Posted by Dragon Black on October 25, 2007, at 15:01:46
In reply to Easy Way to Stop Smoking / Drinking (Allen Carr), posted by Dragon Black on October 18, 2007, at 22:46:40
Okay, so earlier I wrote a scathing review of Carr's "Easy Way To Quit Drinking." I persevered and read the rest, which turned out to be much better, and the book has this oddly amazing effect, almost in spite of itself. It's like it brainwashes you, or debrainwashes you from the way you think about alcohol. I haven't had a drink since last Friday, a stretch I haven't achieved in 3.5 years, and I only did it then as self-imposed punishment for a drunken "incident"; and this is coming off basically a two-week binge with no end in sight. It's amazing. Previously I thought of myself as an alcoholic and basically thought that I couldn't control my drinking (at least until I could control my various pathologies and cornucopia of symptoms) but this has really changed my entire perception. Obviously, it's early, and I haven't decided to stop drinking completely, but my mindset is completely different. I feel like someone who doesn't really even care to drink.
Now, be warned, despite the fact that he dedicates the book to the fellowship, the book disputes the basic premises of AA as utterly false (a huge draw for me, as I'm not a fan). But it makes so much sense to me now, and not just the AA-line, but how society views alcoholism. The message is, its a disease, you are powerless over it, admit defeat, etc. etc. And the whole thing drives home the subconscious point that you have to make this huge sacrifice and give up that which is so important to you, the bottle. The book shows you that this is a bunch of brainwashing and teaches you to view things in a wholly different light.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to quit or cut back on their drinking or anyone who previously quit and struggles with cravings, etc.
poster:Dragon Black
thread:790051
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20070626/msgs/791353.html