Maturing out, moderate drinking
voices ca**y
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Posts: 4,360
Originally Posted by Zebra1275 
In response to the original question . . .
Is it possible to mature out of addiction?
I can't take the chance of researching this.
Is it possible to mature out of addiction?
I can't take the chance of researching this.
Congrats on 3 years Johnston.
☀️⛳️
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1,506
I think it comes down too the individual inevitably, for a lot of us the fear of trying to moderate outweighs the hope of moderating.
I've tried before and succeeded to an extent but controlling the level of alcohol put too much stress on me to enjoy what I actually had.
I've tried before and succeeded to an extent but controlling the level of alcohol put too much stress on me to enjoy what I actually had.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,183
I'm quite sure I would be able to moderate now, after 4+ years of sobriety and a lot of positive life changes. For a while. 
Like the OP, I'm equally sure I would not be able to maintain that, and gradually it would grow back into addictive drinking and negative consequences. And since I already know what the result of this "experiment" would be, and since I have no desire at all to go back to drinking anyways, I can skip it.
Like the OP, I'm equally sure I would not be able to maintain that, and gradually it would grow back into addictive drinking and negative consequences. And since I already know what the result of this "experiment" would be, and since I have no desire at all to go back to drinking anyways, I can skip it.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
I know two fellows with 20 plus years of sobriety that went out. I don`t know why they went back to drinking but I don`t believe they returned to AA or have gotten sober.
One of the gents I used to work with. We used to get together after meetings and chat. I wasn`t aware he had left AA until I asked him did he still go to the Friday night men's group. He seemed upset and said, "No." So, I never brought it up again. However, I did hear him debating the merits of California wine with co-workers and talking about getting together with them for happy hour.
I don`t work with him anymore so I don`t know what happened to the guy or the other fellow I knew with long-term sobriety who went back out.
However, there is one gent who got sober in AA around the same time as myself who went out after five years. He`s never been able to get much clean time since then but does show up to meetings every so often. Great guy and all that but he`s still surrounded by all the drama which comes with active alcoholism. Talking with him I can see how far I`ve come since the day I stopped drinking whereas he`s still pretty much still drowning in life. Much like when I first met him.
One of the gents I used to work with. We used to get together after meetings and chat. I wasn`t aware he had left AA until I asked him did he still go to the Friday night men's group. He seemed upset and said, "No." So, I never brought it up again. However, I did hear him debating the merits of California wine with co-workers and talking about getting together with them for happy hour.
I don`t work with him anymore so I don`t know what happened to the guy or the other fellow I knew with long-term sobriety who went back out.
However, there is one gent who got sober in AA around the same time as myself who went out after five years. He`s never been able to get much clean time since then but does show up to meetings every so often. Great guy and all that but he`s still surrounded by all the drama which comes with active alcoholism. Talking with him I can see how far I`ve come since the day I stopped drinking whereas he`s still pretty much still drowning in life. Much like when I first met him.
One Day At A Time
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Midwest, USA
Posts: 2,054
Thanks for bringing this thread back today, Dee. Very telling amongst the recent 'revival' of moderation discussion today.
Johnston- if you are still around SR, just want to say thanks for your honesty and congrats on 3 (now hopefully 3 plus) years!
Johnston- if you are still around SR, just want to say thanks for your honesty and congrats on 3 (now hopefully 3 plus) years!
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