When I drink I make questionable decisions. Actually, that’s a lie. I make bad decisions. 

But my addict brain tells me drinking is not my problem. My problem is gambling. Therefore, I can drink just as long as I don’t gamble. Sounds logical, right?

Wrong. 

Here’s the huge problem with that faulty thinking. As I said, when I drink I quickly start making bad decisions. Eventually one of those bad decisions will be to gamble. Maybe not right away, but I’m barely strong enough with a clear head to resist temptations to gamble. Cloud my head with alcohol and that will send me over the edge. I’ll end up putting money down on something. I won’t even think twice about it. Depending upon how drunk I am, I may even think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

Then. My friend. It’s game over. Down the tubes I’ll go. Again. And this time it will be worse than ever before. The progressive nature of the illness makes certain of that. It’s doubtful I’d survive. 

A friend in recovery is fond of saying he has another relapse in him but not another recovery. No doubt. 

It may sound extreme and overly-dramatic to say that if I have a beer I’ll wind up dead in a week but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility. 

So that’s why I can’t drink. I won’t drink. I choose life. 

Thanks for reading and God bless.