Alcoholism Support Group

Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.

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candilion
candilion
Tomorrow will be my quit day...and there is an AA meeting on Thursday evening that I would like to go to.

But I'm afraid....

I've never been one to care much about what people think of me. But I am very proud of my career success and do not want that to be hindered by someone from work seeing me there and changing others views of me.

I'm afraid of what the meetings are like. I don't want to listen to sob stories for hours. I want a group that is focused on the solution and not the problem.

I'm afraid that there won't be any help for me and then I won't have any other ideas of how to quit.

I don't know if I can go....but I need to. I want to quit more than anything and can't myself.

I would love some words of encouragement, or stories of what anyone's first meeting was like (even if it was bad?)

I can't do this alone and I'm so afraid.
stickywick
stickywick
So glad you went. I totally relate and remember that early sobriety fatigue. its exhausting. the good news is we do recover, and its progressive just like the disease. It gets better a day at a time!
Are you going to a meeting today? You should:)
forestfreek
forestfreek
Glad you had a good experience, candilion:))
I can't say enough good things about the women's group in my area. God, I LOVED that group of women and although I am not a fan of AA for myself I do have to admit that I find myself thinking about going Friday nights just to attend that one meeting.
If it works for you, keep doing it.
candilion
candilion
I'm planning on going to another meeting today. I heard something about 90 in 90 days....there is no way I could manage that with my schedule but now that I went to the first one I am less nervous to go (but still a little nervous).

I look forward to seeing what the different meetings are about and how things work. I'd like to make some friends that don't drink.
MissRascal
MissRascal
I LOVE AA. I LOVE IT. There is hope for a cure to your disease. It is treatment if you follow the steps. If you get your sponsor. If you do the work. You absolutely can get free of the disease of Alcoholism. Find the Book online. There are many sites that offer it for free to read online. I hope you went to the meeting. I have made great friends and I was super lonely and depressed. Now, I'm so much better. :)
stickywick
stickywick
90 meetings in 90 days. I would have said no way too but.....my sponsor reminded me I drank daily. So I did it. And if I can; anyone can. I have three little kids; a full time full on career; and blah blah blah. Still I went to a meeting every day; sometimes at 6.30 AM; sometimes at 9.30 PM for years. I traveled and found meetings where I was so that wasnt even an excuse. It laid out a really solid foundation. Today I'm celebrating 5 years sober. It has been an amazing ride; a day at a time. the biggest lesson was to say YES when I wanted to say no; and to keep an open mind. Really -- not just on certain things. Everything else works out.
parthgalen
parthgalen
Way to go Candilion and Miss Rascal. BTW, there are also AA meetings by phone and online, so it is possible to do a 90 in 90 without leaving your house for every one of those 90 meetings.
You will know instinctively what you need and I know that for me personally, long term sobriety and happiness lies in working thru the 12 steps, especially working thru my fears. That is a HUGE barrier for me to work through. I keep coming here and I love hearing from so many people and sharing our hopes, experiences, fears and accomplishments and JOYS! Much love, PG
msmermaid
msmermaid
i totally agree with sticky. When you don't want to go is probably when i need it tge most.
jeffneedshelp
jeffneedshelp
Candi,

I'm catching up on your story. I'm glad you went to AA. Yes the laughter is real. The warmth is real. The friendships are real. I've never met so many great people in my life than at AA. I don't spend time with them, or socialize outside of meetings, but when I'm there, I feel a connection with them, as if they are friends since childhood.

I'm grateful for AA. I wish you well.
jamesross
jamesross
Man, talk about an overactive mind... Actually your mind is just going through all the same things that we all have experienced. It's your disease that's trying to sabotage recovery. That fear that's creating "Boogie men" to scare you off. Just go! You just might find that recovery your looking for.
I found that most people are there for their own recovery, and their not going to be so centered around you. It's an anonymous group where it's pretty well understood that we keep each others anonyminity. It's also mentioned in every meeting.
Even if you were to meet someone you know there, I'm sure that they also wouldn't want you saying anything about them. I often hear in meetings others talking about this same fear, but it's funny because while we were drinking we didn't care who knew most times. 9 times out of 10, people just knew anyway. We think we can hide our drinking from anyone, because we are just so smart, but the reality is people often know anyway. It's very hard to hide alcoholism. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. Just go!
Wish you all the best. James