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.
All - his past week, my friend who I haven't spoken to in a year passed very suddenly from a stroke. He stood up in our wedding. We stood up in his, and shared countless other life events together. We stopped talking because he stopped going out with us. He withdrew. Bu he kept in touch and went out with all of our other friends. We couldn't figure it out.
The wife shared with me that she was in al-anon. That they had found 52 empty bottles of vodka in the basement. We do know that he donated his organs. All but his liver.
So here I am coming up on a year sober, and here he is a 1/2 hour away struggling. Before we knew this, I found comfort that on the back of the prayer card there was the Serenity prayer. It all makes sense now.
I always thought as I listened to the stories of "I could have died" that it was a bi dramatic. Now I know. It's not. His memory lives on in all that knew him, but I struggle with not knowing, not being there, and the pain he felt. I was able to make amends to him because of old resentments I had. I told his wife.
I know FOR A FACT that had it not been for this program, I would have picked up. My sponsor has been amazing, and I've been going to a lot of meetings, and of course coming here. Thanks for reading my novel.
The wife shared with me that she was in al-anon. That they had found 52 empty bottles of vodka in the basement. We do know that he donated his organs. All but his liver.
So here I am coming up on a year sober, and here he is a 1/2 hour away struggling. Before we knew this, I found comfort that on the back of the prayer card there was the Serenity prayer. It all makes sense now.
I always thought as I listened to the stories of "I could have died" that it was a bi dramatic. Now I know. It's not. His memory lives on in all that knew him, but I struggle with not knowing, not being there, and the pain he felt. I was able to make amends to him because of old resentments I had. I told his wife.
I know FOR A FACT that had it not been for this program, I would have picked up. My sponsor has been amazing, and I've been going to a lot of meetings, and of course coming here. Thanks for reading my novel.
I used to look after a guy who drank himself into a stroke early 40s and then rather than get help continued to drink his way into early onset dementia over the next 20 years.
He was definitely one of us...his care plan said "xxxxxx struggles with verbal communication but is very good at explaining what he wants by shouting, screaming, banging his walking frame, knocking cups over etc" hehe :o) It was quite sad but I got very close to him, knew where he was coming from.
Keep trucking
P
I am very sorry to hear about your friend. Please don't feel bad. Even if you knew, its hard to imagine that you could have helped in any way. After all, his wife couldn't.
One of the things I've learned over the past 2 weeks is that if you don't want to help yourself, you are helpless. I am so glad that you have continued to help yourself through this loss. It would have been easy to pick back up again but you didn't and I'm so happy for you. Its very inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
But by the grace of god go I (we).
The thing is that over time in AA we learn that if a person does not truly want to stop drinking there is little hope for him/her if they are alcoholic. They cannot be persuaded either by family or fellow alcoholics in AA. I have a friend who is suffering now who I cannot help - she doesn't want help, but she knows how to reach me - and AA.
One thing you can do is help carry the message to others who are still suffering, telephone responding and 12 Step visits are powerfully good. Being actively in service, alcoholics who have got the solution often find it helps them come to terms with feelings about the ones who didn't want help or they were unaware of, as in the situation with your friend.
Here's to another sober 24. Sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss. This is a new "sober" experience for you. Seems like you are doing well with it. "But for the grace of God go I"