At a meeting the other night, I noticed something that struck me as important. I noticed some people are very specific when they introduce themselves. For example, "My name is Laurie and I am an alcoholic." Other folks make it brief, "Laurie, alcoholic." I noticed my own tendency to say the later. Took me a long time to get there so for now I'm okay with it. But I could feel myself making the choice about saying it very clearly, or adding two words together. Guess it will be the next big step for me, to say it fully, with intention. What about you guys? What do you say? Do you notice this in others? Did you or do you ever think about it? Once again, thinking too much, but it seems important to me...
I am smiling as I read this because I always overthink things. I tend to say both. Sometimes I'll just say "alcoholic" out of laziness or a desire to get the meeting going, but sometimes I have said the full sentence just to focus on the full meaning and ownership. Anyway, I've noticed it before and found it curious. You will have to let us know when you say it fully!
I always say, "Hi, my name is Ellen and I'm an alcoholic". For me, that's not only important for myself to hear but I was really glad to say it because it meant I wasn't just plain crazy.
When I first started going to meetings, I thought I had to qualify before they'd let me join so I didn't think I could just say that at my first meeting even though I did know right then that I was an alcoholic from listening to others there. LOL After the meeting I got the questionnaire leaflet, took it home and marked the answers like I was taking a school test and then took that back to my second meeting feeling triumphant that I'd have that to show them if they doubted I belonged there and had the right to say "I'm an alcoholic". I thought it was like some kind of club you had to apply to in order to get in.
Yeah, I was pretty sick alright. I've made some progress now but I still say that at every meeting.
I always say "My name's Louisa and I'm an alcoholic" - to reenforce it in my head - just incase I get any 'brilliant' ideas about forgetting it!!
God! I always dread those job introduction things where they go round the table or at college and ask each of us to introduce ourselves..........I keep saying to myself.......just say "I'm Louisa" and NOTHING more ! Just STOP!!! .........
maybe in time I may choose to divulge .........but NOT accidentally during the intros! Phew!
Depends how I feel that day, Laurie. Mostly it's "I'm Rob and I am alcoholic." but on days when I need a big out-loud reminder of how easily I could de-rail myself I say "I'm Rob and beyond any unreasonable doubt an alcoholic." or on grateful days "I'm Rob, a grafeful recovering alcoholic."
Like that Dr, Seuss book My Many Colored Days. "on differednt days I'm different too...but it all turns out all right you see, bacause I go back to being me."
Hi Laurie, first I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying meetings regularly. People say a variety of things, which is very cool. I like it when I hear "I'm an alcoholic and my problem is Tom". I either say "I'm Dean, an alcoholic and a drug addict" or "I'm Dean and I'm a recovering person", depending on how I"m feeling that day, by it's usually the former.
I say I am alcoholic versus "an" alcoholic. I am also tuberculic and portugese and Catholic. I take the disease approach rather than the personality approach. Why? Just because I've always done it that way. Maybe it is semantics huh?
I used to use every variation of applicable 12-step "identification" there is...until I finally decided that I am not "a diabetic" or "an alcoholic" or "a schizophrenic". I am a person with diabetes, I have alcoholism (in remission, thank you very much). I don't have schizophrenia, but you get the point!!
People would say, "Don't get hung up on the labels.", but the labels were beginning to become more definitive as to "who" and "what" I was than was good for me. I want to celebrate my sobriety, not my disease!! It's got enough power without me giving it more. My enemy, not my friend...so why would I want to embrace it by over-identifying with it? Seems we "graduate" from dope fiend-junkie-alkie-lush, to the more socially acceptable "I'm an addict, or I'm an alcoholic". Nope...labels are no longer good enough. As they say in treatment culture, I am not my disease.
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