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.
HI, I am in AA and have been sober 7 years. I was also sober from 1987 to about 2002. Anyway, I went to a severely traumatic drug and alcohol rehab in '86. It completely f....ed my mind, I came out of there and had a mental breakdown.
I'd been destroyed and condemned by a group of people in rehab - well, just a few people in particular. Then, I had to rejoin AA. It was so incredibly hard. After rehab, I had a kind of paranoid psychosis.(I was diagnosed as schizo affective)
So, I stuck it out in AA for 8 years after rehab, but my state of mind was very bad. I thought the people in AA were out to control me, attack and criticise. By the way, I thought exactly the same way about higher power.
I left AA, to cut a long story short, I ended up drinking again.
Been back 7 years, still quite paranoid. Thinking people would judge me, given half the chance.
Well, tonight I was in a meeting, and I felt like people were friendly and supportive. I thought 'if I drank again, and came back here and was 2 days sober - I think these people would be supportive'. This is a huge change from my usual outlook.
So, I'm becoming less and less paranoid and defensive. I'm not saying all people in the meetings are sweetness and light - but on the whole, it's a place of friendly support. In the last 7 years I've made a few friends in the fellowship, and that really helps too.
I just wanted to say what a relief it is, to feel my mental state getting better!!!!
I'd been destroyed and condemned by a group of people in rehab - well, just a few people in particular. Then, I had to rejoin AA. It was so incredibly hard. After rehab, I had a kind of paranoid psychosis.(I was diagnosed as schizo affective)
So, I stuck it out in AA for 8 years after rehab, but my state of mind was very bad. I thought the people in AA were out to control me, attack and criticise. By the way, I thought exactly the same way about higher power.
I left AA, to cut a long story short, I ended up drinking again.
Been back 7 years, still quite paranoid. Thinking people would judge me, given half the chance.
Well, tonight I was in a meeting, and I felt like people were friendly and supportive. I thought 'if I drank again, and came back here and was 2 days sober - I think these people would be supportive'. This is a huge change from my usual outlook.
So, I'm becoming less and less paranoid and defensive. I'm not saying all people in the meetings are sweetness and light - but on the whole, it's a place of friendly support. In the last 7 years I've made a few friends in the fellowship, and that really helps too.
I just wanted to say what a relief it is, to feel my mental state getting better!!!!
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Dick Van Dyke’s path to sobriety was a turning point in his life and career. Here’s what happened:How He Got SoberStruggles and Realization: Van Dyke began drinking as a teenager, largely to cope with shyness and social anxiety. Alcohol made him feel more comfortable in social settings, but over time, his drinking spiraled out of control. By his mid-40s, he recognized that he had an addictive...
I was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety disorder since before I ever picked up a drink but AA brought me more healing than any drug or counselling did - and latterly, rehab.
My rehab experience was okay compared to yours but I was pointed back to AA at the end of it by the centre that I went to.
Years on I am still well enough to be enjoying the journey and yes, the friendship, genuine care and concern one to one is very valuable.
You are right in that all people in meetings aren't all sweetness and light. There are some sober, yet still quite sick, people in the rooms. But in general I find most meetings are like you described - supportive, welcoming and understand what the newcomer feels like.And friendships in the fellowship are important, as are the ones who aren't in the fellowship - balance :)
Give it up, to some HP and get on with living!!!
I will pray for you to get well
1is2
P