The ever recovering victim identity. This is what AA instilled in the minds of many and it’s hard for people to unlearn what they’ve been fed for decades. AA claims alcohol addiction is a life long sentence while struggling one day at a time. One drink away from dead. I don’t believe that garbage, never did, and I will continue exposing it for what it is. The ever recovering victim identity. This identity prevents people from thriving and taking responsibility for their lives. Addiction is not a life sentence. When someone quits cigarettes they don’t live the rest of their lives craving cigarettes. The addiction fades with time. No one labels them a lifelong cigarette addict. The same goes for alcohol. It’s ridiculous and offensive to lable someone an addict when they haven’t touched the substance for years. It takes a good year of abstinence to be completely free from the addiction, but once you’re free you no longer need to carry that victim ID card around your neck anymore. This is wonderful News! But some take great offence to it. They WANT to remain the ever recovering victim. Not me. It pisses me off when people today, after 12 years of not drinking, say to me “I’m cheering you on! You go girl, so proud of you! Stay strong you got this!” And the most ridiculous one of all “One day at a time!” Would they say that to an ex smoker who quit decades ago?
Ok, if I was on my 4th month of sobriety yes, I could understand and would feel supported. But after 12 years of being sober? I’m sharing a testimony about why I quit drinking and I get these comments as if it’s supposed to make me feel supported? BS, It’s condescending as hell because most of the people giving these condescending remarks are the ones with the drinking problem, not me. They are the ones waking up with hangovers, acting like idiots and looking like shit from poisoning themselves every weekend, not me.
