6th year in recovery

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Hi everyone,ive just joined,im after a bit of feedback please,
Im well into my 6th year of recovery with no relapses at all and ive never been to any meetings just the odd phone call to get a bit of support from them,but this 6th year has been the toughest yet by far.Now im not saying im going to relapse because i think my sobriety is solid but ive came across a issue which years ago i would of just drank and drank until i forgot about it but these days this isnt a option anymore so the issue isnt being fixed its just lingering around,
Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing an if so how did you deal with it?
therapy isnt a option by the way!!!

Tony

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Ultimately when you get to the basics, what helps is staying sober. That is the only thing that matters. Just stay sober. Drinking or using will make it worse, always. Being sober - including reaching out for support from your sober community - will help, and eventually you will find a way through.

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Maybe try ameeting get a sponsor theres a12 step program that might help you with your problem, who do you phone to get support ? wish you well

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normally i just give AA a call and have a chat with them and that normally chills me out for a while,they always try and get me to a meeting but I dont bother going,maybe its time I gave one a try,thanks

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Might help Tony wish you well

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A sober life is a life. It has ups and downs. How do i deal with it? I get help. I went to AA for 4 years and now participate in Recovery Dharma. Therapy has helped too.

Why dont you thinl therapy is an option?

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Without knowing what the issue is, it is hard to give concrete advice. For sure the 12 steps of AA lay a foundation for more than just not drinking, and could be one thing to try. Other self-help books or workbooks might help. My third year of sobriety was challenging for just what you describe. After hiding behind drinking, then riding the pink cloud of recovery, real life hit hard. I am still trying to deal with life on life’s terms. And I’m trying to deal with me on my terms.

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Not going to meetings or therapy is probably down to me being stubborn in thinking that ive came this far alone that i dont need to go but by the looks of things i probably do need to go,maybe joining here today is my first step in starting sharing and getting the extra help thats needed

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thanks very much

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Stubborn = suffering well.

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I will parrot and paraphrase what I have heard repeatedly and it has some truth to it: If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten. And the same goes for not doing something.

I’m not pushing for you to go to a meeting, I’m reinforcing your self-knowledge

me being stubborn in thinking that ive came this far alone”

I have found that after some time and work changing my thinking, feeling, attitudes and actions, that staying sober became second nature, not the constant, daily, sometime hourly, battle it was earlier. In AA, one of the conditions that comes about is that “we have ceased fighting anything or anyone, including alcohol”, as a result of small daily practices. When my sobriety becomes a struggle, as it occasionally can do, I return to those more intense practices, particularly being honest with my sober circle, and I seek direction from outside my own head.

You’re doing much the same today, Tony. It might not feel like it in the moment, but reaching out this way with honesty about your thoughts and feelings is absolutely essential to changing those and becoming easier in your mind.

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Congrats on the six years! Admitting we need extra help is a vulnerable thing to do and it is understandable to be resistant to it.

I leaned in heavily to the recovery community, mainly this forum, for the first five years of recovery. I also had some CBT and a bit of counselling to deal with some long standing mental health stuff. And took antidepressants.

Now I am going through a challenging situation and while I don’t want to drink, I have submitted a referral for some more counselling because I am struggling. I know it won’t fix things for me but some help sorting through my thoughts might help me work out where to go next.

Hope whatever you decide to do helps get you through whateever comes next :footprints::sparkles:

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Hi,thanks very much for your reply,this is exactly what I needec to see/hear,ill be making a few phone calls tomorrow and getting myself to a meeting,just talking on here seems to be helping me so i think its time to make the effort and hopefully start pushing on again

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Hi,
yours and every one of these replies have been very helpful to me,im happy i made the decision to join here today,I hope you get through your own struggles very soon

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