How many times did it take before you finally quit?
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 160
How many times did it take before you finally quit?
Just a generalized question that I was thinking about. What event made you finally reach for sobriety? How many tries did it take? I have tried seriously to quit probably about 3 or so times, and I can't count how many times I tried to quit, but didn't really have any heart into it.
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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I'm not sure if any of us have EVER "finally quit".....
(PS - what I mean by this is that sobriety is a constant path. And it seems to be one that can easily be wandered away from if we let down our guard. Perhaps even the idea of "I've FINALLY QUIT" is ironically an open door to relapse?)
(PS - what I mean by this is that sobriety is a constant path. And it seems to be one that can easily be wandered away from if we let down our guard. Perhaps even the idea of "I've FINALLY QUIT" is ironically an open door to relapse?)
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 160
Originally Posted by FreeOwl 
I'm not sure if any of us have EVER "finally quit".....
(PS - what I mean by this is that sobriety is a constant path. And it seems to be one that can easily be wandered away from if we let down our guard. Perhaps even the idea of "I've FINALLY QUIT" is ironically an open door to relapse?)
(PS - what I mean by this is that sobriety is a constant path. And it seems to be one that can easily be wandered away from if we let down our guard. Perhaps even the idea of "I've FINALLY QUIT" is ironically an open door to relapse?)
EndGame
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,677
Originally Posted by SlickRick07
Thats a really good point. Its the not drinking that takes more work and effort than the drinking.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sonoran Desert & Southeast Asia
Posts: 6,561
Originally Posted by KateL
After years of trying this and that, I decided abstinence was best. I think it took me about 100 attempts. So If I can do it anyone can xxxxx
My brain is trying to kill me
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Palo Alto, ca
Posts: 401
I tried and failed about 4-6 times a week for more than 20 years. It wasn't until:
I admitted that I was powerless over alcohol: I would reach for the bottle and for the first times in my life I would talk to myself asking why I had to have more alcohol even though I did not want it; and it's affect was not what anyone would expect anymore, I'd drink and drink and not get drunk. Yet despite everything I could not stop.
My life had become unmanageable: I could no longer do the 'normal' stuff, write, drive, get anywhere on time, work once I got there, have social or work relationships. I had an excuse for everything, even peeing on the restroom floor at work.
Despite fighting what I was told when I was SENT to rehab after a visit to a Psychiatrist to find out what was wrong with me(I gave the Doctor a list of 20 problems, #11 was alcohol)an ER detox as I insisted quitting 'cold turkey' before I started Intensive Outpatient Rehab...anyway I was told I could not do it 'alone' and I disagreed, thinking they had a miracle cure to just get me to stop, a pill or therapy..I didn't really know, I just wasn't going to do a 'group thing' or go to AA.
Well, I did what I was told, and decided I might as well do it the VERY BEST I could, I did not want any regrets for not trying my hardest. If it DID NOT work it wasn't going to be because of ME.
The result? I recognize that not only could I not stop by myself, I can't stay sober by myself, and I must take sobriety and a lot of other things in a sober lifestyle One Day At A Time. So I go to AA, come here to SR, go online for meetings, do whatever else I NEED, not necessarily what others think I need. I put my care first above all else, that allows me to take care of the rest of the things that come along, and recognize what I do not need to take care of(is none of MY business) that comes along. But I do a lot of it in fellowship with others because we have something in common and that is HUGE for us all, knowing we're not alone in Sobriety or Recovery.
I admitted that I was powerless over alcohol: I would reach for the bottle and for the first times in my life I would talk to myself asking why I had to have more alcohol even though I did not want it; and it's affect was not what anyone would expect anymore, I'd drink and drink and not get drunk. Yet despite everything I could not stop.
My life had become unmanageable: I could no longer do the 'normal' stuff, write, drive, get anywhere on time, work once I got there, have social or work relationships. I had an excuse for everything, even peeing on the restroom floor at work.
Despite fighting what I was told when I was SENT to rehab after a visit to a Psychiatrist to find out what was wrong with me(I gave the Doctor a list of 20 problems, #11 was alcohol)an ER detox as I insisted quitting 'cold turkey' before I started Intensive Outpatient Rehab...anyway I was told I could not do it 'alone' and I disagreed, thinking they had a miracle cure to just get me to stop, a pill or therapy..I didn't really know, I just wasn't going to do a 'group thing' or go to AA.
Well, I did what I was told, and decided I might as well do it the VERY BEST I could, I did not want any regrets for not trying my hardest. If it DID NOT work it wasn't going to be because of ME.
The result? I recognize that not only could I not stop by myself, I can't stay sober by myself, and I must take sobriety and a lot of other things in a sober lifestyle One Day At A Time. So I go to AA, come here to SR, go online for meetings, do whatever else I NEED, not necessarily what others think I need. I put my care first above all else, that allows me to take care of the rest of the things that come along, and recognize what I do not need to take care of(is none of MY business) that comes along. But I do a lot of it in fellowship with others because we have something in common and that is HUGE for us all, knowing we're not alone in Sobriety or Recovery.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,234
I entered a program of recovery for the
first time in August 1990. August 11, 1990
was my first full day alcohol free and have
remained sober for 23 yrs. still today continueing
to live and incorporated my program of AA
in my everyday affairs.
first time in August 1990. August 11, 1990
was my first full day alcohol free and have
remained sober for 23 yrs. still today continueing
to live and incorporated my program of AA
in my everyday affairs.
Kaleidoscope eyes
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Posts: 5,243
Originally Posted by advbike
Me too! At least 100 serious attempts over 10-15 years. But ya gotta keep trying. The good news is all those 5, 10, 30 day attempts added up to some significant sober time in there. Good for the body and brain to so a little healing and good for reflection time. Thanks to SR though, I am now in my longest period of continuous sobriety (5 1/2 months) in 20 years.
Hears The Voice
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Unshackled
Posts: 7,901
Originally Posted by advbike
Me too! At least 100 serious attempts over 10-15 years. But ya gotta keep trying. The good news is all those 5, 10, 30 day attempts added up to some significant sober time in there. Good for the body and brain to so a little healing and good for reflection time.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,355
I tried to quit at least weekly for 15 years.
For most of that time tho I was really hoping for control and moderation
Well, no, I've quit drinking Free Owl lol 
Your point about recovery being ongoing is spot on... but I look at my drinking life as the before and my life now as the after.
It was a fundamental change.
D
For most of that time tho I was really hoping for control and moderation
Originally Posted by FreeOwl
I'm not sure if any of us have EVER "finally quit".....
(PS - what I mean by this is that sobriety is a constant path. And it seems to be one that can easily be wandered away from if we let down our guard. Perhaps even the idea of "I've FINALLY QUIT" is ironically an open door to relapse?)
(PS - what I mean by this is that sobriety is a constant path. And it seems to be one that can easily be wandered away from if we let down our guard. Perhaps even the idea of "I've FINALLY QUIT" is ironically an open door to relapse?)
Your point about recovery being ongoing is spot on... but I look at my drinking life as the before and my life now as the after.
It was a fundamental change.
D
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
"How many times did it take before you finally quit?"
really not that many times.
"What event made you finally reach for sobriety?"
the insanity of my drinkin was..well.insane. seeing and knowing people close to me die from alcoholism, knowing people close to me kill themselves while drunk, having been responsible for the death of another human-----none of that was enough.
it was the morning after( hopefully) my last drunk. my fiancé( actually, by that time I think she had made the decision she was my ex fiancé) told me what I had done and said the day/night before. although in a blackout the day/night before, I knew it was true( wasn't the 1st time I had that drunk). then told me to get out( that was extremely polite compared to what she truly said).
she meant business and I was crushed. terror, bewilderment, remorse, and regret were runnin wild.
that was 4/23/06. but I didn't quit drinkin. I stopped.
been stopped since.
really not that many times.
"What event made you finally reach for sobriety?"
the insanity of my drinkin was..well.insane. seeing and knowing people close to me die from alcoholism, knowing people close to me kill themselves while drunk, having been responsible for the death of another human-----none of that was enough.
it was the morning after( hopefully) my last drunk. my fiancé( actually, by that time I think she had made the decision she was my ex fiancé) told me what I had done and said the day/night before. although in a blackout the day/night before, I knew it was true( wasn't the 1st time I had that drunk). then told me to get out( that was extremely polite compared to what she truly said).
she meant business and I was crushed. terror, bewilderment, remorse, and regret were runnin wild.
that was 4/23/06. but I didn't quit drinkin. I stopped.
been stopped since.
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