No more booze? What name would/do you go by?

[Duty]

What you tell people, as per your personal label, is up to you.

We have watched you struggle here on the forum with issues that are the result of alcohol.  I think it's real important to admit to yourself that you do, indeed, have a problem.  And really mean it when you look in the mirror.

What you tell others doesn't matter when you come right down to it if you are real with yourself.

A little nugget...if alcohol causes problems in your life, you have a drinking problem.

Go back and read some of your posts...there's a pattern.

I appreciate your engaging so thoroughly with this thread AWTY, so ta. I totally acknowledge that I posted a LOT of dumb stuff here and many other places when inebriated, no denial on that count. I feel differently about my sobriety to what Boru said however: I don't miss alcohol every day or anything like that...not yet, anyway, although it is relatively early days for me, granted. 

It's like I was struggling with a difficult maths problem I've only recently solved, to draw a simile....and the result/answer is the same forever more and whenever I run the numbers: on balance, I do not want a drink. There is no "missing" drinking - the outcome of the equation is final: 2 + 2 = 4 and that outcome doesn't change.

[arewethereyet]

What you tell people, as per your personal label, is up to you.

We have watched you struggle here on the forum with issues that are the result of alcohol.  I think it's real important to admit to yourself that you do, indeed, have a problem.  And really mean it when you look in the mirror.

What you tell others doesn't matter when you come right down to it if you are real with yourself.

A little nugget...if alcohol causes problems in your life, you have a drinking problem.

Go back and read some of your posts...there's a pattern.

I appreciate your engaging so thoroughly with this thread AWTY, so ta. I totally acknowledge that I posted a LOT of dumb stuff here and many other places when inebriated, no denial on that count. I feel differently about my sobriety to what Boru said however: I don't miss alcohol every day or anything like that...not yet, anyway, although it is relatively early days for me, granted. 

It's like I was struggling with a difficult maths problem I've only recently solved, to draw a simile....and the result/answer is the same forever more and whenever I run the numbers: on balance, I do not want a drink. There is no "missing" drinking - the outcome of the equation is final: 2 + 2 = 4 and that outcome doesn't change.

Let me give you an example.  My first husband didn't drink every day.  He didn't even seem like it mattered most days.  But...if he had one drink he didn't stop till the liquor ran out or his body stopped.  I tried to get family, in particular, not to offer him a drink because that just started a disastrous time.  Of course mom wanted someone to drink so she refused to not ask him to join her for a drink.  His mother constantly said her Danny didn't have a problem and since all the men in the family drank when we went there, he was going to drink.

We could spend days or weeks without him drinking.  If he could have just stuck with that it would have been great.

My mother drank pretty much every day of my life except for those times when she was pretending to get sober.  She was self-medicating for a host of reasons and she was happy to tell you why she needed a drink.  She's 81 and the first question I ask my sister when I talk to her is if mom is sober currently.  What a waste of a life.  My first husband died...my mother has just been dead inside for decades.  I have a photo of her drinking when she was about 15 or 16 - around the time she got pregnant with me.

[brewer]

@Lawz Call yourself whatever you want, just don't drink.

I tell people "not drinking today" cause that's all I got (a living in the moment-mindfulness thing). It's worked for quite a while (multiple years). Will I get drunk/high or stay sober tomorrow, I don't know. I do know that I've had an issue with mind altering substances, starting in my teens, which has lead to unpleasant consequences.

[Duty]

Recently I participated in a discussion about atheism which diverted to the topic of identifying oneself as atheist.  When I'm dealing with people of other faiths, I find it more comfortable to say that I'm unaffiliated with any religion.  But some argued that they wanted to be known as atheist, both for themselves and others.  There's something inherently political about adopting a label or identification.  Part of it has to do with how you feel about yourself, and how adopting a specific identity affects you.  Part of it involves how other people will be affected, what you will be communicating to them, both intentional and unintentional.

I try to be honest wherever possible (within reason) so want an accurate description to use. I have and continue to alienate, piss off and generally "drop a clanger" with anybody I spend much time with by calling myself an atheist, no stammer, no blush, no backing down, there it is. Bravery? Stupidity? Only God can judge me lolz. 


Arthur: What's the most knightly virtue Merlin?

Merlin: Truth! Yes, that's it, TRUTH! You should know that Arther 

So I try to be honest and telll the truth, as I see it, wherever I can bear to. John Boorman has a lot to answer for with me 

---

A little nugget...if alcohol causes problems in your life, you have a drinking problem.

This is the crux of things for me. Alcohol used to cause me big problems...frequently. It no longer troubles me at all however, therefore: "ex-alcoholic"

Your stories of your late husband and mother appear very tragic to me and I sympathise sincerely. I too would drink until the house was dry or I fell asleep - usually around 6 litres of beer from sobriety. History....please flying spaghetti monster, let me be correct that it is all behind me