What is Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a powerful craving for alcohol which often results in the compulsive consumption of alcohol, an addiction. The cause of this craving is heavily debated, but the most ...
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My AA Meeting Experience Tonight
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I woke up this morning and immediately had a feeling of something wasn't right. I prayed, came on here and the feeling just wouldn't go away. Was it anxiety or my depression? I just don't know. I hadn't been to an AA meeting for over a week and the All Women's one for two weeks. Even though I am not completely well, I felt the need to go. I tried to get a ride (we don't have enough money for gas right now) for the noon meeting. I called 3 women for the All Women's Night Meeting....no one had called back. About 2 hours before the night meeting I got through to one of the women. She is 8 1/2 months pregnant. Bless her heart she picked me up and took me. It was what I needed. Why I asked? I am a people person and I feel I just needed the visual and physical connection. Also, the formality of an AA meeting. Yes, this is a support group which is different. AA Meetings do have some so called standards/rules. Yes, the only requirement is that you want to stop drinking, but nothing else. Yes, at our meetings there are others with other addictions but they all have the addiction to alcohol and want to stop drinking. I think almost ANY alcoholic has other addictions. I know I do! We are addicts aren't we? Well, for me the formality as little as it is, the comrodery, the encouragement, the joyfulness that I was there was exactly what I needed today. The bad feeling is gone for now. I made it through another day....ONE DAY AT A TIME for I can not change yesterday and I can not control tomorrow. I can only live in the now. Thank you all for listening. Have a blessed and restful evening.
Posted on 11/03/09, 09:11 pm |
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Yes Cindy, I agree...I have only used wine for the past 2 or 3 years in an addictive way...but I know I had other addictions before that time. Many were "healthy" addictions, such as school, reading, childrearing, work, writing, etc.
Some were not so healthy, such as my bulemia in the 80's, my first depression in 2000 which began my self medicating with wine...the first was not so intrusive...but the one that started in 2007 totally took me down for the count...the count of death. It is called transferring one's addictions...some can be helpful in the pursuit of a wonderful and fulfilling life and many are a hinderance to life...just be aware...and my advice would be to chose your addictions carefully at this time till you can be free of the need of them/it. Well, if you have a choice in the matter...I'm not sure if I did ever have a choice. 
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Great that someone (even 8 1/2 months preggers) cared enough about staying sober to give you a ride at the last minute. speaks very well of that person.
did you give them the courtesy of setting up in advance your next ride to a meeting? going to commitment meetings on a regular basis helps to avoid the emotions you described, and puts you in a meeting when you don't want to be, which is where you need to be at that point. a regular scheduled ride is easier on the member, and saves you the last minute scramble to find someone at home.
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For myself, I've always found meeting to be crucial in my ability to not isolate or vegetate in my own little world. I'm so happy for your follow through attitude; I go to to meetings because I want to......
Billy
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I have been where you are and it got me drunk. I used the power of just the meetings to keep me sober but failed to do any thing else and it got me drunk. I never treated the spiritual malady that all alcoholics have and thats why I would drink over and over again. Back in 2001 when I came back to AA I was eventually rescued and given a sponsor who was kind enough to take me thru the 12 steps so I would no longer have to be meeting dependent or ppl dependent but god dependent. That was 8 yrs ago and I havent had to struggle on this path cept when I try and put my dependence on me or others to fix what clearly only god and the 12 steps can. I would say I wish you luck but that would be a diservice to the gift I have been given in AA by going thru the steps and being a sponsor. So where are you at in AA do you have a sponsor and are you doing the steps? If not my question would be if your alcoholic why would you risk going bakc to the hell drinking will bring by not doing the steps?
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WOW! I was so smiling as I read your post Cindy....until I got to Phil's response. So he can't wish you luck if you're not doing the steps because that would be a disservice? Jesus Christ Phil-1st off she didn't even say she wasn't doing the steps and she may not have a sponsor YET.
It doesn't mean she's not planning on getting one. Her profile says she's been sober 18 days! I grabbed the first sponsor I could early on and it didn't suit, took a little time to find a good match. 2nd-It sickens me to read that comment "I would say I wish you luck but that would be a diservice". Although the steps have changed my life 1000% for the better & I would encourage everyone to do them, if someone else is attempting to not drink & doesn't do the steps or hasn't YET, I STILL WISH YOU LUCK in your endeavors!! Rock on Cindy-Your post made me smile. I'm sorry that I ruined it by pointing out the negativety.... Seriously, you can't wish someone well who doesn't agree with you?? WTF? That is disturbing on so many levels...I am just.....wow....and she didn't even say she wasn't planning on working the steps even..unbelievable. I must go pray, :) I'm flabbergasted really, I had to read that 4 times cause I thought surely I misunderstood..... Okay time to shake it offf....... I WISH EVERYONE WELL TODAY WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING THE STEPS OR NOT!!!!!!! BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WANTING TO GET SOBER TO WORK THE STEPS, THEY'VE SAVED MY LIFE!
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no offense Hc but i have seen to many new commers die for the just dont drink and your a winner crap that some in AA offer. For the real alcoholic this is a life or death proprosistion and if you cant see that i feel sorry for you. And one more thing HC if what i said disturbs you you need to look into your self rather than saying im wrong this is how I do my 12th step work you do yours your way ok god bless.
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thanks for the good luck wishes, HC.
I'd be surprised if anyone here was wishing bad luck towards anyone else. Can we assume that we are all at minimum neutral, luck-wishing-wise? surely we don't need to get into a pro/anti lady luck discussion. Though it's good that She has followers, personally I'm in the non-believer camp. that would save a lot of time, better used in talking about a solution to alcoholism.
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When a friend is in the hospital, I will visit and/or send cards and flowers to cheer them up. But under no circumstances is this intended to replace the medical attention they're getting, and if a doctor or a nurse comes into the room while I'm there, I shut up and get out of their way while they administer whatever treatment my friend might need.
I hope this is a fair anaolgy. The sort of mutual cheerleading we give each other here on DS is very nice, but last I heard, Medicare isn't picking up the tab for cards & flowers.
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why Nemorino sir, I not only think that was a simple analogy but I agree wholeheartedly. Hell, I had to get out of my own way, lol!
Maybe one could look at it from another perspective. Luck, in my limited experience, I know today, had nothing to do with my sobriety and quality of life. Divine intervention, however, did. Even when I didn't realize that's what it was. All it took was me stickin' around and becoming willing to do the work.
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you know whats sad about the comment from HC my comment wasnt directed toward her or abusive toward the chatter who posted this post. My comment was based upon my exp of not doing whats reuired in aa and nearly dying from it. The last part of my comment on the post was what in my exp of being a sponsor what a sponsor would ask a new person or a recovered alcoholic would ask a new person in distress. Whats funny about the whole comment from HC that Cindy the gal who posted this actually message me saying I made her smile and told me where she is in the steps and the solution she used to get thru this situation. And for that cindy I say you go girl keep up the good work living the steps.
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