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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Can You relate...if you do please talk to me

deleted_user
deleted_user
I got sober when I was 17. I am now 38. I am dealing with other issues and meetings don't seem to help me anymore. I am dually diagnosed and just don't feel like I fit in in AA. Haven't felt like I belonged since my diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and PTSD when I was 5 years sober. I feel like I am different, an outsider. I feel like AA is very closed-minded when it comes to problems other than alcohol. Bill W. himself suffered from depression. He tried LSD to treat it. Now if you take meds, you are not considered sober. So, where is somebody like me supposed to go? I can't talk in AA because what I am dealing with is not AA related. I feel like I don't want to go to meetings anymore and this scares me. I don't want to drink, I do not have the desire to drink but someone like me (dually diagnosed) is not accepted by AA.(because I take meds.)and have problems other than alcohol. It talks about people like me in "How it Works" ...people who suffer from grave mental and emotional disorders who have the capacity to stay sober if they are constitutionally capable of being honest with themselves. I sat in an AA meeting one night and the topic of meds came up (which never should have been brought up because of the controversy) and I sat there while people with supposedly long term sobriety and "recovery" pontificated about how people on meds were not sober. Why would I want to associate myself with a place like that. The majority of the people there were saying how meds were wrong. In my 20 years of sobriety I can not tell you how many times I have heard this and I am sick of it. Ah, hell I just don't know anymore. If I do go to meetings I have to keep part of myself secret and then I do not feel I am being true to myself. I cannot talk about my alcoholism without talking about my mental illness (I am dually diagnosed...they are connected). This brings me much sadness and depression. I feel isolated in AA. I have been to dual-diagnosis meetings but they are hours away and at odd times of the day. So, where am I supposed to go?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know what you're saying and I don't see the communities as "just for alcoholics" or "just for cancer survivors" its JUST FOR DAILY SUPPORT. Somedays you cheer me up, somedays I cheer you up. Nobody really knows exactly what anybody has gone through, just enough to know when to come here.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Im gonna make a suggestion, that may be met with critisim, but Ill do it anyway. Find a church. The only person through whom you will be able to feel completely accepted, and able to hold nothing back with, is Christ. You will find support and fellowship with all sorts of people who are living life with ALL things considered not just one or another.

If you need meds for an illness, then why are you not considered sober? One of the things I have discovered with alcoholism, is that I use alcohol as an escape clause, or a running away mechanism. Im not treating anything, just short term escaping from it. Meds for an illness is treating it, so to my mind it has nothing to do with sobriety. Just my take, which I daresay some of the long term AA'ers may diagree with. In contrast, when I first began recovery I took a med that was basically amphetamine based, it put me on a "high" and the pharmacuetical value for "treatment" of anything was zilch. So I wasn't sober - I was replacing one escape mechanism with another - but to be on meds for treatment purposes has to be considered differently - doesn't it?

I find it all very odd.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have heard the same thing in meetings since I'm dually diagnosed myself. I don't pay attention to the people who say that. My sponsor is a pharmacist and he says that it's a good thing that I'm taking meds because I couldn't stay sober otherwise. He takes an antidepressant himself. Yes, this is a controversial topic,but I'm much better off by being on meds.
deleted_user
deleted_user
AA as far as I am aware is the desire not to drink, not the desire to mess your brain up by NOT taking described meds. Those in the AA who think otherwise, need to visit there doctor as soon as possible, as they are in need of serious help.

In London, there are AA meetings for people with dual diagnosis problems, but I do not know of any in other parts of the country.

I am dual myself I am not afraid to talk about it in meetings and I do not see why you should be, it is not a part of the AA and any member that thinks it is should pop off to america, where they provide therapy to wean you of the AA
deleted_user
deleted_user
I sure can relate. I to am bipolar and an alcoholic as well. I am 10 months sober but i was diagnosed with bipolar three years ago. I think they defiantly go hand and hand. I have not come across the negativism quite that pronounced though. I talk with a lot of women who are on meds and there has never been an issue. Do you live in a place where you can go to different meetings? Sounds like a bunch of old timers with closed minds. God knows I have come across those. I wish you were not feeling so isolated. That makes it easier to drift. I know I am pretty new but I defiantly relate. It took me a little time to talk about it until I heard other women talking about it. Being dual-diagnosis is difficult and a lot of people don't get it. I do. Hang in there. If you ever need anyone I am here.
jimmysquirrel
jimmysquirrel
who told you that if you take prescribed medications that you aren't sober?!?!?! That is dead wrong. If you abuse those medications, then no you aren't, but if you take them as prescribed, then you are still as clean and sober as any oher person. And the person that tells you different is full of shit.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think you're sober. I don't care what a lot of people in A.A. say about meds.. They aren't doctors. I'm there to carry the message that there is a solution to alcoholism... That is my primary purpose... If your problem is being bipolar how can A.A. help you? This is ds so u can talk about whatever the hell u want. When I am in a meeting I don't need to hear about bipolar disorder. I need to hear about the solution to my alcohlism problem and be there for others like myself.
deleted_user
deleted_user
There's meetings with names like double trouble. It for people who are alsoholic AND have other mental or emotional disorders. Go to your nearest AA CLUBHOUSE and there should be fliers. Same program but for people just like you. Seek out your fellowship of like minded people. That way you'll be home.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you're not being real about yourself due to fear of being judged, then you're robbing other people of their experience. You may be able to connect with someone who is just like you. I know plenty of bipolar people in AA. They need their med's, period. Screw what other people think of you. Are you sober for them? NO! Judge not therefore ye not be judged. I look at people who judge as sick(what the book says)because my book says my primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. If I'm doing those 2 things, I'm doing God's will.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Can't really comment on the AA experience since I've only attended one meeting but I understand the dual diagnosis and will say I'd wouldn't be able to cope or hold a job without my medications for Bipolar. Guess in your situation I'd keep quiet too. Mayhaps you can find an AA member or two that you think might be OK with the medication thing and talk with them outside meetings about this? They might have suggestions or just support you on the dual diagnosis thing (just thinking out loud, LOL). I am increasingly convinced that drinking is often a form of self-medication for the mentally ill. Doesn't mean I'm not an alcoholic, just that the Bipolar makes me that much more susceptible to being one -sigh. Good luck finding a way to deal with this.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Well, I am new to this but I think maybe you should stick with the A.A. meetings for the help that you get regarding sobriety and come back to DS for anything else.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sounds to me like you need to find another meeting.Alcoholism is a disease of the body and the mind and of the spirit.When have you been to a meeting that doesn't talk about God.Thats not in the big book but is discussed at length.There are narrow minded people in all walks of life and until someone sheds some light on the disfunction the longer and stronger it will grow. Been sober 23 years myself and in that time meetings have changed to stay up with the times. The principles have stayed the same but the message has to relate to everyone.I am also a heart transplant patient and I'm sure I take some drugs that wouldn't pass muster.So what. I'm alive and if "they" don't like it thats their problem.Deal with what you have to deal with and tell "them" it's what you have to do to survive.You don't need anyones approval to live.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I cant believe what I am hearing! I think its horrible what is being done to you. I have been in aa for 9 months,and have taken meds every one of those days, and I do consider myself sober. That is such BS. I take meds for high bld pressure and pain meds for nurve damage coused by my drinking. I think I am just as sober as the next guy in there. I really wish you luck in finding just the perfect meeting, were you can be yourself and discuss your problems openly.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i understand what you are saying. have you ever gone to na? i have found that i can share almost anything. but remember, everything is not for the rooms. are you in therapy for the depression? if you know that the meds are for medical treatment and you aren't abusing them don't worry what they say. only can decide if you are truly sober. i'm 53 so i don't think there are a whole lot of alcoholics in the rooms who haven't done other things. sometimes when i share i just say drinking regardless if it's drugs or drink. and in the end you are there for you. they can't kick you out. and if they are that intolerant maybe try other meetings if possible. usually when i feel detached from the meetings its me and not the meetings. but i also understand the issue. i've been sober 21yrs and sometimes just can't deal with the meetings either. be careful not to stray to far. this disease is cunning, baffling, and powerful!!!!
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