Meet The Discovering Alcoholic
I used to post an updated introduction every so often for new readers, but with the new format a “Meet TDA” tab is available so now all you have to do is click on the tab above. You have probably already guessed by the site name that yes I am a recovering alcoholic, clean and sober without relapse since the fall of 94’ and I keep feeling better every day. I am proud of my recovery and often share this fact not as a boast, but in an attempt to lessen the stigma and encourage others to share in this confidence or feel more inclined to seek help. I started the site back in March of 2007 and it has been updated daily with very few exceptions since- it has become a big part of my recovery.
I consider most substance addictions as birds of a feather, not making great distinction between drug addicts and alcoholics. It is my belief that any step toward recovery is a smart step and I support most programs including AA, NA, MA, religious groups, self-styled, and rehabs. I am a member of a substance abuse task force, hold a recovery class every week at a local methadone clinic, always have at least one or two alcoholics/addicts to which I act as a sponsor, and of course there is TDA. I have found through my efforts of attempting to help others that my own spirituality, confidence, and appreciation of life greatly increases.
Addicts and alcoholics have the same foibles and frustrations as everyone else, but the negative repercussions that result from these are usually exponentially greater for those whose coping skills have been limited to drinking and drugging. The key is to know oneself better, understand what pulls the trigger, and to adapt one’s lifestyle and actions into a preventative maintenance program. And it’s not only about staying sober; when these lessons are applied in other aspects of life (business, relationships, parenting) combined with the confidence gained in recovery , one cannot but help to feel empowered.
In recovery, I have discovered that the very act of reining in my disease has enabled me to become a much better person ergo, The Discovering Alcoholic. I am many things; husband, veteran, advocate and blogger but most first and foremost an alcoholic since this condition has affected all aspects of my life.
So hello my name is Gavin, and I am The Discovering Alcoholic.
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Hi sound like you have been sober a while ,how come your still ”recovering” and not recovered yet?
The Big Book promises tyou will recover.
it tells us ”we have recovered and been given the power to help others”
Trev.
Australia.
Good morning Trev,
Sorry for the late response, I’ve been traveling abroad and my internet access has been somewhat spotty. Reading from your comment history it seems you have chosen to come more to be a nuisance rather than honestly discuss recovery issues, so even though it seems to me you are wasting my time I will answer anyway with a semi-rhetorical question of my own that seems rather fitting for this discussion.
I consider my recovery a continuous process of improvement, there is no end goal nor should there be when it comes the the quality of one’s life- why stop trying to be better, content, happy? You seem to have been “living” for a while yet you spend your evenings trolling recovery blogs leaving strings of inane comments. Does this behavior constitute a plateau or perhaps even a lifestyle crisis, maybe you should quit pondering the semantics of “recovering” and instead concentrate on how you define “living”?
(Why come to a recovery blog to be snarky, you got a problem? Maybe a drinking problem?)
Hi there Gavin!
I agree that arguing about semantics can make recovery ridiculous at times. I mean, who really cares as long as we are making progress and living clean?
My old sponsor would argue that it matters to some people, because the language that we use out loud can infect our thinking patterns, which may affect our actions. Seems like a stretch to me though.
Anyway, I have a proposition for you. Shoot me an email and I can show you what it is in more detail. I love your blog and I think you are one of the “realest” recovery bloggers out there. Kudos to you for your excellent work on this site.
Please keep blogging!
Gavin, great blog.
Alcoholism affects everyone – one way or another, across all ‘lines’ we draw to distinguish each other.
Fortunately more and more people are getting a clue on the disease of addiction and how to achieve sobriety, how to help one another and how to reduce the harm we inflict on one another.
Guest House is an entirely lay run charity that’s been helping clergy and religious return to sobriety for 54 years – and from the beginning we’ve provided care of at least 90 days, regardless of the ability of the person to pay for it. The long term care and follow up, the personalized care etc. has given our clients lifetime sobriety rates of 75%.
There is no ‘full recovery’ or ‘cure’. But sobriety can be achieved and lived for the remainder of your life. So there’s always hope.