Does anyone ever drink "normal" again?
Grateful to be free
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,680
Thought for the day....
It IS normal to not drink.
Lot's of normal people don't drink.
I am way more normal when I am NOT drinking, than when I am.
So for ME, not drinking IS normal, just like it is for millions of other people, most of which never had a drinking problem to begin with.
Obsessing about whether or not I will someday be able to do again something that was killing me and destroying my life...that is NOT normal.
THAT is what I am seeking to address in recovery, that very NOT normal obsession, and compulsion.
It IS normal to not drink.
Lot's of normal people don't drink.
I am way more normal when I am NOT drinking, than when I am.
So for ME, not drinking IS normal, just like it is for millions of other people, most of which never had a drinking problem to begin with.
Obsessing about whether or not I will someday be able to do again something that was killing me and destroying my life...that is NOT normal.
THAT is what I am seeking to address in recovery, that very NOT normal obsession, and compulsion.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 20,458
I look like a normal drinker on the outside(or so i thought).....but I never can stop. 2 glasses of wine at dinner out would turn into a 3 day binge inside my house where no one could see me.
its much less stressful to NOT drink, at least for me.
its much less stressful to NOT drink, at least for me.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 654
After working a recovery program for two years would it be worth a risk of having a drink to find out? I hope the answer would be "no". When it comes down to it, the risk isn't worth the smallest, almost non-exsistant chance that you could go back to drinking "normally".
Worry about today, not a year or two from now. If you put the work into recovery, I'm sure in two years you would either know that the answer is no or you wouldn't want to find out.
Keep moving forward,
Maylie
Worry about today, not a year or two from now. If you put the work into recovery, I'm sure in two years you would either know that the answer is no or you wouldn't want to find out.
Keep moving forward,
Maylie
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Good question! I stopped drinking for about one month this summer. I was convinced that I could drink in moderation. I did pretty well at first, and felt really proud of myself. But slowly I noticed I was drinking more and more, it got to the point that it scared me... so now today, I am one week sober, starting again.
Member of SMART Recovery
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,722
Let's get this out of the way. Statistically the answer is yes. Some people are indeed able to drink moderately after being diagnosed with alcohol dependence. We can argue about this all day long but the stats are clear on this one.
The thing is...and I don't know if anyone else can relate to this...I personally have no desire to drink moderately. I really don't. What I want is to be able to drink myself into oblivion with no negative consequences. And THAT will never happen!
The thing is...and I don't know if anyone else can relate to this...I personally have no desire to drink moderately. I really don't. What I want is to be able to drink myself into oblivion with no negative consequences. And THAT will never happen!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 1,737
Originally Posted by onlythetruth 
The thing is...and I don't know if anyone else can relate to this...I personally have no desire to drink moderately. I really don't. What I want is to be able to drink myself into oblivion with no negative consequences. And THAT will never happen!
I am right there with you OTT. Thus far I am a one chip wonder, but I know sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, if I were to drink again it would be 100% full on. In a strange way it is reassuring that when I get that rare desire to drink I never want "a" drink, I want to drink till I pass out. I don't have any delusions that "normal" drinking is an option for me.
Resident Awesome Guy
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 747
I have been battling for 3 years now and keep going back to the same thing. I came here tonight because i realize that there is no "normal" for me. One beer leads to 10. One Friday drinking will lead to every Friday drinking. I hate myself after i drink and i am really done ever feeling that way. Imo, you need to find out for yourself, but just keep taking one day at a time and see what happens.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 21
My experience is that people who can truly drink normally, just do. They don't sit around debating what normal drinking is and how to achieve it. If you are doing that it's a pretty good tale tale sign that moderated drinking is not in your future.
lillyknitting
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Loughton, Essex, England
Posts: 638
Originally Posted by Fandy
I look like a normal drinker on the outside(or so i thought).....but I never can stop. 2 glasses of wine at dinner out would turn into a 3 day binge inside my house where no one could see me.
its much less stressful to NOT drink, at least for me.
its much less stressful to NOT drink, at least for me.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 9
I think it's all or nothing with me, I don't
drink to be sociable, I drink to get drunk.
I am going to look for other activities, ones
that don't involve drinking; cinema, meals out,
babysitting my niece etc. Anyway if I managed a
good amount of time without booze I hope
the achievement will stop me from
going back.
drink to be sociable, I drink to get drunk.
I am going to look for other activities, ones
that don't involve drinking; cinema, meals out,
babysitting my niece etc. Anyway if I managed a
good amount of time without booze I hope
the achievement will stop me from
going back.
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