Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
Well I am still here and going on a month. We had an interesting discussion in one of my IOP classes today. One of the new kids on the block stated that he has been sober 1 week today. That made me put in my two cents about sobriety verses not drinking. I mentioned that I have not taken a drink in 20 days but do not consider them sober days. I also made sure that this was a personal view and should not reflect his opinions.
I continued with my discussion stating to ask me in five years and then I might be able to give an answer to that question.
What do you think? Not drinking or sober in the early days?
JP
I continued with my discussion stating to ask me in five years and then I might be able to give an answer to that question.
What do you think? Not drinking or sober in the early days?
JP
I think that sober or not drinking basically expressing the same regardless of the time - that we didn't have the first drink, so we are sober for the day. I go day by day - I've no idea about the future. I can only hope that I will die sober. The sober/not drinking days are adding up. It might be true that early sobriety is much harder for some people, but the danger of taking the first drink is there for somebody who is 20 years sober as well. The question is really "timeless" in my experience. I am 28 months sober - in other words by the grace of my God I didn't drink today either.
But I guess I understand your point of view - being sober for a long time is an achievement, having experiences you can share with others, wisdom. I learned though that this achievement feeling can be risky. I consider even the very first day without a drink as an achievement for an alcoholic. Sadly, some alcoholics cannot even achieve that.
So congratulation for your month - well, congratulation to the kid as well. ( I have no idea what an IOP class is - guessing that it is a support group. Oh yes, we need support, we need each other! We need discussions! We need different opinions!) Thanks for your post.
My sponsor tells me the one of us that gets up earlest has the most sobriety.
JP
My personal opinion and experience is that there is a world of difference between not drinking and sobriety. To me, sobriety is freedom from the want or need to drink and a quality of life and living that improves with time.
I was abstinent many times and it did not last, sobriety does last if I try to grow spiritually each day.