7 years ago, I couldn't stop drinking. There's a path that can help anyone struggling with substance abuse disorder:

• Connect with people in recovery

• Explore how your story is similar to theirs

• Take a decision and do the work

Here’s what I did to quit:

🧵👇

#1: Connect with people in recovery.

When I was trying to quit drinking, I talked to everyone about my problems.

"Normal" drinkers shared stories of slightly overdoing it. They encouraged me to try " just one beer".

People in recovery shared how they drank. We have 20 beers.

#2: "Normal" drinkers don't obsess over whether or not they can drink.

When they overdo it - they're capable of dialing it back.

Problem drinkers are wired differently. We've grooved habit loops that often can't be moderated.

#3: People in recovery have stories like mine.

The more I heard about people drinking like me, the more I related.

I kept hearing over and over again that recovery was possible.

But for people like me, abstinence was the only path that worked.

#4: Talking about drinking ruins your drinking.

The more I looked at my behavior, the more disgusted I became by it.

It's hard to have fun at the bar when you're obsessing about whether or not you should be there.

#5: Hearing about a solution makes it feasible.

The more I connected with people that had recovered, the more I came to believe that I could do what they had done.

When I met a homeless drunk turned 30 years sober tech executive, I saw change is possible.

#6: Following the directions leads to change.

People in recovery kept saying the same thing: if I stuck with them and followed the directions, I could and would recover.

When I finally made the decision to do that, my whole life changed.

TL;DR - By following this path, I haven't picked up a drink since November 10, 2014.

• Connect with people in recovery

• Stop asking "normal drinkers" for advice

• Talk about your drinking to ruin your drinking

• Listen for a solution

• Follow the directions

If you found this thread valuable:

1. Toss me a follow for more threads on recovery and building a business stone cold sober → @taywall