For many of us drinking meant conviviality,compassion and companionship. When giving up the bottle many of us exile our selves wether out of embarrasment of what and who we have become or because we just dont know anyone that dont drink or use. Drinking meant everyone was our friend (especially when drunk) and that the only time we were happy and carefree was when drinking,(the carefree is when the embarrrasment kicked in) and is an example of convival. And we were never alone or at least not till the end when we felt alone in a room full of people. Personally quitting on my own never worked because of boredom, loneliness and fear of the unknown. When i found aa i found true friends that could relate to what i was going through and had been there. Well there was the companionship i was seeking. and everyone there is my friend wether i like them or not. I no longer had to be embarrased because any thing i said i was embarrased of someone else said they had done it to more of an extreme and then we laughed about it. I can still be care free but in different ways, today i still do crazy stupid things in front of people but not to the drunken extreme i once did. For me the group thing has worked how about you? Is it really working alone or are you miserable. Or is it working with a group and your happy joyous and free?