Recovering or Recovered...
Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 395
I am recovered, but it is an on-going process.
For example, someone may have recovered from a dirty house. It took a lot of work to clean that dirty house, but it got cleaned. However, in order to keep that house clean, it needs some maintenance work. If there is no maintenance work, then that clean house will get dirty again.
For example, someone may have recovered from a dirty house. It took a lot of work to clean that dirty house, but it got cleaned. However, in order to keep that house clean, it needs some maintenance work. If there is no maintenance work, then that clean house will get dirty again.
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by Mark75 
I consider myself recoverED... but it's not static.
I consider myself recoverRD because I have recovered the same attitude towards liquor as I had for the first 17 years of my life, before I even knew what the benefits of drinking were.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 889
I have a very simple way of looking at this. I know this topic is controversial in my AA meetings but to for me, I look at it like this.
Ever night I go to bed sober, I recovered from alcoholism. Every morning I wake up, I have untreated alcoholism - I am in recovery. The days in my review mirror are the days I recovered. The day ahead of me I am recovering from alcoholism.... Make sense?
Ever night I go to bed sober, I recovered from alcoholism. Every morning I wake up, I have untreated alcoholism - I am in recovery. The days in my review mirror are the days I recovered. The day ahead of me I am recovering from alcoholism.... Make sense?
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 581
I'm curious-- those of you who say you are recovering and are in AA-- how do you feel about the word "recovered" in the AA textbook? It wasn't merely a "tense" thing (ed vs ing)-- Bill Wilson went to great lengths to explain that we recover from our disease. Is this a disconnect for you?
Recovered.
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 32
I would say i am a recovering alcoholic because it is a daily reprieve and there is no cure as such, it is a fatal progressive disease therefor i will always have the illness of alcoholism. I don't drink - i am restored to sanity around alcohol providing i am spiritually fit but the 'ism' of the disease is my character derfects which is an ongoing process of healing through step 10.
However you have got me thiking now,,, The BIG BOOK OF AA on the first page clearly says "How many men and woman have recovered from alcoholism" I think we do recover on a daily basis from the insanity and desire to drink.
However you have got me thiking now,,, The BIG BOOK OF AA on the first page clearly says "How many men and woman have recovered from alcoholism" I think we do recover on a daily basis from the insanity and desire to drink.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,095
Originally Posted by blackhorse
The BIG BOOK OF AA on the first page clearly says "How many men and woman have recovered from alcoholism"
The goal of the Steps is clear. Take them and be recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
The biggest reason why I use the word recovered is because that's my experience. I can't adequately describe what that experience is, but the experience of it is undeniable. It 'feels' like recovered. It feels like the description Carl Jung used of that psychic change. It feels like reborn.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 581
"We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition."
P. 85 of The AA Textbook
P. 85 of The AA Textbook
Awaiting Email Confirmation
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 68
Recovered...
Just like in the sense I don't consider myself a "recovering" nicotine addict, I'm a non smoker.
I would never be stupid enough to think I can have just one cigarette and be ok like I could when I was 18. Cigs have been happily deleted from my life..same with alcohol.
"Recovering" to me implies there is some part of yourself that still wants to get hammered.
Just like in the sense I don't consider myself a "recovering" nicotine addict, I'm a non smoker.
I would never be stupid enough to think I can have just one cigarette and be ok like I could when I was 18. Cigs have been happily deleted from my life..same with alcohol.
"Recovering" to me implies there is some part of yourself that still wants to get hammered.
I'm a recovered alcoholic recovering day by day...Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 581
Originally Posted by sarah78
Well for me I would definetly say recovering and maybe one day I could say recovered. I believe that will be the moment that I can truly look back on my drinking and all that it entailed (without any pain) and say I learned something from it, something that made me a better person today. I guess I can say because of my experience it made me more in tuned with my HP, family, self, life, so that is some growth already. To be recovered I have to be confident enough to know that I will never repeat it again but really that is a daily process.
I also think it was/is a season in my life and if I am willing enough and stick close to my HP, I will be able to let it remain in the past (for good), but use it as a reminder for the present and future. I am doing that now, but have a long way to go...
Great thread!
I also think it was/is a season in my life and if I am willing enough and stick close to my HP, I will be able to let it remain in the past (for good), but use it as a reminder for the present and future. I am doing that now, but have a long way to go...
Great thread!
Eating protein and life.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Just. Plain. Grateful.
Posts: 503
Originally Posted by MsCooterBrown
*taking a break to look up the word Nephalist*...not sure if I want to be one or not!!!
A: Ice cold?
No, that's from an Outkast song and it's wrong. The correct answer is LaFemme and MC Brown (sometimes I don't know how I would have gotten by without you two, thanks for the laughs and the wisdom)
Sorry for the hijiack, I had to share it because sharing is caring and I'm told that caring is something good. I like good...and ice cream.
Life is Grand
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,039
Originally Posted by FrothyJay
I'm curious-- those of you who say you are recovering and are in AA-- how do you feel about the word "recovered" in the AA textbook? It wasn't merely a "tense" thing (ed vs ing)-- Bill Wilson went to great lengths to explain that we recover from our disease. Is this a disconnect for you?
Cathy...Recovering Alcoholic for over 16 years
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
I have posted on this many times where i have stated that i am recovered and not recovering almost to the point of taking the implication that i might be recovering as an insult...in the Big Book is says recovered...but, thankfully, now i couldn't care less what anyone calls themselves:-)
If i had to answer the question now i would say i am recovered from the mental obsession and am a recovering alcoholic in all other aspects of my life and will be until the day i die...
If i had to answer the question now i would say i am recovered from the mental obsession and am a recovering alcoholic in all other aspects of my life and will be until the day i die...
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