Relapse

[LosingmyMisery]

I joined AA, but only attended meetings. I relapsed after 60 days. I went back to AA and got a sponsor. I was going to do it right this time, but I never called my sponsor and relapsed after 30 days. I went back to AA with a commitment to get and stay sober. I got a sponsor and worked the steps. I haven't had a drink or a desire to drink since. It will be coming up on 5 years. However, I quit going to AA 3 years ago. I still try to practice the basic process of AA. Not a day goes by where I don't reflect back on where I am today and where I used to be and I can recognize how I was able to finally get sober. I am forever grateful that I have found a solution.

[scaredykat]

For me I was probley labeled a chronic relapser at one time. Don't care for the word but it's talk about a lot at my local meetings.

I've been in and out of AA for years. I had almost 2 years in AA in 1993 and went back out for years.

In 2007 I came back to AA and was struggling for quite a while. Kept picking up white chips every few weeks.

Now I'm 14 months sober and working a stronger program. I have a home group, sponser, active in service work, and work the steps to the best of my ability. Through the grace of God i will be one of the winners this time like so many of my friends in AA one day at a time.

[Sugah]

I went to a conference over the weekend, and it seemed like every third person I talked to told me a relapse story. I'm sure my magic magnifying mind had something to do with that impression, but without trying hard at all, I can think of four people who had significant time sober & told me of going back out. All told the same story: They a) quit going to meetings, b) quit working with others, c) quit praying, and d) slid back into a self-centered lifestyle.

I'm not pointing to anyone in this thread or on this board. Just reporting in.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Originally Posted by Sugah

I'm not pointing to anyone in this thread or on this board. Just reporting in.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

Keep reporting, you're doing a great job

[Puddy]

Didn't drink again, 7 years now, but my sobriety date has been changed to 8/14/08 because of the pharmaceuticals I allowed myself to be prescribed. Almost committed suicide last summer, without drinking per se.

Cunning, baffling, and powerful.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I wonder, how close this is to the norm. ?

55% not relapsing is better then, I thought. Add in 13% that, came in years ago and came back and got serious.

I never notice, the fence setters until, they come back in from another attempt to drink like a gentleman or woman

[Mark75]

While I don't (yet) have long term sobriety, I believe that if I attend AA and work the program, my chances of relapse are less likely.

Mark

[Mark75]

Oh, I wanted to add... good poll. Those who answer your poll are part of an active and vibrant recovery cyber-community and hence these results may not be typical. But, you knew that ... It does indicate that recovery is an active process and being involved in AA as well as a great online community bodes well for success... whether or not you have to try and try again.

Mark

[collinsmi]

Joined AA years ago went back out came back sober now

Twice.

[Deb045]

I came to AA in 1997 on a court card so I admitted then that I was an alcoholic because my life was unmanageable--I only stayed sober for a few months here and there for the next 10 years. My body was strong and healthy I thought so I would take that first drink. I realize now I didn't understand the first part of Step One. In 2007-I surrendered again but this time I have worked (on a daily basis) both parts of Step One-the powerlessness and unmanageability. I have not had a drink for over 2 years-Its not easy BUT its soooo worth it. Alcoholism is an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind and a spiritual malady.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

silly little saying we have here


once you're a pickle, you can never go back to being a cucumber!

[RobbyRobot]

i went to my very first AA meeting July 1981. I was 24 years old at that meeting. i had started heavy drinking and drugging at 15 years old after my six year old sister got killed by a drunken driver. She died in the ambulance. What was left of my already dysfunctional family evaporated into the fires of hell. i had been toying with the booze since i was like 11 and after that killing i simply gave up my life to booze and drugs and whatever. it became the only game in town worth playin' any more.

I've never had another drinking or drugging experience since after that first meeting. heh. A few days later i went into residential rehab. it all worked for me that very first time. i have always been grateful and hopeful every day since. even my worst days are still my best days now.

Before that i totally hated anything about organised recovery and fellowship... man did i detest being drunk and being sober. I had been trying to quit alcohol for a few years before AA. I had managed to stop my drugging but no way could i stop the booze. I hated anything that spoke of God or sobriety or of alcoholism. i would have NOTHING to do with help from others NOTHING.

i really really thought i could do it alone.

lol

i was wrong. wrong. wrong.

What ever happened to me at that AA meeting saved me that day and got me into a rehab a few days later and has always saved me every day since. An Awakening, so i've been told, and so i have come to accept that mystery into my life.

Frigg, half the people i drank with were there.... what a circus....and here i am now. None of them were my friends after that meeting, in any manner, in AA or out, and that by our mutual agreement. It's the way it had to be for me to live free and not die drunk.

clean & sober today. life is sweet.

RR

[bob_sapp]

Once I was ready to quit, I never went back. I truly believe that drinking is not an option after a certain point. I have wanted to drink many times but just couldn't get myself to take the first drink. No matter how much I wanted to take the drink in front of me, my hands wouldn't work. That's the only way I can explain it...

[Dean62]

Yes as I understand it.

Right now for me there is no relpase. I'm either drunk or I'm sober. This disease is to powerful to candy coat my drinking by calling it by anything other then what it is.

It's only been nine days since my last drunk so that's just the way I'm feeling about it right now.