What is Alcoholic Thinking?

Common Thinking Issues Among Alcoholics

In the world of sobriety, there are a lot of terms and phrases that get used pretty often that help describe our behaviors, our thought processes, and our actions. Alcoholic thinking is one of those sayings that you hear about in recovery. You’ve read the signs on the walls, the ones like,

“Keep it Simple”

“Just for Today”

“Let Go and Let God”

Etc.

Most of these phrases and simple little mantras tend to focus around quieting down our minds. This is largely due to the fact that, even after we stop drinking and drugging, we can still suffer from alcoholic thinking.

But What is Thinking Alcoholically?

They tell us that when we are in active addiction, what we suffer from is an obsession of the mind and an allergy of the body. This ensures that we will always obsess over trying to get drunk and high and that we will always need more once we start.

But what about when we get sober? Alcoholic thinking is present in every sober and active alcoholic. We never lose our “stinking thinking”, as it is usually our natural and instinctual line of thought. However, now that we are sober, we have the opportunity to change those thoughts around and live a much happier life.

4 Ways to Change Alcoholic Thinking: Starting to Take Action

One of the root causes or character defects of alcoholics is fear. Fear leads to selfishness (and our need to protect ourselves comes out in silly ways), and these two things create a whole world of problems for us when we are not actively working on the steps or a program.

Today, we have the ability and the tools we need to stop that type of thinking, characterized by selfishness, fear, self-pity, resentment, and entitlement – into a more positive and proactive line of thought.

So, in order to change our alcoholic thinking into a positive perspective, here is what can we do to turn it around:

1. Working the Steps

Working the steps with a sponsor. This is and always will be the first line of defense against alcoholic thinking.

• The steps are designed to clear the wreckage of our past, to identify the defects in ourselves that caused chaos throughout our lives, and to live a spiritual life moving forward.
• After doing these steps, we are PROMISED a spiritual awakening and a complete psychic change, we are promised to be relieved of the obsession to drink and drug, as long as we keep practicing spirituality.

2. A Relationship With Your Higher Power

Whether you come in here after a lifetime of attending a church, or if you come in completely atheist, a spiritual life is still obtainable.

• Spirituality has actually nothing to do with God, or Jesus, or Mohammed – but instead, everything to do with HOW you are living your life.
• Being spiritual also comes down to the fact that you are aware that YOU are not the one in control of the world, or even of the events that occur in your life.
• Spirituality has to do with being “other-minded” – not self-minded. In other words,  thinking about others and what you are putting into the universe, rather than what others and the universe are “doing” to you

3. Getting Active With Service Work

Service work, along with spirituality, is doing for others without expecting anything in return. Today, we receive sobriety and a quiet mind, that is our return.

• When we are not giving to others, or being a part of our community, we tend to get wrapped up in our own heads, aka, alcoholic thinking
• When we get out of our heads, our troubles, and our little concerns, by being of service to others and our HP, we can stop the alcoholic thinking in its tracks, change our perspective, and find some joy in the present moment.
• Service work means everything from picking up a meeting commitment, sponsoring, reaching out to newcomers, and even getting involved in volunteer work.

4. Daily Rituals of Acceptance and Gratitude

Most of coming into this program with only one daily ritual, to get drunk or high no matter what.

• However, if we hope to stay sober, we have to develop healthier rituals and hobbies.
• Whether you like to do a morning reading and a little meditation, or if you find that yoga in the morning is the ticket, these healthy daily habits are what keeps our days and our thoughts in a positive light.
• If we start every morning with the idea that our day is going to be awful, then it probably will be. But if we start each day with a prayer of gratitude and how we have more than enough, chances are, we are going to be a lot more likely to see some beauty each day.

The thing about alcoholic thinking that is probably the most annoying, is that we will always have it. Every day, when we wake up, we are the same alcoholic that we have always been. This is because our disease lives in our minds. You’ve heard people say that their disease is always in the parking lot, doing pushups?

However, even though our disease is always going to be there (hint, hint: we can never return to drinking or drugging, we will never be “cured”), that doesn’t mean that we have to always live in it. We get the choice today to decide how we want our lives to go, and how we want to win our daily reprieve from alcohol and drugs.

Life is 10% What Happens: 90% How We Deal With It

If we stay on our program, take those suggestions, go to the meetings, help the newcomers, and TRY to live a better life, the universe will always provide. The only requirement necessary is that we TRY. Alcoholic Thinking doesn’t have to be a death sentence, it is actually the opposite. We get the opportunity to start over, every single day. Not many people who ruin their lives have the ability to say that. So, kick that alcoholic thinking to the curb, and start living your life!

3 Effective Ways to Move Past White Knuckle Sobriety

If you’re still struggling, here are some other ways to move past alcoholic thinking and white-knuckling: 

1. Identifying Triggers: One of the most important steps in maintaining sobriety is understanding what triggers your cravings. Common triggers include friends who engage in substance use, stress or anxiety, boredom or loneliness, and certain places or situations. Once you have identified your triggers, you can then begin to develop strategies for avoiding them and dealing with them when they arise.

2. Distraction Techniques: Distraction techniques are sometimes seen as white knuckling and avoiding the real problem, but distraction can be an incredibly beneficial tool at times – as long as you’re working on your sobriety in other ways.

When experiencing cravings or you’re just not in a great mood, try engaging in an activity that occupies both your hands and mind such as painting, knitting, playing video games, gardening, or cleaning the house. The feelings will pass.

3. Creating Healthy Habits: Establishing healthy habits is key for maintaining sobriety over the long term. This means eating well-balanced meals throughout the day, getting regular exercise and enough sleep each night, engaging in regular self-care activities such as yoga or meditation, and spending time with friends who support your recovery journey.

All these healthy practices help lay a strong foundation for recovery while providing an alternative to substance use.

Find Help for Problem Drinking: Reach Out Now

If alcohol has become a problem, and you are struggling for answers, Find Addiction Rehabs can help. Inpatient rehab can be the perfect opportunity to get a solid foundation in the 12-steps and give yourself the time and space needed to really begin setting sober.

If you or someone you know needs help with overcoming drinking, our team of recovery representatives is here to help. Make a confidential call anytime 7 days a week 24 hours a day, and we can let you know options for your recovery. Give yourself a fighting chance, and get started now!

FAQs on What is Alcoholic Thinking?

What Are Examples of Alcoholic Thinking?

Alcoholic thinking is often defined as a set of distorted thoughts and beliefs about drinking that are associated with alcoholism. These thoughts can lead to unhealthy drinking behaviors, such as binge drinking or using alcohol as a way to cope with stress or other life issues. They can also remain prevalent in sobriety. Ultimately, these thoughts can keep an individual trapped in a cycle prevent them from seeking help or making positive changes in their lives.

What are the Common Types of Alcoholic Thinking?

If you’ve been in recovery for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with the concept of “alcoholic thinking.” It is important to recognize this type of thinking and learn how to combat it in order to maintain sobriety and live a healthier life. Let’s take a look at some of the more common forms of alcoholic thinking.

Black and White Thinking

One type of alcoholic thinking is black-and-white thinking, which involves viewing situations as either good or bad with no room for any sort of grey area. This type of thinking often leads to impulsive decisions and can make it difficult to make healthy choices when it comes to drinking and recovery.

For example, someone who has black-and-white thinking may believe that if they relapse and have one drink, they should have more because they’ve already “ruined their sobriety” so it doesn’t matter how much they drink.

Catastrophizing

Another type of alcoholic thinking is catastrophizing, which involves assuming the worst possible outcome for any given situation without considering other possibilities. For example, someone who catastrophizes may immediately assume that if they take one sip of alcohol then they will relapse into full-blown addictive behaviors without considering other potential outcomes, such as having just one drink and then stopping at that point instead of continuing on a path towards a full relapse.

Rationalization

This is when someone tries to justify their behavior, even if it was wrong or unhealthy. They may say things like “I was just having one drink, so it’s not a big deal” or “It wasn’t really my fault—I was provoked.” Rationalization is an example of alcoholic thinking because it allows someone to avoid taking responsibility for their actions and keeps them from admitting that they have a problem. This can occur often in sobriety as well.

Minimization

Another example of alcoholic thinking is minimization. This is when someone downplays the severity of their drinking problem or the potential consequences if they continue to drink heavily. They may say things like “I don’t have a real addiction—it’s not like I can’t stop drinking anytime I want,” which ignores the fact that addiction is a chronic disease that requires professional help and treatment in order for recovery to be successful.

Denial

One of the most well-known examples of alcoholic thinking is denial. Someone who struggles with alcoholism will often deny that they have an issue at all and will make excuses for why they drink so much or why they keep relapsing after trying to quit. Denial can make it difficult for someone to accept help and get on the road to recovery, as they are unable or unwilling to admit there is an issue in need of addressing.

What is White Knuckling in Recovery?

White knuckling is an informal phrase that describes the process of attempting to remain abstinent without any outside help or support. This often involves relying solely on willpower and determination in order to stay sober.

It’s not uncommon for those who practice white-knuckling to believe that they can handle their addiction on their own and that they don’t need professional help or treatment options to stay sober. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case; white-knuckling can be difficult, if not impossible, for some individuals who are dealing with addiction.

Is White Knuckling Considered Alcoholic Thinking?

Yes, white-knuckling can be classified as alcoholic thinking. For many people with a drinking problem who are trying to stay sober, white-knuckling is a way of life. This type of thinking is problematic because it doesn’t address the underlying issue—the addiction itself. Instead, it focuses on managing the symptoms while ignoring the cause. The result is that people are often left feeling hopeless and frustrated when sobriety doesn’t feel any better than being in active addiction.

How Can You Overcome White Knuckle Sobriety?

The best way to overcome white knuckling is by seeking professional help and attending a recovery program such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA meetings provide a safe space for individuals struggling with addiction and allow them access to resources such as sponsorships and connections with others who understand what they’re going through.

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