Why 90 days?
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
Why 90 days?
When people come here who aren't sure if they want to quit or aren't sure if they are alcoholic one bit of advice given is to quit for 90 days and see where you are at. Then what??
I'm at 93 days and still not sure if I'm an alcoholic. I just don't get it
I'm at 93 days and still not sure if I'm an alcoholic. I just don't get it
Adventures In SpaceTime
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 5,827
Originally Posted by aeo1313 
When people come here who aren't sure if they want to quit or aren't sure if they are alcoholic one bit of advice given is to quit for 90 days and see where you are at. Then what??
I'm at 93 days and still not sure if I'm an alcoholic. I just don't get it
I'm at 93 days and still not sure if I'm an alcoholic. I just don't get it
In any case, why are you not sure you're alcoholic?
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by RobbyRobot
Don't sweat any of this 90 whatever. There is nothing to get. Some people just want to understand that counting days is a worthwhile marker, and so there it is...
In any case, why are you not sure your alcoholic?
In any case, why are you not sure your alcoholic?
A simple guy making his way
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
Aeo the definition of alcoholic was never my thing. Called what ever you want.
It's the end result of the drinking that I am working on. That has defined my life and not the term.
When I stop drinking life changes. Why? Was the alcohol to blame? I think so. Do I need a label to change my life? No. Just stop drinking.
What ever mindset is needed by anyone trying to do this is what they should be doing.
Do your own thing!
It's the end result of the drinking that I am working on. That has defined my life and not the term.
When I stop drinking life changes. Why? Was the alcohol to blame? I think so. Do I need a label to change my life? No. Just stop drinking.
What ever mindset is needed by anyone trying to do this is what they should be doing.
Do your own thing!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,180
Originally Posted by aeo1313
I only sought help this year because I wanted to get of vicodin. I have always been a weekend drinker, but until this year never would have thought to stop drinking. It just wasn't a big deal and often I could have a few and stop. When I saw my therapist in December about the pills he asked about my drinking and basically he told me I was an alcoholic.
What do you think?Do you think you have a problem with drink? What happens when you drink? Can you not stop/control it? are thereconsequences of your behaviour that you regret?
RIP Sweet Suki
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: In my sanctuary, my home
Posts: 39,913
A lot of people (therapists included) think that if a person has an addiction problem with one substance, they probably would have an addiction problem with any other substance. I don't believe that. Pills, pot, or anything other than beer was never an issue with me. I have never abused anything other than alcohol and 90% of that was beer.
All of that said, my point is, just because a therapist said you were alcoholic does not mean you are.
All of that said, my point is, just because a therapist said you were alcoholic does not mean you are.
Adventures In SpaceTime
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 5,827
Originally Posted by aeo1313
I only sought help this year because I wanted to get of vicodin. I have always been a weekend drinker, but until this year never would have thought to stop drinking. It just wasn't a big deal and often I could have a few and stop. When I saw my therapist in December about the pills he asked about my drinking and basically he told me I was an alcoholic.
Are you being successful with quitting vicodin, which is an opiate? Mixing alcohol and opiates is a serious dangerous business, yeah? I'm sure you already know all about this...
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by justhadenough
It's not really for anyone else to tell us. If we have a problem,we know it, no matter how much we try and deny it
What do you think?Do you think you have a problem with drink? What happens when you drink? Can you not stop/control it? are thereconsequences of your behaviour that you regret?
What do you think?Do you think you have a problem with drink? What happens when you drink? Can you not stop/control it? are thereconsequences of your behaviour that you regret?
I can control it sometimes, and sometimes I get drunk and do stupid stuff. I have been battling this back and forth for so many months and still have no idea if alcohol was bad in my life. I know drugs were, but before drugs came around the alcohol was ok I think. The kicker is could I go back to drinking like I did pre-drugs. If so, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by RobbyRobot
I see.
Are you being successful with quitting vicodin, which is an opiate? Mixing alcohol and opiates is a serious dangerous business, yeah? I'm sure you already know all about this...
Are you being successful with quitting vicodin, which is an opiate? Mixing alcohol and opiates is a serious dangerous business, yeah? I'm sure you already know all about this...
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
I feel like I'm asking permission to drink...which if I knew FOR SURE I didn't have an issue I wouldn't be posting about it. This is something I may just have to find out on my own.
Adventures In SpaceTime
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 5,827
Originally Posted by aeo1313
Yes- quit those cold turkey and will never take one again.
So, you have a great insight already into you and addiction... why are you, in your words, somehow apparently struggling with being or not being an alcoholic?
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by aeo1313
I feel like I'm asking permission to drink...which if I knew FOR SURE I didn't have an issue I wouldn't be posting about it. This is something I may just have to find out on my own.
sobriety date 5-2-12
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by RobbyRobot
Awesome.
So, you have a great insight already into you and addiction... why are you, in your words, somehow apparently struggling with being or not being an alcoholic?
So, you have a great insight already into you and addiction... why are you, in your words, somehow apparently struggling with being or not being an alcoholic?
Adventures In SpaceTime
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 5,827
Originally Posted by aeo1313
Because I don't want to go to meetings anymore. I don't want to read recovery books and "work" on my recovery. I just want to BE.
Well, FWIW, I am just me. I don't have to go to meetings, read recovery books, or otherwise "work" on my recovery to keep happily sober.
I'm a recovered alcoholic drug addict, so, there you go, it can be done.
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,424
Or is your addiction trying to tell you that you are okay to drink, trying to catch you in a moment of lowered inhibitions and causing you to accept an offer of drugs? In my honest opinion, drugs and alcohol are both mind altering substances and the reason we do any of them is to alter our mind. So if we are addicted to any mind altering substance, it is a slippery slope to attempt any mind altering substance. Anytime I struggle with whether or not I am an alcoholic, I tell myself there are plenty of people who never drink for many others reasons, altheticism, health, family history, medications, illness, ambitious/busy doing other things. Being an alcoholic is not the only reason not to drink so I don't have to be one to stop. I hope that all made sense. Haha.
SR Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 7,910
The kicker is could I go back to drinking like I did pre-drugs. If so, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Then there's also the motivation factor- I think it's difficult, once we've established a pattern of altering our moods, to get to a place of "innocence" (for lack of a better word), where it wasn't a big deal one way or the other.
Did you ask your therapist about their reasoning?
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 328
Originally Posted by aeo1313
Why 90 days?
Originally Posted by aeo1313
I can control it sometimes, and sometimes I get drunk and do stupid stuff. I have been battling this back and forth for so many months and still have no idea if alcohol was bad in my life.
If you don't mind, I'll quote what you said to me:
Originally Posted by aeo1313, to me, a little while back
After reading through these posts a few times, to me it boils down to this.
Right now it doesn't matter.
Quit drinking. If you are an alcoholic this is what you need to do anyway, and if you aren't an alcoholic the lack of alcohol won't be a big deal. Your body will thank you regardless of labels.
My AV looooooves it when I read threads like this bc it is so easy to tell myself I am NOT an alcoholic. My parents and husband still can't wrap their minds around it bc I don't fall into the "classic" alcoholic stereotype. Anyway, I read these threads and I start to think...
Then I remind myself of all the stupid, awful things I said and did drunk. I remind myself how I woke up in my own puke.
I'm rambling.
Right now it doesn't matter.
Quit drinking. If you are an alcoholic this is what you need to do anyway, and if you aren't an alcoholic the lack of alcohol won't be a big deal. Your body will thank you regardless of labels.
My AV looooooves it when I read threads like this bc it is so easy to tell myself I am NOT an alcoholic. My parents and husband still can't wrap their minds around it bc I don't fall into the "classic" alcoholic stereotype. Anyway, I read these threads and I start to think...
Then I remind myself of all the stupid, awful things I said and did drunk. I remind myself how I woke up in my own puke.
I'm rambling.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
