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.
When I first become sober i did not want to share and talk about my experiences, what did I have to offer these people who were gurus they had 6 months or more sobriety. Surely I had nothing to offer, me on day 2.
After a meeting an oldtimer approached me and politely asked me why i had declined to share and I explained the above (as well as nerves of course).
The old timer went on to say part of the journey is to understand your disease to know the facts about yourself. To do this G8 you need to put a narration to your story which then helps to identify with others in the room. In this identification G8 you become armed with the facts about yourself.
From this conversation I saw the importance of talking it helps me put a narration to my story, thus helping understand myself and then in turn helping others. Yep is important to listen but is also importan to talk, not waffle but talk about my disease.
G8
After a meeting an oldtimer approached me and politely asked me why i had declined to share and I explained the above (as well as nerves of course).
The old timer went on to say part of the journey is to understand your disease to know the facts about yourself. To do this G8 you need to put a narration to your story which then helps to identify with others in the room. In this identification G8 you become armed with the facts about yourself.
From this conversation I saw the importance of talking it helps me put a narration to my story, thus helping understand myself and then in turn helping others. Yep is important to listen but is also importan to talk, not waffle but talk about my disease.
G8
It is also important to let the new person know that you have been where they are now and that something has worked for you. I try to share more about the solution than about my drinking but both are important to that nervous person who is not long around.
Sharing at a meeting is a good starting point but if you really want to get to know and love yourself, further action is required.
Same thought expressed differently I think....Whoa!
I hear a lot of people saying they're afraid to share early on because they're new and wonder what they could possibly offer to the "old timers" and I was the exact opposite. I spoke the first time I went into the meeting and poured my guts out.....
I find myself NOW sharing less because I knew inside out and backwards the gauntlet of emotions of suffering while drinking, but am still pretty rocky on the "recovery talk" and am scared of sounding stupid. And y'all tried to say that I"m not unique! ha! :)
Countless times while I've been "waffling" with my sponsor, one word from my sponsor will make a light bulb go off and I hear "ding ding ding" and I can clearly see that I just learned something major about myself. I love those "WOW!" moments. :)
Because I am willing to go to any lengths to remain sober, I share at meetings, I take commitments at my home groups, and I work with a sponsor on the Steps. Like HC mentioned, I've had a lot of WOW moments in the last six months.
The fellowship and service kept me sober for many years, but it wasn't enough for this alcoholic.
Good post. :-)
~Chris
thank god, "Apart of not apart from...:)
So true, great post
Billy