| 'Recovered' is by far the most common term for the sober alcoholic in our literature, but it is far from the only one.
For many references to the alcohol/drinking obsession lifted, removed, being released from, etc - See Obsession |
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Big Book:
“We, of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and women who were once just as helpless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered. They have solved the drink problem .”
"But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours.”
“If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it , you may already be asking – ‘What do I have to do?’ "...
“Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers , depend on our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.”
“When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem [drinking] had been solved , there was nothing for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet.”
Jim the accountant, after his relapse and subsequent visit by early AA members: "But the moment I made up my mind to go through with the process, I had the curious feeling that my alcoholic condition was relieved, as in fact it proved to be."
"If that be the case [that one is an alcoholic], you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer."
"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago."
"[the book Alcoholics Anonymous] Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem [Drinking] .”
A former non-believing man in the hospital has a sudden and overwhelming spiritual experience: "Thus was our friend's cornerstone fixed in place. No later vicissitude has shaken it. His alcoholic problem was taken away."
"(b) That probably no human power could have relieved
our alcoholism."
"We will be more reconciled with discussing ourselves with another person when we see why we should do so. The best reason first: If we skip this vital step we may not overcome drinking."
"The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly."
“We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality – safe and protected [from alcohol] . We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed . It does not exist for us.”
“If he is not communicative, give him a sketch of your drinking career up to the time you quit …
“Give him an account of the struggles you made to stop [drinking] .”
“Even though your protégé may not have entirely admitted his condition, he has become very curious to know how you got well .”
“Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help.”
“For the type of alcoholic who is able and willing to get well , little charity, in the ordinary sense of the word, is needed or wanted.”
"Our activities in behalf of women who drink are on the increase. There is every evidence that women regain their health as readily as men if they try our suggestions."
"If you and your husband find a solution for the pressing problem of drink you are, of course, going to very happy."
After all, your family is reunited, alcohol is no longer a problem and you and your husband are working together toward an undreamed-of future."
“Our womenfolk have suggested certain attitudes a wife may take with the husband who is recovering .”
“The family must realize that dad, though marvelously improved, is still convalescing . They should be thankful he is sober and able to be of this world once more.”
“We know there are difficult wives and families, but the man who is getting over alcoholism must remember he did much to make them so.”
“Even if he displays a certain amount of neglect and irresponsibility towards his family, it is well to let him go as far as he likes in helping other alcoholics. During those first days of his convalescence , this will do more to insure his sobriety than anything else.”
"To get over drinking will require a transformation of thought and attitude."
“Now and then a serious drinker, being dry at the moment says, ‘I don’t miss it at all. Feel better. Work better. Having a better time.’ As ex-problem drinkers , we smile at such a sally.”
“We have shown how we got out from under .”
“But this was a man [Bill W.] who had experienced many years of frightful drinking, who had been cured by the very means I had been trying to employ, that is to say the spiritual approach…
“It is a most wonderful blessing to be relieved of the terrible curse [alcoholism] with which I was afflicted.”
12 & 12:
“ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS is a worldwide fellowship of more than one hundred thousand men and women who are banded together to solve their common problems and to help fellow sufferers in recovery from that age-old baffling malady, alcoholism.”
…At this time [1939] the recoveries numbered about one hundred… The remainder of the book [Alcoholics Anonymous] was devoted to thirty stories or case histories in which the alcoholics them selves described their drinking experiences and recoveries.”
“In A.A.’s pioneering time, none but the most desperate cases could swallow and digest the unpalatable truth. Even these ‘last-gaspers’ often had difficulty in realizing how hopeless they actually were. But a few did, and when these laid hold of A.A principles with all the fervor with which the drowning seize life preservers, they almost invariably got well .”
“‘…to get sober and stay sober , you don’t have to swallow all of Step Two right now.’”
“You may, if you wish, make A.A. itself your ‘higher power’. Here’s a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem .”
“Having been granted a perfect release from alcoholism , why then shouldn’t we be able to achieve by the same means a perfect release from every other difficult or defect?”
“This does not mean that we expect all of our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was [lifted] .”
“For example, we may set our hearts on getting a particular person sobered up …”
“The unique ability of each A.A. to identify himself with, and bring recovery to, the newcomer in no way depends on his learning, eloquence, or on any special individual skills. The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who has found a key to sobriety.”
Page 17, There is a Solution
Page 18, There is a Solution
Page 20, There is a Solution
Page 25, There is a Solution
Page 42, More About Alcoholism
Page 44, We Agnostics
Page 45, We Agnostics
Page 56, We Agnostics
Page 60, How It Works, the second pertinent idea
Page 72, Into Action, Step Five
Page 75, Into Action, Step Five
Page 85, Into Action, Step Ten
Page 91-2, Working With Others
Page 92-3, Working With Others
Page 95, Working With Others
Page 97-98, Working With Others
Page 104, To Wives
Page 117, To Wives
Page 119, To Wives
Page 122, The Family Afterward
Page 127, The Family Afterward
Page 129, The Family Afterward
Page 143, To Employers
Page 151-152, A Vision For You
Page 180, Dr, Bob’s Nightmare
Page 15, Foreword
Page 16-17, Foreword
Page 22, Step One
Page 26, Step Two
Page 27-28, Step Two
Page 64, Step Six
Page 65, Step Six
Page 111, Step Twelve
Page 151, Tradition Five