Consequences will not get me sober

[UpperbucksAAguy]

The almost certain consequences that follow taking even a glass of beer do not crowd into the mind to deter us. If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old threadbare idea that this time we shall handle ourselves like other people.- BB page 24

I remember as a small kid my Mom would say to me:

"Why do you do the things you do?"

As I began my descent into alcoholism, that statement was modified:

"Why do you drink the way you do?"

I didn't want to be a drunk. I did not want to collect DWI's, and a dozen other misdemeanors. When I showed up at AA and folks said:

"It never has to be that way again"

I thank God a few of them showed me how it works

I am not capable of just not drinking. The first step tells me that I will drink under my own power

[EricL]

Originally Posted by UpperbucksAAguy

The almost certain consequences that follow taking even a glass of beer do not crowd into the mind to deter us. If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old threadbare idea that this time we shall handle ourselves like other people.- BB page 24

I remember as a small kid my Mom would say to me:

"Why do you do the things you do?"

As I began my descent into alcoholism, that statement was modified:

"Why do you drink the way you do?"

I didn't want to be a drunk. I did not want to collect DWI's, and a dozen other misdemeanors. When I showed up at AA and folks said:

"It never has to be that way again"

I thank God a few of them showed me how it works

I am not capable of just not drinking. The first step tells me that I will drink under my own power

Amen brother! Consequences do not keep me sober and they are not what makes me an alcoholic. They are merely a by-product of my insane compulsion to poor booze down my gullet. Sure I may have gotten into a scrape last night, but that never enters my mind when I wake up with the morning terror. Those failed relationships sure don't make me stop and say "Geeze, maybe I should not drink today." Hell even when they did, I would find myself drunk again in a short time.

I too am not capable of avoiding that first drink left to me own devices, and thank god everyday that he put men and women in my life to show me how they recovered from that spot-how they sought this thing with the desperation of drowning men. They sat down with patience to show me how to ahve an experience with god that would revolutionize my life.

[laurie6781]

Well I am going to disagree with y'all.

The first few years into recovery 'consequences' did play a part in keeping me sober.

But you see I took my alcoholism to the MAX, I literally died. I have kept a copy of
my ER medical all these years. The TOD (time of death) is on there. My heart
started on its own, after its 11th stoppage in 8 hours.

So in my first few years, while going through a whole bunch of negativity while
cleaning up the wreckage of my past, the 'consequences' worked very well for this
alcoholic!

I know that in this 'day and age' not too many folks take their alcoholism to the
'MAX'. More did or had, when I got sober in '81. I also know that the fact that I did
take my affliction to the MAX, I have had an awful lot of requests to be a sponsor
from those who do not want to go to the max.

With that being said I will agree that for most people the consequences they ex-
perienced will not keep them sober, but for some people mine could and did until
they could find a HP of their own understanding.

J M H O

Love and hugs,

[UpperbucksAAguy]

'consequences' did play a part in keeping me sober.

Consequences played a big part in me finding AA, but they do not keep me sober. That is just my experience.

I know that in this 'day and age' not too many folks take their alcoholism to the 'MAX'.

IN my area we have quite a few newer alkies who do take their alcoholism to the max as you say. The disease hasn't changed.

If consequences kept me sober, why would I go to AA?

[Mark75]

Originally Posted by UpperbucksAAguy

If consequences kept me sober, why would I go to AA?

Awesome question!

Like many I meet in AA, consequences got me there. Mine were not, yet, of the life and death kind like Lauire's, but were enough to get my undivided attention.

Consequences might KEEP me dy, sober I guess. But resentment would have become my middle name and happiness and fulfillment would have been elusive and superficial. And since I believe what Bill W. said about resentments, I have come to believe that it is, indeed, God that keeps me sober.

I found this question to be troublesome early on... It is, of course, at the center of the Hard Drinker vs Real Alcoholic paradigm. And this, I believe, IMO, is more devisive and misunderstood than the recovered vs recovering question. But, ultimately, much more important, because AA is a spiritual program, and if I don't believe that God keeps me sober, then, yea, what the hell am I doing there...

So, do I get a higher power and experience AA recovery, even if I am unsure of this question when first starting out?

[Sugah]

Relationships...jobs...homes...education...reputat ion

Severe alcohol poisoning brought on by the ex's attempts to kill me: "If you drink yourself to death, no one will suspect I had anything to do with it."

Eleven days in ICU followed by a year and a half of trying to get my kids back because alcoholic thinking led me to actions that should have killed me.

Finally, that moment of desperation where, without knowing it, I took the first step in my heart. I was defeated. I was done. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened other than a recognition of the cumulative effects of my alcoholism. That got me the willingness to get sober and reach out for help in doing the work to stay sober.

I believe consequences can bring us to a state of willingness. If the desperation is great enough, maybe we gain the necessary humility to ask for help.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Notabobblehead]

When I take a sponsee through step one, naturally the consequences of drinking come up. The consequences seem to help them make the decision that they are alcoholic. However, I emphasize the fact that the consequences of drinking do not make you an alcoholic. A non-alcoholic can have consequences from drinking. It’s lack of control, lack of power that makes a person an alcoholic.

My experience is I did not practice the spiritual solution until years into not drinking.

For me, my consequences scared me into meetings. My solution then was meetings (lots) and fear of consequences. I do not believe consequences alone would have kept me from drinking. I believe the combination (fear and meetings) did. From my experience, most people don’t make it this way. They leave disillusioned; AA did not work for them.

Now this is what I believe: from pg 39 in the 12 & 12, More sobriety brought about by the admission of alcoholism and by attendance at a few meetings is very good indeed, but it is bound to be a far cry from permanent sobriety and a contented, useful life.

This begs the question: How do I get permanent sobriety and a contented, useful life?

Flip the page: That is just where the remaining Steps of the AA program come in. Nothing short of continuous action upon these as a way of life can bring the much-desired result.

Today I know what they are talking about when the BB says rocketed to the fourth dimension!

[RobbyRobot]

Strictly speaking, consequences did not keep me sober, or even get me sober. What finally got me over the hump, was simply not wanting to die drunk, and knowing that I was indeed going to die drunk anyways, and nothing in hell could I do to stop it. That completely defeated me, and in my surrender, I got my first real start on sobriety. The Twelve steps, lived daily, keeps me sober.


I like all the different responses in this thread. On some I hesitated to give my thanks, because mixed in with what I could agree with, was some significant declarations I couldn't agree with, and yet i'm still thankful that each poster is sharing their real life experiences. This just shows how many different paths there are within the collective sober journey we are all living in, respectively.


My higher power does not keep me sober, my higher power keeps my alcoholism in check and arrested, and the rest is up to me to live a full and happy sober life. My sobriety is not hooked at-the-hip with my Christianity, and so i really do have a higher power of my own understanding, lol.

I have nothing to grind with those who have experienced sobriety because of their collective realization of alcoholic consequences, nor those who have God keeping them sober. Each of us have absolutely earned the right to share our own experiences, as we have come to understand those experiences.

[tomsteve]

good thread and good to see everyones personal opinion.

alcohol is a cunning, baffling, powerful, paitent, subtle, and deadly foe.
i know for me that if i let up on spiritual action and rest on my laurels i am headed for trouble. its a consequence i have proven true for me( by the grace of God i didnt drink) and one i care not to do again. it wasnt fun.

[muvinon]

No, but they darn sure got my attention.

[shaun00]

Getting me sober or keeping me sober ?........no consequences played no part in that.

Although it all added to the information i drew on while reading the docs opinion with a sponsor.....something real strange happens to me when i drink.

Its of my opinion that alcoholism is a spiritual illness with only a spiritual solution......and if consequences was the solution id be one long time sober person, which im not really .

I have some of my tongue missing from an alcoholic fit or seizure, wouldnt it be great just to run my finger over that every morning ..and that was all the measures i needed to take to remain sober and sane lol.....

[spryte]

concequences brought me to the point where I knew I had to quit totally - intellectually that was the only thing to do - obviously drinking was bad for me! Look at all that's happened while drinking! And it won't change etc etc because look how long it's been this way.

But I kept drinking. I tried to change myself. I tried to control myself. I would quit for a while - 6 mos the first time - then a month here and there.

Lately I'm doing better, I think because I am finally realizing I'm powerless over this thing and i need a solution outside my brain (and outside, or in addition to, I guess - therapy and meetings), because my brain has gotten me nowhere.

My concequences are evidence of my powerlessness - the evidence of how I've mucked it up trying to control it using my own brain. A totally different approach is required (for me).