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.
I originally posted this on 11/20/12. It didn't get much response (maybe everyone busy with the Thanksgiving Day holiday), put I wanted to bring it back to the front burner since we are talking about ways to help the alcoholic who still suffers.
Imagine this...
You are faced with the biggest game of your life, the Super Bowl of it all. And there is only room on the travel bus for the coaching staff or the cheerleaders. Who do you take with you to the game?
Personally, I will take the coaching staff with me, the group of people who know how to win the game because they have won the game before me. The coaches who can teach me to moves and plays necessary to beat the opponent. The coaches who can see my weaknesses and show me how to remove my weaknesses and build on my strengths.
Many people come to this forum because they sense the "big game" in their future - the big gridiron battle between King Alcohol vs Sobriety. But it seems that most people coming to this board only want cheerleaders - to "support" them with cheers of "You can do it" and "2-4-6-8 Who do we appreciate - YOU!" Very few want to listen to the coaching staff, the members of this board who have successfully played the game and won the game against alcoholism. Very few are willing to suit up and show up, do the drills and hone their skills through long and difficult hours of practice and work-outs.
The teams that win have great coaching staffs, not necessarily the hottest cheerleaders. So ask yourself, are you taking the cheerleaders or the coaches with you?
Imagine this...
You are faced with the biggest game of your life, the Super Bowl of it all. And there is only room on the travel bus for the coaching staff or the cheerleaders. Who do you take with you to the game?
Personally, I will take the coaching staff with me, the group of people who know how to win the game because they have won the game before me. The coaches who can teach me to moves and plays necessary to beat the opponent. The coaches who can see my weaknesses and show me how to remove my weaknesses and build on my strengths.
Many people come to this forum because they sense the "big game" in their future - the big gridiron battle between King Alcohol vs Sobriety. But it seems that most people coming to this board only want cheerleaders - to "support" them with cheers of "You can do it" and "2-4-6-8 Who do we appreciate - YOU!" Very few want to listen to the coaching staff, the members of this board who have successfully played the game and won the game against alcoholism. Very few are willing to suit up and show up, do the drills and hone their skills through long and difficult hours of practice and work-outs.
The teams that win have great coaching staffs, not necessarily the hottest cheerleaders. So ask yourself, are you taking the cheerleaders or the coaches with you?
These retreats are in USA and UK and they are a real additional boost for me as I get to meet a lot of people with really solid sobriety on the retreats. I just love face to face contact with lots of people who are excited and enthusiastic about recovery and spiritual growth.
Love my meetings at home too, it took me a while to find the ones that made a difference for me, but I knew when I was "home."
I had to surround myself with people (coaches) who knew something about living successfully without alcohol. They literally saved my bacon.
I was told that that sponsor would be the best to help me focus on what was good for me and what would work for me - and she did.
I agree - we need a coach - because, when we are new, sobriety is a totally uncharted territory for us.
Cheerleaders mean well but they cannot know you well enough to say "you can do it" and all the congratulations on time away from a drink is nice but can give a false sense of security to some which is not helpful in a condition as serious as alcoholism.
I'm with the coaches.