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 have decided as of today I am not going to drink anymore. I got sober once before with the help of AA but gave up on that a while ago. I think the difference this time is that I actually want to give up (today anyway) whereas last time I felt like I should give up so maybe it wil be different this time? Kind of feel ready to be myself now whereas I don't think I was before. Was thinking of going to a meeting today but it is a 45 minute walk and I am not even sure if it will b onas it is xmas. Then going away tomorrow so won't manage to get to a meeting until new years day if thats the way I decide to go. Anyway not ready to share this in the real world yet so thought I would share it here instead, thanks for reading!
I am glad to see that youre on the way back and wish you all the best. Having spent a good part of yesterday and a good part of early Christmas morning witnessing first-hand the terrible destruction that drinking can cause to another person, I am reminded that although those things never happened to me, I am never more than one drink away from that total mayhem.
Hindsight is great and I know that if I was doing it again many things would be different. However, when I went to those first meetings pride was a huge stumbling block. Dont let it be like that for you as this is literally a matter of life or death. Most meetings are on as normal through the Christmas period and indeed there are often extra meetings held in many areas. If youre going away for a few days why not go to meetings in that place.
I am glad that you have decided that today is the day and not tomorrow. People with alcohol trouble are always going to do something about it tomorrow, but of course tomorrow never comes. My suggestion to you is to take it further than just going to meetings this time and make the necessary changes in your life through the Steps, with the aid of a sponsor.
I am an executive, I've got a big muckety muck career, etc and had to humble myself and yes, see people who were in my community at AA. But guess what??? They are there for the same reason:-)
My pride had kept me drunk. Acceptance helps keep me sober!
I am an executive, I've got a big muckety muck career, etc and had to humble myself and yes, see people who were in my community at AA. But guess what??? They are there for the same reason:-)
My pride had kept me drunk. Acceptance helps keep me sober!
After a few years of not drinking I sometimes find it hard to remember just how bad it was. One thing I would do if I was starting off again is write down all of the trouble that drinking had caused for me, and if I am honest there was plenty.
The illness of alcoholism is quite strange as it allows the mind to play tricks. That is why I sometimes start to think that maybe it was not really that bad and that is one step away from just for today, I could have a few drinks. The reality is that no matter how many days pass, one drink will bring me right back to where I was when I stopped, but with the added bonus that it gets worse with age.
It took a good while for me to admit that this was the new reality but after a while, admitting it became easy enough. Acceptance of that reality was an entirely different matter and that took a whole lot of time and the shedding of a bucket-full of self-pity. What I have observed at AA meetings since then is that people who cannot find that acceptance continue to struggle with alcoholism, even if they do manage to stop drinking.
Like you, I would regard myself as being quite a determined person but where alcoholism is concerned, my determination was about as useful as a candle on a motorbike. In the case of alcoholism, it is only by admitting defeat that you can rejoice in victory, one day at a time. Sadly, I have witnessed the horrible truth of that reality in someone elses life over the last couple of days, and that is the greatest reminder that I could have that alcoholism does not go away.
How privileged we are to understand so well the divine paradox that strength rises from weakness, that humiliation goes before resurrection; that pain is not only the price but the very touchstone
of spiritual rebirth.
Knowing it's full worth and purpose, we can no longer fear adversity, we have found prosperity where there was poverty, peace and joy have
sprung out of the very midst of chaos. Great indeed, our blessings!
And so,
~ Merry Christmas to you all ~
from the Trustees, from Bobbie and from Lois and me.