Recovered / In recovery
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by Music 
Heeeey.....We can't end this here. That's too easy! Let's start arguing about recovered vs. cured. That's really fun. Who wants to be first?
OK everybody, duck before the S*** hits the fan!
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Hmm....
Why not start your own thread on this
apparently ever fascinating topic?
I'll bite. Is there a difference between a "Real Alcoholic" and a "Hard Drinker" (page 20)?
OK everybody, duck before the S*** hits the fan!
OK everybody, duck before the S*** hits the fan!
apparently ever fascinating topic?
Don't resist, allow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Originally Posted by Music
Heeeey.....We can't end this here. That's too easy! Let's start arguing about recovered vs. cured. That's really fun. Who wants to be first?
If I had a disease and all my symptoms disappeared but they would reappear again as soon as I stopped taking the treatment, then No, I couldn't say I was cured. So maybe I could say I was in remission or my disease was being managed.
So if I am not cured does that mean I have recovered?
?????? I have recovered. It says so in my book
Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Zion, Illinois
Posts: 3,411
Originally Posted by CarolD
Hmm....
Why not start your own thread on this
apparently ever fascinating topic?
Why not start your own thread on this
apparently ever fascinating topic?
Boleo, you and Intention talk it over and let us know what you come up with. I'm going to enjoy my popcorn.....;>)
Don't resist, allow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Originally Posted by Music
Boleo, you and Intention talk it over and let us know what you come up with. I'm going to enjoy my popcorn.....;>)
Especially for you
.....and I thought you really wanted to talk about this. 
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by CarolD
Hmm....
Why not start your own thread on this
apparently ever fascinating topic?
Why not start your own thread on this
apparently ever fascinating topic?
"Hit the dirt! Incoming!"
Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Zion, Illinois
Posts: 3,411
Originally Posted by intention
Especially for you .....and I thought you really wanted to talk about this.
.....and I thought you really wanted to talk about this. 
Yummy!!!
Member of SMART Recovery
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,722
Yes, it can be fun to argue about whether we're "cured" or not, but I think that's another useless bit of semantics, too. I've clearly been cured of my desire to drink; the obsession is gone; I no longer have a problem. Can I become re-addicted? Of course. But that doesn't mean I'm not cured. If I had cancer they'd call me cured at this point, even if my risk of having a recurrence was still present. Following that logic, I'm cured.
However, I really am much more concerned about the "alcoholic" label. Whether modified with the term "recovered" or "recovering", it forces me to self-identify with a problem I left behind years back. Apparently the label is a useful thing for some, but it hasn't been so for me. I wonder if others might feel the same way but feel stymied in expressing the opinion because of social pressure within the rooms to use the "A" word.
Years ago, a very wise man used to attend my home group, and he refused to call himself an alcoholic. He'd say "Hi, everyone, I'm Joe, and I'm a human being." Joe was a lifesaver for me. He's gone now, died with 42 years sober, but his refusal to bear the scarlet "A" gave me permission to do the same.
OTT
However, I really am much more concerned about the "alcoholic" label. Whether modified with the term "recovered" or "recovering", it forces me to self-identify with a problem I left behind years back. Apparently the label is a useful thing for some, but it hasn't been so for me. I wonder if others might feel the same way but feel stymied in expressing the opinion because of social pressure within the rooms to use the "A" word.
Years ago, a very wise man used to attend my home group, and he refused to call himself an alcoholic. He'd say "Hi, everyone, I'm Joe, and I'm a human being." Joe was a lifesaver for me. He's gone now, died with 42 years sober, but his refusal to bear the scarlet "A" gave me permission to do the same.
OTT
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 41
I believe I have the answer.
Nowhere in the book does it say that anybody has ever recovered from Alcoholism.
What it does say is that people have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Therefore there is nothing to support a "recovered alcoholic" but the literature supports: My name is _____ and I am an alcoholic. I have recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body.
Nowhere in the book does it say that anybody has ever recovered from Alcoholism.
What it does say is that people have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Therefore there is nothing to support a "recovered alcoholic" but the literature supports: My name is _____ and I am an alcoholic. I have recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Zion, Illinois
Posts: 3,411
Originally Posted by jackc
I believe I have the answer.
Nowhere in the book does it say that anybody has ever recovered from Alcoholism.
What it does say is that people have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Therefore there is nothing to support a "recovered alcoholic" but the literature supports: My name is _____ and I am an alcoholic. I have recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body.
Nowhere in the book does it say that anybody has ever recovered from Alcoholism.
What it does say is that people have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Therefore there is nothing to support a "recovered alcoholic" but the literature supports: My name is _____ and I am an alcoholic. I have recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body.
Need some salt!!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 41
I'm sorry but not even on the first page does it say "recovered from Alcoholism." Try reading my post. I don't think it says "recovered from alcoholism" anywhere in the book. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Life the gift of recovery!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
The word "Recovered" is referred to 14 times in the Big Book. The word "Recovering" is referred to once.
Using the 3rd Edition for reference here are the page and line numbers for the places where these words are used.
Title Page
page xiii line 1
page xxiii line 10
page 17 lines 2, 3
page 20 line 3
page 29 line 1
page 44 line 14
page 85 line 14
page 90 line 14
page 96 line 8
page 113 line 6
page 132 line 20
page 133 line 8
page 146 line 12
And last but not least the word "Recovering"
page 122 line 1
What I interpret here is although I am recovered from drinking, I am not recovered from the behaviors and thoughts that caused me to drink in the first place. So as long as I utilize the "medicine" or tools that AA provides me to stay recovered from the disease then I am recovered.
Using the 3rd Edition for reference here are the page and line numbers for the places where these words are used.
more than 100 have recovered.....
from a seemingly hopeless state.....
over one hundred have recovered.....
they have solved the drink problem.....
expert opinion to the contrary....
directions are given showing how we....
if morals or philosophies were sufficient.....
we are not cured of alcoholism....
a person who has recovered.....
might have deprived many others...
the seed has been planted....
we have recovered....
recovered from serious drinking....
an alcoholic who has recovered....
And last but not least the word "Recovering"
attitude to take with one who is.....
What I interpret here is although I am recovered from drinking, I am not recovered from the behaviors and thoughts that caused me to drink in the first place. So as long as I utilize the "medicine" or tools that AA provides me to stay recovered from the disease then I am recovered.
Don't resist, allow
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Originally Posted by jackc
I'm sorry but not even on the first page does it say "recovered from Alcoholism." Try reading my post. I don't think it says "recovered from alcoholism" anywhere in the book. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm not sure if we are allowed to do actual quotes from these editions ??? but when I refer to the first page I mean the page before the contents page.
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