Tazman53

SaTiT that brought a tear to my eye, thank you and the many others who I have seen experiment and come back home, they keep me from needing to expirement, they share that it has not gotten better out there, it still has all the guilt, shame and pain that it had the first time.

Pencil100

I am answering the question can I drink again socially? It is my belief we are all have a level that sets us off. I had been sober for 13 years and am now 52 years old. Out of those 13 years I attended AA for five of the years. When my children began college (last August) I decided I would, from time to time, drink occasionally with my husband. My husband is a light drinker, probably has two drinks per week. Since August, it is now February, (6 months). I have had 1-2 drinks (glass of wine w/ice) per week and I have been fine with this. Do I consider this a risk? Certainly! By feeling is testing the waters is dangerous as no one realizes their line and what sets them off. When I attended AA I drank Oduls from time to time (5 times per year) and was told by another AA person that drinking Oduls would set them off. Some have said that drinking an Odul is not considered sobriety. My feeling is it is your program. No yourself and your limitations. For me, thus far, having a watered down drink has not affected me. For another, it could be devastating.

yeahgr8

Wow this is an old thread!

For me, and i am in AA, the last thing i want to do is drink ever again and what a relief the concept of not having to drink again for the rest of my life truly is! That may sound a bit odd for anyone outside the program but it is the truth. Alcohol consumption and my insanity with or without it has wasted a huuuge chunk of my life, i would have to be literally insane to want to drink again and i am sitting here sane enough to not want to try that again today:-)

Fubarcdn

Welcome to SR Pencil.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
It is good to see you are conscious and in control of your situation.

Music man

This is a great question. One we all know the answer to.

I know it first hand, had 7 months sober and then one glass of wine.

Within 2 months I was buying 1.75l bottles again. I would wake up with horrible hangovers and keept telling my self I was ok.

The answer is it's progressive and will progress. The more time sober may mean the more time it will take you to get back where you were.

I really can only speak for my self that I can't do it.

I WISH I COULD! I WISH I COULD!

yeahgr8

Oh yeah welcome Pencil, sorry i didn't see this was your first post...

Clutch B

Welcome, Pencil! Glad you're here.

Personally, I stick with soda, coffee, and tea for "social drinking"

I tried a mild alcoholic drink after being sober for a few months, and I quickly learned that a single sip sends me into an uncontrollable spiral. There's something about that sensation, on that first sip. I have to take another sip, and another, until finally I'm gulping down entire bottles and passing out. Then I'd wake up NEEDING more. I needed alcohol as much as I needed AIR. It was my entire life.

It was next to impossible to stop the cycle ... I'm so glad it's over now!

Well anyways, welcome

I'm glad you're not an alcoholic anymore. I'm afraid to try my luck with that!

least

I tried to drink 'socially'. I can't do it. Best I not drink at all.

intention

Hi Pencil and welcome.


I am relieved too that I never have to drink again.

If I wasn't drinking I was either thinking about drinking or thinking about not drinking. It was exhausting. I prefer living like this - just not having to think about it, full stop.

CarolD

Hi Pencil.....

I find it interesting that you are contentedly drinkiing
watered down wine and now....joined us...Sober Recovery.


Is there anything we can help you with?
Welcome

shaun00

As an alcoholic and in my experience.......No an alcoholic can never return to controlled temperate drinking..

i have a fair bit of experince of giving it my best shot....and failed repeatedly.
I pursued that illusive romantic glass of wine or 1 pint of beer for years.
Always returning battered and ashamed.

i know some problem or heavy drinkers that can manage control when a situation dictates abstinance...without much problem.

but then they dont get concerned about it and visit an recovery forum.

NEOMARXIST

No

Slag

I cannot. Indeed, why would I want to test the water that I almost drown in.

If I start thinking in those terms I call my sponsor or a friend and talk it through to the end result.

Lionne

Besides that I tried and failed time after time, I couldn't drink socially before I accepted that I am an alcoholic, so why would that change now?

FanofJoeMcQ

I am a pickle. No turning me back into a cucumber. I finally was graced with acceptance even though I didn't like it. Hang in there.

flavinho

Not really. After 3 weeks of complete sobriety, I thought I could and then got the car key and gone at the nearest bar only to discover how miserable and pathetic I repeated the same mistakes, it took me 2 weeks of massive binge drinking, I was so ugly looking with the typical alcoholic face, all bloated, red and miserable, I wanted to cry. It's pretty hard being social without alcohol, all your previous life activity was attached to alcohol.

Pinkcuda

I've failed time and time again so I've decided thet I'll just take their word for it.
Of course this my only span of sobriety that lasted longer than a couple days so who knows.
"By this time we've ceased fighting anything and anyone. Even Alcohol"
Therefore, I lose.
In the imortal words of Rockys Manager, Mickey Goldmill
"What's the matter with you? Why do you wanna fight this guy? Does anything normal go through your head? "

WIRay

Doubtful. To be successful in maintaining sobreity you need to change your environment. You cannot continue to hang with the same people or places. Just reading your post, if you drink again, you will be out of control eventually

choublak

No, alcoholics just can't have alcohol, period.

But that is nothing to be ashamed of.

OceanSize

i know it's scary to go back after time away but one thing that sticks out to me is that you miss the fellowship - which misses you back.

primary purpose: stay sober and help other alcoholics (which, as i can tell by your post, you understand is not "book thumping" but much much much simpler - it's fellowship)

Thanks for coming to SR and sharing - your post helped me, and i'm thankful for it. maybe if nothing else going to a meeting will help someone else, too.