How Many Times Does it Take to Quit for Good?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Colorado
Posts: 347
How Many Times Does it Take to Quit for Good?
How many tries does it take before quitting drinking for good?
I quit when something really bad happened to me; I had my "last" drink when something great happened.
I quit on my birthday year after year after year.
I quit on the last day of the calendar year, I quit on New Years Day, I quit on January 2nd.
I was raised and in a funny way still consider myself Catholic, although I’m not a believer, so it was natural to quit at the start of Advent and at Christmas, of course.
I quit on the feast day of my patron saint, St Francis.
I quit on Ash Wednesday for Lent; quit at the start of Holy Week. I stopped drinking for good on Good Friday. Resolved never to drink on Easter Sunday; then I’d rationalize that Easter Sunday would be my last day drinking and I’d quit that Monday.
I quit when I bought a car. I quit when I got a girlfriend; stopped drinking when I lost a girlfriend.
I'm pretty sure I quit on a couple of summer solstices.
I stopped for good whenever I did something excruciatingly embarrassing (and, believe me, I have memories of things I did which to this day make me scream, SCREAM, inside; I have literally slammed the steering wheel of my car when for no reason I suddenly thought of something I did). That was good for maybe ten to twelve resolutions to stop per year.
Now, you got to understand, these are all triple resolutions. Here’s what I mean. I would say to myself, “I am quitting right now...I refuse to see my 27th birthday (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) as an alcoholic.” Then that day, I would say, “Well, I’ll drink tonight because the best most memorable day to quit would be on my birthday.” Then on my birthday, I would rationalize, “It’s okay to drink on my birthday because I want to remember this birthday as the day I had my last drink.”
And I’ll never forget one of the best series of all: at least a dozen times a year, I would make a tour of three of the bars in my neighborhood on Sunday night, buy the very most expensive drink in the joint, just one, and drink a ceremonial “last drink” in that bar, then leave, but not before standing wistfully in the doorway looking back inside thinking, “I’ll never see the inside of this place again.”
These were all serious attempts: each and every time I resolved with all my strength that I would never drink again.
Then, on a spectacularly uneventful and meaningless Thursday night, I, unknown to me at the time, had my last two drinks, two pathetic Coors drafts...Christ, what a lame way to go out. (Big disclaimer: last two drinks, as long as I don't drink.)
I quit when something really bad happened to me; I had my "last" drink when something great happened.
I quit on my birthday year after year after year.
I quit on the last day of the calendar year, I quit on New Years Day, I quit on January 2nd.
I was raised and in a funny way still consider myself Catholic, although I’m not a believer, so it was natural to quit at the start of Advent and at Christmas, of course.
I quit on the feast day of my patron saint, St Francis.
I quit on Ash Wednesday for Lent; quit at the start of Holy Week. I stopped drinking for good on Good Friday. Resolved never to drink on Easter Sunday; then I’d rationalize that Easter Sunday would be my last day drinking and I’d quit that Monday.
I quit when I bought a car. I quit when I got a girlfriend; stopped drinking when I lost a girlfriend.
I'm pretty sure I quit on a couple of summer solstices.
I stopped for good whenever I did something excruciatingly embarrassing (and, believe me, I have memories of things I did which to this day make me scream, SCREAM, inside; I have literally slammed the steering wheel of my car when for no reason I suddenly thought of something I did). That was good for maybe ten to twelve resolutions to stop per year.
Now, you got to understand, these are all triple resolutions. Here’s what I mean. I would say to myself, “I am quitting right now...I refuse to see my 27th birthday (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) as an alcoholic.” Then that day, I would say, “Well, I’ll drink tonight because the best most memorable day to quit would be on my birthday.” Then on my birthday, I would rationalize, “It’s okay to drink on my birthday because I want to remember this birthday as the day I had my last drink.”
And I’ll never forget one of the best series of all: at least a dozen times a year, I would make a tour of three of the bars in my neighborhood on Sunday night, buy the very most expensive drink in the joint, just one, and drink a ceremonial “last drink” in that bar, then leave, but not before standing wistfully in the doorway looking back inside thinking, “I’ll never see the inside of this place again.”
These were all serious attempts: each and every time I resolved with all my strength that I would never drink again.
Then, on a spectacularly uneventful and meaningless Thursday night, I, unknown to me at the time, had my last two drinks, two pathetic Coors drafts...Christ, what a lame way to go out. (Big disclaimer: last two drinks, as long as I don't drink.)
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 710
I quit every Monday of the past 3 years.
I did finally quit on a Monday. The first Monday I can remember that I woke up not promising myself to quit. I was not feeling good at all; there was no doubt from the moment the alarm clock went on at 6.30 am I was not drinking that day. I did not realise at the time about the change, about the fact that I had not made the promise.
Little I knew that 3 hours later I was going to understand that I was suffering my first physical alcohol withdrawals (at least the first I distinguished from a hangover). At 10 am I had to make the decision to drink in the morning for the first time and accept I was going to drink everyday all day, promising myself to stop next Monday or to stop.
So far.. so good.
Love how well you explain the expensive ceremonial last drink. I had a few of those too.
I did finally quit on a Monday. The first Monday I can remember that I woke up not promising myself to quit. I was not feeling good at all; there was no doubt from the moment the alarm clock went on at 6.30 am I was not drinking that day. I did not realise at the time about the change, about the fact that I had not made the promise.
Little I knew that 3 hours later I was going to understand that I was suffering my first physical alcohol withdrawals (at least the first I distinguished from a hangover). At 10 am I had to make the decision to drink in the morning for the first time and accept I was going to drink everyday all day, promising myself to stop next Monday or to stop.
So far.. so good.
Love how well you explain the expensive ceremonial last drink. I had a few of those too.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 513
I'm not sure, but for me I'm hoping only once. I quit for the first time at the end of July last year, a week before my 35th Birthday and it's going well for me so far.
I did have multiple attempts at moderation prior to that though, but only one 'This is my last drink!' moment.
My attempts at quitting cigarettes definitely were a lot like your post. Luckily with the end of alcohol came the end of my smoking days.
I did have multiple attempts at moderation prior to that though, but only one 'This is my last drink!' moment.
My attempts at quitting cigarettes definitely were a lot like your post. Luckily with the end of alcohol came the end of my smoking days.
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,759
I don't know exactly how many attempts it took me to finally quit for good. I didn't give up tho, and with the encouragement of my friends here, I finally got sober for good, almost 10 yrs ago. 
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: France
Posts: 3,040
Everyone is different some crack it the first time, others relapse countless times like myself and others don’t make it at all, but I do honestly think everyone has it in them to live a happy sober peaceful life 👍
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,234
I too tried numerous times to leave alcohol
alone. However, the day I accepted recovery,
I hopped off the merry go round of insanity and
ended my addiction.
My last drink was August 10th, 1990. The very
next day, August 11th, my first full sober day. I
was then handed a program of recovery to learn and
apply to my everyday life on a continous bases,
and never had the need to pick up a drink of alcohol,
a controlling substance again for the past 29 yrs.
Knowing that I have support, care and understanding
from many traveling a road of recovery like myself, makes
living a life in recovery comforting. It's nice to know that
I never have to go thru anything in life alone or by myself
ever again.
alone. However, the day I accepted recovery,
I hopped off the merry go round of insanity and
ended my addiction.
My last drink was August 10th, 1990. The very
next day, August 11th, my first full sober day. I
was then handed a program of recovery to learn and
apply to my everyday life on a continous bases,
and never had the need to pick up a drink of alcohol,
a controlling substance again for the past 29 yrs.
Knowing that I have support, care and understanding
from many traveling a road of recovery like myself, makes
living a life in recovery comforting. It's nice to know that
I never have to go thru anything in life alone or by myself
ever again.
Not Alone
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: South East UK
Posts: 1,513
I know people who decided to get clean and now have ten plus years of clean time with no relapses. I know people who've tried to kick their habit every single day for the last five years. I've seen people try to get clean only to end up six feet under when they've OD'd during a relapse.
Many years ago I got clean. I had two years under my belt. Over 700 days of not touching a drop of alcohol or a drug. When I look back on those days getting clean seemed no harder than going to the supermarket. Now the whole procedure is more difficult. There's more guilt and shame, regret makes a regular appearance too.
I got told that I still had some using in me. The people who said that were right. You have to be properly done with it to make that change. I wasn't done with it then but I sure as hell am now. When you're options are either getting clean or dying life starts to look a little different.
Natom.
Many years ago I got clean. I had two years under my belt. Over 700 days of not touching a drop of alcohol or a drug. When I look back on those days getting clean seemed no harder than going to the supermarket. Now the whole procedure is more difficult. There's more guilt and shame, regret makes a regular appearance too.
I got told that I still had some using in me. The people who said that were right. You have to be properly done with it to make that change. I wasn't done with it then but I sure as hell am now. When you're options are either getting clean or dying life starts to look a little different.
Natom.
not a greeter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: padmasana
Posts: 13,927
It only takes one time to quit for good. The last time. Just like you always find the thing you’re looking for in the last place you look. Of course, for some of us, myself included, it takes a few practice runs at that last one.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 652
Originally Posted by ColoradoRocky 
(Big disclaimer: last two drinks, as long as I don't drink.)
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Colorado
Posts: 347
Originally Posted by WaterOx
....
How long ago was that Thursday?
How long ago was that Thursday?
Seriously though, it was thirty years and eleven days ago, today, but who's counting?
--John
Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 87
I want to be a first time winner as they say
However, the scary part is after 14 months and a lot of good things happening in my life because of sobriety, my AV still chimes in. That is why I work a recovery program and try to be honest and humble. I have seen the pain of too many people who went back out, and it scares the hell out of me.
However, the scary part is after 14 months and a lot of good things happening in my life because of sobriety, my AV still chimes in. That is why I work a recovery program and try to be honest and humble. I have seen the pain of too many people who went back out, and it scares the hell out of me.
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