I was dicussing this with a friend yesterday. I'm sure the topic has been covered before but who knows.
You here the term "Recovered addict" a lot. I think the term is misleading. my friend says it's possible to recover from addiction, I think people, once addicted, are always in recovery. Kind of a life sentence, if you will.
Danny,
Do you mean the difference between an addict in recovery vs. a person who used to use but is no longer an addict in any way?
For myself, I'd say the former. If I ever think I'm the latter, then I'm in trouble again.
Do you mean the difference between an addict in recovery vs. a person who used to use but is no longer an addict in any way?
For myself, I'd say the former. If I ever think I'm the latter, then I'm in trouble again.
Exactly Gina..sorry for the typo in the poll...
There's no typo in the poll. (There's no punctuation either, but that's a separate issue, LOL.) So I answered "no such thing." Is that how you meant it?
yes
woo-woo
woo-woo
we will never be recovered... just in control if we suceed. julie
Danny I agree with you.There is NO cure for addiction.Sure theres recovery,But I feel that recovery is a life long battle.Its not like getting the flu & recovering from that.
I feel that once your an addict that beast will always be there waiting for you to be weak & try & take you over again
Just my thoughts.I see addiction I feel recovery is & always will be a life long battle
I feel that once your an addict that beast will always be there waiting for you to be weak & try & take you over again
Just my thoughts.I see addiction I feel recovery is & always will be a life long battle
I am a recovering addict.....it's not a done deal or it would be a recovered addict.
All it takes is one pill or one drink to kick it in and start the insanity again.
I know this from personal experience,not from scientist or spiritual gurus who make other assumptions.LOL
All it takes is one pill or one drink to kick it in and start the insanity again.
I know this from personal experience,not from scientist or spiritual gurus who make other assumptions.LOL
Hmm,
This has been the debate of many conversations. It's easy for me. No matter how long I'm clean/sober, I will never be able to drink or take a drug "normally".
If I'm sober 30 years, and decide to pick up a drink, it's off to the races. I'll never be cured of the mental obsession and then craving taking that first drink will have on me. 1 is too many 1000 never enough, period. For me anyway. I don't even entertain the idea of ever being "cured". Besides, I've already done that, been there, it always gets worse, never better. For me anyway.
Take care,
Bob
This has been the debate of many conversations. It's easy for me. No matter how long I'm clean/sober, I will never be able to drink or take a drug "normally".
If I'm sober 30 years, and decide to pick up a drink, it's off to the races. I'll never be cured of the mental obsession and then craving taking that first drink will have on me. 1 is too many 1000 never enough, period. For me anyway. I don't even entertain the idea of ever being "cured". Besides, I've already done that, been there, it always gets worse, never better. For me anyway.
Take care,
Bob
From the forward of the Big Book first edition...
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.
From "There is a Solution" Chapter 2
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered. They have solved the drink problem.
It worked for them, it works for me. I am recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. But if I pick up a drink or drug I am right back where I came from or probably worse. But right now I am recovered. Not cured. Recovered.
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.
From "There is a Solution" Chapter 2
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered. They have solved the drink problem.
It worked for them, it works for me. I am recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. But if I pick up a drink or drug I am right back where I came from or probably worse. But right now I am recovered. Not cured. Recovered.
Thanks Kat....that's what I was struggling to put into words....
xoxo
xoxo
Kat can you please explain the difference in your post?As I wrote I feel thetre in so much thing as being recoved.True we may not use anymore but to me that addiction is now something that will always be inside of me.
I hope Im explaining it right.Like its not like a cold you recover from,its something that will always be a part of us.Not that we need to define ourselves as addicts first & humans second,but I just feel that addiction once its there its there???
I hope Im explaining it right.Like its not like a cold you recover from,its something that will always be a part of us.Not that we need to define ourselves as addicts first & humans second,but I just feel that addiction once its there its there???
As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing. We all suffer from an incurable disease, therefore, there is no "recovered". I am in recovery as long as I am clean, sober and working a program.
When I was using I was insane. My thinking was wrong. My perception of my life was distorted by drugs and alcohol. Nothing mattered but my pills. I was selfish, self centered, and egotistical. Life was all about me and my wants and needs and screw you. When I got sober I not only put down drugs and alcohol, I was taught how to change my way of thinking. I no longer have the insanity I had when I was in active addiction. I have recovered from this insanity as the second step promises. I think it's all just a bunch of words though. It's not important to me if you say you are recovered or recovering. The important thing is whether or not you are working on recovery today. Anyway, that's how my sponsor explained it to me and how I explain it to my sponsees. Whether they accept it or not is up to them.
Thank you Kat I just didnt understand what you were saying
And I suppose your right...words are just that words.
I know today Im sticking with (my)program & Im no longer obsessing over my next pill,when push comes to shove,being sober is REALLY the most important thing
Have a Goos
molly
And I suppose your right...words are just that words.
I know today Im sticking with (my)program & Im no longer obsessing over my next pill,when push comes to shove,being sober is REALLY the most important thing
Have a Goos
molly
Ditto what Tim said...I feel I am recovering, and renewing my committment to recovery daily and I think I always will be...and it is okay!
I hope everyone has a glorious day!
S.
I hope everyone has a glorious day!
S.
Ive seen too many "recovered alcoholics" who keep recovering. So I think its rare for an addict to be past tense. I suppose thats what "one day at a time" is all about.
I voted yes there is ( big surprise)
I believe that an ACTIVE addiction is a state of mind...an actual brain condition that can be altered and changed. Its basically a survival instinct gone awry.
Lots of recent research supports this theory..i didnt make it up...lol
Good thread, controversial...maybe even dangerous..but great thread..
A
I believe that an ACTIVE addiction is a state of mind...an actual brain condition that can be altered and changed. Its basically a survival instinct gone awry.
Lots of recent research supports this theory..i didnt make it up...lol
Good thread, controversial...maybe even dangerous..but great thread..
A
I believe in the disease theory. If you have the "disease" of alchoholism or addiction, you can never really be cured, but you can put the disease in remission by not using.
There are those, however, that become chemically dependent on meds and aren't really addicts. That is another gray area entirely.
I think if you are one of us, you just know it. I knew it at 13.
There are those, however, that become chemically dependent on meds and aren't really addicts. That is another gray area entirely.
I think if you are one of us, you just know it. I knew it at 13.
"Recovered"? It depends on what one defines as recovered....
If recovered means one is no longer in active addiction and has developed a new physical/psychological/ethical/moral/spiritual protocol and maintaining that new protocol is dependent upon not intaking chemicals, yes I believe one can be recovered....
If one means recovery in terms of being able to intake the chemical without having a high chance of reverting into addict behavior, no, I don't believe that happens very often. Moderated drinking management for alcoholics fails miserably.....More illusions of control.......Attachment to the illusion of control...That is what AA's Step 1 is about, it powerlessness of the ability to control the intake once it is started, it does NOT mean powerlessness over whether one intakes at all......
Once an addict...always an addict..... in terms of intaking the chemical involved. Even if one does take the chemical again and not be addicted, one often has to be hypervigilant, in ways no person who didn't have an addiction would have to be.
The horse has left the barn and is not comin' back.
And besides who wants to "practice" not being an addict with a chemical? What a complete waste of time. Oh, I can see my time being spent thinking..."Oh, I know I can do it this time...I can control it, I will practice" That is what I want to be good at in life? I need new hobbies....
If recovered means one is no longer in active addiction and has developed a new physical/psychological/ethical/moral/spiritual protocol and maintaining that new protocol is dependent upon not intaking chemicals, yes I believe one can be recovered....
If one means recovery in terms of being able to intake the chemical without having a high chance of reverting into addict behavior, no, I don't believe that happens very often. Moderated drinking management for alcoholics fails miserably.....More illusions of control.......Attachment to the illusion of control...That is what AA's Step 1 is about, it powerlessness of the ability to control the intake once it is started, it does NOT mean powerlessness over whether one intakes at all......
Once an addict...always an addict..... in terms of intaking the chemical involved. Even if one does take the chemical again and not be addicted, one often has to be hypervigilant, in ways no person who didn't have an addiction would have to be.
The horse has left the barn and is not comin' back.
And besides who wants to "practice" not being an addict with a chemical? What a complete waste of time. Oh, I can see my time being spent thinking..."Oh, I know I can do it this time...I can control it, I will practice" That is what I want to be good at in life? I need new hobbies....
