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.

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meetings

drcopperhead
drcopperhead
when i go to meetings and i hear "so and so" just doesnt want to stop". i always say thats not how it worked for me. thats not how i read the big book. like an alcoholic has the power to stop drinking. not me. i begged God for years to help me stop. next day i was drunk. last time i took a drink it took me 32yrs to sober up. my ex never understood that i couldnt quit for her. i couldnt quit for me. i couldnt quit for my kids. i was powerless. people tell me "u had to want to quit". i tell them i had nothing to do with it. i gave all the credit to my Higher Power, the AA organization and the people in AA. i had to crack the door open and my Higher Power did the rest. i dont understand how people can go to AA for 20yrs and never understand that. i asked an oldtimer how come i couldnt stop drinking with Gods Help on my own, but i did with the help of the good people of AA? he told me" if u pick up a stick its easy to break it, if u pick up a bundle of sticks its way harder to break it"
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, you will have some people say that so-and-so just "didn't want it enough". I don't subscribe to that point of view. I think that if someone takes it upon themselves to darken the door of an AA meeting, they are looking for relief, and dismissing someone's struggles of powerlessness as a weakness of will or desire goes against what my big book explains.

But you will find all kinds in AA, and it's not my place to judge (not saying that you did, btw)...I just stick with the healthier members (I hate the term "winners"...implies there are "losers") and learn all that I can from those who have trudged the path before me.

My HP keeps me sober, the fellowship keeps me connected to the program and message. Thank goodness!
drcopperhead
drcopperhead
thanks paul. thats the AA that i know and love. my problem was i lost the fellowship. then i made the mistake of thinking i was "better than" when it came to pills
Community LeaderExJerseyGirl2
ExJerseyGirl2
I hope you don't mind my commenting here. I am not in AA, don't go to meetings, but I did want to say something in response to Paul's comment about losers.

There are losers when it comes to alcohol. My sister was one of them. She died three years ago because she could not find her way out of the hell that drinking carried her to.
drcopperhead
drcopperhead
dear jersy, yes their r millions who lose the battle with alcoholism. that is y, in my humble opinion, its important to confront people who, i think, confuse the message. also my humble opinion. many times i hear people say " my sponser, who HAD 20yrs sobriety, fell off the wagon."
deleted_user
deleted_user
To clarify: one of the slogans in AA is "stick with the winners". Meaning, stick around with those who are working the program, have what you want, sponsor, etc. What that implies to me is that those who are struggling or haven't been shown how the program actually works or are unsure of whether they are truly alcoholic or not are "losers". That was what I was talking about. The big book talks about not judging people, and then we have that slogan...ha ha.

But I get what you're saying, EJG...some of us lose the Big Battle. Too many of us do. Sorry to hear about your sister :(
drcopperhead
drcopperhead
i should have sent my condolences also. im very sorry about your sister.
drcopperhead
drcopperhead
hey paul. one i never got was "fake it till u make it". if u r not making it y would u want to fake that u r? wouldnt u want others to know your not making it and maybe they could help u?
1is2many
1is2many
1is2 here... Im going to meetings and struggling with God.

Soooo I am faking it till I make it. I am trying to get the God thing but I guess I was so far away its taking time to get back closer.

DAY 121!!! Still on step one and ok with that
drcopperhead
drcopperhead
i said i didnt understand the saying. i hope i didnt upset u. 1is2. ive believed in God most of my life. just because i believed didnt mean i could stay away from booze. it took me a long time to realize that AA and my HP could actually help me. i had some experiences growing up that made me believe there was more than just this world. something to think about. "i dont know that there is a God, but i do know im not Him" and " i would rather go through life thinking there is a God, die and find out there isnt, than go through life not believing in God, die and find out there is". it doesnt matter how long it takes. God knows whats in your heart. 121days is awesome. i was just looking for an answer because the saying never did much for me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The way I found most helpful.Was to live the book not just read the book. I had to believe what I was reading. The promises starting coming true for me.. I was not willing to go back to my o;ld life. Im still not, The book became more than words on pages, itt became a way of life. Its been 28 years,
drcopperhead
drcopperhead
well congratulaions. greg g
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