Back in Sobriety
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 18
Back in Sobriety
Hello,
I'm currently 7 days clean and sober following a demoralizing relapse. I'm on a short term leave from work and ready to make a full force effort to regain my life and long-term sobriety.
I have been in/around AA since 2000. (21 years.) At one time I was clean/sober for 12 years. During this time period the promises of AA came true. Life became good. I was able to attend college and obtain a bachelors degree. I was able to secure a career as a Health care professional. Family life was good and I was quite involved in AA and working the program. As my career grew so did my ego. I left AA as I thought I could do it on my own. Long story short, I've had several relapses. Each more embarrassing than the last. I still have my career and my family, but if I continue on this path, this will not continue. For me, when I put any mind altering substance into my body I lose control. I go against everything I believe in. I compromise all my morals. Not one of my relapses has had pleasant results. I gain nothing. Yet after time passes, my mind convinces me this time I will be able to control it, this time it will be ok. The truth is each time it gets worse. I'm here to do everything I can to break this pattern.
I'm currently 7 days clean and sober following a demoralizing relapse. I'm on a short term leave from work and ready to make a full force effort to regain my life and long-term sobriety.
I have been in/around AA since 2000. (21 years.) At one time I was clean/sober for 12 years. During this time period the promises of AA came true. Life became good. I was able to attend college and obtain a bachelors degree. I was able to secure a career as a Health care professional. Family life was good and I was quite involved in AA and working the program. As my career grew so did my ego. I left AA as I thought I could do it on my own. Long story short, I've had several relapses. Each more embarrassing than the last. I still have my career and my family, but if I continue on this path, this will not continue. For me, when I put any mind altering substance into my body I lose control. I go against everything I believe in. I compromise all my morals. Not one of my relapses has had pleasant results. I gain nothing. Yet after time passes, my mind convinces me this time I will be able to control it, this time it will be ok. The truth is each time it gets worse. I'm here to do everything I can to break this pattern.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sonoran Desert & Southeast Asia
Posts: 6,561
Welcome TD. Glad to have you hear. Great start with 7 days, it's pretty much a mind game at this point.
I suggest you stay close here - reading and posting. Those that do seem to make it. It gets harder as we get older, and it's important to let go of that ego, but you will also hava a lot of fun here and get plenty of support. I owe my sobriety to SR.
There is a class of others who started (or re-started) this month - link here:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-part-two.html
I suggest you stay close here - reading and posting. Those that do seem to make it. It gets harder as we get older, and it's important to let go of that ego, but you will also hava a lot of fun here and get plenty of support. I owe my sobriety to SR.
There is a class of others who started (or re-started) this month - link here:
https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...-part-two.html
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,584
tdshawn - I'm so glad you found us & decided to join. 7 days is wonderful.
I was in a similar place when I came to SR. I had 3 yrs. sober & decided I could have 'a few' now and then. It didn't take long for me to become trapped in the same old pattern. I graduated to drinking all day/every day this last time. Never again. We know better than to ever risk our precious sobriety. Welcome!
I was in a similar place when I came to SR. I had 3 yrs. sober & decided I could have 'a few' now and then. It didn't take long for me to become trapped in the same old pattern. I graduated to drinking all day/every day this last time. Never again. We know better than to ever risk our precious sobriety. Welcome!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Welcome home, tdshawn.
After that many years in AA, I'm sure you've seen a lot.
We are glad you're back.
This week's Weekender thread topic seems tailor made for you to share your story. Join us! It's an ongoing thread of slice of life-type posts. We'd love to have you.
(Is it okay to have a drink now?...After all this time sober!...Weekenders 28 - 31 May 2021)Is it okay to have a drink now?...After all this time sober!...Weekenders 28 - 31 May 2021
After that many years in AA, I'm sure you've seen a lot.
We are glad you're back.
This week's Weekender thread topic seems tailor made for you to share your story. Join us! It's an ongoing thread of slice of life-type posts. We'd love to have you.
(Is it okay to have a drink now?...After all this time sober!...Weekenders 28 - 31 May 2021)Is it okay to have a drink now?...After all this time sober!...Weekenders 28 - 31 May 2021
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 528
My first A.A. meeting was around 1987 but my sobriety year is 2002. I spent the vast majority of the time in between '87 and '02 trying to stay sober on the parts of the program that weren't too difficult. For example, I refused to sponsor anyone till '02. Unsurprisingly -- at least for an alcoholic of my type -- I kept relapsing.
Today, I am convinced that an alcoholic of my type either completely submits to the A.A. program of recovery or drinks. As it says in the Big Book: "Half measures availed us nothing."
Today, I am convinced that an alcoholic of my type either completely submits to the A.A. program of recovery or drinks. As it says in the Big Book: "Half measures availed us nothing."
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