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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 93
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My username is WaveTossed and I'm an alcoholic and addict. I am not new to the Program. I attend AA and NA meetings regularly. My clean/sober date is 3/11/82 so I've been clean/sober for over 30 years. I still need to attend meetings because if I don't, I forget and begin to think that I'm "cured" of my disease. Which I am most definitely NOT cured. I surrender to a Higher Power, who I call God. God has kept me clean and sober for all of these years. I only need to ask Him to keep me sober and clean and He will do so without exception.
I am a retired computer programmer who used to work for the government. It's a miracle that I was able to work over 12 years because when I was using, I could not hold a job for more than a few months. I have some wide spread hobbies. I collect dolls and teddy bears. Also I am a sports fan. Living in Columbia Maryland, I am a fan of the Orioles and Ravens. I can go to games even when there is so much of one of my drugs of choice -- beer -- around. I ask God to keep me clean and sober before each game I attend and He does that. So I can drink Diet Coke and scream and yell crazily. I like to go to movies -- LOVED the new Star Wars film. Also read, mostly thrillers. I was born and got sober in Chicago and moved to Maryland about 25 years ago.
I am a retired computer programmer who used to work for the government. It's a miracle that I was able to work over 12 years because when I was using, I could not hold a job for more than a few months. I have some wide spread hobbies. I collect dolls and teddy bears. Also I am a sports fan. Living in Columbia Maryland, I am a fan of the Orioles and Ravens. I can go to games even when there is so much of one of my drugs of choice -- beer -- around. I ask God to keep me clean and sober before each game I attend and He does that. So I can drink Diet Coke and scream and yell crazily. I like to go to movies -- LOVED the new Star Wars film. Also read, mostly thrillers. I was born and got sober in Chicago and moved to Maryland about 25 years ago.
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 166
Wow, an inspiration.
I fall in the same way every time, I hit rock bottom, pick myself up, get sober, last a month or so, feel amazing and strong again, convince myself I can handle a drink or 2 and slowly regress back into madness. Same cycle over and over. I don't know how to reason with myself when I feel that strong again, I believe I'm unbeatable. I have to somehow remember how bad it was when it is good again. Any advice?
I fall in the same way every time, I hit rock bottom, pick myself up, get sober, last a month or so, feel amazing and strong again, convince myself I can handle a drink or 2 and slowly regress back into madness. Same cycle over and over. I don't know how to reason with myself when I feel that strong again, I believe I'm unbeatable. I have to somehow remember how bad it was when it is good again. Any advice?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 93
People asked for my advice. I can only offer my experience. I've learned to always surrender to God. If I get crazy thoughts about "just one," I immediately ask God to keep me clean and sober. And He always does. There has never been a time when I asked God to keep me clean and sober and He didn't do it. He AWAYS will, 100% of the time. All I need to do is ask Him.
In the beginning, in early sobriety, there is an AA book that my sponsor gave to me. It's called LIVING SOBER. It's published by AA General Service Office, so you can get it at most AA meetings. It's a book of practical advice about staying away from "slippery" places such as bars. I didn't attend sports events for 10 years because of all the beer that was there. In the beginning, I went to 90 meetings in 90 days. I eventually moved into a recovery house that was very confrontational, which is what I needed. I stayed there for 8 months. And some AA members suggested that I go to NA because of my drug addiction. Which I did. I followed suggestions, not always very willingly, but I followed them. Hope that this helps just a bit.
In the beginning, in early sobriety, there is an AA book that my sponsor gave to me. It's called LIVING SOBER. It's published by AA General Service Office, so you can get it at most AA meetings. It's a book of practical advice about staying away from "slippery" places such as bars. I didn't attend sports events for 10 years because of all the beer that was there. In the beginning, I went to 90 meetings in 90 days. I eventually moved into a recovery house that was very confrontational, which is what I needed. I stayed there for 8 months. And some AA members suggested that I go to NA because of my drug addiction. Which I did. I followed suggestions, not always very willingly, but I followed them. Hope that this helps just a bit.
One Day At A Time
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Midwest, USA
Posts: 2,054
Welcome, Wavetossed!
Congrats on your 30 years- that's amazing! Although I haven't done AA officially, another member here recommended the book Living Sober as well. I have read it and refer to it often; it is a great resource!
Congrats on your 30 years- that's amazing! Although I haven't done AA officially, another member here recommended the book Living Sober as well. I have read it and refer to it often; it is a great resource!
You can have reasons, or you can have results, but you can't have both.
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 1,232
Your 30 years of sobriety are an inspiration to me, as I kick off my third attempt at sobriety after almost 30 years of addiction!
I also lived in Chicago and Maryland. My father lives in Bowie and is a huge Orioles fan. I visited him there last week.
I also lived in Chicago and Maryland. My father lives in Bowie and is a huge Orioles fan. I visited him there last week.
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