Definitely not a loss. You learned a lot - including another thing to avoid. Glad you are back...

Hugs,
Dennis

I don't think not one person has not stated over before not one. Even ones that have many years behind them. They all had their last time, the "no more" moments until they finally got it longer and longer some forever some for many years. Its a process, a so called learning experience. Each time learning now great we feel not drinking and learning how not to. I want to say, GREAT for you. You made it longer than ever before, you now know you can do it. And I bet you feel the drinking really wasn't worth it.

nope it was not worth it, it didn't make me feel better, it just made me feel like crap. So here's to another day sober.

Wait a sec there, meblonde. You are making it sound like relapse is part of the process of getting sober. It is not. It is the opposite.

Not everyone relapses, not everyone starts over and it is incorrect and dangerous to put it out there as standard. Hey, I've been sober for years, might as well have a drink, after all everyone slips up...

Nope.

LG -- you made it a month, so you can do it again. You haveto keep pushing through, look at why you drank and what you need to do to not be in that spot again. Glad to see you get back.

I was not giving the go ahead and fail. I was saying most people do not just stop they fumble, and have to start over again. And not to beat herself up over it but Learn from it.

Don't beat yourself up for it! I picked up a drink when I had 4 months sober. The worst thing happened... absolutely nothing! I didn't get drunk, I didn't do anything stupid, nothing. The thing is, I knew, despite nothing bad happening that night, that I cannot drink safely. I too learned from that experience. I learned what I needed to change. That was 13 years ago and I haven't had a drink since. If I can do it, you can do it! Good luck!

This is where opinion, passion and no concrete evidence can easily clash! The reality is often as baffling as the illness itself.

In the time I have been in recovery and a close witness to others' recovery (approx 10 years) I have seen every which way. I've seen people go to their first meeting and never drink again yet, I've seen people (and I fall into this category) who are years off and on it and then get recovery. I've seen people sober for 10 plus years go back to drinking. I've been to way too many funerals.

No-one has it all sewn up with recovery and I tried to stop drinking on my own for many years but it never lasted too long because I was fighting to stay sober. Now I don't fight, I found what works for me and it's a lot different and better but I can never say with certainty I will not drink again.

Alcoholics drink. It's what we do when we're not sober. We fall down, dust ourselves off and get back to being sober. It's just so hard. Especially when our disease can strike when we are at our worst, best or in between.

We have to forgive ourselves and realize there is nothing we can do about the past other than try to learn.

We certainly learn from our stumbles. The only danger is that sometimes we don't back up. Eulogies ensue. It's certainly something to be wary of. Relapse is part of the illness, not recovery.

Welcome back :)

I too feel to relapse can be part of your overall journey, I reduced on own then started again, had medicial detox stopped for 6 weeks then started again, currently cold turkey and doing ok

Don't beat yourself up, lots of people relapse depending on situation and curcumstances, the main thing I feel is that your back off it and learning from it

You said it wasn't worth it, just look at why you did, learn from it, your further down the road then before I feel.

Took me years of chats and group support for the pieces to finally fall into place

Everyones journey is different.

Well done you for getting back off it and seeking further support, crack on with it hunny x

So now the question is, what now?
For me I was shocked that I couldnt just stop on my own. Super suprising as I've always been able to self will myself into a solution. I did it with an eating disorder. Bam done. I did it with caffeine with nicotine 15 years ago, etc. etc. But not with booze. In fact with booze it was like the more I struggled the stronger a hold on me my alcohlism got.
So I gave up and went to AA. Havent had a drink since.

I made it 6 weeks and was feeling so great about it I almost went to the bar to celebrate! Fortunately, I mentioned it to my sponsor, who told me to go ahead and go...did I want my old life back? That stopped me cold, and I've been sober ever since.

I agree with Paul that relapse is part of the disease, NOT part of the recovery; and also with ExJ that it's dangerous to put it out there as a standard, like it's OK because everyone does it. You're lucky, blessed, whatever, that you made it back -- not everyone does.

I'm glad you're still here and hope you keep coming back. Now what kind of supports are you going to use to stay stopped? Because as huge as a month is, it's only a month, and it's over. It might take longer than that for the obsession to pass, and you might need a bit of help to see you through.

Have you looked into any support groups? Read any of the literature? Got any sober friends? Any of these things could help you deal with the "monsters" in your head next time.

Glad you made it back. Many don't. What helped you not drink during that month? And another question you may want to research is how not to let that happen again.

I couldn't get (and stay) sober on my own. I was hauled to AA while in rehab, and haven't had a drink since.

It wasn't just attending meetings that worked. Meetings were where others shared their experience, strength, and hope with each other. In listening to others share what worked for them., there were many who also shared what didn't work.
It was by working the steps with a sponsor along with the meetings that helped me.

I am the same. Relapsed this week and feel terrible for it. Just need to get up and get on with it. Try not to beat your self up for it.

Jen

I can't tell you how many time I have relapsed. But thank God I got the chance to feel what it is like to sleep good, wake up feeling great and know everything I did the night before. And most of all the peace I have with God. That just keeps me going. When I think of giving that up for a drink it just is not worth it. This time (two months Saturday) is the longest I have went in a long long time. Never got out of it what I am this time. Never!!