mecanix

I'll be happy if i never drink again , i certainly don't want to drink again .

I live my life one day at a time , neither living in the past nor the future .

Bestwishes, M

BarrysMama

.I think ODAAT can gradually lead one into "Never".. perhaps that is how it is meant to work...

hamabi

Some people have the amazing ability to foretell the future. There are scientific research studies that back this up.

Researchers conducting a study at Washington University focused on the mid-brain dopamine system (MDS). Using MRIs, they found when presented with a choice of future possibilities their subjects would fortell the future with an 90% probability rate.

Researchers saw significant activity in several mid-brain regions during subject predictions, among them the substantia nigra - 'ground zero for the dopamine signaling system' - and in a set of nuclei called the striatum. They were also active when the subjects were informed of the results of their predictions.

For those interested, the research and results were published in the Journal Of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Using "The Science of Light" or Vedic Astrology, practioners believe they can acheive a predictability within that same high percentage range. Many refer to Astrology as "the mother of all sciences", and by incorporating math into their readings users can acheive remarkable results.

Some believe they can use dreams to successfully predict the future, and there have been some both positive and negative study results since the 1950s, most importantly by psychologist Eugene Aserinsky. Abraham Lincoln dreamed of his assasination 2 weeks prior to the event.

So I can understand people who are looking out forward into the future, and can state absolutely they are among the few alcoholics who will never drink again throughout the rest of their lives.

I'm a believer. As an aside, it would personally be of great benefit to know where the Nasdaq will be at the end of the 3rd week in March, if anyone among those with this amazing ability would be so kind? 90% probability is fine by me.

As far as if I will stay sober or not for my lifetime...I don't know, but sure hope so as my drinking made life very difficult, and I like to live as pleasantly as is possible.

Received

I don't disagree. I can't, nor do I wish to, undo the ODAAT method. In the beginning, it's quite possible (even likely) it kept me from picking up. Possibly, "never" would have been too overwhelming at the time.

Your post brings up a memory from years ago. I was probably 4 years sober at the time. I was talking to a woman who I had just met and somehow we got into the discussion of drinking and she mentioned how she hadn't drank in years and I replied I no longer drank either. It must have been what I said, or the way I said it, which made her inquire further. She asked "are you in AA?". I said "yes". She said (paraphrase), "I went to AA for a few years but don't go any longer. I got on with life and I don't drink".

Wow. Funny how that memory just kind of popped up.

At the end of the day, I don't care how someone gets and stays sober. I just so much want them to get there.

Joe Nerv

I'm not sure why some people equate going to AA with not getting on with life. Or clinging desperately to a folding chair. Or maybe I am. But it's a misperception.

If people are really living a progam, it's quite the opposite. The people I know who really put the 12 steps into their lives generally grow in leaps and bounds, and keep moving forward with their lives. The people I've known who left AA to "get on with their lives" generally wound up getting stuck wherever they were. Or drinking. I hear a lot of people talking with a lot of confidence about staying stopped for life, yet they're not even sober for a year. Or 5 years. It's not incredibly tough to stay sober for short periods of time. Staying stopped 20 years down the line, from what I've seen in others and myself, is a whole different ballgame though. People change, hoepfully for the better, a whole lot in 15 - 20 - 30 years. If I believed and felt the same as I did 20 years ago I'd consider myself in some serious trouble. And I was sober for 8 years then. And yeah, I kinda thought I knew it all. It's only time and experience that taught me I still actually had a lot to learn. And still do.

There are some people who make AA their life. After many years sober they still go to 7+ meetings a week, and talk very little about anything other than AA and alcohol. I'm happy for these people. It's what they choose to do, and most of them seem very happy in their lifestyle. It's not however what AA is to me and many others. To most, AA is a bridge back to life. A very full life. I still go about 3 meetings a week. There were periods of time where I hardly went to any meetings at all. People seem to feel a need to judge however that we choose to do go to meetings, or often want to take little digs at it as the woman in the quoted story. With travel included, my 3 meetings a week take up about 4 of the 168 hours in my week. I enjoy the meetings, and I get a lot out of them. What is your average, non alcoholic, or non AA person doing in those 4 hours a week? Most watching TV, others wasting time on the internet arguing with people over how they got sober , many looking at porn or stuffing their faces with cake and potato chips.... you get the idea. Some do positive life affirming things also. I consider AA one of those positive life affirming things.

Happy that lady quit AA and got on with her life. I'd love to sit and have a detailed chat with her however. I'm certain it's not quite as simple and wonderful as she made it sound.

Received

Perception is a funny thing, eh? For me it was a moment in time, many years ago that made it's way to my thoughts.

Simple and wonderful? I don't recall her suggesting either of those. At most, I can say she said it in a matter of fact way.

"Misperception"? Hmmmm. I know I was "really living a program". I also try very hard not put definition to other peoples experiences, give my perception of other peoples experiences or assume I know what may or may not work for others. Smells too much like taking someone's inventory or painting everyone with the same broad brush? Ya know.

Joe Nerv

I'll give ya that one.

I'm beginning to get a bit defensive about AA hanging around this forum. While I feel I'm learning a bit here, I also feel reading a lot of things is starting to have a not so good effect on me. Think I may take a break from here for a while. I bet this world can sort this all out without my help anyhow.

Received

It's all good, Joe. I worked a great program, I don't regret my time in the rooms.

I'm also really grateful for SR and finding out about a different way, for me.

soberlicious

well...me too...how boring would that be? but what has that got to do with drinking?

and we smile at such a sally...

Joe Nerv

LOL. Someone was talking earlier about our ability to predict the future... in my last post was was almost going to say that I'm sure soberlicious will be along shortly to have some sort of comment regarding what I said. A comment that will inspire my continued contribution to this thread...

I didn't say that for obvious reasons, but this tells me that I am, definitely beginning to spend way too much time here. Yer gonna have to answer yer own question there, soberlicious. I'm sure you can.

soberlicious

a day without soberlicious is like a day without sunshine... or not...LOL

The founders of AA believed that the by-product of a spiritual awakening or complete psychic change, was permanent abstinence. Permanent abstinence = never.

LexieCat

Can I truthfully say I will NEVER drink again? Of course not. That strikes me as a bit foolish and arrogant.

I CAN say that I intend never to drink again, and that I will do whatever seems necessary to achieve that goal, because I believe if I do I risk going back to the misery I left behind. I CAN say that I have no particular fear that I will drink again, because I am continuing to work on my recovery and my spiritual condition, which I believe will protect me from slips/relapses.

I found that, although I can only live one day at a time, and can only be sober for one day at a time, removing alcohol as an option, under any and all circumstances, has brought be a great sense of freedom. I don't worry about situations by debating whether it would, or might, be OK to drink "just this once." Not an option. Not on the table. Not up for debate.

I average about a meeting a week these days. I am active in my home group, and I post on this forum and another email list and have exchanges with other alcoholics on a day to day basis.

It works for me, this way, for now.

soberlicious

Exactly.
Interesting adjectives.

LexieCat

Well, I say that because it presumes I will never stop working my recovery program. I don't intend to, but I've seen other people do it. With bad results, generally speaking.

I'm talking about avoiding complacency. Am I capable of becoming complacent someday? Probably. I hope that will never happen, but it feels to me like overconfidence to say I never could.

ReadyAtLast

I think it's just different ways of looking at things, peoples' perceptions. For me, saying never isn't being arrogant or foolish-it's just removing the uncertainty of odaat,the hanging on oh don't drink today but you can have some tomorrow. I know tomorrow never comes of course But for me, saying never is closure, acceptance. Definitely,no complacence here,though I'm early on still. Of course, none of us can see the future. There are many things I say I'd never do-rob a bank, kill someone, I don't think i'm foolish saying I'd never do those,even though I can't see the future

Whatever/whichever way works for anyone gets my vote

lilyrosemary

Personally, i have learned the hard way to avoid saying never in any circumstance. I have ended up eating those words.

Fallow

It doesnt bother me to say Ill never drink again. I figure its better to start there and if I get back to Odaat then I know Ive got to focus more on recovery. Thats just me.

freshstart57

Never stop working a recovery program? I just quit drinking. Period. I cut out the middleman so to speak. Arrogant? Overconfident? Foolish? Complacent? Not even a little. It is only if I choose to use those words to describe myself that my sobriety is at risk.

I made this into a moral issue for me, this never drinking thing. That answers the question for me forever. It feels liberating to know that there is nothing that can ever make me drink. I am not addicted to alcohol any more, and I am free.

Dee74

Some of us like cornflakes, some like Frosties. some prefer bacon and eggs
Some like Coke, some like Pepsi. Some like iced tea.
Some like The Addams Family over The Munsters. Some prefer Bewitched.

I find it's perfectly possible to say I like cornflakes without musing about those who do not, or what their motives might be.

D

kizzy40

Never say never, that's what they say...
I would find it nigh on impossible to stick to one or two, so I can safely say personally even one would be catastrophic.
Just that one would be too many for me, the thought of going through this again scares me enough to say I won't now.
Will I be lulled into a false sense of security or become complacent in the future?...I really hope not.