Never Drink Again?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: eastern USA
Posts: 23
Never Drink Again?
I hear people say they will never drink again, I can not say that. I can not bring myself to say, "I will never drink again".
I have discussed this at meetings, and have had a few people agree with me, they can not say it either. I usually say, " I will not drink today. I may drink tomorrow, next week, next month or next year, but I will not drink today". I wake up every day and tell myself, "I will not drink today". This is what they mean by one day at a time.
Alcohol was such a large part of my life for so long. I drank for 30 years, and I am only 46 with two years of sobriety. Having a sober life is still new to me, and it is such a great life, and I do not want to go back to the old life.
The whole one day at a time philosophy makes it much easier for me to deal with my alcoholism. I do not worry about whether or not I will drink next weekend or even tomorrow, who knows what will happen. I do know I will not drink today.
I have discussed this at meetings, and have had a few people agree with me, they can not say it either. I usually say, " I will not drink today. I may drink tomorrow, next week, next month or next year, but I will not drink today". I wake up every day and tell myself, "I will not drink today". This is what they mean by one day at a time.
Alcohol was such a large part of my life for so long. I drank for 30 years, and I am only 46 with two years of sobriety. Having a sober life is still new to me, and it is such a great life, and I do not want to go back to the old life.
The whole one day at a time philosophy makes it much easier for me to deal with my alcoholism. I do not worry about whether or not I will drink next weekend or even tomorrow, who knows what will happen. I do know I will not drink today.
Thriving sober since 12/18/08
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 3,115
I'm a "never drink again" kind of person.. I have said it many times. For some reason, when I first entered recovery the "one day at a time" felt like dangling a carrot in front of me, it actually helped me and provided a sense of relief or freedom to start thinking in terms of never. We all experience this differently, I can see both sides to it for sure.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: "I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost ..."
Posts: 5,273
The use of "never" is indeed a whole different way of thinking than ODAAT. For some it is only in the 'never again' mindset that they find a calm freedom. I am one.
different strokes...
different strokes...
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Present Moment
Posts: 646
"Never drink again" was a gradual thing for me. I couldn't imagine "never".
But when that moment did come...I was just soooooo ok with it.
Like you said Soberlicious, it really was a calm freedom for me.
But when that moment did come...I was just soooooo ok with it.
Like you said Soberlicious, it really was a calm freedom for me.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 63
I am also one of the 'never again'. Why? Because I want to live a life of reality. Booze is just a temporary escape from reality.
Originally Posted by soberlicious 
The use of "never" is indeed a whole different way of thinking than ODAAT. For some it is only in the 'never again' mindset that they find a calm freedom. I am one.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,444
I could not day never at the beginning - it seemed to immense to me...so I committed to not drinking daily...then I'd back up again tomorrow...
eventually forever ceased to be daunting because I was living a sober life and I had (and have) no desire to quit doing that
D
eventually forever ceased to be daunting because I was living a sober life and I had (and have) no desire to quit doing that
D
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,090
The treatment center I went to, 18 years ago was based on the 12 steps so that's all I knew. I was told, from the beginning "one day at a time" something I questioned from the very beginning yet I was continually told "you only have today" and eventually I believed it.
I became dependent on "not drinking, one day at a time" instead of living a life of recovery. For 8 years "trudged the road of happy destiny". Eventually I couldn't live that way, fearing I only had today.
I stopped attending AA and although it was a great decision for me, that "one day at a time" kept me in fear. 5 years away from AA and my fear took over, something I now know was my AV. I drank and I drank for another 5 years, every day I was alone. And, I drank a lot.
When I came to SR, posters shared about permanent abstinence AND it was then I had my AHA!!! moment. Something shifted in me. I truly felt a mind shift. I don't ever have to drink again I don't ever have to change my mind!!! HOW INCREDIBLE. So, I read up on RR/AVRT and there it was, the truth I had been missing, FOR ME:
I will never drink again and I will never change my mind.
I can't describe the mind shift that occurred. It's as if all of me shifted at that moment. I felt a peace I hadn't known in all the days of my sobriety. No fear, independent and living a life recovered from alcohol. Freedom.
It is knowing I am recovered that has brought such peace. It was the answer, the truth, for me.
I became dependent on "not drinking, one day at a time" instead of living a life of recovery. For 8 years "trudged the road of happy destiny". Eventually I couldn't live that way, fearing I only had today.
I stopped attending AA and although it was a great decision for me, that "one day at a time" kept me in fear. 5 years away from AA and my fear took over, something I now know was my AV. I drank and I drank for another 5 years, every day I was alone. And, I drank a lot.
When I came to SR, posters shared about permanent abstinence AND it was then I had my AHA!!! moment. Something shifted in me. I truly felt a mind shift. I don't ever have to drink again I don't ever have to change my mind!!! HOW INCREDIBLE. So, I read up on RR/AVRT and there it was, the truth I had been missing, FOR ME:
I will never drink again and I will never change my mind.
I can't describe the mind shift that occurred. It's as if all of me shifted at that moment. I felt a peace I hadn't known in all the days of my sobriety. No fear, independent and living a life recovered from alcohol. Freedom.
It is knowing I am recovered that has brought such peace. It was the answer, the truth, for me.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bklyn. NY
Posts: 1,859
I needed to keep the idea of drinking as a safety net for my entire first year sober. If the panic and anxiety got bad enough, I told myself I would drink again - but I'd wait until tomorrow. It worked, and kept me sober long enough to get to a point where I really don't think much about this. Only here. I don't drink. Period. Can't say for sure that I'll never drink again, because I can't predict the future, but I have no desire and no intention to.
I don't drink. Period. Can't say for sure that I'll never drink again, because I can't predict the future, but I have no desire and no intention to.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: fort wayne, IN.
Posts: 1,085
I remember going through AVRT the second day I found this place. The power of "never" really impressed my mind. I would say it out loud. I could feel authority. I still say it out loud. I still went through a hell of a detox but I have not had a drop of alcohol since.
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