We Can and do Recover
We Can and do Recover
It always baffles me why a large percentage of AA members choose to remain sick. I'll always be recovering, or You can't ever recover, this is not a message of hope to anyone, Let's see what our literature has to say about being recovered:
Title Page: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Page 20, paragraph 2 in face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body.
Foreword to the First Edition:We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Page 29, paragraph 2:Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered.
Page 132, paragraph 3: We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others.
So, there is nothing I can say or do to change people from saying what they say at meetings, that being said, Our book tells us we can recover. I am a recovered alcoholic, which by the way is a whole lot different from being cured.
Title Page: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Page 20, paragraph 2 in face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body.
Foreword to the First Edition:We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Page 29, paragraph 2:Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered.
Page 132, paragraph 3: We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others.
So, there is nothing I can say or do to change people from saying what they say at meetings, that being said, Our book tells us we can recover. I am a recovered alcoholic, which by the way is a whole lot different from being cured.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Yes...
I noticed that around year 10
I noticed I was thinking and saying
Recovered.
I wondered if you were going to post all
87 of the references from our Basic Text
I looked them up when a member
called me on saying recovered.
Thanks for sharing
I noticed that around year 10
I noticed I was thinking and saying
Recovered.
I wondered if you were going to post all
87 of the references from our Basic Text
I looked them up when a member
called me on saying recovered.
Thanks for sharing
I agree with you Rob and you too Carol.
I think we do recover. It almost seems like it's improper to use the word "Recovered" when talking about alcoholism. But, in my heart, that's how I feel too.
I think we do recover. It almost seems like it's improper to use the word "Recovered" when talking about alcoholism. But, in my heart, that's how I feel too.
I identify myself as a "recovering" alcoholic. To me it will be an ongoing process, I screwed things up for many a year and have only been trying to learn to live differently and straighten some things out for 10 consecutive years (in August) but prior to that about 5 others that had some breaks in it over the prior 10.
It's almost like it is pressing my luck to say "recovered" instead of "recovering". On the other hand, does one say "relapsed" or "relapsing"? Am I a recovered alcoholic until I relapse and then I become a recovering alcoholic again? Or am I only a recovered alcoholic if I make it to the end of my time on the planet without relapsing? If that's true, I can never truly say "recovered" because I'll be dead when that word applies.
Probably I just need to remember that recovered or recovering, I still can't take a drink without things going badly because me taking a drink is already a bad thing.
Probably I just need to remember that recovered or recovering, I still can't take a drink without things going badly because me taking a drink is already a bad thing.
Yes I noticed long ago that although many people in AA reffered to themselves as "recovering" the Big Book specifically mentions "recovered".
I do not particularly feel that members who use "recovering" instead of "recovered" are doing so because they are choosing to remain sick. I think it is more a way of saying that their recovery is an "ongoing process".
Although I may have "recovered" much of my sanity and financial freedom my spiritual growth will always be a "work in progress".
It really isn't a biggie in my Book what anyone wants to call themselves.
I do not particularly feel that members who use "recovering" instead of "recovered" are doing so because they are choosing to remain sick. I think it is more a way of saying that their recovery is an "ongoing process".
Although I may have "recovered" much of my sanity and financial freedom my spiritual growth will always be a "work in progress".
It really isn't a biggie in my Book what anyone wants to call themselves.
In Repair
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 42
In the book "Beyond the Influence" -- I believe in the preface -- it refers to a recovered alcoholic as one who has been sober for 6 years because relapses are rare after that point.
Just thought I would throw that out there for discussion's sake. I'm too new at this to be an expert.
Just thought I would throw that out there for discussion's sake. I'm too new at this to be an expert.
I still refer to myself as "recovering". I don't think I'm "choosing" to still be sick, but equally I don't think I can say that I'm "recovered". I will, one day. I have four years, but I don't think it's about time, is it.
I am happy though.
I am happy though.
Recovering-Recovered?
Good Responses, It certainly has given me some things to think about. As far as this response,I do have a few considerations to throw out.
"In the book "Beyond the Influence" -- I believe in the preface -- it refers to a recovered alcoholic as one who has been sober for 6 years because relapses are rare after that point."
The BIG BOOK was written in 1939, AA was started June 10,1935(Dr.Bob's Permanent Sobriety Date) So, if my math is correct, non of the original members had more than 4 years at the time the 1st edition came out. This begs the question, does time or physical separation from alcohol=recovery? What does the book say, "We feel a man is unthinking when he says that sobriety is enough". This has been my observation, I know members in my area that have 20+ years, I don't think they have laughed or experienced joy in that time period. Is this recovery? If so, it's nothing I want to chase. On the other hand, I know folks with 1-2 years that are doing this deal and are on fire, I want what they have so I do what they do.
Yes, Recovery is a life long process, personally I believe mainting recovered status is absolutley contingent upon the maintenance of my spiritual condition. The bedevilments on page 52 are a great test to see where I am at. The tenth step promises have and continue to be my truth."The problem has been removed, it does not exist, I am safe and protected. Could I lose this, you bet. I work intensely with others, am close to finishing ALL ammends for EVERY harm I have put out into this world. I am happy, joyous, and free, and will remain this way provided I continue to submit myself to this process,trust in God, clean house, and help others.
"In the book "Beyond the Influence" -- I believe in the preface -- it refers to a recovered alcoholic as one who has been sober for 6 years because relapses are rare after that point."
The BIG BOOK was written in 1939, AA was started June 10,1935(Dr.Bob's Permanent Sobriety Date) So, if my math is correct, non of the original members had more than 4 years at the time the 1st edition came out. This begs the question, does time or physical separation from alcohol=recovery? What does the book say, "We feel a man is unthinking when he says that sobriety is enough". This has been my observation, I know members in my area that have 20+ years, I don't think they have laughed or experienced joy in that time period. Is this recovery? If so, it's nothing I want to chase. On the other hand, I know folks with 1-2 years that are doing this deal and are on fire, I want what they have so I do what they do.
Yes, Recovery is a life long process, personally I believe mainting recovered status is absolutley contingent upon the maintenance of my spiritual condition. The bedevilments on page 52 are a great test to see where I am at. The tenth step promises have and continue to be my truth."The problem has been removed, it does not exist, I am safe and protected. Could I lose this, you bet. I work intensely with others, am close to finishing ALL ammends for EVERY harm I have put out into this world. I am happy, joyous, and free, and will remain this way provided I continue to submit myself to this process,trust in God, clean house, and help others.
Rob an excellent topic, I consider myself a "recovered" alcoholic for several reasons:
1. I have been painstaking about this phase of my development, and was amazed before I was half way through.
2. I know a new freedom and a new happiness.
3. I no longer regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
4. I comprehend the word serenity and I know peace.
5. I see how my experience can benefit others.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity has disappeared.
7. I have lost interest in selfish things and gained interest in my fellows.
8. Self-seeking has slipped away.
9. My whole attitude and outlook upon life has changed.
10. Fear of people and of economic insecurity has left me.
11. I intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle me.
12. I realize that God is doing for me what I could not do for myself.
13. Love and tolerance of others is my code.
14. I have ceased fighting anything or anyone, even alcohol.
15. My sanity has returned.
16. I am not interested in liquor.
17. If tempted, I recoil from it as from a hot flame.
18. I react sanely and normally, and have found that this has happened automatically.
19. I see that my new attitude toward liquor has been given me without any thought or effort on my part. It just comes!
This is the miracle of it. I am not fighting it, neither am I avoiding temptation. I feel as though I have been placed in a position of neutrality safe and protected. I have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for me. I am neither cocky nor afraid. That is how I react so long as I keep in fit spiritual condition.
1. I have been painstaking about this phase of my development, and was amazed before I was half way through.
2. I know a new freedom and a new happiness.
3. I no longer regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
4. I comprehend the word serenity and I know peace.
5. I see how my experience can benefit others.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity has disappeared.
7. I have lost interest in selfish things and gained interest in my fellows.
8. Self-seeking has slipped away.
9. My whole attitude and outlook upon life has changed.
10. Fear of people and of economic insecurity has left me.
11. I intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle me.
12. I realize that God is doing for me what I could not do for myself.
13. Love and tolerance of others is my code.
14. I have ceased fighting anything or anyone, even alcohol.
15. My sanity has returned.
16. I am not interested in liquor.
17. If tempted, I recoil from it as from a hot flame.
18. I react sanely and normally, and have found that this has happened automatically.
19. I see that my new attitude toward liquor has been given me without any thought or effort on my part. It just comes!
This is the miracle of it. I am not fighting it, neither am I avoiding temptation. I feel as though I have been placed in a position of neutrality safe and protected. I have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for me. I am neither cocky nor afraid. That is how I react so long as I keep in fit spiritual condition.
Taz,
So many points hit the nail on the head. You have read my mind.
So many points hit the nail on the head. You have read my mind.
I still stratch my head when I hear people with several years of sobriety in AA who have yet to complete the steps, many of them are still struggling with all matter of issues in life. I wanted the pain to stop and I heard an old timer share that the best time to do your 4th step is when you want the pain to stop!!! I figured if doing the 4th would stop the pain why not do what is suggested and do them all!!!
If you put it like that Taz -
the first couple years I was in the fellowship I was recovered.
Now I'm back to recovering!
the first couple years I was in the fellowship I was recovered.
Now I'm back to recovering!
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)