Recovered or Recovering?

When I was writing my book Under Construction, I asked for several people if they would give me a quote for the book. After I got these I asked “How would you like to the quote signed?” For example, Rick H., recovering alcoholic?  Everyone said that would be fine; except one. He said, please add after my name--recovered alcoholic. 

I really wanted the naming convention to be consistent so we decided we would use the format- Rick H- April/3/90 (sobriety date). However, this discussion, like many I had writing my book, led me to research the topic at hand.

First to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous;

This is the Foreword as it appeared in the first
printing of the first edition in 1939.

E, OF Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the alcoholic. Many do not comprehend that the alcoholic is a very sick person. And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.

So no question there –it says recovered- however it specifically says, recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body.

Then I did a little research on the internet and found one person’s opinion was that we have recovered when the obsession and compulsion to drink is lifted as a result of working the program. Lots of other opinions on the topic, for example many people explained, "I’m an alcoholic, always will be,  and will be in recovery from this disease until the day I die."

I just find it really interesting. Although it says in the Big Book, “recovered alcoholics”, I don’t ever recall anyone announcing their names like, “I’m Rick H. recovered alcoholic”.  Personally, I don’t think I would ever be comfortable saying that or writing that I am recovered- I just think of my journey as continual recovery from the disease of alcohol- first the drinking part and forever in recovery from the thinking part. Rick H.-recovering alcoholic, is a reminder that I need to continue to treat my disease.

Certainly I don’t think anyone is suggesting being recovered means we can ever drink normally again; but it must mean something different than we are recovering. 

But I want to hear what others think about this.

Are we recovered after some time in the program? After some event or change? Or are we a recovering person until we die?

Should there be a  difference how we announce ourselves at a meeting than how we describe ourselves to people outside the program?