You're not a special snowflake
Semi-Professional Philosopher
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Rural PA
Posts: 1,021
You're not a special snowflake
And I'm not either. Outside of our own circle of addicts in recovery (whatever stage that may be) we are just like everyone else. Unless you've been an addict or have been close to an addict, most folks do not understand this illness, disease, sin or whatever your believe system would have you label it. We are warriors and veterans only in our own minds. We fought battles no one else knew existed, fought enemies no one else can see.
But we persevered. We overcame. Take this as an encouragement next time someone tries to downplay what you've been through. You've been there, they were not.
May God add his blessing!
But we persevered. We overcame. Take this as an encouragement next time someone tries to downplay what you've been through. You've been there, they were not.
May God add his blessing!
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: fort worth tx
Posts: 1,373
I'm a survivor Steve. This disease almost killed me. I'm choosing not to die of alcoholism. I'm surviving on a daily basis. Nothing more, nothing less. If anyone were to downplay my alcoholism I would choose not to listen to them. If it was someone I cared about I would educate them on alcoholism.
Do I feel like a warrior? Not at all. I feel lucky. I'm not dying of the disease known as alcoholism.
Thanks for your post buddy. Made me stop and think about it.
Do I feel like a warrior? Not at all. I feel lucky. I'm not dying of the disease known as alcoholism.
Thanks for your post buddy. Made me stop and think about it.
Redmayne
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Manchester, England, UK.
Posts: 1,543
I get the point...
I get the point but forgive me, I've always understood that only about & of those generally referred to as alcoholics actually suffer from the two fold disease/illness of alcoholism which consists of a physical allergy and a mental obsession (see 'Joe Charlie's:Big Book Study)
Whereas the remainder suffer from addiction to alcoholism, which like all addictions is caused by a mental obsession, the alcohol being but a symptom in either case.
That said I must admit the worst case scenario in either case are those who, in denial defend their drinking by suggesting their case is different....
If you walk like a duck, and talk like a duck, you're a duck, right! No use going around pretending you're a Siberian wild goose just flown in from the Arctic wilderness!
Whereas the remainder suffer from addiction to alcoholism, which like all addictions is caused by a mental obsession, the alcohol being but a symptom in either case.
That said I must admit the worst case scenario in either case are those who, in denial defend their drinking by suggesting their case is different....
If you walk like a duck, and talk like a duck, you're a duck, right! No use going around pretending you're a Siberian wild goose just flown in from the Arctic wilderness!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,597
Originally Posted by steve-in-kville 
And I'm not either. Outside of our own circle of addicts in recovery (whatever stage that may be) we are just like everyone else. Unless you've been an addict or have been close to an addict, most folks do not understand this illness, disease, sin or whatever your believe system would have you label it. We are warriors and veterans only in our own minds. We fought battles no one else knew existed, fought enemies no one else can see.
But we persevered. We overcame. Take this as an encouragement next time someone tries to downplay what you've been through. You've been there, they were not.
May God add his blessing!
But we persevered. We overcame. Take this as an encouragement next time someone tries to downplay what you've been through. You've been there, they were not.
May God add his blessing!
Semi-Professional Philosopher
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Rural PA
Posts: 1,021
Originally Posted by Forward12
Are you sober?
(I'm being sarcastic. Everyone knows dogfood doesn't burn very well...)
Semi-Professional Philosopher
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Rural PA
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Originally Posted by Outonthetiles
I couldn't agree more. I feel like I've come back from a long war that no one knows about.
That about describes it for me, at least my mentality as of late.
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
I've always interpreted/understood the special snowflake comment to mean that "different rules do NOT apply to me [ because I'm an alcoholic just like you]"....it keeps that dreaded "terminal uniqueness" kind of thinking at bay!
And like OOTT said, we are the warriors, the strong ones. Everyone doesn't get to make it this side- IMO it's a reality that so many people don't decide soon enough to take a chance on sobriety, and we don't get unlimited chances til a terrible end catches up with us.
Bottom line, very grateful I was taught well and early to seek out the people who have what I want and try to be like them, and not to think I could do this recovery thing "my way." It's keeping me sober, and I am grateful to be a couple days short of 18 mo.
And like OOTT said, we are the warriors, the strong ones. Everyone doesn't get to make it this side- IMO it's a reality that so many people don't decide soon enough to take a chance on sobriety, and we don't get unlimited chances til a terrible end catches up with us.
Bottom line, very grateful I was taught well and early to seek out the people who have what I want and try to be like them, and not to think I could do this recovery thing "my way." It's keeping me sober, and I am grateful to be a couple days short of 18 mo.
Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 82
A friend said to me recently " we are really proud of you " - meaning him and his partner...
I said 'thanks' of course but inside I am thinking " I don't have anything to be proud of, I shouldn't have let myself get into that state in the first place "
I don't take compliments well
I said 'thanks' of course but inside I am thinking " I don't have anything to be proud of, I shouldn't have let myself get into that state in the first place "
I don't take compliments well
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 847
Originally Posted by Redmayne
That said I must admit the worst case scenario in either case are those who, in denial defend their drinking by suggesting their case is different....
Finally, I reasoned that I wasn't like those people who could actually quit drinking, because I was a 'really tough case', a tough nut to crack.
Other people could recover, but not me...
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,109
Originally Posted by Algorithm
Other people could recover, but not me...
This was one of the lies my AV told me too and I believed it. Other people had something in them that I lacked and I was incapable of getting and staying sober. It was something other people could do but never me. That belief held me back for too long. It was deeply ingrained in me that that was just the way I was built, it was in my DNA, and I would never escape it. Turns out it was just another lie. I had the power inside me the whole time, I just had to believe and trust myself and stop trying and just do it.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,229
I figured everyone had there fix some gamble some excercise some knit some drink some eat ice cream some play the lotto etc.. I just figured drinking was the fix that I used almost as if nothing else but that would work for me. Not I got a lot of other fixes but there healthy choices is all.
I suppose I was right everyone has there fix but it does not have to be a bad one.
I never invisioned myself sober and without a cigarette in my mouth they where so much a part of me and who I was even others have said the same they never imagined me without those things.
I suppose I was right everyone has there fix but it does not have to be a bad one.
I never invisioned myself sober and without a cigarette in my mouth they where so much a part of me and who I was even others have said the same they never imagined me without those things.
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