TOPIC: Once An Alcoholic/Addict, Always An Alcoholic/Addict. Ur Thoughts?
TOPIC: Once An Alcoholic/Addict, Always An Alcoholic/Addict. Ur Thoughts?
Hi Im Sharon and Im an Alcoholic.
By the Grace of my HP and people
like u here in SR I havent found it
necessary to pick up a drink since
8-11-90.
For that and you I am truely
grateful.
Below is a few lines taken from
the Big Book of A.A. 4th Edition.
Feel free to share ur thoughts or
ur own experiences strengths and
hopes on it with others here in
SR. You words of wisdom could
shed light on someone new
to recovery and help them
better understand what being
an alcoholic/addict really is
or means to you.
From "More About Alcoholism":
"Most of us have believed that if we remained sober for
a long stretch, we could thereafter drink normally. But
here is a man who at fifty-five years found he was just
where he had left off at thirty. We have seen the truth
demonstrated again and again: 'Once an alcoholic,
always an alcoholic.'"
© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition;
Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 33
In my beginning stages of drinking
I had no idea i had a problem with it.
I thought that just because i was
Italian I could consume just as much
alcohol like my grandfather did and
never become drunk.
Boy was I wrong as i realized looking
back over my drinking history.
I found myself spinning out of
control with my actions....my
drinking.....all the time i
got sick...the shakes towards
the end and reaching bottom
to where i lost all hope within
myself....and with life.
I know today some few yrs
sober.....i was an alcohol
from the very start to the
very end and still am today.
However with help from a
tremendous recovery program
with 12 steps to guide me.....
love and care from the fellowship
and faith from Above.....
My disease is at bay just for today.
Meaning that just for today I am
granted a reprieve from the
drink as long as i remain teachable,
open-minded, willing and lastly
honest in all my affairs.
Today I practice the principles
set down before me, passing it
on to all those who wish to hear
it...and for that I am living life
HAPPY JOYOUS AND FREE.
Thanks for letting me share.
By the Grace of my HP and people
like u here in SR I havent found it
necessary to pick up a drink since
8-11-90.
For that and you I am truely
grateful.
Below is a few lines taken from
the Big Book of A.A. 4th Edition.
Feel free to share ur thoughts or
ur own experiences strengths and
hopes on it with others here in
SR. You words of wisdom could
shed light on someone new
to recovery and help them
better understand what being
an alcoholic/addict really is
or means to you.
From "More About Alcoholism":
"Most of us have believed that if we remained sober for
a long stretch, we could thereafter drink normally. But
here is a man who at fifty-five years found he was just
where he had left off at thirty. We have seen the truth
demonstrated again and again: 'Once an alcoholic,
always an alcoholic.'"
© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition;
Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 33
In my beginning stages of drinking
I had no idea i had a problem with it.
I thought that just because i was
Italian I could consume just as much
alcohol like my grandfather did and
never become drunk.
Boy was I wrong as i realized looking
back over my drinking history.
I found myself spinning out of
control with my actions....my
drinking.....all the time i
got sick...the shakes towards
the end and reaching bottom
to where i lost all hope within
myself....and with life.
I know today some few yrs
sober.....i was an alcohol
from the very start to the
very end and still am today.
However with help from a
tremendous recovery program
with 12 steps to guide me.....
love and care from the fellowship
and faith from Above.....
My disease is at bay just for today.
Meaning that just for today I am
granted a reprieve from the
drink as long as i remain teachable,
open-minded, willing and lastly
honest in all my affairs.
Today I practice the principles
set down before me, passing it
on to all those who wish to hear
it...and for that I am living life
HAPPY JOYOUS AND FREE.
Thanks for letting me share.
Am I an alcoholic (Pickle)? You betcha!
Will I always be an alcoholic (Pickle)? No, once I pass to the other side I will be forever free! Until that day comes I know I will always be an alcoholic.
Personal experience tells me so, I was sober for a year and a half in my early 20's after being a heavy (case a day) drinker, well when I started drinking again within a week I was right back where I left off at, maybe a bit worse. I still did not have to drink every day at that point, but I did most of the time.
Will I always be an alcoholic (Pickle)? No, once I pass to the other side I will be forever free! Until that day comes I know I will always be an alcoholic.
Personal experience tells me so, I was sober for a year and a half in my early 20's after being a heavy (case a day) drinker, well when I started drinking again within a week I was right back where I left off at, maybe a bit worse. I still did not have to drink every day at that point, but I did most of the time.
Recovered doesn't mean cured
Any description of Alcoholism which leaves out the physical factor is incomplete. As a result of a spiritual awakening and a daily reprieve based upon my spiritual connection to God, I am a recovered alcoholic. I am not suffering, the problem which centers in my mind has been removed.
Until my spirit leaves this body, I will always be alcoholic. The phenomena of craving that occurs when alcohol is put into my body will always be there. This allergy is what separates me from other types of drinkers.
I am one of the fortunate ones who has never gone back out, I don't say this to brag, I say it because it it my truth. I know a lot of folks who have picked up a drink after a period of time sober. Some of them die, some of them are still drinking, others have made it back to the halls, beaten. I always ask them about their experience. Without fail the allergy had grown worse and the drinking had commenced at epic proportions. It would appear this confirms my suspicion, once an alcoholic always alcoholic. I hope I never have to find this out for myself again. In Spirit, Rob
Until my spirit leaves this body, I will always be alcoholic. The phenomena of craving that occurs when alcohol is put into my body will always be there. This allergy is what separates me from other types of drinkers.
I am one of the fortunate ones who has never gone back out, I don't say this to brag, I say it because it it my truth. I know a lot of folks who have picked up a drink after a period of time sober. Some of them die, some of them are still drinking, others have made it back to the halls, beaten. I always ask them about their experience. Without fail the allergy had grown worse and the drinking had commenced at epic proportions. It would appear this confirms my suspicion, once an alcoholic always alcoholic. I hope I never have to find this out for myself again. In Spirit, Rob
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: on the moon
Posts: 944
Yes, I believe that once we are alcohoilc/addicts we'll always remain that.
I thought, after 7 and half years on the wagon, I was cured and I thought I'd be able to drink like "normal" people do. Needless to say I wasn't, and in a 6 month binge I caused havoc and distruction in my life.
So yea, we'll always be alcoholics/addicts and that's it. We have an illness/allergy. So I guess the best thing we can do for our condition is to not drink, always taking it one day at a time.
I thought, after 7 and half years on the wagon, I was cured and I thought I'd be able to drink like "normal" people do. Needless to say I wasn't, and in a 6 month binge I caused havoc and distruction in my life.
So yea, we'll always be alcoholics/addicts and that's it. We have an illness/allergy. So I guess the best thing we can do for our condition is to not drink, always taking it one day at a time.
Yes, with some sober years behind me, I know I am and will always be an addict.
But, being an addict does not define who I am.
I am a mother, a woman, a wife, a friend, a volunteer, a co-worker, a grandma-to-be and an addict.
But, being an addict does not define who I am.
I am a mother, a woman, a wife, a friend, a volunteer, a co-worker, a grandma-to-be and an addict.
I think it depends on if you have an alcohol problem or a problem with alcohol. Splitting hairs, but I think the physical has a lot to do with it. An alcohol problem to me is someone who really cannot take even a lick of alcohol. It's more than an addiction problem, it's a physical problem. No, I don't think they can ever drink again. A person with a problem with alcohol, in my opinion, has used alcohol. It becomes an addiction to handle the problem. The addiction becomes a habit, a pattern of dealing with the problem. Now, if you can handle the problem and not USE alcohol, then I guess that person could drink again, then again, they might have that alcohol and decide they have another issue that needs drowned away. For me, it became a physical addiction after it was a mental addiction. My mind craved it first. My mind brought me back to it. It is my desire to forget that drives it. My body only drove it when I was in DTs. Being sober for me has meant mental cravings and craving the calm.
That said, I don't think it's a wise person who knows their limits and continues to test them. I don't know if I'll drink again. I know I'm not mentally strong enough right now.
I think I'm about to get flamed.
That said, I don't think it's a wise person who knows their limits and continues to test them. I don't know if I'll drink again. I know I'm not mentally strong enough right now.
I think I'm about to get flamed.
believer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,411
I like to look at it, as a number of things that lead me to a point where i wanted to walk under a bright light. For me addiction is a result, and i am blessed to have gone through it all. I wouldn't be Me. And to love me, i have to realize i am blessed because i know so much more now, after hurting. And i wouldn't know that not have being there.
I actually believe addicts that find the peace are blessed. We learn to value life and not judge. And the not judging part is love goes around, cuz it's such a good place to be in. Fingers stop being pointed and life becomes for living. How many chances do people get to start over in life? Addicts do. And how many chances to evolve tremendously as a soul?...I did. And still am having as we speak...
I actually believe addicts that find the peace are blessed. We learn to value life and not judge. And the not judging part is love goes around, cuz it's such a good place to be in. Fingers stop being pointed and life becomes for living. How many chances do people get to start over in life? Addicts do. And how many chances to evolve tremendously as a soul?...I did. And still am having as we speak...
Those last three posts are great, thanks Anna51, CurliQ and Karim, I agree and appreciate what you're saying. A little bit of inspiration as I'm waking up...
Morning! (Day 24 ohhh yeahhh)
Morning! (Day 24 ohhh yeahhh)
. Now, if you can handle the problem and not USE alcohol, then I guess that person could drink again, then again, they might have that alcohol and decide they have another issue that needs drowned away.
I think everybody goes through this - the 'I used to drink alcoholically but maybe I'll be alright now/someday' thing. Didn't work for me, dunno anyone it did work for. But I knows lots of people who fell of the wagon because they thought this way (including me).
Sorry but there's no distinction between 'an alcohol problem or a problem with alcohol'.
Once an addict, always an addict.
The wonderful thing is, as Anna suggested, we can be so much more than that
why would you want to even think about drinking again ?
D
I'm just saying that I don't think there is a cookie cutter alcoholic. I think there are some people out there who can recover and only have one drink. Does that make them an alcoholic? Probably not in the truest sense of the word.
I don't, but that doesn't mean someone out there could. I do realize that this is dangerous talk in a newbie or even an alcholic forum. I realize it could lead to relapses, but let's be honest. I don't think any one of us doesn't really know our limitations. If we want to drink we can use any excuse we want to and blame it on anything.
why would you want to even think about drinking again ?
Old & Sober Member of AA
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey
Posts: 5,174
What I believe, for me personally is that, although I may have started out drinking "socially"...primarily because parental control and teenage circumstances didn't allow for much else...the weekend drinking eventually turned into daily drinking.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and I progressed from occasional, to frequent, to regularly, to every single day! Once I crossed over that invisible line, there was no going back. I want to stay sober now more than I want to drink. If I wanted to drink, any excuse would be a good excuse...I don't have a reason in the world to drink...but, I could certainly find an excuse, if I was hell-bent on returning to that chaotic existence. Thanks, but no thanks.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and I progressed from occasional, to frequent, to regularly, to every single day! Once I crossed over that invisible line, there was no going back. I want to stay sober now more than I want to drink. If I wanted to drink, any excuse would be a good excuse...I don't have a reason in the world to drink...but, I could certainly find an excuse, if I was hell-bent on returning to that chaotic existence. Thanks, but no thanks.
sorry curli...kinda assumed you were making a personal statement there...I'm not sure what you mean by a cookie cutter alcoholic...yep we're all different, sure, but the one thing we have in common is we can't drink 'normally' now or ever....and there's not a lot of room for movement there as far as I'm concerned....anything else is semantics, and I don't really get the point ?
D
D
Well the question was once an addict, always an addict? So by your definition, I guess someone who could drink only one is not an alcoholic? What was their problem then?
Not being defensive or confrontational.
Not being defensive or confrontational.
Last year, I had a nice long stretch of abstinence. Someone who knows me very well said, trying to be kind, maybe you're not an alcoholic? That's all it took. The obsession started and here I am! I'm definitely not blaming. I clearly was looking for any excuse to have a beer (and, of course, 100 more).
I can't drink. Ever. Experiments have proven conclusive! Now to accept that fact and be okay with it is my challenge.
In my experience, I've seen heavy drinkers go to moderate drinkers but that doesn't look like too much fun to me anymore. In my case, certainly not worth further testing!
I can't drink. Ever. Experiments have proven conclusive! Now to accept that fact and be okay with it is my challenge.
In my experience, I've seen heavy drinkers go to moderate drinkers but that doesn't look like too much fun to me anymore. In my case, certainly not worth further testing!
Well the question was once an addict, always an addict? So by your definition, I guess someone who could drink only one is not an alcoholic? What was their problem then?
Not being defensive or confrontational.
Not being defensive or confrontational.
ok...I'm obviously not entirely following you, and I'm not entirely sure why it seems I have to agree with you.
help me out here ?
you're trying to differentiate between habitual alcoholic drinkers and those, for whatever reason, turn to the bottle for a period, stop and return to drinking normally, right ?
IMO, one group are alcoholics, the other aren't - I guess - although I know a lot of people here who started as binge drinkers...
so, to the letter of the law, yes I suppose there are some people who have followed alcoholic patterns for a period in the past and who then returned to normal patterns.
and....that helps *us* how ?
D
You don't have to agree with me, I'm just trying to understand your point as well.
It doesn't necessarily help us, I was just answering the original question. I guess I was reaching too far with the term 'alcoholic' which, I now see, encompasses only those who can never drink again.
So, in revised answer to the question, no. I guess if you count yourself as an alcoholic and not someone who can drink occasionally, then you will always be as such.
It doesn't necessarily help us, I was just answering the original question. I guess I was reaching too far with the term 'alcoholic' which, I now see, encompasses only those who can never drink again.
So, in revised answer to the question, no. I guess if you count yourself as an alcoholic and not someone who can drink occasionally, then you will always be as such.
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