Sometimes I wish there was a 'like' button for the posts.
I believe when I relapse it's just because I want to plain and simple. But I definitely am looking forward to a social meeting tonight.
Thanks (Tara) :)

For me going to meetings puts me with a peer group. People talking are reminders of what I am and what could happen if I drink. I hear the same thing at our meetings and think it is just a way of saying especially to newbies like me, that the meetings are important in so many ways.

When I get to feeling out of sorts it is a good place for me to go to get re grounded. If not for the meetings to have to go to I would be more tempted to reach for that first drink.

In my opinion, relapse is caused by unfit spiritual condition. One of the things that I need to do to maintain and grow my spiritual condition is carrying the message and one of the places I do that is AA meetings. Stopping attending meetings is a sign that all is not well spiritually and that makes me prone to relapse. I dont relapse becaue I stop going to meetings, I relapse because stopping going to meeting is a sign of a spiritual problem and that is what leads to relapse.

I havent been to a lot of meetings recently for various reasons. But I am not dependent on meetings to stay sober. I ensure that I maintain spiritual focus and service to others.

I am always worried when I hear people sharing that they didnt go to meetings for a few days and "their head goes". My sobriety is not dependent on meetings or on other people. It is dependent on my connection to a power greater than myself, my spiritual condition.

Well said, Nikki. I understand the importance of mtgs and I also realize that TECHNICALLY a mtg is anywhere 2 or more alcoholics meet. It is best for me and my recovery if I stay in contact with other alkies, BUT I don't believe my sobriety depends as much on that as it depends upon the principles by which I live my life.

That is all I am trying to say.

Can't add to what Nicky said. It was said perfectly and that was my experience. Thanks for putting it so well.

For me meetings do not keep me sober and IMHO to rely upon meetings to keep me sober is dangerous.

Nicky touched on the spiritual condition is important and I believe that is what keeps me sober and I can maintain that wherever I am. As Nicky indicates she does not go to meetings to get recovery she goes to give it away.

A person I speak with talks about people using crutches to keep them sober and that some people use the meetings as a crutch. And as we all know if the crutch is kicked out from underneath you then the chances are you are going to fall over.

For me staying in fit spiritual condition is the key to staying sober and I find out how I do that through prayer and meditation and I cannot ever remember being told to go to a meeting.

G8

Her's a nice song that's puts it all into perspective for me The variables for all concerned I think :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3qIXbPveWo

Well I think sometimes people say what they think we want to hear....as we sit in a meeting striving to stay sober.
The people I know who have relapsed did so while actively going to meetings. In fact a few were drunk *in* meetings and I didnt have a clue.
Several definetly stopped going to meetings, but said that they stopped once they relapsed and not as a cause to relapse.
Speaking from my own experience I havent relapsed in AA and by the grace of god won't today.
I have relapsed though. And I did because I doubted I was alcoholic, and I wanted to drink "normally."
I agree with the others meetings didnt get me sober or keep me sober but they got me into the program and I greatly enjoy them. They keep me grounded in reality, and they allow me to pay it forward through service, sharing, etc.

What I do, or don't do keeps me sober. If I relapse it will be because I failed to do what I need to stay sober. That would be to make change. There's a saying 'the more I learn the more there is to learn' and what i can do to help myself is an ever growing list from that. Meetings are a part of my life, but so are many other things. Meetings don't keep me sober. I do.

Tara I'm pretty sure it could be classified as "Contrary Actions". Meetings are a diversion from our old habits. Meetings start becoming new habits. A positive thing in our lives. We have dealt in negativity for so long we are releaved to finally have something positive. For an hour and a half we find refuge from ourselves. Greg