Relapse

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Was curious


I've not had a drink since, I got into AA. I briefly stopped drinking in my early 20's for 2 or 3 months. Never tried to stop until, I joined AA.

[Pinkcuda]

When is a "Relapse" not a relapse?
I quit for 6 months in 1982 and returned to drinking for 22 more years.
Was that a "Relapse" or did I just Unquit?

[CAPTAINZING2000]

How long have you gone now, without taking a drink?

[sugErspun]

I am not sure which to pick. I had attended AA meetings, but I never considered myself a member...that went on for years...sober up, go to AA (and/or rehab) start feeling better, move into a life run on self will ~ get drunk, repeat.

From the time that I gave up and decided to do what was suggested, I have not taken a drink.

[nelco]

I also have not had a drink since, I got into AA. i used to say i was going to stop on monday/ after easter/ after christmas/ after paddy's day/ after that wedding/ birthday etc etc but it never lasted,. Since I admitted I was an alcoholic and got into A.A I have not drank. So this is really an A.A question??

[Kallista]

I went to AA in March 1993. I stayed for around 6 weeks and then went back out. Then I came back in June 1993 and have stayed since.

[Tommyh]

I attended AA for one year in 1987 and did nothing but sit in a chair...had plenty during that time....

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I should have tossed out, open, honest and willing.

What a ride it's been so far

[Sugah]

No vote--flawed question. Must be a Sug thing. Since considering myself a member, I have not taken a drink--though that was fifteen years after my first meeting.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Believe808]

Came into AA in 1986 stayed sober 15 yrs went out and came back in Sept 2008

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I should've worded that third option better. The words disappeared on my screen didn't know if, I could only put a selected amount on the options or not

[Sugah]

pssst...zing...I was giving you a hard time.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I have a hard time keeping

hey look a robin

[tiburon88]

I have had hundreds of "relapses" since joining AA. I also had some periods of sobriety since I joined AA. I use to hate when people asked the question, "how much time do you have?" I was always ashamed. However, today I am proud to say I have almost 3 months. I was convinced that I was going to die an alcoholic. "Life on life terms" sucks some times but at least it's real.


tib

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Got every reason to be proud of those 3 months. Just remember to pick up a phone and not a drink the next time things get overwhelming

[Ago]

I picked the third option because.....


look...a shiny object.....


/wanders away




(Congratulations on 3 months Tib, just remember, nothing is so bad that a good bender can't make it worse, trust me on this one lolol)

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Originally Posted by Ago

I picked the third option because.....


look...a shiny object.....


/wanders away

Short term memory loss can be what was it??

[shaun00]

i voted "yes ive relasped since joining AA"

BUT....i havent returned to drinking since picking up the book....doing what it suggests and using a sponsor that does the same...

Something dramatic needed to happen and i found that in the steps..

Dont get me wrong ..i found alot of helpful stuff in AA...friendship...warmth love and compassion.....but for me that alone wont keep me sober..

I find very few meetings here that talk of the solution....but i still go for the above...and hopefully come across a newcomer.

I also found god........without him i am lost...............trucker

[Freedom1990]

Originally Posted by CAPTAINZING2000

I have a hard time keeping

hey look a robin

First walked into the halls of AA in 1986, stayed sober for 4 years. Went back out to try the 'social drinking' experiment for 2 months. Failed miserably. Been clean/sober since August 5, 1990.

[Rusty Zipper]

i relapsed every day for over 18 years after saying i have a problem...

eveyday i said i would stop, and didn't...

just another spin on it as i hace come to see...

[Midas]

What was the topic again? Oh yeah, relapse.

I went to my first AA meeting in CA in 1989. The program didn't stick because I wasn't ready to quit. I proceeded to go on a 15 year bender and literally crawled back into the rooms of AA in 2002. I've been drip-dry (not counting the cough syrup incident) since 11/14/02.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I'm real careful to take medicine as prescribed today!

[MsChief]

I stopped drinking for 6 months on my own, about 13 years ago after the doctor told me I would die if I continued to drink, but at that point I knew nothing about alcoholism. After 6 months I started drinking again and carried on for approximately 2 years, thinking that I was the only person in the world who drank like me. I went from feeling superior to others, to feeling like someone had scraped me off their shoe - daily.

I am not saying that knowledge of my condition is enough to stay sober. I am still learning about my condition daily through the AA Fellowship and through other support sources such as this forum/website. Unity, Service and Recovery is what I gained in AA and I haven't picked up a drink since my first meeting, despite many problems throughout my sobriety. I will be 10 years sober on 24 April 2009.

[Dime]

I voted no relapse since I became a member of AA sixteen months ago. I did get a Sponsor and engaged the steps right away.

I did attend a few meetings nine years ago but did not consider myself a member. I had no desire to stop drinking, did not consider myself to be alcoholic and only went to appease my family.

[jimhere]

I don't count the countless times in and out through the revolving door during the ten years between 1980 and 1990. I guess I was what I would call a chronic relapser, but you know, you really can't relapse from what you haven't recovered from.

Contrary to the lies sold to us by those who claim to be our friends, relapse is not a part of recovery. Permenant sobriety is possible.
Jim