First up, how about we hear from Hannibal Lecter himself?
Anthony Hopkins Reflects On 49 Years Of Sobriety Ahead Of 87th Birthday: ‘Life Is In Session’
He recalls the incident that finally led him to “stop drinking abruptly” way back in 1975– finding himself in Arizona with no clue as to how or why he was there. It was a classic “traveling blackout.”
From the article: “I couldn’t remember anything and I was driving a car, drunk out of my skull…” For Anthony Hopkins, that turned out to be the last straw.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way. I’ve met many others who, in the aftermath of such an incident, disgusted with themselves, then swore off alcohol forever — only to start drinking again, just a few days later.
Talk about a vicious cycle.
So in that respect, Anthony Hopkins was one of the lucky ones. With a bit more luck, he celebrates his 50th sober anniversary next December.
Next up, popular columnist Arya Mahdawi tells us about her experiences with something she calls intermittent sobriety.
I tried ‘intermittent sobriety’. Here’s what I learned jumping on and off the wagon
If the term is new to me, the practice itself is not. Hard to think of any behavior more widespread among people struggling with alcoholism than trampolining back and forth between periods of drinking and not drinking.
For the most part, their reasoning is similar to hers. “While I didn’t want to tell myself that I could never drink again,” she writes, “… committing to intermittent sobriety felt doable.” By comparison, sure. But to someone with an advancing AUD, it ordinarily turns out to be merely another way station on the road to eventual sobriety.
Why? because of compulsion and loss of control, two defining characteristics of addictive disorders. Over time, it becomes increasingly difficult to exert the necessary degree of control over one’s addiction.
Still, it’s a common dilemma for many people in her situation — do I really have to give up alcohol forever?
Twelve Steppers address the problem by living a day at a time. In fact, some who’ve been sober for decades continue to insist they’re taking it ‘day by day’.
It may take some practice, but I do think it’s helpful to stay focused on the present and avoid succumbing to depression about the past and anxiety about the future. That way, a recovering person need only answer one question: Did I stay sober today?
If the answer is no, then there’s your challenge for the day that follows.
