My heart is breaking.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
Recovery for me was and still is learning
about addiction to alcohol or drugs, a
poisonous or narcotic substance that
affects us mentally, physically, emotionally,
as well as spiritually.
Recovery is learning many useful, helpful
tools and knowledge to apply to our everyday
life and in all areas of our life.
I had to listen, learn, absorb and apply
this knowledge of a recovery program
to learn how to be happy, healthy and
honest without the use or dependency
on alcohol.
Support in numbers in recovery is a
very powerful tool to invest in so that
you never, ever have to go thru anything
alone again.
When we are connected by support
whether it be by phone, here in SR,
in meetings, we lean on, lift each other
up, show care, concern, understanding
with communication to help and guide
each other on our journeys.
We learn from each other. We share
our own experiences, strengths and
hopes of what out lives were and are
like before during and after drinking
or using.
Not everyone understand addiction
but many are affected by it.
I entered recovery via a family intervention
where I was sent to a rehab facitity 24 yrs
ago and from there I learned about my
addiction within those first 28 days before
I returned home and continued on with
learning in a 6 week outpatient aftercare
program.
I was about 7/8 yrs married with 2 little
ones when family stepped in helping me
when I couldn't or didn't want to help myself.
For that, I am truly grateful for them. Recovery
is a gift to last a lifetime and to never take
for granted.
Recovery has given me my life back
to become a healthy, happy, honest
person to live with and around.
Seek a recovery program that works
so you too can get your life back
like many here in SR have.
about addiction to alcohol or drugs, a
poisonous or narcotic substance that
affects us mentally, physically, emotionally,
as well as spiritually.
Recovery is learning many useful, helpful
tools and knowledge to apply to our everyday
life and in all areas of our life.
I had to listen, learn, absorb and apply
this knowledge of a recovery program
to learn how to be happy, healthy and
honest without the use or dependency
on alcohol.
Support in numbers in recovery is a
very powerful tool to invest in so that
you never, ever have to go thru anything
alone again.
When we are connected by support
whether it be by phone, here in SR,
in meetings, we lean on, lift each other
up, show care, concern, understanding
with communication to help and guide
each other on our journeys.
We learn from each other. We share
our own experiences, strengths and
hopes of what out lives were and are
like before during and after drinking
or using.
Not everyone understand addiction
but many are affected by it.
I entered recovery via a family intervention
where I was sent to a rehab facitity 24 yrs
ago and from there I learned about my
addiction within those first 28 days before
I returned home and continued on with
learning in a 6 week outpatient aftercare
program.
I was about 7/8 yrs married with 2 little
ones when family stepped in helping me
when I couldn't or didn't want to help myself.
For that, I am truly grateful for them. Recovery
is a gift to last a lifetime and to never take
for granted.
Recovery has given me my life back
to become a healthy, happy, honest
person to live with and around.
Seek a recovery program that works
so you too can get your life back
like many here in SR have.
Recovering ostrich
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Posts: 2,551
Welcome! I know that I would vow not to get drunk but would continue to try and have one or two never fully understanding that it wasn't in my DNA to only have one or two. Better to ditch it all together.
Stick around here!
Stick around here!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 525
Hey TryTryAgain, I like your name, it speaks volumes. And i like what you said "I got a six-pack, figured it would feel good. Of course it didn't, and i got two more quarts."
So, you did this experiment to see if drinking would work this time, and you found out it still doesn't work. So you've proved it to yourself. I found out the same thing too.
The big decision is to stop drinking. That is the only goal. AA is a way to achieve that goal, and it works for many, but not for everyone. Don't get worried about whether AA works for you, or thinking that you have to feel comfortable in AA meetings. That just adds more worries. Just focus on not drinking, hour by hour. Let the other stuff figure itself out. Please post everyday. We're not drinking on this ship, and there's room for you on board.
So, you did this experiment to see if drinking would work this time, and you found out it still doesn't work. So you've proved it to yourself. I found out the same thing too.
The big decision is to stop drinking. That is the only goal. AA is a way to achieve that goal, and it works for many, but not for everyone. Don't get worried about whether AA works for you, or thinking that you have to feel comfortable in AA meetings. That just adds more worries. Just focus on not drinking, hour by hour. Let the other stuff figure itself out. Please post everyday. We're not drinking on this ship, and there's room for you on board.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Originally Posted by TryTryAgain 
Mac, Owl: Thanks so much. Your supportive posts have brought tears to my eyes. I have never tried AVRT, until now. I like the feeling of being capable and powerful and I want very much to succeed. Thank you again.
being powerless over alcohol doesn't mean being powerless.
I found that when I shifted my defensive thinking and opened my heart and mind to the possibilities, the whole construct of AA took on a new life.
I'm not trying to sell you on AA - do what you're called to do and what works for YOU. I'm just sharing this perspective because I also resisted and disliked and avoided and found fault with AA.
Then, I discovered it had tremendous value to me in my path of sobriety and I am really grateful for it now.
instant
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 5,711
Glad you are here. After years of struggling i have found freedom in sobriety. I think finally having an open heart, and embracing the changes needed helped. SR and a couple of sober relatives are my support.
Even if you don't like AA- there is a lot of wisdom embodied in the steps and the Big Book.
Even if you don't like AA- there is a lot of wisdom embodied in the steps and the Big Book.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,937
Hang in there, TryTryAgain. It's pretty normal to find it difficult, that's what alcoholism is. I'm an atheist so I probably wouldn't fit in at AA but if I needed it to be sober I would do it. Luckily for me I stumbled upon AVRT and it's all I have needed to stay sober these last two + years (of course, SR helps, too!)
For me it all started with one difficult but fundamentally simple question: Am I ready to quit drinking forever? No half measures, no excuses- just 100% sobriety? Ultimately I reached a point where I was so beaten down by drinking that even death seemed preferable, so I "took a leap of faith" (stated with due irony
) and decided I was going to quit no matter what.
Once you decide that you are done drinking then it just comes down to the how. I'm maybe oversimplifying it but that's how it was to me. If I needed to get a scrip for something I would do it. If I needed to handcuff myself to my chair, I would have done it.
AVRT is amazing for me personally. Maybe it will work for you. If not then swallow your pride and try AA. It's kind of like a bad tasting medicine; you don't need to enjoy it, you need to swallow it. The end [sobriety] is so vital that you have to be agnostic about the means.
For me it all started with one difficult but fundamentally simple question: Am I ready to quit drinking forever? No half measures, no excuses- just 100% sobriety? Ultimately I reached a point where I was so beaten down by drinking that even death seemed preferable, so I "took a leap of faith" (stated with due irony
) and decided I was going to quit no matter what.Once you decide that you are done drinking then it just comes down to the how. I'm maybe oversimplifying it but that's how it was to me. If I needed to get a scrip for something I would do it. If I needed to handcuff myself to my chair, I would have done it.
AVRT is amazing for me personally. Maybe it will work for you. If not then swallow your pride and try AA. It's kind of like a bad tasting medicine; you don't need to enjoy it, you need to swallow it. The end [sobriety] is so vital that you have to be agnostic about the means.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 99
What a great Christmas present to come and read these wonderful posts from all of you. Thank you.
So I've been studying AVRT and I made a big plan. :-)
After ~7 years of sporadic attendance at AA meetings, which didn't work for me, it's time to try something different. And this one makes sense to me. Please know that I don't mean any disrespect towards AA, I know it is wonderful for a lot of people.
I would even go to a meeting again some time, but my focus is now AVRT.
And...I really like the support I have received here in these couple of days here and want to support others when I am able.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
So I've been studying AVRT and I made a big plan. :-)
After ~7 years of sporadic attendance at AA meetings, which didn't work for me, it's time to try something different. And this one makes sense to me. Please know that I don't mean any disrespect towards AA, I know it is wonderful for a lot of people.
I would even go to a meeting again some time, but my focus is now AVRT.
And...I really like the support I have received here in these couple of days here and want to support others when I am able.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,564
Great to meet you TryTry. I'm so sorry you had such a painful time recently - but you are among friends who care. I know you can rise above this sadness and make a whole new start.
I was drinking 24/7 when I found SR years ago. I never thought being part of this community would make much difference - but the more I read and posted, the less anxious I felt. I was comforted by the caring and understanding I found here. It's so helpful to not be alone anymore. You can get free - it's going to be ok.
I was drinking 24/7 when I found SR years ago. I never thought being part of this community would make much difference - but the more I read and posted, the less anxious I felt. I was comforted by the caring and understanding I found here. It's so helpful to not be alone anymore. You can get free - it's going to be ok.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 11,426
Glad you have a plan and welcome
Posting and reading here daily was very helpful to me.
I suggest doing that for awhile and reading the stickys at the top of each forum
to learn more about alcoholism and get various perspectives.
Sobriety is a great way to start the new year TryTryAgain--you can do it!
Posting and reading here daily was very helpful to me.
I suggest doing that for awhile and reading the stickys at the top of each forum
to learn more about alcoholism and get various perspectives.
Sobriety is a great way to start the new year TryTryAgain--you can do it!
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