Dee74

As long as you never give up, you can't lose Sokil

D

Tiptree

I am very fearful of relapsing. I've been a daily drinker since high school. Latest drinking habit was a bottle of wine and one or two martinis every night. I am now close to 90 days sober. I've quit twice before. One time for 30 days after A major accident. And more recently after I developed bad vertigo. This is scary stuff. I feel very strong at the moment and have moments of pure thankfulness. But.....what if. Don't want to be a downer, sorry. Five years is so awesome.

nandm

I had multiple "relapses" prior to finding AA and since then have not had to take another drink as it gave me the tools I was lacking when I was trying to quit on my own.

Mountainmanbob

You can do it this time
I also had a terrible accident and other accidents
And health problems
If fortunate enough we get to a point in time where we realize
If we don't stop now who knows what will happen
Sobriety will save us from that unknown
MB

jade2112

All the years I drank I never thought I had a problem at all. I went to detox a month before checking into rehab that didn't take.

Being told, if I started drinking upon leaving, I wouldn't ever come back. Not that I wouldn't try again, but that I'd be dead, therefore no need to come back weighed on my mind.

It took me thirty days to let that sink in. I went to save my life not that I thought I had a problem. Being a drunk could never happen to me, after all I was too strong and special for that.

thisisme

Never slipped. Never will.

Mountainmanbob

this reply caught me by surprise
I don't think that I have ever heard someone in recovery say that
they will never drink again
with never being the key word there

I'll give my recovery a (I hope and pray to not be drunk again)
I had better not get too cocky regarding anything that I have a part in

Mountainman

RobbyRobot

Really never heard of it before?! C'mon now...

Never is the key word for me, since from Day One, and still is today, and will be always and forever too, lol. Its not about being cocky. Its about believing in the truth of the reality I'll never drink again. Never.

I've had my share of returns to drinking too. Once I made the choices needed for me to stay quit though, I've not had a drink in many years now. Absolutely I'll never slip or return to drinking either.

Having said all that, of course the way you work yours MountainMan works well for you too! Live and let live!

jkb

I started reading Rational Recovery seriously about a year ago... February actually. Prior to that I was the "relapse queen". Quit for a week maybe a month and then back out I went.

In March knowing full well I was not committed to the ideas presented I threw away my Big Plan and drank. I then stayed sober for 8 months. Then I decided to drink one night.

Then I committed myself to RR.... the entire program. Not just the parts I liked...I firmly believe that I have never "relapsed". Nothing ever "happened to me" but, I have "chosen to drink" twice since February.

I hate that people fear relapse so much. The cornerstone for me of staying sober is the understanding that a "relapse won't happen to me". I have to choose to drink again.

Anyway, that is just how I see it. So, in short.... twice.

Jess

jdooner

I will never take another drink again - at least this is my intention. If I let in any doubt my whole program falls apart - I know bc I have tried.

I am in AA and working the steps but for me the one day at a time does not work - I need the finality of knowing I can never ever drink again if I want the peace I have now. If I let a sliver of hope that maybe one day I could drink again, the obsession comes rushing back.

Mountainmanbob

thank you all for sharing
after reading the many responses I'm a little torn on the subject
that's what I enjoy about these threads
they help me to work through my thoughts
I would be the biggest fool of all fools
if I ever drank again
guess that after the many slips and returns to sobriety
and seeing friends die from drinking
yes - I can say today that I will never drink again
but I don't forget still what got me through those first days and months
probably burnt into my mind in the AA Program
"just don't drink One Day At A Time"
which is the usual message that I carry to the newcomer

like you say RobbyR
whatever works for each individual is what works for them
this sobriety thing is for most a combination of a lot of things
my Sponsor is a great old guy with over 23 years of sobriety
in the beginning I would have done anything that he suggested
being in the deep fog that I was
anything was better than what I was going through
then as the sober years went by
I don't agree with everything that my Sponsor recommends today
yes I kind of have my own Program now
something I need to and try to work on and perfect each day
perfect - no - a work in progress at times
but - I do try to keep this gift of being sober on my mind each day
helps me not to deceive myself into thinking
hey - one or two wouldn't hurt

Mountainman

Inca

So many relapses I can't even remember them all. Three 30 day coins and now I'm done. Once I got past 60 days I feel like it's so much easier to stay sober. Still lots of work to do to maintain but this time I am DONE.

RobbyRobot

Yeah, not a single day goes by me I don't think and feel grateful for being sober. My alcoholism is not cured, and I'll never forget where I have come from. Plenty of people just quit and get on with their lives. Me, I ensure my alcoholism is checked, my sobriety is working, and then I get on with my life. Some days takes more then some others, lol. No matter how we personally chose to end our past drinking, it doesn't really matter except to us ourselves whatever are our own choices. I don't think any one way is superior to all other ways - what works best is whatever works best.

For me, I take what I need out of sobriety, give back what I have to offer, and I move on. Each day brings most of the same as yesterday, and some new things as well. Being comfortable with change is a good way forward for me to be all I can be in my own life. Being of service to others is also important to me.

I'm glad to hear you're gratefully respectful of where you've been, Bob. I believe you have a great sense of sobriety about you, as it shows well in your thoughtful posts and shares here on SR. Thanks for being who you are, Bob!

Yeah, lol. One or two... would never be enough. It's sad when some forget their own experiences and actually begin to believe it would be okay. Keeping an open mind is a great safeguard against a return to drinking. An open mind still learns well, and is satisfied with simple truth within honest living, even when things get tough sometimes.

Hey, Merry Christmas!

Mountainmanbob

Merry Christmas to everyone
as we remember
this would not be a day to relapse on
only to feel and think terrible of ourselves later
let's keep it fresh on our minds today
a sober Christmas is the best Christmas (for us anyway)
Mountainman

blueskycatering

thanks

blueskycatering

blueskycatering

thanks again cant wait ta have a grat time without embarrasment

kcvalentine

I quit drinking and smoking cigarettes over two years ago without relapse. I'm now embarking on that journey with cannabis - 10 days completely sober today. I can't say I won't relapse, but I think my chances are pretty good - especially now that the worst of the acute withdrawal symptoms appear to have subsided. Merry Christmas, SR family!! I believe in you guys and I'm so grateful for the forum. xoxoxo

Mountainmanbob

10 days sober -- nice -- very nice

one thing that weakened me a lot
and I think lead to my many relapses was
you mention kcvalentine ----------------------- (completely sober)

for me this was the key

when not drinking before I would still indulge with the
taking of prescription pills (which I truly didn't need)
I knew that I should not be taking them
but - they are prescribed - right - so I told myself

this time around I have been completely sober
not one pill, joint or anything

true - many others work a different Program than myself
just for me this is what works

have a blessed day
Mountainman