We discussed in TriggersTriggers are situations and circumstances that lead to triggering thoughts around drinking. More the 3D approach (dodge, deal, depart) to dealing with triggersTriggers are situations and circumstances that lead to triggering thoughts around drinking. More. That’s great if you’re out and about, but what if your triggerTriggers are situations and circumstances that lead to triggering thoughts around drinking. More is your home? You can hardly avoid or escape it, but there are things you can do to help you manage it.
If you live alone (or are the only adult drinking in the house), then the simplest thing you can do is to rid it of alcohol by not buying or storing it there (I know, you could have told me that!).
However, secretive drinking can be trickier to address, especially if you drink at home to hide the extent of your drinking from others. The best way forward is, to be honest with yourself about your secretive drinking and fill the places you used to store alcohol with reminders of your good intentions. It could be something small like a message, reminder, inspirational quote, tip or support contact details on a post-it note. Or something to raise a smile: walking boots where you used to store the wine; ‘quit lit’ book in the fridge; yoga matt where you used to stow the bottle opener. Be creative!
And, the mention of bottle opener reminds me; you may also find it helpful to remove the tools of your trade away from where you expect them to be. For example, boxing up wine or crystal glasses and storing them in the airing cupboard may sound ridiculous (we both know you can fish them back out, right?), but not having these things in direct line of sight really helps.
Overall, removing alcohol and items associated with drinking may appear simplistic. However, as we touched on in Willpower is exhausting Pep, willpower, like a battery, is a resource that gets depleted with use, so let’s save it for emergencies only.
If you share your home with others, exercising the same control over your surroundings can be difficult. For example, having your drinks cabinet in plain sight may be a troublesome triggerTriggers are situations and circumstances that lead to triggering thoughts around drinking. More for you but may be less of an issue for a partner. Managing your home environment in these circumstances can take an honest conversation and delicate negotiation.