Countdown moved to New Comer Section - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Barto · 03-31-2008, 11:30 AM

I posted this question in the countdown thread that was moved to the ‘new comers” section: Of those that posted their sobriety date, are you sober through a 12 Step program or by some other method.

The reason I did this is to see whether many are able to stay sober long term on their own. The reasons I am posting this here is that I don’t know how many of you frequent that section.

sugErspun · 03-31-2008, 11:37 AM

Oh - mine is on that thread.

For repeating - 3/9/07, active AA.

**CarolD** · 03-31-2008, 11:44 AM

Yes...I responded to that thread

Mine is 4-25-89
and if you read my sig line you'll know how.

I think I also said that in my reply.

Thanks for asking Barto

***miss communicat*** · 03-31-2008, 12:21 PM

Dec1st:

1st time was Dec 1 1988 - AA
1996 I stopped attending AA meetings, and utilized other avenues to maintain growth and sobriety between 1996 and 2001.
2001 I went back out (quietly, no major loss)

2005 I found sobriety again on Dec 1 2005

What is different this time?

100% surrender, stepwork, service IN AA as well as inother areas of life, and fellowship.

**nandm** · 03-31-2008, 07:24 PM

March 13, 2001.

Zoobear · 04-01-2008, 06:50 AM

8/20/87
Active in AA.

Rob B · 04-01-2008, 08:04 PM

I have one sobriety date: 7-08-04

I was done when God placed me in AA. Thanks to the 12 steps I will never have to drink again,provided I maintain my conscious contact with God and continue to work the program as it is laid out in our basic text on a daily basis. This is a price I am gladly willing to pay.

sailorjohn · 04-01-2008, 08:16 PM

11-17-06 Aa

barb dwyer · 04-01-2008, 11:48 PM

08/29/06

Aa

serenityqueen · 04-01-2008, 11:57 PM

July 25, 2005

for me it's

AA and NA all the way

I tried doing this myself. It didn't work for me at all.

A Meeting a Day Keeps the Monster Away!

"Keep comin back, it works if you work it . . "

Tazman53 · 04-02-2008, 03:20 AM

I had hundreds, maybe a thousand sobriety date until I got into AA, my sobriety date is part of my signature.

Any thoughts on putting your sobriety date in your sig?

Sugah · 04-02-2008, 04:20 AM

10-28-2002, by the grace of my HP, the program, and the fellowship of AA.

In that order.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

Barto · 04-05-2008, 01:45 PM

I was wondering if there are many (or any) non-twelve steppers here who have been sober for a while. Are there many or any non-twelve steppers that have been sober a while here at SR?

Jfanagle · 04-06-2008, 02:16 AM

10-15-1999

AA was the only way I thought I could "learn to drink better" then get back to the bars. After 90 days realized AA didn't mean YOU CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE", but rather that
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO!" as a result I stuck around.

Barto · 04-06-2008, 05:04 AM

Beautifully said JF.

bugsworth · 04-06-2008, 05:17 AM

Barto, I am not sure what "a while" constitutes...but I have been sober for 10 months.

I got my start in aa..90 in 90..etc. Now I am a member of DIY...it works if you work it!!

yogurt75 · 04-06-2008, 05:31 AM

May 15, 1975 - God

(PS - I am also a member of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous since that date as well)

Barto · 04-06-2008, 05:35 AM

God, yes. I think that's the point of AA...

Barto · 04-06-2008, 05:36 AM

I didn’t state how long "a while" was because I wanted to see how long people were making it without Twelve Step programs. (BTW, did you ever take all twelve steps?) What’s DIY?

bugsworth · 04-06-2008, 05:39 AM

DIY is Do It Yourself...

As far as the steps I did step one with qualifiers...lol

Barto · 04-06-2008, 05:42 AM

Can I ask what the qualifiers were?

I could never do it by myself. I tried for years and never got past a month or so. That month was agonizing and I was doped up to the max too.

bugsworth · 04-06-2008, 05:51 AM

I don't believe I am powerless BEFORE alcohol enters my body. After that all bets are off.

I have quit before on my own...unfortunately I always went back...not this time...as Rufus says...I am full of booze...DONE

Barto · 04-06-2008, 06:06 AM

I hope you can stay off booze and find peace without AA. I know the steps are sometimes difficult, especially early on; taking them requires some serious change. But I’ve come to believe AA is the easier softer way “for me.” Of course, there may be other ways to stay sober.

Speaking of the mental obsession to take the first drink, which it appears you know is a huge component to the disease of alcoholism according to the “Big Book,” what do you think you’ll do if you drink again? Will you try AA (taking the Twelve Steps)? Of course, if you don’t drink again the point is moot. I’m just asking "what if?"

bugsworth · 04-06-2008, 06:17 AM

Hard to answer a what if question....

Thankfully the "mental obsession" of which you speak is gone. I can't imagine returning to my old way of life....I am no longer that person. I have taken back my power.

03-31-2008, 11:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	Countdown moved to New Comer Section I posted this question in the countdown thread that was moved to the ‘new comers” section: Of those that posted their sobriety date, are you sober through a 12 Step program or by some other method. The reason I did this is to see whether many are able to stay sober long term on their own. The reasons I am posting this here is that I don’t know how many of you frequent that section.

03-31-2008, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
sugErspun Thumper Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles Ca Posts: 1,307	Oh - mine is on that thread. For repeating - 3/9/07, active AA. __________________ Although my eyes were open, they might have just as well've been closed....

03-31-2008, 11:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
CarolD Forum Leader Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dallas, Ga. USA Posts: 16,032	Yes...I responded to that thread Mine is 4-25-89 and if you read my sig line you'll know how. I think I also said that in my reply. Thanks for asking Barto __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery!

03-31-2008, 12:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
*miss communicat* sobriety is my yoga Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: in the present moment Posts: 1,943	Dec1st: 1st time was Dec 1 1988 - AA 1996 I stopped attending AA meetings, and utilized other avenues to maintain growth and sobriety between 1996 and 2001. 2001 I went back out (quietly, no major loss) 2005 I found sobriety again on Dec 1 2005 What is different this time? 100% surrender, stepwork, service IN AA as well as inother areas of life, and fellowship. __________________ i close my eyes and see clearly i stop trying to listen and hear truth i am silent and my heart sings i seek no contact and find union i am still and move forward i am gentle and need no strength i am humble and remain whole (ancient taoist meditation)

03-31-2008, 07:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
nandm Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 4,921	March 13, 2001. __________________ NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, need not be lived again. - Maya Angelou

04-01-2008, 06:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zoobear Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton Iowa Posts: 139	8/20/87 Active in AA.

04-01-2008, 08:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rob B Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern New Hampshire Posts: 506 Blog Entries: 4	I have one sobriety date: 7-08-04 I was done when God placed me in AA. Thanks to the 12 steps I will never have to drink again,provided I maintain my conscious contact with God and continue to work the program as it is laid out in our basic text on a daily basis. This is a price I am gladly willing to pay. __________________ Are You and I so Unalike?

04-01-2008, 08:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
sailorjohn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MI Posts: 660	11-17-06 Aa __________________ No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. Buddha Last edited by sailorjohn; 04-01-2008 at 08:20 PM. Reason: typo

04-01-2008, 11:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
barb dwyer same planet...different world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: butte mt Posts: 7,142 Blog Entries: 3	08/29/06 Aa __________________ When I changed the way I looked at things, the things I looked at changed.

04-01-2008, 11:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
serenityqueen Attitude of Gratitude Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 1,214	July 25, 2005 for me it's AA and NA all the way I tried doing this myself. It didn't work for me at all. A Meeting a Day Keeps the Monster Away! "Keep comin back, it works if you work it . . " __________________ *"It's Great to be the Queen!"*

04-02-2008, 03:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tazman53 Follow Directions! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fredericksburg, Va. Posts: 7,343	I had hundreds, maybe a thousand sobriety date until I got into AA, my sobriety date is part of my signature. Any thoughts on putting your sobriety date in your sig? __________________ All BB quotes are from the First Edition of the BB Follow directions! Sobriety date 18 Sept. 2006 Sober today thanks to AA

04-02-2008, 04:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
Sugah Om, Aum, Ohm... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Punxsutawney/Pittsburgh Posts: 2,633	10-28-2002, by the grace of my HP, the program, and the fellowship of AA. In that order. Peace & Love, Sugah __________________ There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done Keep me in your heart for awhile ~WZ ANS 01/29/86 - 08/04/08

04-05-2008, 01:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	I started this thread because ... I was wondering if there are many (or any) non-twelve steppers here who have been sober for a while. Are there many or any non-twelve steppers that have been sober a while here at SR?

04-06-2008, 02:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
Jfanagle Another Day in Paradise Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Upland, CA Posts: 511	10-15-1999 AA was the only way I thought I could "learn to drink better" then get back to the bars. After 90 days realized AA didn't mean YOU CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE", but rather that "YOU DON'T HAVE TO!" as a result I stuck around. __________________ Indecision may or may not be my problem!

04-06-2008, 05:04 AM	#15 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	Beautifully said JF.

04-06-2008, 05:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
bugsworth Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,192	Barto, I am not sure what "a while" constitutes...but I have been sober for 10 months. I got my start in aa..90 in 90..etc. Now I am a member of DIY...it works if you work it!!

04-06-2008, 05:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
yogurt75 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 91	Sobriety Date May 15, 1975 - God (PS - I am also a member of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous since that date as well)

04-06-2008, 05:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	Yogurt, God, yes. I think that's the point of AA...

04-06-2008, 05:36 AM	#19 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	Bugs, I didn’t state how long "a while" was because I wanted to see how long people were making it without Twelve Step programs. (BTW, did you ever take all twelve steps?) What’s DIY?

04-06-2008, 05:39 AM	#20 (permalink)
bugsworth Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,192	DIY is Do It Yourself... As far as the steps I did step one with qualifiers...lol

04-06-2008, 05:42 AM	#21 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	Qualifiers? Can I ask what the qualifiers were? I could never do it by myself. I tried for years and never got past a month or so. That month was agonizing and I was doped up to the max too.

04-06-2008, 05:51 AM	#22 (permalink)
bugsworth Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,192	I don't believe I am powerless BEFORE alcohol enters my body. After that all bets are off. I have quit before on my own...unfortunately I always went back...not this time...as Rufus says...I am full of booze...DONE

04-06-2008, 06:06 AM	#23 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,464	I hope you can stay off booze and find peace without AA. I know the steps are sometimes difficult, especially early on; taking them requires some serious change. But I’ve come to believe AA is the easier softer way “for me.” Of course, there may be other ways to stay sober. Speaking of the mental obsession to take the first drink, which it appears you know is a huge component to the disease of alcoholism according to the “Big Book,” what do you think you’ll do if you drink again? Will you try AA (taking the Twelve Steps)? Of course, if you don’t drink again the point is moot. I’m just asking "what if?"

04-06-2008, 06:17 AM	#24 (permalink)
bugsworth Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,192	Hard to answer a what if question.... Thankfully the "mental obsession" of which you speak is gone. I can't imagine returning to my old way of life....I am no longer that person. I have taken back my power.