When are we considered no longer “newcomers” to recovery?
 

I think it would be a time that you would choose to no longer refer to yourself as a newcomer. But, I don't see it as a label. I've been here for a long time and this is still my favourite forum. This is the place where we get a chance to offer a hand to someone who is lost. :)

I'm always going to be a newcomer. This is where it all began for me - this is my home.

Congratulations on your almost 9 mos. AmbyMarie - that is wonderful.

Congrats on your 9 months.:You_Rock_

I really try to live one day at a time, so in a sense, I'm a newcomer every morning.

I'd say that the 9 month mark was that moment. The moment I became a former alcoholic. If felt wonderful and I was pleasantly surprised that there was a 9 month chip for such a feat. Super day.

As far as this forum goes no rules.
I'm not aware on any rules on what a newcomer is outside this forum either :)

D

no, no rules.
but i have heard that medically speaking one is considered in stable sobriety after five years.

I have almost 4 years and am still a newcomer.
Started using chemicals when I was 13 and am 40 now. Sober life is still very new to me.

I love this thread. Thank you, AmbyMarie. Congratulations on your recovery!!

I'm not alcoholic. I am in 12 step programs. My recovery has been in layers. It's a great journey.

I've got 9 yrs sober but still come to Newcomers to share and help out. :grouphug: I like to give back that which was so kindly given to me when I was new. :)

Great question thanks for asking it, I was wondering that too :)

Congratulations on almost 9 months that's amazing :You_Rock_

I'm a bit past six years sober but I'm still a nOOb!:lmao

The newcomers is great for giving and taking, I’m glad there’s no rules on how long you can post for.
Everybody benefits from it.
Thanks for bringing it up Ambi Mari
Great job on 9 months :c011:

congrats AmbyMarie! Great comments above.

For me, while I knew from day 1 and my first AA mtg that I was done drinking - somehow, some way, I didn't know other than I didn't want to die.

I have 1122 days so 3 yr 1 day in exactly two wks. Putting aside the legit markers of 1,2 and 5 yrs that I do think important, especially in my physical and indeed mental recovery, I was closing in on 2 when I remember thinking, "ok, maybe I don't have to qualify my recovery as a newcomer any more." Now, I just say I'm an alcoholic and when the discussion is about getting started or time in the program or such, I am succinct but conservative - bc whoever got up earlier than I did today has more sobriety than I do.

Humble + hopeful in terms of time, action, everything is my view.

it's not about alcohol for me, either- it's about everything else! My thoughts, feelings, actions - how I live my life. Recovery is the backdrop.

I definitely still feel new to recovery at about 14 months - is a person new at that age? Is a job still pretty new at that age? Other than perishable food, 14 months is pretty new for a lot of things! ;)

Due to relapses, I feel like a newcomer. Over 7 months this time. In the past, I have been sober for rather long stretches but I have hit triggers and it overwhelms me. Needless to say, I have known I have had a problem for a long time. I am a work in progress. I have to work on my sobriety daily and SR helps me. I am glad I can come to SR and read and learn. I guess maybe one day I will not feel like a newcomer, but that time is far in the future for me.

IDK about newcomers but last time I got sober I stopped counting somewhere around 90+ days and had all but forgotten after a year. This time I can't forget.