When does a "recovering" alcoholic become a "recovered" alcoholic?
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,964
http://www.xa-speakers.org/speakers/...dar-rapids.mp3
Listen to her....in the beginning she talks about being recovered and being around a long line of "recovered" alcoholics (including the conversation she had with her sponsor). Specifically at 7-8 minutes in.... (7:30-8:50 or so)
I believe I am recovering, my sponsor says recovering, my grandsponsor and their sponsor use the word recovered....it's just semantics.
Listen to her....in the beginning she talks about being recovered and being around a long line of "recovered" alcoholics (including the conversation she had with her sponsor). Specifically at 7-8 minutes in.... (7:30-8:50 or so)
I believe I am recovering, my sponsor says recovering, my grandsponsor and their sponsor use the word recovered....it's just semantics.
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 600
Originally Posted by robbyrobot
i'm a recovered alcoholic drug addict, and have been so for more then 30 years. My alcoholism is in remission and so no longer plays an active role in my daily life. Sobriety has rightfully taken its place in my life. I was in recovery process for those early times of ambivalence after last quitting and just before successfully living free of my alcoholism. Being now forever free though of those addiction chains means sobriety is simply a foundational essential experience of my daily life journey. There is always more to life than what sobriety itself offers for me. I didn't quit my enslavement to alcoholic drinking to become yet enslaved to the other side of the addiction coin: Recovery and constantly remaining in a not-drinking process where everything is filtered through that recovery lense. Quitting drinking was an event for me. Recovery from my alcoholism addiction was a process. Being recovered from same is the successful end result of that recovery process. I am recovered from the illness of my alcoholism.
My life is a journey of continuous days, and so obviously a drunken journey when i drank. Now a sober journey, but nonetheless a journey either way. The sober life i have now has long ago surpassed my drunken life. There is nothing from my drunken life to recover from anymore. This is not to say i don't live with life-long consequences from my past alcoholism. Having said that, these consequences have no recovery potential. They are now and always will remain various facets what now makes me the me i am as a recovered alcoholic drug addict. Ongoing acceptance of my human and personal limitations is an essential practice for my life long enjoyment of being recovered.
For those who choose to see sobriety as the working definition their life, and not as simply a part of their life, then those persons being in perpetual recovery would make better sense then being recovered, as recovered means an end to whatever, while recovery suggests a timelessness without end.
Either way, its really a matter of personal choice how we journey our lives, and i don't believe one choice is less than the other. They both offer successful relief from addiction in unique ways.
__________________
My life is a journey of continuous days, and so obviously a drunken journey when i drank. Now a sober journey, but nonetheless a journey either way. The sober life i have now has long ago surpassed my drunken life. There is nothing from my drunken life to recover from anymore. This is not to say i don't live with life-long consequences from my past alcoholism. Having said that, these consequences have no recovery potential. They are now and always will remain various facets what now makes me the me i am as a recovered alcoholic drug addict. Ongoing acceptance of my human and personal limitations is an essential practice for my life long enjoyment of being recovered.
For those who choose to see sobriety as the working definition their life, and not as simply a part of their life, then those persons being in perpetual recovery would make better sense then being recovered, as recovered means an end to whatever, while recovery suggests a timelessness without end.
Either way, its really a matter of personal choice how we journey our lives, and i don't believe one choice is less than the other. They both offer successful relief from addiction in unique ways.
__________________
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 8,642
Yes, semantics... I agree sugarbear....but for me personally, I stay the course more when I am recovering, not recovered....at least for now.....I also know that when I am blessed enough to have many years of sobriety, I could also change my mind and consider myself recovered.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,544
Dan,
Hi. This is how I think of the "Labels".
I used to be a smoker--about 10 years ago---I always say I am an x-smoker. But, I do know if I take a puff...it will trap me again.
The same with drinking. I consider myself to be an x-drinker. But, I do know if I take a sip.....it will trap me again.
....................it's the pattern again
............,
The word recovery does not seem Final to me. I like to think " X " because that does seen final!
Like in the term X husband or X wife. You are no longer with them. They will always be there....but not as a partner. This may sound silly. Yet, I am divorced. I am not a wife in recovery. It is finalized, they are my "X" and I move on
Just like with my drinking, it is my "X" and I move on
This is how I see it. I hope I was able to help you a bit
Hi. This is how I think of the "Labels".
I used to be a smoker--about 10 years ago---I always say I am an x-smoker. But, I do know if I take a puff...it will trap me again.
The same with drinking. I consider myself to be an x-drinker. But, I do know if I take a sip.....it will trap me again.
....................it's the pattern again
............, The word recovery does not seem Final to me. I like to think " X " because that does seen final!
Like in the term X husband or X wife. You are no longer with them. They will always be there....but not as a partner. This may sound silly. Yet, I am divorced. I am not a wife in recovery. It is finalized, they are my "X" and I move on
Just like with my drinking, it is my "X" and I move on
This is how I see it. I hope I was able to help you a bit
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Posts: 12,000
I'm not sure when I'll be fully recovered. At four months I wanted to have a beer but chose not to. So I guess I am still recovering. If I still have to make a conscious decision to fight the temptation, then I am not yet recovered according to me. When/IF I finally get to the point that I don't even consider having a beer, I'll get back to you.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 476
From my very-last-minute, crash-course education regarding alcoholism....... it seems the resounding consensus is that once the invisible line is crossed there really is no "recovered". I'm not sure if this is also the case with other drugs........ being that alcohol is the only drug i have indulged thus-far in my life, i can't comment.
So far, from what i have been reading on here and elsewhere, the "choices" regarding drinking seem to be as follows:
1. Short-term and intense abuse and indulgence resulting in "ruining" alcohol for yourself, being unable to drink again due to the risk of relapse and or kindle effect
2. Keeping it long-term and "casual", enjoying only during special occasions, dinners, holidays and the like
3. Sobriety, not drinking at all
So far, from what i have been reading on here and elsewhere, the "choices" regarding drinking seem to be as follows:
1. Short-term and intense abuse and indulgence resulting in "ruining" alcohol for yourself, being unable to drink again due to the risk of relapse and or kindle effect
2. Keeping it long-term and "casual", enjoying only during special occasions, dinners, holidays and the like
3. Sobriety, not drinking at all
quat
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: terra (mostly)firma
Posts: 4,823
Originally Posted by RobbyRobot 
I'm a recovered alcoholic drug addict, and have been so for more then 30 years. My alcoholism is in remission and so no longer plays an active role in my daily life. Sobriety has rightfully taken its place in my life. I was in recovery process for those early times of ambivalence after last quitting and just before successfully living free of my alcoholism. Being now forever free though of those addiction chains means sobriety is simply a foundational essential experience of my daily life journey. There is always more to life than what sobriety itself offers for me. I didn't quit my enslavement to alcoholic drinking to become yet enslaved to the other side of the addiction coin: recovery and constantly remaining in a not-drinking process where everything is filtered through that recovery lense. Quitting drinking was an event for me. Recovery from my alcoholism addiction was a process. Being recovered from same is the successful end result of that recovery process. I am recovered from the illness of my alcoholism.
My life is a journey of continuous days, and so obviously a drunken journey when I drank. Now a sober journey, but nonetheless a journey either way. The sober life I have now has long ago surpassed my drunken life. There is nothing from my drunken life to recover from anymore. This is not to say I don't live with life-long consequences from my past alcoholism. Having said that, these consequences have no recovery potential. They are now and always will remain various facets what now makes me the me I am as a recovered alcoholic drug addict. Ongoing acceptance of my human and personal limitations is an essential practice for my life long enjoyment of being recovered.
For those who choose to see sobriety as the working definition their life, and not as simply a part of their life, then those persons being in perpetual recovery would make better sense then being recovered, as recovered means an end to whatever, while recovery suggests a timelessness without end.
Either way, its really a matter of personal choice how we journey our lives, and I don't believe one choice is less than the other. They both offer successful relief from addiction in unique ways.
My life is a journey of continuous days, and so obviously a drunken journey when I drank. Now a sober journey, but nonetheless a journey either way. The sober life I have now has long ago surpassed my drunken life. There is nothing from my drunken life to recover from anymore. This is not to say I don't live with life-long consequences from my past alcoholism. Having said that, these consequences have no recovery potential. They are now and always will remain various facets what now makes me the me I am as a recovered alcoholic drug addict. Ongoing acceptance of my human and personal limitations is an essential practice for my life long enjoyment of being recovered.
For those who choose to see sobriety as the working definition their life, and not as simply a part of their life, then those persons being in perpetual recovery would make better sense then being recovered, as recovered means an end to whatever, while recovery suggests a timelessness without end.
Either way, its really a matter of personal choice how we journey our lives, and I don't believe one choice is less than the other. They both offer successful relief from addiction in unique ways.
EndGame
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,677
Originally Posted by Dee74
I hope you have a comfy chair Dan...this is one of those questions that pop up from time to time and lead to really long threads.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
I'm one for keeping it simple and don't think too much about which phrases amongst "recovering", recovered", "alcoholic", "problem drinker" apply to myself.
Instead the facts of the matter are and the reality is, I can no longer have a drink, not even the one drink anymore!!
If I keep doing that then life will be on the up!!
Instead the facts of the matter are and the reality is, I can no longer have a drink, not even the one drink anymore!!
If I keep doing that then life will be on the up!!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PA and Florida
Posts: 4,179
I hope to remain recovering.
Feeling recovered led to a relapse after 11.5 years sober.
At best I can keep it in remission. Ask anybody who has relapsed after lengthy sobriety and across the board they speak of it's progressive nature.
Not drinking gets much easier, but alcoholism is always there ready to pick up where we left off
Feeling recovered led to a relapse after 11.5 years sober.
At best I can keep it in remission. Ask anybody who has relapsed after lengthy sobriety and across the board they speak of it's progressive nature.
Not drinking gets much easier, but alcoholism is always there ready to pick up where we left off
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 638
I will happily call myself a "recovered alcoholic" when the funny farm -days end completely. When there is no notable confusion or discomfort in daily life.
Recovered would mean that I'm totally content being sober but still wired an alcoholic and can never drink again. But I'd use the word recovered there. It would mean clear big results from recovery "work".
Recovered would mean that I'm totally content being sober but still wired an alcoholic and can never drink again. But I'd use the word recovered there. It would mean clear big results from recovery "work".
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakeside, Ca
Posts: 10,208
I could say that I am recovered right up until the point in which I take a drink and then if I get back with the program I would be recovering once more
my sponsor says that we have recovered from our past
then others will say that one is recovered once they have done the steps
seems to be wide open here does it not
MM
my sponsor says that we have recovered from our past
then others will say that one is recovered once they have done the steps
seems to be wide open here does it not
MM
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic USA
Posts: 2,441
I'm just throwing this out there, but the Big Book title page states: "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism"
I assume the term "recovered" rather than "recovering" was used for a reason?
I assume the term "recovered" rather than "recovering" was used for a reason?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 61
Originally Posted by FeenixxRising
I'm just throwing this out there, but the Big Book title page states: "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism"
I assume the term "recovered" rather than "recovering" was used for a reason?
I assume the term "recovered" rather than "recovering" was used for a reason?
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic USA
Posts: 2,441
Originally Posted by Dan1888
Is it sacrilege for me to suggest that perhaps the Big Book is wrong in this instance? Judging by virtually everyone's response to the original question at the start of the thread it would appear it is.
But IMO it's a personal choice: I see both sides of the argument, and whatever term is used, I believe it's important for all ex-drinkers/users to at least take a few moments each day to reflect on why they got sober.
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