Some experience required
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New England
Posts: 73
Some experience required
For me, and I would guess for most of us, our relapses happen when our devious minds convince us that we've "figured out" how to control our drinking.
Whether it was my 2 day sobriety or my 4 week sobriety it didn't matter. My first relapse, my tenth relapse, my 25th relapse they were all the same. "I've figured it out! I can drink again and just moderate my intake" ....and it's off to the races.
I know I've been an "experienced alcoholic" for a long time now. I was very good at it. I think now, finally, I'm an experienced sober person. Yesterday at family Thanksgiving with lots of folks drinking and a general rowdy and fun atmosphere I looked at all the wine and beer and booze and I my brain started up it's conversation again. And I could hear the words and start to understand the logic. And then I just smiled. My memories of so many failed attempts, and my new experience of being wonderfully sober kicked in and I found it almost comical that I had listened to that voice so many times in the past.
I'm approaching 9 months sober and am starting to get good at it. I'll continue to practice my new craft. As with other things I'm hoping as I get more experienced it will start to become easier, and hopefully some day second nature. But I think I can start to answer any ads I see for "Wanted: Sober Person, Experience Required". Thank You SR!
Whether it was my 2 day sobriety or my 4 week sobriety it didn't matter. My first relapse, my tenth relapse, my 25th relapse they were all the same. "I've figured it out! I can drink again and just moderate my intake" ....and it's off to the races.
I know I've been an "experienced alcoholic" for a long time now. I was very good at it. I think now, finally, I'm an experienced sober person. Yesterday at family Thanksgiving with lots of folks drinking and a general rowdy and fun atmosphere I looked at all the wine and beer and booze and I my brain started up it's conversation again. And I could hear the words and start to understand the logic. And then I just smiled. My memories of so many failed attempts, and my new experience of being wonderfully sober kicked in and I found it almost comical that I had listened to that voice so many times in the past.
I'm approaching 9 months sober and am starting to get good at it. I'll continue to practice my new craft. As with other things I'm hoping as I get more experienced it will start to become easier, and hopefully some day second nature. But I think I can start to answer any ads I see for "Wanted: Sober Person, Experience Required". Thank You SR!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
Thats good to hear:-)
Not my experience though...i drank again because things got too much...either things got really good or, what i perceived as, really bad and i would need a drink to handle it...i found out that i had a living problem!
Not my experience though...i drank again because things got too much...either things got really good or, what i perceived as, really bad and i would need a drink to handle it...i found out that i had a living problem!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,759
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I too feel strong in my sobriety and the temptation's just not there anymore.
It's been nearly a year since my last relapse (my LAST) and the memory of the physical/mental sickness-unto-death is still clear in my mind, like it was only yesterday. Just the thought of drinking is repulsive to me now....
I too feel strong in my sobriety and the temptation's just not there anymore. It's been nearly a year since my last relapse (my LAST) and the memory of the physical/mental sickness-unto-death is still clear in my mind, like it was only yesterday. Just the thought of drinking is repulsive to me now....
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,474
Yes, Emmy, it took me a very long time to learn that I could hear the voice, recognize it for what it was, and let it go. I wasn't controlled by the voice, or by my emotions. What an AHA! moment that was.
Good for you!
Good for you!
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