I just finished 84 days at St. Joseph's Recovery Center in Parkersburg, WV.. I have over 100 days clean and sober. People are always saying you can't do it with out God but I have done it. I find more strength and courage within myself. I have endured having my right leg amputated, twice, once through the knee and a second to amputate my knee. I received my third prosthetic leg September 19, 2019 and I'm already walking with it. So, people you can do the twelve steps of AA/NA/HA or whatever "A" you choose by simply exchanging the word "God" with "My Higher Power".
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.good for you. have had a problem with alcohol since i was 14. quit several times but never for more than & month or 2. thought about AAs over the yrs but never tried it b/c of the religion. the only ppl i know that successfully quit did so with AAs.
booze pretty well fcked up my life. although i did have some wild times. just had enough control to stay in the RCAF for a pension. now pretty well managing my intake. 3 to 5 drinks each evening (depending if we go out) starting around 5:30 PM. i just enjoy good craft beer & whiskey although i know that even this small amount i consume is not good for my health b/c of my heart condition & meds. but fck it i'll be gone soon regardless.
callmedubious
Level 8
Oct 6, 2019
3
I felt so sad...to see your value in your own eyes, so diminished. Addictions are a powerful force, that robs us of our fully functioning emotions, that must be developed over time from experience. Alcohol alters emotions, so correction cannot be made from that ‘alter state!’ Thus, you cannot develop to your fullest potential! We only get one chance here...will you be happy to leave without regret and what about the people who care about you? Just my thoughts...
@Freedompath ,
there's no doubt alcohol is a powerful drug. it ruined my 1st marriage & my daughter turned against me. my oldest grandaughter graduated HS this yr & i haven't seen her since she was 4. i've burned a few bridges.
OTOH, i have a few drinks in the evening which increases my dopamine, serotonin levels & i feel mellow for a few hrs. at my age that's about the best i can expect.
i have no hope for humanity so i suppose i'm just self-medicating & coping as best i can.
@callmedubious so sorry to hear that! It is hard and it is work, but it is doable and the rewards are worth it. I know people...
I detect sadness in the fact that you have not seen your granddaughter, for so long?
@Freedompath ,
mt grandaughters & i are on opposite coasts so wouldn't see them often even if my daughter didn't disown me.
shit happens & we need to cope, somehow or other.
@callmedubious I am 1500 miles away from my grandchildren and great-g, I think they could care less, because I never hear from them (I hardly heard from them when I lived near them). But, , I could drop a card from time to time because it DOES matter to me. And when I am gone they will have the same regret that I have at not putting forth an effort at my end, with my people who are all gone now!
@Freedompath ,
sorry that you're not closer to your grandkids, distance & otherwise.
i sometimes think of putting my family history on-line (i am on ancestry.com) but then think, who really cares or will ever care?
@callmedubious it might matter to later generations. It seems to me that we only matter after we are gone...one exception, if you are really entertaining, our family will like spending time with us! That is how I feel, because entertainment is a giant effort on my part!
I commend you, your strengths and your efforts.
Santanaman9
Level 7
Oct 6, 2019
5
Good for you, Jimmie! Yeah, the whole god thing is for the gullible. Obviously you have more sense than most. I encourage you to go inward to find your own strength. The Zen Buddhists call it the "god within" which, when discovered, gives you inner peace and joy. No belief bullshit required.
mischl
Level 8
Oct 6, 2019
6
Don't worry about what SOME people say about god! I'm ten years sober without AA. God has nothing to do with it.
BUT AA DOES identify and codify several true things about quitting, like hitting "rock bottom" and deciding for yourself to quit. No one can do that for you.
For some people, especially at the beginning, AA can be a support group helping to reinforce resolve. Things like that.
But the god trappings are just window dressing, and have nothing to do with being a non-drinking person.
I quit because I finally realized once and for all, after a lifetime of starting and stopping and starting, alcohol had ruined my life and would continue to do so unless I stopped. Seems simple, but until you finally believe that down deep at your very CORE it does no good. AA thinks that "core" is religious conviction, but it isn't, so, if anything, AA's Christian cult nature ruins or at the very least dilutes it's power to help.
Storm1752
Level 8
Oct 6, 2019
4
I had gone way beyond just drinking alcohol. I realized my drug abuse was just as bad as my alcohol abuse. After many years of abuse I decided it was time for me to live. Alcohol and drugs had consumed my life with no regard for family. I am happy to say I am free of the chains of drugs and alcohol.
What an accomplishment Jimmie. You are an inspiration to those behind you!
Truthseeker1968
Level 6
Oct 6, 2019
4
Yeah, I quit drugs over 20 years ago and started enforcing a 3 drink limit on myself 10 years ago. When I was looking to quit drugs I went to a couple of NA and AA meetings. I couldn't take the higher power stuff and the serenity prayer. After continuing to struggle I ended up moving away from that scene. I did continue drinking like a fish and had it get me in trouble several times (arrested for PI 5 times during those years). Then I met my wife and she never got into drinking. She challenged me to quit and I did for about 6 months. But it was hard in social settings so I decided I would try to limit myself to 3 drinks. And that was years ago. Of course I'm older now and have much more self control. But I could never do any 12 step program.
towkneed
Level 7
Oct 11, 2019
3
Congratulations. But actually there is no power higher than you! Give yourself all the credit!
mooredolezal
Level 7
Oct 7, 2019
3
I do give myself and the people at St. Joe's, they were wonderful. I went through 10 surgeries and lost my leg by myself so staying clean and sober shouldn't be any harder.
You are so strong and inspirational ....I salute you.
Marionville
Level 10
Oct 7, 2019
4
Well done, brilliant work!
A friend of mine cold turkeyed alcohol and cigarettes at the same time about 20 years ago.
He didn’t need god either. Just personal resolve
You two are a shining example of what can be done without metaphysical forces guiding you if you don’t believe in them.
Geoffrey51
Level 8
Oct 6, 2019
4
Congratulations, man!!! One of the guitarists of my former band has been almost 5 years off the booze. He's atheist, I think. You're no less than him, if he could make it, you can as well.
Paddypereira
Level 7
Oct 6, 2019
4
Awesome! You’ve done it, and you can keep doing it! Very happy for you and the better life you’ll be able to live sober. 
Apunzelle
Level 7
Oct 6, 2019
3
I get to spend tie with my grandkids now.
My Dear Jimmie...I am so proud of you for this accomplishment......Big hugs for you.... because I know it is very hard to do!! My son has been clean for 16 years . Now !! Also without "god" ! I wish for you and your family...lots of Love...
Thank you for your story...it will help many more 
Armida
Level 5
Oct 10, 2019
3
This year is my 30 year sobriety anniversary. Whenever I heard the word god in AA, I would think "Group Of Drunks" and that was my higher power. They were sober drunks, but drunks nevertheless. I haven't been going to meetings for about 5 years, but I still count October 2 as my sobriety date.
Congrats on your 100 days sober. It's a great life without drugs and alcohol.
Eazyduzzit
Level 7
Oct 8, 2019
3
I thank you all for your responses and support. Each one of you touched my heart.
Thank you,
Jimmie
jimmie3286
Level 4
Oct 7, 2019
2
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