Hi again, I'm delighted that you made it to the AA meeting - I remember leaving my first meeting with a feeling of hope that I might get recovery like those people had in the rooms and also a feeling that I was no longer alone in my battle with the bottle.

One of the most important things they said to me was "No matter what happens, keep coming back..."

As Rexxicus said, it is not so much about strength but persistence and keeping it in the day - just for today. Then it does not seem so mightily overwhelming at times!

The stereo type of AA members exists because young professionals and mothers and fathers keep ful-filling it by not going to meetings.
Go to several meetings. Listen to the experience of others.
When you are able, share your experience.

The fact that you can talk openly about your alcohol problem can be an incentive for others to find their solution.
Get out of yourself and help others when you can.
UNITY occurs when you go to meetings.
RECOVERY occurs when you admit you have a problem and can not do it on your own.
SERVICE occurs by helping others, being honest and trying to do the next right thing.

My recovery got easier when it stopped being me me me, and became we.

my prayers go out for you and your family,

GP Bob

Hello there,i first went to aa because i thought it could somehow help me control my drinking.ive come to believe that for an alcoholic its impossible to control our drinking.everytime i take a drop if alcohol,a craving starts beyond my control and no matter where i have to be or how important the appointment i ALWAYS end up getting drunk. The only option is abstinance . And ive found that in the early days it was important to surround myself with sober friends.if ur trying not to drink and your friends all drink,im my experience, i feel im missing out n end up drunk.im sure theres loads if women that will help u on this site,but if ur stuck il try to point u in the right direction.contact me on here.good luck yeah:)

We are all here and willing to help you. The alcohol trick is to make you feel all alone in your struggle against it, but you are only alone if you CHOOSE to be. Eric

.Quoting - " I'm afraid that my husband, friends and family won't understand how hard this is. I'm afraid I won't be the same person - laughing, silly, fun, outgoing. I've been lucky that nothing has ever happened to me and I don't necessarily have a "rock bottom".

I'd say be more afraid of what is to come if you don't quit drinking. We can raise the bottom, it doesnt have to be rock bottom to know you should quit, in fact it's a great bonus to you if you haven't already lost everything and get sober. Everyone's bottom is different, comparing doesn't do us any good at all.

Congrats on your 1st meeting! Keep coming back. Being with like minded people will help you out so much. I'd also suggest getting to meetings a little early and or sticking around to chat after the meetings, this will help you get to know people better and that's how your sober friendships will form.
Best wishes!

Everything you have said. I can relate to.

I feel like your story is my story. I am the mother of 4 amazing kids too. My drinking started out like everyone else I know...partying in college, hanging out with friends etc. It has become something else altogether. There is never a switch in my head that says, "time to quit...get a glass of water." I just keep drinking.

Alcoholism runs in my family and although no one has has hit a terrible rock bottom, it has affected relationships for sure. I don't want that for my kids or my husband. I am tired of apologizing for my behavior (most of which I don't remember). I am tired of waking up in the morning filled with guilt about what I might have said or done the night before.

I don't drink every day and I don't have a 'physical dependancy on alcohol. My problem is that once I start, I can't stop. I am so used to being the "life of the party" that I am afraid of what I will be without alcohol.

I have a beautiful life in so many ways. I am blessed beyond belief. However, this problem has been nagging at me for over a year and I know it needs to be addressed. I keep thinking that I can control it, or moderate my drinking. Yeah right! NEVER happens. My husband is getting tired of having to take me home from parties early because I am starting to embarass myself or fall down or whatever. Seriously, it is ridiculous.

EVERY single one of my friends drinks. I am scared to death that I will lose them. I keep telling myself that my drinking is different from theirs. They can obviously control it. I cannot. So much of our social life revolves around alcohol. I don't even know if I can have fun without it.

I finally broke down to my husband yesterday and admitted I have a problem. He was wonderful and supportive. I think the fact that my oldest daughter is 13 is really having an effect on me. I had my first drink at 14. I want to model a life for her that doesn't have to include that.

I have never been to AA, but am considering it. My church has a meeting twice a week, but I am petrified to go. My secret will be out! I am just trying to take it one day at a time. I would love to be free of this!!

Thanks for listening. It feels good to get these feelings off my chest without judgement....

scarletabe, you sound JUST LIKE ME!!!!! EXACTLY LIKE ME!!!!!! and I understand how you feel. You are afraid of life without alcohol. Someone replied and said "be afraid if you keep alcohol in your life"- what will happen? You know inside what you have to do. I've been sober for 8 days. That first week was hard. There were cravings. I was cranky on some nights. But I replaced my evening cocktail with a seltzer or perrier with a splash of fruit juice. I attended my first AA meeting and I'm looking forward to going back. It does feel embarrassing to say that "I have a problem"; like something is wrong with you. But there is nothing wrong with US. We are alcoholics. I did find that once I actually talked to my close friends and said it outloud, it was a weight off my shoulders. I have the support and understanding of them, my husband, DS and AA. I know that I cannot have a drink. PERIOD. I have never felt better and I'm only at the beginning of my sobriety. Don't feel like your letting a secret out. It takes strength and courage to say "I have a problem." But what makes you strong is that you are doing something about it.

We are constantly surrounded by people that drink. Over the weekend we were at our close friends house who POUND. I flat out told them, I'm not drinking. My body needs a break. They respected that and the evening went on. I always had a drink in my hand, but it was seltzer. The kids and I stayed the night at their home and in the morning all the adults were hurting and I felt great. That next day I got so much accomplished and done with my children. I never would've been able to do that if I were hung over or started the day with a bloodymary.... You will be a better mother, wife, person without alcohol. You don't need it. You can still be the life of the party.

We are in this together. Make today a day you don't drink.
Look into AA meetings in your area. I would suggest it! Strongly suggest it! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Your story sounds like my story too. Today will be my first day of sobriety. I started taking Antabuse today because I just haven't been able to do it on my own. I drink a LOT and more on weekends. I don't visit my family or invite them over because they worry a lot about my drinking and I don't want to feel like it's an "intervention" everytime Im around them. My brother was an alcoholic and died at 30...that's how old I am now and I'm tired of living like this. Best wishes to you on your sobriety!

It's nice to see an update from you.

I'm new too and was at a men's meeting the other day. In the room sat a number of very successful local business owners, Wall Street guys, blue collar, retirees and a few guys just out of college.

When you're having a seltzer and everyone is pounding, the perspective changes, doesn't it. While at the men's meeting I thought of the visual of all the people in the room being even slightly drunk and getting behind the wheel. Talk about us alcoholics being a selfish bunch of well....

As a friend of mine once said, "if there aren't a lot of alcoholics at that cocktail party, there sure is a lot of alcoholic behavior". I asked what he meant by that - his answer "having 5-6 drinks and putting your keys in the ignition is alcoholic".

Do not use the excuse'' I don't know where A.A. meetings are ! You call the churches in your neighborhood, and find out where A.A. is! You sound like my sister, 14 years ago! The only reason she got help is because her husband told her if she did not go to A.A., he was kicking her out of the house, and he will get custody of the children....Do not let this happen to you, you are going that way....You will have to change EVERYTHING in your life, and that means changing your ''friends''. My sister has been clean and sober for 14 years now! A.A. saved her life. My sister started drinking at the age of 10 years old, by the age of 13, she was drinking every single day. By the time she was 20, she was a ''funtional alcoholic''. One is too many, and 12 is never enough. Do not let ''the drink'' take everything away from you. No one can change your situation but you. Please, get help! People in A.A. will help you. If they saved my sister's life, they can save yours too. But, you have to want to be saved.

I forgot to add that by the time my sister got into A.A., she was drinking 3, yes, three! cases a night of beer when her husband went to bed!!! She was 89 pounds and did not eat, just drank. She is 5' 1 inch tall!Yet, she was a mother, and held down a full time job! That's what I meant by ''funtional'' alcoholic, and you probably are too. You also need to see a therapist. There is a reason you are an alcoholic.