I am new to AA and have heard many members talk about how a person needs to "hit rock bottom" before they can achieve sobriety. This discourages me because I have not hit what they describe as a typical bottom. I'm not on skid row drinking bottles of cooking sherry out of a paper bag, or waking up in the drunk tank in a puddle of my own vomit. I have a decent job, a loving wife and a nice home...but I know that booze is doing serious damage to my relationship, my career, my health and my dignity and self esteem.
Do I have to lose everything before I will be broken down enough to recover?
No the idea is to stop before u lose it all. They talk of bottoms but there not like u picture them. At least they don't have to be. Do an alcohol quiz or such, SEE IF U THINK YOUR AN ALCOHOLIC. GO FROM THERE
You posted here u must have some kind of idea. I have a lot of material things also. I stayed sober for years then fell. Just trying again.
just hope to help u a little. Get an alcoholics anonymous Big book read a little. I GREW UP IN AN ALCOHOLIC HOUSEHOLD. And i knew i was alcoholic
Everyone's "bottom" is different. I believe you may have hit yours if you've come to this message board.
I've never lost a job, never been to jail, no DUI's I have a home, a car, I raise a child alone, I own a business and I work another job, I have a college degree. My bills are paid, my house is clean, there's food on the table, we're warm in the winter and cool in the summer........... however with a blink of an eye ALL of this can be lost if I continue to drink.
Follow every sentence I typed with the word "YET". Those "yets" are only part why I had to get sober........
Get yourself a Big Book and read just a little. You may be surprised.
And thank you for posting, you've helped me more than you know.
Keep coming here. There's some great folks on this board........ lots of quality and wisdom
Doll
-- Edited by Doll at 20:30, 2005-09-10
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* We eventually realize that just as the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, emotional turmoil comes before serenity. *
My sponsor is always saying, (and I happen to agree), that your "bottom" is an inside job. There is no true defining point for a bottom exept for the one you define for yourself. Whether it is called a high bottom or a low bottom by others is unimportant. It is that point where we say to ourselves, "I can't do this anymore. I have had enough. I want to stop." It is that simple. My bottom was not lying in a gutter, or becoming homeless. Those are "yets" for me. Mine was 4 DWI's accompanied by auto accidents, and the threat of prison or death if it ever happened again. Other people may just never want another hangover, or have health issues, or a divorce, or any number of things. The point being, when you have had enough, you have hit your bottom. I hope this helped.
