Re: Rational Recovery.....to Dave

Hi Blueduck,

Thank you, and pardon me if I sound condescending toward the AA approach. I certainly don't intend it. Needing others is not a weakness. It's a fact of life for all of us, and if the AA approach would work for me, I would do it...in a heartbeat.

And no, this is not my first attempt. It's my second. Although I tried various means of "cutting back" during the past couple years, I realized last year (after a terrible slide) that I'd reached a point of no return. "Cutting back" didn't work anymore.

Frankly, I know why some approaches try to incorporate a "moderate" drinking approach. Quitting for good is a bit like dieting. If you think you can NEVER have it again, you want it more than ever. Kind of like the binge factor. The ice-cream lover, who would normally not think of eating a full carton, will do so when on a "diet."

In spite of this, moderate drinking is over for me. And realizing that, from a psychological perspective, has made this attempt somewhat more difficult.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) I haven't truly felt at risk yet in spite of some very stressful and depressing days. Or as Shadow calls them, "bad luck."

Recently, I was invited to a Super Bowl party, and declined. I'm afraid the "good luck" situation of being surrounded by happy beer drinkers is more than I can take at this point in my recovery. It's a needless risk. Strangely enough, it's another dry alcoholic who invited me.

Anyway, it feels so darn good to get to the end of another day, and have remained sober. My flat-lined emotions are showing signs of recovery. Someday, I might actually feel...joy again.

Take care,

Dave