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.
Yesterday at my AA meeting, I spoke a bit about what brought me to AA (a DUI and a court order) and how I planned on just being sober for 6 months (until my next court date) but some how, the experience, strength and hope of the group crept into my soul and my higher power kept me coming back and I remain alcohol free 1 year, 1 month later.
(That is the short version)
Well, after the meeting, a few people came up and suggested that I go share my story at the other DUI class in town (the one I went to was shut down due to State budget cuts).
THIS IDEA SCARES THE CRAP OUTTA ME!
And, I have only just taken on a sponsor (or should I say, she has taken ME on) and started to work the steps. It was said that I don't need to quote AA, although it is HUGE part of my story and just speak my experience, strength and hope, as I am sure all of the people in that class will have to attend AA and maybe only a few will view it as a viable option for sobriety.
I do want to share...but...I am scared. I know that we have to give it back, but there are so many other people out there who have completed the steps and have more "sobriety" than me.
I
(That is the short version)
Well, after the meeting, a few people came up and suggested that I go share my story at the other DUI class in town (the one I went to was shut down due to State budget cuts).
THIS IDEA SCARES THE CRAP OUTTA ME!
And, I have only just taken on a sponsor (or should I say, she has taken ME on) and started to work the steps. It was said that I don't need to quote AA, although it is HUGE part of my story and just speak my experience, strength and hope, as I am sure all of the people in that class will have to attend AA and maybe only a few will view it as a viable option for sobriety.
I do want to share...but...I am scared. I know that we have to give it back, but there are so many other people out there who have completed the steps and have more "sobriety" than me.
I
Your experience is as valid as anyone else's.
When I shared with these folks, I started with some background on when I started drinking (11 yrs) and progressed to where I am today and what drinking did to my life (and I never got a DUI (I just didn't get caught!)
You might be surprised how easy the words will flow once you get started! Don't worry, HP will be right there with you and you will benefit from it as well as probably at least one person in the class.
Don't worry, just share, I be you will help a lot of people.
If you want to know why I say this, do it and find out.
Be aware, that in some states, my state of Ohio included, that people who are in no way alcoholics are being convicted of drunk driving. And the only ones who are allowed to use the DUI diversion program are those who have only been convicted once. So most people there are not like us.
There is no requirement that you mention AA at all. Most of those DUI programs are run by some counseling service or treatment center and I would definately check with whomever is in charge to see how much they think should be said about AA.
I would strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with the traditions, so you don't accidently violate any of them. I would also suggest you make it clear to the audience, that you are speaking from personel expeience, that AA helped you, but also note you do not represent an official AA position on anything. You might take some meeting directories or some beginners pamphlets along for any of the audience who might want them.
If you only help one person have a better life, you have passed it on. If I watch the audience carefully while I speak, at the end I know who has been listening. I have probably spoken to a couple of thousand non AA people over the years. A few times, people have come up to me later, at meetings, and told me I was the first person who was in AA they had ever seen.
Remember that, to most of the audience, you are the only big book they will ever see.
By the way, I seldom shy away from mentioning that a power greater than myself helped me a lot, but I do not dwell on it.
Here is a guideline to follow, that will inform you of how to treat this type of public relations opportunity:
http://www.aa.org/lang/en/en_pdfs/mg-7_publicinfo.pdf