Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Bequita
climber
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 10:40am PT
|
Way to go Hankster!!
|
|
Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 12:12pm PT
|
3 months in just a couple of days.
|
|
Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 12:31pm PT
|
Will do, thanks. You to, ya know.
|
|
Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 02:30pm PT
|
You give me hope about my boy.....
|
|
Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 03:25pm PT
|
highly overrated!!!!
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 05:30pm PT
|
Totally cool hankster! It gets easier. I am almost to my 5 year mark and it is super easy these days. It was pretty hard for the first year. Getting past the urge to celibrate at the one year mark is a hurdle. I don't have any of those fancy chips as i did it on my own...
Been working 50hr construction weeks and can't imagin how tough that would be if I was drinking....
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 05:39pm PT
|
Way to go Mark!
|
|
happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
|
|
|
Mar 24, 2011 - 10:55pm PT
|
Silver - It's you who knows what's up with your drinking, and if it is an issue(well, maybe some close friends and family might also have an idea). It isn't about how much, or how often, a person drinks. It's about how the drinking affects their life.
Congratulations to all the sobriety in this thread. And best wishes for strength and hope for those still struggling.
|
|
Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
|
|
|
Mar 25, 2011 - 02:58am PT
|
Go to meetings; be of service; work the steps always; have a sponsor; have a life.
Nice work, Hank. And everyone.
JL
|
|
enjoimx
Trad climber
Kirkwood, CA
|
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:05pm PT
|
2 months tonight. I feel great but definately miss the party. Still working on finding ways to get that natural high.
|
|
Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
|
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:17pm PT
|
enjoi, don't worry, it will come in time, when it's supposed to.
Use a support system, follow it. Get a solid support group around you, get a sponsor and work the steps. BREATHE. :)
I just hit 11 years on Feb. 14th. Couldn't be happier. But I couldn't have done it if I hadn't given up and decided I needed help.
|
|
klk
Trad climber
cali
|
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:18pm PT
|
Really impressed that so many of you can stay sober and still stay in this community.
Those of us who came up in the sixties and seventies also grew up with the idea that climbing was about being a mix of Lord Byron and Mike Hammer. even tougher to quit when the culture valorizes excess.
Props
|
|
Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
|
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:53pm PT
|
One Year today.
|
|
Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
|
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:55pm PT
|
Keep up the good work Hankster, Mark and everyone else out there choosing the alternative lifestyle. I'm coming up on six months on my sabbatical.
Not making any promises and enjoying life a lot more these days.
|
|
couchmaster
climber
pdx
|
|
|
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:56pm PT
|
I struggle with my alcoholism, and realize that it hurts, and doesn't help a damn thing. Still, I like to drink...on occasion. Try to take off days inbetween, and that helps keep it under control.
Stay strong you all!
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
Mar 27, 2011 - 12:02am PT
|
Awright ECIYA I knew it was pretty soon around now.
|
|
Truthdweller
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
|
|
|
Mar 27, 2011 - 02:36am PT
|
Good ol' twelve steps...where you stop drinking like a drunk, yet still act like one. This may not apply to you but are you sick and tired of being "sick and tired" yet Hank...anyone?
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
|
Mar 27, 2011 - 12:33pm PT
|
Saw a special on the tube, think it was dateline? about the shila who started that moderation movement. They had to report their consumption at the meetings as part of the program. Naturaly she started lieing to herself and everyone else. Oh yea, i'm sticking to 2 beers a day.... 2 40oz bombers that is ;) She ended up blacking out at the wheel and killing a little girl...
Folks who actually have a real problem are just kidding themselfs if they think that they can make moderation work long term.....
|
|
happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
|
|
|
Mar 27, 2011 - 12:58pm PT
|
The thing is, tradmanclimbs, that alcoholism is a killer disease. In more ways than one, unfortunately. I, too, don't suggest moderation.
But.
For someone who cannot stomach the AA way(which, ironically, really IS the easier, softer way), at least the Moderation option is something.
Going hardcore AA is not a guarantee either. I know a guy who was "so" sober - a fun, interesting, kind, Big Book thumping BASTION OF SOBRIETY(yes, a BURT BRONSON, but with humility and no misogyny). He had 14 years, and seemed so solid. Got a girlfriend, got dumped, and within 2 weeks he was drunk and in meetings completely out of control. On crack, too. The pain of living had been too much for him, and he slipped.
He DID keep attending meetings. At each one, he was wailing "Help. I can't stop." We did what we could. In the end, who knows why some stupid little thing - an act of kindness, a kick in the ass, a hand-holding as they go to the ER wanting to detox - makes the difference for some. One gives what they can.
And sometimes all that and more, much more, is to no avail. That guy stopped coming to meetings about a month later. I never heard anything more about him.
People dis AA, mainly due to what is perceived as the religious aspect of it. I was lucky to get sober in NYC, where there were SO many groups, meetings, alkies of all stripes to choose from. If "religion" was a problem, it was easily avoided. But in smaller areas, the options are really limited. Unfortunately, some of the religious types really believe that their perception of the program IS the answer. As the Big Book says(about another topic) "They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way." (well, maybe reborn, in some case....).
As well, some people getting sober "see" religious zealotry in AA meetings when the truth is.... it's really more in their heads. They are still sick and suffering(another AA phrase). Some make it through this period, and come to realize they were scared, resisting, and just stuck in some thinking that was not helping. They see that they do NOT need to have a God that is based on some formalized religion, and are able to proceed.
Others just don't make it through that archway.
And even someone seemingly following the AA way with all the Steps, Service and pageantry is NO guarantee.... If the person has a secret(some are closeted doing prescription painkillers, or some other stress-inducing behavior, such as embezzling from work, sex addiction, or whatever), years later the wall can come crumbling down.
It TRULY is ONE DAY AT A TIME with recovery.
Happy One year and ONE DAY ElCapInYoAzz!!!!!
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!