H.A.L.T.

Last night in Group Counseling, Larry introduced the idea of H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). These are four common triggers for alcoholics (and almost everyone else, I imagine). The point was that we should be aware of ourselves and understand when we experienced stress or urges to drink if it was due to one of these factors. It sounds very simple, but a lot of my past problems were due to one or more of these factors. The remedies are very simple-- Hungry: Get something wholesome to eat (e.g. chips don't due the trick), Angry: What do I need to resolve or address?, Lonely: Need to make a connection with someone, Tired: What's your schedule been like? Allow time to rest and recharge. It's very consistent with the coping strategy I use- wait 10 minutes, say a prayer and get something to eat- which has been very effective. These coping strategies seem obvious and simple, but I clearly need to use them and get better at using them. If I had used them before I wouldn't have been the screwed up mess I was.