Nothing so bad today, that a drink won't make worse.

I guess I'm not doing anything different.

I'm trying. I'm just not getting it.

The key to staying sober, is living life on a different basis than before. If you don't change how you are living your life, you will drink/use again. So, What are you doing different in how you live your life other than not drinking and using???.
Sorry it took me a minute to post and I missed your reply. You are doing nothing different.
Well, my suggestion is to read what ever material you have about recovery and start appling it to how life. And that is what a sponsor is for, to teach you how to do that.

At first I always focused on the differences I saw in other people and nothing made sense.

When I started looking for the similarities, things slowly started to come together and the fog started to lift.


Reading the Big Book always helps me as well.

sponsor, meetings, steps.

don't drink/use, go to meetings

Life gets better one day at a time.

I can relate to where you are at Totage.

When started trying to apply the principles of AA to my life, for a long time, my life didn't really seem that much different. Then one day, I stopped and looked up, while my life didn't seem much different, I began to notice that a lot of things were different around me.


Many times along the way in the beginning, I thought about just hanging it up. I was tired though. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. I wanted to stay sober more than I wanted to drink. Something kept leading me back to meeting after meeting and one day it clicked. I thank God I was able to stick it out until the miracle happened and I wanted to go back to meetings.

My worst day sober is far better than my best day drunk.

That's what I need to keep telling myself.

It's that simple my friend

You're right, it is that simple.

I have too much to lose now anyway, why would I want to risk it?

I believe you will be alright.

Your doing the right things by going to meetings, using your resources to reach out and ask questions and find solutions.

The rest will come in due time.

Thanks for the help.

I will be alright, becuase that's what I choose. I refuse to go back, no matter what.

Congrats to all of you that have quit whether it be drugs or alcohol!! Myself, I have never done drugs but do drink on occasion.. I don't criticize anyone that does but I'm sure you will find life a better place.. I know it's not easy, so hang in, take it one day at a time!!

Hello Totage,

You have 4 months under your belt, right? You are on the right track. This is real fight and it seems to me you got it in you.

First thing you need in the fight is a sponsor that is 12 step intensive.

Second, meetings and fellowship. Look for friends at the meetings that you can hang with. I did this early on and I found out there is a lot of fun in AA.

Third, read the Big Book, that' where they hide the 12 Steps. If you need some solace, may I recommend reading page 83 and 84. The promises are mentioned in there and I have experienced them first hand.

However, these suggestions are for naught if you don't work the 12 Steps. That is why I said that you need a sponsor that is into working the 12 Steps. In my early sobriety I JOINED a 12 step group that studied one of the steps each week in succession. And last but not least, "prayer" to a higher power you understand. I used the serenity prayer extensively and still do.

Find some AA friends, they want to help you, because you can't keep it if you don't give it away.

Fiddy

P.S 22 years sober One Day At a Time.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.


Just for Today!

This to Shall Pass

I'm still struggling. Been in and out of treatment 3 times. Last dry spell was about 2 weeks. Relapsed one week ago. It's tough.

I'm too stubborn to go to AA. I want to try to do it on my own. Also, I'm not religious, and I can't get over the whole spiritual side of AA.

Are you an atheist? You don't believe in any higher power at all?

I am sorry you struggle with this.

I'm more of an agnostic. I do believe in God, but not in a Christian way, if that makes any sense.

Of course it makes sense. I believe in God/Goddess but not in a Christian way either. I don't know much about AA so I don't know how much of it is based in Christian spirituality.

That makes perfect sense, there is even a chapter in the Big Book to the Agnostic. Spiritualality and Religion are two different creatures and AA is not allied to and religious organizations.

Here is a link where you can read the Big Book online, if you do not have a copy.

http://aa.org/bbonline/