Bamboozle

...How long does it take?



I know, it varies from individual to individual...






...but, as many times as I've Fked! up, is there hope for me?



...


...

least

As many times as I f*cked up and I eventually 'got it right'. If a chronic relapser like me can make it, so can you. I can't remember how many times I jumped off the wagon, but I thought I was hopeless. I'm not hopeless and neither are you. As long as you're still breathing and want to stop drinking you can do it.

:ghug3

gypsytears

As long as it takes. If you give up hope then there is none.

Keep at it.

Horselover

Hey Bam - Why not start now? Dump it and begin again now. You can do it and there's no time like today. For the next hour don't drink. :ghug3

CarolD

As long as I don't drink and strive to live
the Golden Rule....I consider myself to be a success.

I felt I had solid recovery when I began my
AA Step work. I was about 3 months sober.

Recovery Rocks!

Dee74

took me 15 years - but I'm pretty stubborn.
I had to learn not to fight myself

It took years for me, but once I accepted the fact I was an alcoholic, I could work from there.

You'll get it Bam. I haven't said this in a while but it's still true - you can never lose if you never give up.

D

Impurrfect

as long as we're breathing, there is hope.

I thought I'd never see my life as a "success", but considering that I'm clean and moving foward, instead of backwards, I'd say it's a success. I had to learn to look at little things to be grateful for to realize my life was improving.

Hugs and prayers!

Amy

Anna

As long as you keep trying, there is always hope.

BeamMeUpScotty

"We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down."--Kurt Vonnegut

LosingmyMisery

It had gotten to the point, all I had was hope. I had hope in one hand and misery in the next. I clung to the idea of hope. Without it, I was overwhelmed and helpless. Never give up on hope.

four812

you may have a thousand more second chances left.

or two more

so when you are ready, then jump back into recovery with both feet and shoot for the stars. the recovery stars

NewDayNow

Stay hopeful Bamboozle. I can’t explain it but it takes as long as it takes and then with a little help you make it happen. You have to believe that.

Ed

SelfSeeking

(((Bam)))

Isaiah

Almost everything going on for me right now is effed up.

The one good thing is that I'm not drinking and making it more effed up than it is already.

Hold tight. These things change before you realize it.

Dean62

Like Dee it took me 15 years of not getting it. In the final months of my drinking I made the decision to keep going back to meetings no matter what, drinking or not. It didn't matter to me what anybody else thought I was determined to stick around recovering alcoholics until I became one. And then one day I got it.

Whatever it takes Bam.

Skyburst

It only takes a minute...then another...then the one after that...but they all have to be in a row

Each one is success!

mxchaos

I thought I'd never get it right but I'm 9 months clean and life feels so much better. I walk swim and meditate they all help to keep me sober. find thing s you like and do them instead of drinking life will be much easier if you do.

good luck and never quit trying

Toomutch

Maybe this will be the day bam. It is obvious the desire to be sober is there, but it needs to be stonger than the desire to drink.

Mattcake

Hi Bam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

...How long does it take? ...

It takes exactly one instant: the very moment you decide you've had enough, you're on your way. Everything else that follows might as well be "normal" life, there will always be challenges. If that decision is firmly i place, you have a map. Recovery is an ongoing process that might as well just be called Life. It's not so much about the drinks you (don't?) have thereafter, it's about focusing on what lays ahead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

but, as many times as I've Fked! up

Bamb, please don't take offense... But your thinking process seems to be very extremist: black or white. There are shades in between "success" and failure/ f*uking up". Give yourself some credit for your effort, the fact that you are trying makes all the difference. If you ask around you'll probably find that those who have stopped drinking or using don't consider themselves "successes". At least I don't... it's neither happily ever after nor never ending misery.

Maybe you could stop comparing yourself to others so much? At some point, I truly believe that the line between "in recovery" and "everyday life" starts to dissipate. The things we have in common are much broader than our differences - and I don't mean that exclusively regarding addiction either. Those who are 20+ years sober are still learning stuff, just as you are. So concentrate on your own efforts and keep asking for help whenever you need it.

coffeeboy

I decided today is the day, why don't you too? Let's promise to make it through this entire day without a drink. For me this is DAY 1

I have probably over posted that this is DAY 1 for me, I apologize. But I think that the more I have announced it here (I am not telling anyone else) that the more official it makes it for me.