Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

    Hi All
    I know this thought has been thrown around before but thinking about it today and realizing the importance it has in regards to our success I wanted to bring it up.
    How many of of us[ before we admitted we were alcoholics] looked at someone who we thought was an alcoholic and said I am not as bad as they are so I am not an alcoholic.We all saw the poor soul in the park sleeping off a drunk and said that is an alcoholic. Well the mistake we made was in who we were using as our example.If we choose someone who didn't drink we would see that we were alcoholics.

    This next idea might bring up some debate but that is good.How often when we have the goal of AF do we pat ourselves on the back because we are only drinking half as much as before.Yes that is good but it doesn't get you in the right frame of mind to making being AF your number one priority.How do I know because I did just that for years on my roller coaster ride to get al out of my life.I am not drinking as much as before, I am not going to the bar as often,I only had 6 beers instead of 12.
    I thought i would gain control of my drinking.Never happened and never will.Again I was comparing to the wrong example.Myself at my worst and myself in my mind making it half way to recovery.Their is no half way.For us alcoholics it is all or nothing meaning NO drinking. The day you accept this and commit to NO DRINKING is when you are being honest with yourself.
    The thought to realize is that you have to make the same commitment to stop drinking and follow through as that person who we see in the gutter. His bottom is deeper than ours but that could be us.The battle to get al out of his life will be just as hard for us who haven't gone that far but are alcoholics. If you are not committed to not drinking at all you won't be successful.IT IS HARD! Learn from my past mistakes of thinking I was making progress when I was cutting back.
    I still compare myself but am very careful as to who and for what.Yes I like to compare myself to someone who doesn't drink and view my self as such.I compare my physical fitness to athletes not my old drinking buddies.I compare my life now AF [not just drinking only half the time or amount] to the past were everything centered around drinking and am so glad I stopped fooling myself.


    Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
    AF 5-16-08
    Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
    AF 5-16-08
    Tags: None
    #2
    COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

    Thanks Caysea. I think you are right on. Once in awhile I ask myself if I will ever drink again...after all I wasn't THAT bad. But if I'm honest....yes I was. I got lucky in many ways, many times. Reinforcements like this post are what I need to keep me going.

    :thanks:
    _______________
    NF since June 1, 2008
    AF since September 28, 2008
    DrunkFree since June 1, 2008
    _____________
    :wings: In memory of MDbiker aka Bear.
    5/4/2010 In loving memory of MaryAnne. I pray you've found peace my friend.
    _______________
    The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.ray:

    Comment

      #3
      COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

      Very good post Caysea......and so true
      :heart:AF since May 31 2008.....Happy and Healthy

      Comment

        #4
        COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

        LVT25;624975 wrote: Thanks Caysea. I think you are right on. Once in awhile I ask myself if I will ever drink again...after all I wasn't THAT bad. But if I'm honest....yes I was. I got lucky in many ways, many times. Reinforcements like this post are what I need to keep me going.

        :thanks:

        This is so me although I am really, really trying not to look too far ahead. (like "will I drink on vacation, at a wedding, etc.)

        Rusty, I see you are going to be a year tomorrow. Fantastic         job!!!!!!!!!
        AF since - 5/24/09
        edit - except 4 glasses on 6/16/09

        Comment

          #5
          COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

          Thanks, Caysea, I;m still in the early recovery stages and you must be reading my mind.

          Winefree

          Comment

            #6
            COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

            Well said Caysea now and again we need reminding of the harsh realities this is a disease with no cure i gave up smoking for 8 yrs then at a party one night i had a couple eventualy ending up smoking more than ever! i think your right our end goal has to be AF xs

            Comment

              #7
              COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

              good thread caysea,but why do you have to compare at all,was there not a drinking escapade you went on and didnt get blitzed,there are different degrees of alcoholism,as you said,i or we have to come to the conclusion,alchoholic or not,life does not end when you dont drink,over drinking is like getting zapped by a stun gun,and all post it later,how many times will you do it,zap yourself or get drunk,b4 you realise,it ain't doing you any justice,your alchoholic when you say you are,gyco

              Comment

                #8
                COMPARING---how it causes problems in recovery

                Thanks Caysea. Great post.

                I didn't really compare myself to other people. I knew I was an alcoholic for years, like my mother before me, and simply accepted that was who I was. Many times and for many years the thought of joining the people on the benches and just wandering around actually appealed to me. Just dropping everything and having to answer to nobody felt like a good idea. Drinking was ingrained into me. Waking up; not waking up. I didn't care. I was just going through the motions on being alive. I always wanted to control my drinking but as long as I was taking one drink, another would follow and another and that was it for me for years.
                Stopping drinking has opened up my mind in so many ways....and my life. It's like a re-birth. I'm in a position today where I'm not forced into doing anything that I don't want to because of dependence on drink. Any decisions and choices I make are my own and are made with a clear head. I can't wait to get up in the morning and see what the day has in store. I have rediscovered the enthusiasm for life that I lost when I was a boy.
                I compare myself with the drunk I used to be and even though he's still a fresh memory, he's gone and good riddance.

                Comment

                Previous template Next
                Working...
                X