ALCOHOLICS: RECOVERY & FITNESS (Serious Only Please)

[thomashenry]

Thank you all very much {if I can so can anyone else}

[Jen0va]

I didn't think I'd ever sub to a thread in the 35 and older section.

Congrats Thomas! It's really awesome to think someone who got it so young is now an old timer. I've never had a drink legally in my life, and people like yourself remind me that I never have to.

[chroneos]

Recovering opiate addict checking in... Finished my suboxone program just 1 month ago so I'll start my count there, even though it's been awhile longer since any street drug use.

[BackwoodsGa]

Hello.hope everyone is staying safe and sober.

[EjnarKolinkar]

Random out of the blue urges to get loaded are annoying. Nothing I am going to act on. Just 2-3 times in last month old triggers. I bypassed them, and they did not linger more than a minute, does not make them any less annoying.

< Alcoholic.

[JRT6]

Mumford and Sons songs tirgger me. Reminds me of St Patrick's day drink fests.

[cowboybiker]

My triggers are chemical odors .

Acetone and Propane

[Greek_Elite]

Saw this page after being linked to another thread in this section, and I just wanted to pop my head in to say I'm admiring all the sobriety in here, especially the support given out daily.

I'm an addictions counselor, not in recovery myself but surrounded by long-term sobriety as my coworker has 35 years. Truly inspirational in hearing where he came from and where he is now, living day to day and carrying the message forward. I go to open meetings and utilize the first 3 steps and Serenity Prayer in my everyday life, and the acceptance of the fellowship is amazing as well. I've only been in the field a few years and I've made a few good connections with members in the rooms and they help me out with advice. I love what I do and the clients I have, and feel honored to be a part of people gaining and (hopefully) maintaining sobriety.

I may pop in here from time to time if that's ok with you guys?

Take care everyone!

[DesertDude11]

Keep it up Greek!

[chodan9]

on April 10 1989 I came to feeling as miserable as I had ever felt. I had been to treatment a couple months before and had stopped using drugs. I had been going to my meetings, but I had been vainly trying to drink between meetings thinking "I know I cant take drugs, but surely I can drink with control".
I remembered my intentions of the night before to drink one rum and coke and get a nice buzz and stop. But a half a fifth of bicardi 151 later and sick and miserable I realized I had no more control with alcohol than I did with narcotics.
I did something that I had never done before in my 24 years of life.
I got down on my knees and prayed. I asked God as I then understood him to keep me clean and sober for that day.
I have been drug and alcohol free since that day. It has not always been easy, but life has been better by far than it was back then.
I have been allowed to experience something somewhat rare. I have now been in recovery for more than half my life at 48 years old. I have been in recovery and clean and sober for twice as long as I used drugs and alcohol.
All by Gods grace the principles, steps and fellowship of the program.

[cowboybiker]

on April 10 1989 I came to feeling as miserable as I had ever felt. I had been to treatment a couple months before and had stopped using drugs. I had been going to my meetings, but I had been vainly trying to drink between meetings thinking "I know I cant take drugs, but surely I can drink with control".
I remembered my intentions of the night before to drink one rum and coke and get a nice buzz and stop. But a half a fifth of bicardi 151 later and sick and miserable I realized I had no more control with alcohol than I did with narcotics.
I did something that I had never done before in my 24 years of life.
I got down on my knees and prayed. I asked God as I then understood him to keep me clean and sober for that day.
I have been drug and alcohol free since that day. It has not always been easy, but life has been better by far than it was back then.
I have been allowed to experience something somewhat rare. I have now been in recovery for more than half my life at 48 years old. I have been in recovery and clean and sober for twice as long as I used drugs and alcohol.
All by Gods grace the principles, steps and fellowship of the program.

Congrats old timer
You made a great choice at such a young age and I, as well as many others, have been blessed by it.

[209vaughn]

My triggers are chemical odors .

Acetone and Propane

Is this real life? I wonder why those would be triggers?

edit;

btw great experience/strength/hope from Chodan

[cowboybiker]

Is this real life? I wonder why those would be triggers?

In the manufacturing of Meth, yes.
Acetone was used for final product.
Propane is used for glass work.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

Congrats chodan!

I just got 23 years on April 1, 2013. One day at a time.

[Greek_Elite]

Anyone have some other outside pieces of literature/poems/etc that carry the message of recovery? I have a fair collection of such I utilize in my relapse prevention group, but seeing if I could bring some new things in. Some of my (and my clients') favorites are Two Days & There's a Hole in My Sidewalk:

Two Days:
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry,
two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed;
we cannot erase a single word we said.
Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow
with all its possible adversities, its burdens,
its large promise and its poor performance;
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise,
either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow,
for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today.
Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities
Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad,
it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday
and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.

1) I walk down the street.
....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
.... I fall in.
.... I am lost — I am hopeless.
.... It isn't my fault.
.... It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street.
....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
.... I pretend I don't see it.
.... I fall in again.
.... I can't believe I'm in the same place.
.... But it isn't my fault.
.... It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street.
....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
.... I see it is there.
.... I still fall in — it's a habit
.... My eyes are open
.... I know where I am
.... It is MY fault.
.... I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street.
....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
.... I walk around it.

5) I walk down a DIFFERENT street.

~Written By Portia Nelson

A client of mine also recommended a book called Infinite Jest, an apparently very lengthy book where the subject of the characters alcoholism comes in at some point. May give it a read at some point..

[BackwoodsGa]

Hello all.Hope everyone is staying clean and sober.

[PappaBear76]

on April 10 1989 I came to feeling as miserable as I had ever felt. I had been to treatment a couple months before and had stopped using drugs. I had been going to my meetings, but I had been vainly trying to drink between meetings thinking "I know I cant take drugs, but surely I can drink with control".
I remembered my intentions of the night before to drink one rum and coke and get a nice buzz and stop. But a half a fifth of bicardi 151 later and sick and miserable I realized I had no more control with alcohol than I did with narcotics.
I did something that I had never done before in my 24 years of life.
I got down on my knees and prayed. I asked God as I then understood him to keep me clean and sober for that day.
I have been drug and alcohol free since that day. It has not always been easy, but life has been better by far than it was back then.
I have been allowed to experience something somewhat rare. I have now been in recovery for more than half my life at 48 years old. I have been in recovery and clean and sober for twice as long as I used drugs and alcohol.
All by Gods grace the principles, steps and fellowship of the program.

Very inspirational!

[PappaBear76]

Congrats chodan!

I just got 23 years on April 1, 2013. One day at a time.

A BIG CONGRATS to you! 23 years! Just awesome.

[Blacksmith80]

16 months sober. Having some troubles at new job, but not even thinking about drinking.

[BackwoodsGa]

16 months sober. Having some troubles at new job, but not even thinking about drinking.

Well done friend.

[cowboybiker]

16 months sober. Having some troubles at new job, but not even thinking about drinking.

Congrats.

I'd rather deal with troubles from a job than create them from drinking.

Progress not perfection.

[JRT6]

Progress not perfection.

I really like that.

[Blacksmith80]

Well done friend.

Congrats.

I'd rather deal with troubles from a job than create them from drinking.

Progress not perfection.

Thanks bros, much appreciated.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to cowboybiker & BackwoodsGa again.

[jen1972]

Hi y'all:-)

I have been sober since October 17, 1994 which will make it 19 years this October!! I was 22, in the Air Force and had a horrible drinking problem when I entered in to a treatment center. It saved my life!! I thank God for that :-)

I was at my highest weight ever (besides pregnancy) because all I cared about was drinking and thus eating when I had the munchies! I was roughly 30 lbs more than I am now.

[43Diesel]

After a long run (26+yrs) of destroying my life, as well as others, I decided it was time to stop drinking.
I've been sober for 17 months tomorrow and am loving life like NEVER before!
I have gotten back into lifting and will be competing in strongman in the next few months.
The best part is now my youngest son, 17 yrs old, and I can train together and have the relationship I never let develop.
I wish each and everyone of you the strength to stay on the path you've chosen.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

Blacksmith- a lot of the people around here call those high class problems They are still difficulties, but better ones than not having a job.

Congrats Jen and Diesel! Getting a second chance on life- one day at a time.

[PappaBear76]

16 months sober. Having some troubles at new job, but not even thinking about drinking.

I have been challenged a lot recently myself and feeling the same as you my friend. Keep up the awesome work!

[PappaBear76]

Hi y'all:-)

I have been sober since October 17, 1994 which will make it 19 years this October!!

AWESOME work!

[PappaBear76]

After a long run (26+yrs) of destroying my life, as well as others, I decided it was time to stop drinking.
I've been sober for 17 months tomorrow and am loving life like NEVER before!

Sounds like you are doing great man! Keep on that path.

[Blacksmith80]

Blacksmith- a lot of the people around here call those high class problems They are still difficulties, but better ones than not having a job.

Congrats Jen and Diesel! Getting a second chance on life- one day at a time.

You are right mein bruh, the worst option is to be jobless. Idle mind is devil's playground.