Yes, thats the point for me. And not to assume I know what is right or best for someone else or that something that is true for me is necessarily true for them.

Out with old In with the new Is wonderful:)
Billy

I am taking that there is someone or another who is knocking people trying to get sober and that they are hopeful that it makes them feel better? am I right?

I know that is a character defect that some have had over years and years of drinking and probably back to childhood if that is the case....so best thing to do is to pray for that person...not gather a resentment about their behavior but realize they are a sic individual...

Yes

Yes in my reply #4 was in response to the OP.

C4 I agree, whatever floats your boat.

When it comes to recovery I can NOT tell you what you MUST do all I can do is share my experience, all I can tell you is what I did. My experience is all I have.

G8

For me, and I can only speak for me, this is true. I use AA and SMART recovery. I like the online sites intherooms.com for the 12step approach and smartrecovery.org for SMART recovery--an alternative to the 12 steps using a cognitive behavioral approach. The combination has worked well for me.

billwfriend, I don't think there is anyone trying to tell someone not to get sober. If there is I have never read any.

or knocking them I should say.

Yes. No method matters. What is your method Claire? Whatever time you have, congrats.

Whodathunk....this post was my reaction to all of the nit-picking on this board about who is for And against whatever method.
But since you ask......I read Allen Carr's Easyway To Stop Drinking " about 18 months ago. I had what I thought was an epiphany and quit for 6 months no sweat. Then I decided I could do moderation and be a normal drinker. Putting limits on my drinking...after 6pm, only on weekends etc etc made me insane and miserable! So I had my last drink on May 28th last year and promised myself that if I take 1 drink I will go to AA.
It has been pretty easy, I've thought about drinking a couple of times but never made a plan to actually get some and follow through. If I got to the point where I was planning it I would post on here first. I'm looking forward to my 1 year:)
Best of luck to you whatever your method.

Good for you. I stopped with the assistance of going to AA. I needed to be around others like me, and it no doubt was necessary for me to stop. I only periodically go now.

I think we all have different needs and tolerance and such different lives, that there is not only one way to get sober, but once in sobriety there is not one way to stay sober.

I applaud you and congratulate you on your sobriety. Now I just don't drink. I really think I would be in deep shit if I did drink. It is not worth the risk for me. So I just don't. I can't say that AA now keeps me sober, but it was a big part of getting me to stop.

Again, my thoughts are who cares what works for whoever. I like this forum because it is an open discussion and it is a free flowing dialogue. Sometimes there are some who will get on their high horse, but that is fine with me too. I love reading about different ways that people stop drinking, and how different people maintain sobriety. I also hate to read about relapses, because it breaks my heart, but that is also a great reminder of the reality of what alcohol can do to some of us. So, I like reading it all, as long as it is all honest and about the individual.

Keep on keeping on Claire. Congrats on where you are, how you got there, and however you will stay sober. :)

All we can do is say what has worked for us. But I do have a problem with others constantly degrading other methods of recovery, specifically degrading AA, when someone else here has said they believe they have found their niche, so to speak.

Why is it such a big deal with other people that someone else gets warm and fuzzy over AA?

Maybe it is just my God, or my Higher Power, giving me practice in acceptance, patience and tolerance.

If someone were to come to me for help or ask me how I did it, I will tell them. I will not force my will on them to do it my way. I do get upset when certain recovery methods are mentioned that tell the alcoholic that by using their method the alcoholic can drink safely again. I hate to see a true alcoholic die because of this. Only a problem drinker, not quite past that line of alcoholism could use that method.

I got sober on June 10, 1982 by going through the doors of AA for the third time. So Claired4 --- however you got sober and however you stay sober is up to you. As we say in AA ==== It if works ... Don't Fix it. But if it is broken or not working, AA has a tool for most fixes. AA is like an adjustable wrench --- It will fit any Nut.

Claire -- I love that you used Allen Carr's book, "The Easy Way to Stop Drinking." I used it too. It amazes that a book like that can help shift your thinking. Willpower? Not needed.

Always glad when you are here... and I will be sure to give you congrats on your one year soberversity.