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.
I keep hearing from one of the more windy members of our small group that "coerced attendance in AA" and "coerced treatment" never works. Now I hate to be one trying to argue the opposite, since I abhor coercion as a general principle. Yet I have known some in A.A. with many years of sobriety who were initially coerced into treatment and/or A.A. attendance.
There's also the famous case of former First Lady Betty Ford, wife of former President Ford who was coerced -- by a family intervention -- into treatment and the beginning of a sober life.
In my case, I would have not stayed sober this long (albeit only 4 1/2 months so far) without coerced abstinence (enforced by random urinalyses), coerced treatment, and coerced attendance at AA or other sober support groups. Soon after my DUI 4 1/2 months ago, I had planned to go back to drinking under strict Moderation Management guidelines (despite the fact that many attempts at controlled or moderated drinking had failed, albeit without any serious negative consequence until this (first) DUI).
(On the other hand, I previously had nearly 12 years of NON-coerced sobriety ending in March 2006).
Anyway, now that I am networked into some AA groups and a non-AA sober support group, and have nearly 4 1/2 months of sobriety, I do not plan on casually throwing my sobriety away. Plus I have sampled sober living for several months and found that while it isn't any paradise, it really is better than the un-sober living I did before. And that I perform as well socially without small amounts of alcohol (and a lot better than when I had a lot of alcohol).
All the above only because of coercion, as much as I hated the coercion.
I worry that those that say that coerced attendance at A.A. and/or coerced treatment "never works" are telling us coercees that we don't take you or your sobriety seriously, you will soon relapse, only people who walked into the door on their own free will have any chance to succeed.
Besides the example of Betty Ford, what other examples or statistics where a coerced beginning has led to successful long-term abstinence? I thought maybe Kitty Dukakis, but I don't think there was an intervention or other coercion there.
Thanks,
Jumiee
There's also the famous case of former First Lady Betty Ford, wife of former President Ford who was coerced -- by a family intervention -- into treatment and the beginning of a sober life.
In my case, I would have not stayed sober this long (albeit only 4 1/2 months so far) without coerced abstinence (enforced by random urinalyses), coerced treatment, and coerced attendance at AA or other sober support groups. Soon after my DUI 4 1/2 months ago, I had planned to go back to drinking under strict Moderation Management guidelines (despite the fact that many attempts at controlled or moderated drinking had failed, albeit without any serious negative consequence until this (first) DUI).
(On the other hand, I previously had nearly 12 years of NON-coerced sobriety ending in March 2006).
Anyway, now that I am networked into some AA groups and a non-AA sober support group, and have nearly 4 1/2 months of sobriety, I do not plan on casually throwing my sobriety away. Plus I have sampled sober living for several months and found that while it isn't any paradise, it really is better than the un-sober living I did before. And that I perform as well socially without small amounts of alcohol (and a lot better than when I had a lot of alcohol).
All the above only because of coercion, as much as I hated the coercion.
I worry that those that say that coerced attendance at A.A. and/or coerced treatment "never works" are telling us coercees that we don't take you or your sobriety seriously, you will soon relapse, only people who walked into the door on their own free will have any chance to succeed.
Besides the example of Betty Ford, what other examples or statistics where a coerced beginning has led to successful long-term abstinence? I thought maybe Kitty Dukakis, but I don't think there was an intervention or other coercion there.
Thanks,
Jumiee
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
I'm not speaking for myself, but I have heard of many recovering alcoholics who came for the wrong reason and stayed for the right reason. The wrong reason being to get the spouse off your back, the courts, to learn how to drink in moderation...... The right reason is to want a better life for ourselves, and a willingness to do what it takes to get it.
I used to be against the court-ordered AA attendance, but now I'm for it because sometimes that's what it takes to plant the seed. There are also many cases of the court-ordered meeting attendees not getting sober at that time, but coming at another time when they are ready. I often encourage people on this site who are unsure to go to an open AA meeting and just listen.
There it is, you now have my humble opinion.