Wow. I'm really surprised at that? I would check out meetings somewhere else if I were you. I don't know anyone who has had that experience at AA meetings. Seems kind of weird to me. If AA is what works for you it would be worth having to drive to another town to attend meetings somewhere else as I really do not think this is the norm.

I went to a couple meetings with my father. There was always a guest speaker and opportunity to get coffee and snacks afterward. I do not remember anything more - it was orderly and very comfortable.

The situation you describe would not work for anyone - please check for another AA location.

I go to two meetings. There is long term sobriety here, 50+ years. I've never been to a meeting that you describe. I have seen degenerates at meetings but not entire meetings.

If you want it, don't let them stop you. Soon their court cards will be full - fools not to sign them themselves - and they'll be gone.

Hang in there.

I just have a scooter - street legal here in town but not for going to another town. The next town with a meeting is an hour away in a car that can do 65 mph. Can't do that on a scooter. I'm doing fine right now. I'm not going to drink. I have too much to lose if I do.

This week has been pretty good. Spend all day with my little girl. Put her to bed and go to gf's apartment - my mom is there with my daughter - and hold her while we watch a movie or something. The only part I hate is having to leave her to go home. My fault, though.

Which is why willpower often isn't enough.

Is that meeting only Wednesday night's in your town?

Yeah, that meeting is the only one we have here. Maybe I'll go ahead and try some online meetings. Still, I'm doing fine. Not even tempted to drink.

That is not a typical aa mtg.

What else are you doing to not drink? You make it sound like you've got it all figured out, and I hope you do. Care to share?

Good luck. I don't do aa and I don't have a car, but I'm getting a ride to a Mtg on Friday. I'd recommend you you try another mtg, because they can get you started on a good track. You've got to work at this.

I've never ended up staying active in AA as part of my program, but I did go to some meetings for a while and I actually enjoyed them. I have been to meetings where some of the people were court ordered, but it was an extreme minority. Although it's probably true that the small towns don't have too many choices. If you need the extra help, online support groups can be useful.

And as for my own experience, I have rekindled and strengthened my believe in God, and begin regularly attending a church that I enjoy. it's not all about drinking, but it feeds me spiritually which is helpful in every aspect of my life.

Just be careful if you have a lot of time alone, and at loose ends. Especially since you're currently without a job. When there's nothing else to do, it's easy to fall back into drinking. Keeping busy with life is very helpful.

I am not that surprised about your experience, I had a similar one. I went to a meeting where the people were downright creepy and it was not a supportive environment, to say the least. The guy who sat in the back in a puddle of urine and stinking of booze did seem to enjoy the cookies, though. Other meetings I have been to have been the total opposite, with friendly people ready and willing to help each other. But I found even the good meetings boring and depressing and I got nothing out of them.

So if this meeting doesn't work for you -- don't go. You don't need AA to get and stay sober. Many people quit and stay quit on their own.

A friend of mine used to binge drink when he was in his teens and early twenties and had a couple bad experiences. Nothing major -- no DUIs or anything, but enough to make him realize that drinking was a problem. So he quit. That was around 30 years ago. No AA, no program... he realized that drinking wasn't working for him and he stopped.

I knew him for several years before someone told me he doesn't drink. I was at plenty of parties with him and never noticed. His not drinking was not a big deal for him or anyone around him. Which is how things have turned out for me as well. Except I waited to quit until I was drinking a lot ever day, and I've only been sober for 6 years. I wish I had figured it out when I was younger, like he did.

And like you can.

I haven't been to many AA meetings. But even I know that is not a normal meeting. That is not typical. If you want to give it another try I would recommend going to a whole different meeting. Just so you can see.

JW,

Those court card people are only temporary. Latch onto the people who aren't court cards ppl. Find one person that has solid sobriety that you might say, "I want to be like him."

When I walked into AA, there were a bunch of "cool kids" very much that you speak of. They were mocking things and people, didn't care, we're only there because they were forced. They were in their late 20s or early 30s. I was 41.

But the room had 60/70 sober looking people, who looked good. They were healthy and happy and they had reconciled with their children and spouses and found great jobs and changed careers.

They were alive.

I wanted what they had. So I kept coming back.

Smartest decision I ever made. After several years of binge drinking, and pity after a failed career and marriage due to alcoholic BEHAVIOR, not necessarily being drunk 24/7, I was living in a world of pity and pain.

Today I am the healthiest I've ever been. My family and new wife love me very much. I made that family life that I was never comfortable in. After years of struggling for consistent work, my career path changed and now I'm making good money again.

I'm respected by others, and now I respect myself.

AA saved my life. I'm lucky that on Southern California, there are dozens, if not hundreds of meetings I could attend daily within a 50 mile drive.

Give it a chance and cut through those who don't want to be there. Stick with the right people to help you discover what you truly want.

Lots of people get sober w/o AA. what got me sober (and keeps me sober) is a recovery "program" of my own making. I read & comment on sober blogs and online forums. And I read lots of sober literature.
the 2 big differences for me this time that I feel contribute to my success is: 1) I turn down social invitations a lot. if I do go somewhere there's booze and I feel uncomfortable, I leave early. My hubby is onboard with this too. I have no problem with him going out while I stay home watching TV & eating ice cream. 2) I stopped trying to do anything that might create stress for the first 9 mos. of sobriety. Quitting drinking was hard enough on its own. In particular, I was always trying to lose weight while getting sober. That never worked! while I haven't lost weight, I have been sober for 10 months now. that's the longest I've been sober since I was a teenager.
My advice for you is to keep trying different things until you figure out what works. You CAN do this. Don't give up. I lost count of how many times I relapsed. We're all pulling for you.

I'm shocked by this. I've never heard of such a thing, and I've been around hundreds of A.A, meetings over the past 30 years or so. Not sure what you can do, except try another one.
I have to say though that I'm wondering about the authenticity of this post because if it was a real A.A, meeting I know somebody would surely be saying something either to the offending people, or to the A.A, itself. Sorry, but it just doesn't sound right to me. All the best. James

We are all disappointed to say the least! I am wondering where you live that there are so few meetings? I live in a small town of 5000 people and within a 15 mile radius, I can always find a meeting somewhere, any day of the week sometimes 2 or 3 meetings a day!

Did you check the AA meetings online for your area? Just wondering.

Good luck!