A man takes a drink, the drink takes another, and the drink takes the man. -- Proverb
Newcomer
I've heard Alcoholics Anonymous members say, "It's the first drink that gets you drunk," and Overeaters Anonymous members say, "Don't take that first compulsive bite." It seems a little extreme. Don't Twelve Step programs allow for the possibility of doing things in moderation?
Sponsor
There are numerous stories of addicted people who started with the idea that they'd have "just one" of whatever it was. Hours, days, or weeks later, they were still in the middle of a binge. Most of us, when we were active in our addictions, promised ourselves repeatedly that we'd be moderate, though we'd already accumulated plenty of evidence that we lacked the desire and the capacity for moderation. Once we started using, no matter how seemingly insignificant the beginning, we were under the control of our addiction. We experienced a craving that no quantity of a drug or repetition of an addictive behavior could satisfy.
There are people who can do in moderation what people filling the seats at meetings couldn't stop doing, once they started. But we are not those people.
Today, I'm strengthened by accepting my need to take special measures to protect my health and recovery.
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
That's a good one! I have pre-planned words to say when I get in a situation where I need to protect myself. I realize being offered a drink in a social setting is a common act of kindness. They don't know the disaster it could cause, but I do, so its up to me to look out for myself and have a Dr Pepper instead.
Yes Jerri, ... Early in sobriety, I learned that it was wise to have a response ready for when those situations came up ... so I did the same thing as you described ... some of mine were:
I've had enough ... ... ... (seeing as I drank either a case a day or a Quart of the strong stuff ... for many years) ...
(similarly) I've already had more than my share ...
No Thanks, I have an allergy to alcohol that became serious when I hit my 50's ... ... ... (which is very true since it nearly killed me) ...
No thanks, I'm the designated 'driver' ...
No thanks, that stuff turns me into an asshole, and you really don't want to experience that with me ...
Thank you but no, I wish to remember the rest of the evening, and feel well enough to eat breakfast in the morning ...
No thanks, my AA brothers would frown on it ... how would they know, he asks? ... they would know, trust me, one alcoholic can read another alcoholic like you wouldn't believe ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
