dr. Macnish knew what we’ve come to learn in addiction treatment circles or in our college courses on substance use prevention:
Triggers are powerful.
Habits can be even more so.
Our brains were created to form pathways like walkways in the forest. Over time, with repeated use, the paths become worn. We are so accustomed to the twists and turns that it’s tough to go another way.
Why would we when our minds and bodies (and perhaps our spirits) are used to the old way?
I recall driving by a particular gas station on my way home from work over a decade ago. As I drove by every day, I tasted the bittersweet taste of red wine. The way it stuck on my tongue and burned the throat. Sometimes, the trigger was too much for me. I’d swerve over at the last second to stop, my eyes already welling with shame.
Over time, though, the more times I passed the gas station and didn’t stop, the less the cravings hit.
The more times I called my friend Kim before driving by the fluorescent lights looming over the gas pumps, the less I wanted to drink.
I was making new associations.
When we discover a new way of living in recovery, we discover that although it may take some time, we can form new habits that create new pathways. A way that is easier and lighter (but may take some time).
Today, I can say with gratitude that life, while not always easy, is a lot simpler than when I was using substances.
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What helps you manage triggers? Share your thoughts in the comments or send me a direct message. I’d love to hear from you!
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the joy of working with a new team of folks who are helping me bring some incredible resources to you all (more shall be revealed soon).
One of these resources is a new guide to help you sustain recovery during the holidays, a time when many of us have to face family drama (or unresolved family trauma) and triggers. In it, we share some powerful recovery habits that can help us this season.
Share with a loved one or friend who may need support this holiday season. This guide is free and for you or your loved one. Please share to help others hold on to hope this season and take simple, practical actions that move us toward healing.
You can also join me either live or virtually in a couple of different ways over the coming weeks.
Paid subscribers, you’ll have the chance to join me live for Circle Chats, a lunch hour or evening discussion that welcomes cameras off, casual chat, humor, and real talk. Let’s dig into recovery topics, writing, mental health, or all of the above. I can’t wait to see you there in December with a special guest!
Want to get the link to join us? Become a paid subscriber now and don’t miss out. We are in this together.
Macnish, Robert, qtd. in Grisel, Judith. Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction. Doubleday, 2019, p. 46.