Recovered means it's over. I am a recovering alcoholic. I work everyday to stay that way.

Where does it say recovered means its over or is that your own defintion

This is indeed a hard question, I suppouse that you are recovered if you do not ever pick up another drink, but if you do that recovery will be lost. Diabetics I believe never recover but can control things, we I believe never truly recover, but can stay in recovery, which is the safest place to be.

Alcoholism, is normally when a person became dependant on drink, and those that reach this stage need to abstain.

Some like to say recovering some recovered, I suppouse if you have cancer and then it is cured, you have recovered, but then if it comes back you have it again.

But for us we have a choice, don't drink and we stay recovered or in recovery, whichever way we wish to view.

Well thats how I see it, me I am and always will be in recovery

trickey

From my understanding, as supported on page xiii, Foreward to the First Edition, and pg 85 of the BB, we are both.

It is not Recovered VS. Recovering but rather Recovering AND Recovered.

"The main purpose of this book (12 steps and spiritual awakening) is to show people how we recovered." pg xiii BB. Thus I am recovered from my hopeless condition.

I am recovering in the sense of "what we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." pg 85 BB

=D

I think Trickey said it better than I did. I know that I will never be able to drink without destroying my life. If I could, then I would say I was recovered.

Just my small thoughts. =)

One way to find out for sure is to stop going to meetings, then see what happens. It amazes me how people question the hell out of things that work. "If it works don't fix it"

i live in a state of being recovered.. as long as i am living the last 3 steps of the AA program.. for a real alkie like me.
botbotcoco

we are granted a DAILY reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition... I believe the AA book says. I prefer recovering to recovered (we're never done)

thanx Mike.. lol...

It says recovered 26 times in the BB. Contingent on our spiritual condition (daily working of step's 10,11,and 12). Every day I'm cured, but I have to do my part. I'm no longer hopeless in mind and body, so technically speaking I'm cured as long as I practice my daily disciplines to maintain my awakened spirit.

of all the ppl that have posted so far on this...how many posted sober? if everyone posted while they are sober today, then who gives a fuck if someone says recovered or recovering..i understand what phil is saying...it does say that in the BB that if you are no longer in a hopeless state of mind and body, then you are recovered. but i also see the other side of this coin, that we have to work on not taking a drink everyday so we are in recovery. But let me ask everyone this...is this where we all wanted to be when we first got sober? on an internet blogging site arguing about who is right and who is wrong? and phil. you knew damn good and well that this would stir shit so why did you even post it? is this where you want to be in your recovery? a shit stirrer? i dont think it says anywhere in the BB that if you can argue a debate and piss ppl off, then you are recovered either. why cant we all just share our experience, strength, and hope here. is that what we all really want?

I have to agree with Lacey on this one. The fact that you and I went around and around on this on the 7th while you were posting this goes to show me where your are. If you want to help ppl sober up Phil, share your experience, strength, and hope. Of course, you must have some to share some. Obviously the only thing you can share is what you can quote from the Big Book...... Good sobriety there buddy.

I like how this generates into a personal attack towards me, I did share my exp strength and hope but since thats not ok with lacey and happy who clearly have thier own definitions of what recovered is and isnt and by the way none of your opinions line up with the BB thank you The BB says if you the alcoholic have had a spiritual awakening as a result of the 12 steps you are recovered whether you know it or not but hey they call that delusional in my area being u cant see the truth even tho everyone else can this petty bs that some of you insist on bringing up here is why many have left this site you realy are into petty bs in my exp and if by this time you dont know what these terms mean than write your own Book and see how many ppl will agree with you

Since the guru crap, I don't let anyone piss me off on this site anymore. My reply was my opinion. And yes my friends once again I say opinions are like assholes ..........Everybody has one. And no one is better (or worse) than the next.