Caravagio

Another sober weekend over and who am I?...Am I

1. A drinker
2. An ex drinker
3. A non drinker
4. All of these things

It seems that I spend a lot of time defining myself by either the presence or abscence of alcohol. I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to have it or avoid it. Justifying why I 'deserve ' that drink. I realise now just how amazing people who have stopped drinking are. It's not easy and I suppose if I remember that I'll be ok. Looking forward to next week and yet another sober week/end . Good luck to everyone on their own personal journey x

least

I try not to define myself with labels.

hypochondriac

It is like that by necessity when you first get sober, I had to keep saying to myself 'I don't drink' until I started believing it. Now I don't define myself by alcohol at all. I was in a pub this afternoon and I was just like one of the other people not drinking. I didn't feel awkward or on guard. Now I define myself by what I do rather than what I drink x

trachemys

I've had similar questions, Cara. I've been drinking/drugging since I was 16. Substance abuse has always been a part of my life.

I posted in Secular Connections about being a new man. That's what I am. The old me is gone. What I will be is wide open. I can be anything I want.

Except drunk.

Ghostlight

Good post. I, neither, define myself as an ex drinker. I'm human. I feel emotions alcohol no longer rules my life.
I did define myself as a drunk when I was drinking, because that's what I was and everyone I knew well knew it, too.

Now, I'm sober, recovering and falable. I'm a new me and I'm proud of that and I'm proud of a lot of people on these boards who have quit for their sage adivice and wisdom.
I'm loving life, I'm closer to God and I am a new me.

flutter

I think it just comes with time, the identification of being a non-drinker or ex-drinker. The label thing really makes no difference in the scheme of things, ya know? Glad you're here, we do understand!

Threshold

One of the freedoms I've found in sobriety is that I identify myself less by my relationship with alcohol,drugs or other addictive behavior than I did. I am identifying myself more by my relationship with things that represent life than things that that rob me of life!

It's been a process for me.