Shout this from the mountain tops. If you ever ever have to consciously “moderate”, you got more than a problem.
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This was talked about a while ago Bootz. I shouldn’t worry about posting it. All relevant information should be available for all to read.
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I was reading this very same article a few hours ago after reading a thread about moderation.
It’s a nicely balanced article, I think.
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She may have rejected the label “alcoholic”, as it pertained to her, but alcoholism didn’t give a shit what she thought or believed. Sad her refusal and denial resulted in the death of a kid. I would imagine she was fully consumed by her addiction after that, leading to her suspected suicide.
Alcoholics can’t moderate. Now someone may reject the idea that they themselves are alcoholics, but the inability to stop when they want to says otherwise.
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You can’t, or you won’t?
And while we’re at it: Maybe I can’t, but we can.
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I dragged my ass to a meeting when I really didn’t want to go to. Probably going to be the best decision I made today. I have a bunch of “reasons” of why I “can’t” go today, but here I am.
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Yup. A trusted friend still throws this one at me a lot, and it’s frustrating. Frustrating that I still say it and that he’s still right every damn time.
Today included. 
As it turns out, I can and I’m always glad I did.
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I was having the exact same thoughts today. I think the word can’t is used far too liberally.
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I have no interest in moderation, I really don’t want to drink anymore. My focus is to keep my mood and feelings better than what a drink would make me feel. Moderation would absolutlely not work for me. Not even considering trying it.
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Was listening to the Jocko Podcast episode 21 this morning, during my workout. His guest was professional MMA fighter AND active duty US Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy. Tim was answering questions from Jocko’s listeners. Towards the end Tim is talking about what it takes to be better, and he talked about lifestyle, and how so many fighters and warriors he meets say they want to be better, but it’s their lifestyle that trips them up. Then he comes right out and says it: “Quit drinking!” You have to want to be better more than you want to drink. Otherwise, you’ll never be better.
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Keep blaming everyone and everything for your situation. It’s so much easier than admitting your own shortcomings and actually experiencing personal growth.
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If you seek out bad feelings you are going to find them. I get it as I’m an addict too, but stop seeking out reasons to be miserable. I bet if you focus on positive things you will find them.
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So talking about moderation of pot and alcohol is ok, but using heroin to quit drinking is not?
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hell yeah mother f****** 
It may we help ya get of alcohol but it sure as hell ain’t fixing the problem!
It’s always interesting to go back and read old posts from months or years back and follow the people who say “I don’t believe in this” “I won’t do that” “it doesn’t work for me” then continue to follow all their relapse posts over and over again.
I get that some people aren’t a fit for some programs but damn, doesn’t it make sense to try something new. Stop focusing on all the stuff you won’t do and find something you will do.
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On the flip side it’s great to see the people who figure out they can’t do it alone, get out of their comfort zone, and are continuously sober to this day.
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It’s almost embarrassing how many things I said I wouldn’t/couldn’t/didn’t want to do. But now these same things are why I’m still sober.
I TRY to remember how hard it was for me to finally give things a go (such as AA) but dammit I wish people will listen to me when I say “I once thought like you but eventually I tried it and it worked”.
I guess that’s why I could never work in recovery, I’d get too mad at people.
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I did work in addiction care and I might get back into it once I get some serious sober time and work on my sober self behind me. Or in recovery, or in a combination of both, or I might try to devise something of my own making. I will probably be pretty tough. I was before. I already knew a lot of crap addicts tell themselves and others even though I didn’t consciously recognise myself as an addict back then. It’s good to call people out on their bullshit. It actually might help them. As long as it’s done with a little bit of tact and insight in who it is you’re talking to. Which, btw, I a lot easier when you talk to somebody face to face as compared to writing on a website like this. Over here giving tough love effectively is a lot harder IMO.
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I don’t know who needs to hear this today but,
Moderation has always been, and will always be, a terrible strategy for recovery.
If even one person reads this before trying to moderate and then decides not to this will be the best thing I’ve ever posted on TS.
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