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 there.
Here's an essay I wrote for Queer Mental Health about how and why I left AA and how I've stayed sober since. Hope you find it interesting:
http://queermentalhealth.org/narrative/my-experience-with-leaving-aa-and-successfully-staying-sober/
Are all of you in AA or have some of you found that's not the right path? What works for you?
For me, after detox, outpatient rehab, AA and dual diagnosis outpatient, I'm finding cannabis harm reduction, willpower and spirituality to be my most effective weapons against alcoholism. I have 1.73 years and feel very strong in my sobriety. Recovery is possible. There are may paths to it.
Here's an essay I wrote for Queer Mental Health about how and why I left AA and how I've stayed sober since. Hope you find it interesting:
http://queermentalhealth.org/narrative/my-experience-with-leaving-aa-and-successfully-staying-sober/
Are all of you in AA or have some of you found that's not the right path? What works for you?
For me, after detox, outpatient rehab, AA and dual diagnosis outpatient, I'm finding cannabis harm reduction, willpower and spirituality to be my most effective weapons against alcoholism. I have 1.73 years and feel very strong in my sobriety. Recovery is possible. There are may paths to it.
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So mad at Xfinity! They're trying to charge me $115 per month for the same service I had been paying $50 the last four years. I took the equipment to UPS for shipping and cancelled my subscription today! Next door was a cookie shop called Crumbl. I had heard of it before but never went in until today. I don't need one more sugar fix, but maybe it will help with my sad) grieving heart....$15...
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I know this is stupid, but after not being able to find a job after graduation for almost two years, I ended up just taking an online teaching job because I couldn't find anything in my field. I was trying to get out of teaching and I feel so devastated. I felt this crushing feeling when I signed the paperwork and when I was in the meetings. I know that sounds so dramatic but it is how I felt. It...
You've made AA into a religion (quotes from the Big Book, etc.), and need a higher power to guide you. What's that all about?
Take personal responsibility, and if you are helped by an organization like AA, that's a good thing. But, PLEASE, don't lay your trip on someone who doesn't agree with you.
Stay sober, and leave others to do as they need to do.
K?
I think that whatever keeps someone sober is the ticket that I will vote for president in my life...I do attend AA but I do not practice it the way many many many men I attend with suggest....I prefer to go to segregated meetings where my own lust does not interfere with the messages of how to recover....so I go to mens meetings....
on the topic of MJ....I just cannot ever use it again....I was highly addicted to it and it caused me nervous breakdown after nervous breakdown....hallucinations and delusions when I smoked pot were common....so I believe that to harm me....if it helps someone else I know it can do that...it helped me for years as I tried to escape life....but then it took its own little twist for me and I was forced to stop or remain a crazy person....I suffer from schizophrenia when I smoke pot and that to me is so seriously desired to be avoided that I would probably drink before I would accept a joint or bong hit...
that is my story...not same for anyone else...so the story could be that it helps you....I just choose different and directly opposite...
anyway the group here sort of does lean toward 12 steps and AA but there is good recovery here with no such animal in the room of the people who have long term sobriety here too....
I from the get go was surprised that someone thought this post would get closed....it is open to discuss what recovery takes for everyone now here....and it would only be closed if something bad took place and arguments and digs at others were appearing through the discussion...I don't see that...yes couple are offended by what they read in the story that I did not read...that is their own thin skin issue not effecting me when I read the thread....maybe I should have read the story but because intro talked about pot use I knew I would not appreciate the story so I chose not to read it but to read each and every persons comments in four pages of commenting so far....
anyway glad I did it helped my recovery day to read these posts today and know that recovery happens in many many ways to many gifted people....hugs
Your article is similar to a lot of others I read on the Internet so no surprises there. AA has had many detractors along the way of its 80 year (so far) journey, it also has many friends. Pretty much the same as anything else. If its members are its mainstay and source of its self support for all that time it must be pretty effective for those members, long term or short term. Nobody needs trench warfare over methods used, it just distracts from the main focus of getting and staying sober amongst those with a common global problem.
I was pretty passionate about what I had found to transform my world and was vocal about it too. I much later came to understand that was not the best way forward and that it was better to tone it down, most importantly not to put my opinion or hearsay forward as "fact." It's easy to write wordy guff but it probably won't be taken very seriously unless it is backed up with impartial and factual reference points.
Just as important as choosing what "works for me" I have found it's been about how much "work" I am willing to put in by my own effort.
In this thread I have found a a variety of opinions and some generalizations. And everyone is entitled to their opinion, for the most part the article was an interesting read.
For me... I do not attend AA. My reasons are pretty simple:
1- I went and it felt like exchanging one addiction for another.
2- The structure of it feels very similar to the structure of organized religious meetings. (I know the "higher power' can be anything, but for me it was less that face and more the feeling/obligation of going to "church on sunday") - and as a person I rebel against that structure.
For others it may provide a sense of security and direction, and that is fantastic if that is what they need.
Now, I agree with many on this thread that every person is unique, every path and journey is unique, and if you find what you need within the walls of an AA meeting, then that is your choice and your path. And if you try and share it with others and your intent and advice comes from a true and genuine place, then I accept it, I may not follow it, but I understand your intentions are pure and you are only trying to help me by sharing what helped you.
However, if you are aggressive and DISINGENUOUS, seeing your path as the only correct path, whether it is AA or anything else, then you need to evaluate why you need to push your opinions so strongly that you may be hindering someone instead of helping them.
I am here, because I have a problem with alcohol and I am striving to put myself back in order.
I will support anyone, on any path, at any stage, without judgement, because that is the type of support I am looking for.
I find comfort and friendship here in these forums and I hope they continue to be a place of open discussion and support regardless of differences in opinions.
I want to thank everyone who has been my friend here, and who has supported me. Your choice of how you approach your sobriety is your choice and I support it.
Good Luck to everyone who fights this battle. Peace be with you.
On another note, if your comparing AA to religion or an addiction?, it's obvious you don't know what AA really is and what it stands for. And as far as the generalization and misinformation that only low-lifes and criminals use AA-It is also used by doctors, nurses, attorneys, airline pilots and any other proffession you can think of. Alcoholism doesn't discriminate like some people do. It's been around a long time and has helped many an alcoholic. If it was this "religious cult",that I've heard it called on here, it would have been shut down long ago.
Kudos LostGirl99 - you said exactly what I would have said IF I was not such an impetuous and emotional responder...lol.
Your answer is well thought out, tactful and eloquent.
I agree 1000000% with what you said and the way you said it.
I LOVE the thought of being amongst a group of people that can voice their difference of opinion in a respectful and supportive manner. Close-mindedness and condescension should have no room in a SUPPORT group:)
I was once down in the dumps and had a real hard time with depression at one time in my life. I considered turning to percocets to lift me out of that depressed place and actually got a prescription for it. I am glad I didn"t do it. I seen enough people in my life get hooked on prescriptions and never being able to shake off the addiction.
I don't doubt your psych problems.You seem like a sincerely nice person Andrea, but Its hard for me to consider you sober. I won't say it again on this board. I consider you abstinent from alcohol but that's all. I did not want to be so blunt but I had to do it.
First hand a woman I know in AA, in her 40s, has had radical facial surgery due to cancer of the nose and palate, she still has further surgeries to come. She's been very brave about it. She never really stopped smoking marijuana, although she stopped drinking, until she was diagnosed.