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.
I am not looking for someone to tell me what to do. I want to know if you have any related experience or feedback. Thank you.
Well I went to a newer AA meeting for me last night. I have this thing that happened near New Years. I took medicine that contained alchohol. I have 3 years clean and sober. Instead of spitting it out I took it as prescribed, 2 teaspoons 3 times a day for a week. It had 18% alcohol. Any questioning that I am alcholic was really tested because I had cravings and using dreams like mad. Anyway I thought a lot about changing my sobriey date because of it, but I didn't, because I was taking medicine not a drink. So I still feel like a fraud for claiming 3 years sober because damnit, I had alcohol in my system medicinally. So I shared about that. It is so hard for me. I wish I spit the stuff out, I thought I could handle it. I am seeing though I consciously took it for the medicine I knew it contained alcohol and I continued to take it, but not for the effects of the alcohol, for the herbs prescribed. Damn. I am still struggling with this. If I changed my sobriety date to reflect this I feel like that is not honest, if I don't change date I feel like that is not honest. I know it's an individual thing. I know some people who are in AA have probably taken Nyquil and not changed their sobriety date, it is a similar thing. I didn't realize this medicine had alcohol until I took it, and I convinced myself it was ok, but part of me thought I should change my date because I swallowed it. Part of me thinks to change my date would mean I was ingesting a drink, and I wasnt. SIGH.
Well I went to a newer AA meeting for me last night. I have this thing that happened near New Years. I took medicine that contained alchohol. I have 3 years clean and sober. Instead of spitting it out I took it as prescribed, 2 teaspoons 3 times a day for a week. It had 18% alcohol. Any questioning that I am alcholic was really tested because I had cravings and using dreams like mad. Anyway I thought a lot about changing my sobriey date because of it, but I didn't, because I was taking medicine not a drink. So I still feel like a fraud for claiming 3 years sober because damnit, I had alcohol in my system medicinally. So I shared about that. It is so hard for me. I wish I spit the stuff out, I thought I could handle it. I am seeing though I consciously took it for the medicine I knew it contained alcohol and I continued to take it, but not for the effects of the alcohol, for the herbs prescribed. Damn. I am still struggling with this. If I changed my sobriety date to reflect this I feel like that is not honest, if I don't change date I feel like that is not honest. I know it's an individual thing. I know some people who are in AA have probably taken Nyquil and not changed their sobriety date, it is a similar thing. I didn't realize this medicine had alcohol until I took it, and I convinced myself it was ok, but part of me thought I should change my date because I swallowed it. Part of me thinks to change my date would mean I was ingesting a drink, and I wasnt. SIGH.
I've been told in AA over the years that alcohol is just a symptom of my real problem, which is a spiritual and behavioral problem centered in the mind.
I've also been told that when I am tempted severely to drink, I've probably already relapsed. I take that to mean that I can relapse without drinking. That is because the drinking is just a symptom.
I've also been told I have an alcoholic mind and that I had one prior to ever tasting my first drink.
So, really, if all this is true, then why would I bother to count the days or years since my last drink? I should really be counting the days or years since I was an asshole and miserable.
Shit! Gimme another white chip and tell me to keep coming back!