New Here
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 3
New Here
My first day here. I had tried to stop drinking many times before. Never lasted more than a couple weeks and usually just a couple days.I was a beer drinker. I never cared about wine or liquor. If no beer was available, I didn't drink the other stuff.
I know this time IS different.It is because I'm here, reaching out to others for the first time. I will not label myself an alcoholic because that to me is a state of being. It doesn't define me. I freely do admit to abusing alcohol and have had a problem with it. I hope to continue to stay sober and grow and learn here.
Thanks,
Sean
I know this time IS different.It is because I'm here, reaching out to others for the first time. I will not label myself an alcoholic because that to me is a state of being. It doesn't define me. I freely do admit to abusing alcohol and have had a problem with it. I hope to continue to stay sober and grow and learn here.
Thanks,
Sean
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 3
Thanks. It's been a month now and I feel so much better physically and emotionally. I was tempted to think "it's been 30 days, I'm good to begin drinking again" That scared me ad that's when I looked to seek out others with similar struggles and follow those who have victories.
Keep on keepin' on, it gets better.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,507
Hi Sean! Great job on your 30 days. When I found SR I felt so relieved, and less anxious. No one in my life understood what I'd been through and what a struggle it was. Everyone here got it, and it helped me to stay filled with hope and courage. I hope you'll feel the same!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 33
STC71 it's good to see you here. You are amongst friends. When I came to terms with the fact that I had a problem with alcohol (which was a long time before I would admit it to anyone else), I would not take my self to AA for one simple reason. You had to sit in a room and say to everyone there..... "My name in Jack and I am an alcoholic" Absolutely not!! I am not labelling myself that!! "It does not define me" I wasted several more years pouring the evil sh*t down my neck, wrecking all relationships whether at home or at work and in the end had to attempt suicide. I walked in to AA with the help a man who was asked to contact me and he picked me up and took me there after a long chat. I sat in that meeting shaking like a leaf and plucking up courage said "My name is Jack and I am an alcoholic...... because by definition that is what I am. I had a problem with alcohol. The relief I felt having said it and taken the opportunity to tell my story and to get so much understanding and support was absolutely fantastic. It was the last denial, the last obstacle that lay between me and success in giving up. Actually there is one other denial that goes with that one and that is.... once I have proved I can give up for (6 months?) I will be able to go back to normal social drinking!! Both of these will defeat you. Being labelled an alcoholic is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a disease!! The man who took me to that first AA meeting was quite happy to admit that he was an alcoholic who had not drank for 25 years and now I too am over that stigma that makes all alcoholics deny that they are alcoholic. I wish you well and promise you all the support I can give and I know I speak for everyone here. Good luck and keep chatting to all of us!!
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