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.

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Gr8ful 02/08/2012

went to AA all I could hear was the stories of car crashes, bankruptcies, divorces, jail, institution etc etc. As I listened to these stories I thought this is not me I have not had any of these things happen to me, I can not be alcoholic. In fact after a meeting a member said to me 'I have spilt more alcohol then you have drunk, you're not alcoholic".

As I listened to these shares and what this person said I started to have doubts whether I was alcoholic.

Then I started to hear this whisper and though at first I could not hear it properly or make sense of it I was starting to hear it. As this whisper became louder and I started to hear what was being said I realised this whisper was talking about me.

This whisper was talking about how alcohol reacted in me how when I put alcohol in my system it make me feel complete, who the alcohol filled a hole in me but how it also made this hole bigger requiring more and more alcohol. And most devastating how once I put alcohol in I could not control how much I drank.

As I listened and identified with this whisper I realised the whisper did not talk about the car crashes, the divorces, the jails etc, it talked about what happened inside me when I put alcohol it and that is when I knew I was alcoholic.

G8

CoogeeMum 02/08/2012

In my first week I was at a meeting where a man spoke about how he hurt his family and his feelings. When he got up, I wouldn't have thought I'd have anything in common with him but when I looked at him speaking, I felt connected to what he was saying. My response to that was to run from the room in tears. It was a turning point for me and one of many reality checks I'll forever be grateful for. Those first meetings listening to other alcoholics is when I came to realise I was an alcoholic and I could never drink again.

nelliefay 02/08/2012

Hey, congratulations on staying sober and not letting that person send you back out to do more research on whether you're alcoholic. Good on you for listening to the whisper. I can relate in a way. I first got to AA at 23, and was a 'baby alcoholic' - hadn't had blackouts, hadn't got in any trouble, hadn't had a personality change etc etc etc. So, I wasn't willing to surrender by a long shot. In fact, I stayed sober for 2 years to prove I WASN'T powerless. Then I went back out to 'do more research'. It nearly killed me, I ended up for 6 weeks on copious amounts of alcohol and valium, and nearly attempted suicide.
You don't have to tear yourself to shreds like I did.
all the best.

nickyj18022002 02/08/2012

Thats why IMO it is important to share our experience in the light of the phenomenon of craving, mental obsession and spiritual malady, rather than just a catalogue of the bad things that happened when were drinking, as those are the things that a newcomer needs to relate to in order to identify as an alcoholic.

I used to change my mind about whether i thought I was an alcoholic or not depending on whether I had done the things in peoples stories. I would get really confused. Then someone explained to me how to evaluate my experience in light of the physical, mental and spiritual illness and I was able to identify once and for all that I was an alcoholic.

deleted_user 02/08/2012

I was told to identify with people's feelings and not compare my story with the details of someone else's. All the consequences were just "yets" for me (which eventually happened when I tested the waters). And it does get worse.

deleted_user 02/08/2012

I think we need to keep the newcomer in mind when we say things like .Hey if you're not ready go out there and try again. The new comer is going to hear whatever it is he wants to hear. You could him about all the consequences and "yets" that are still to come. We all know theyre out there. But the new comer is going to remember "Go back out there" I think its our responsibility to explain things in such a light as to leave no doubt about alcoholism.We need to understand that they just didnt wander into the room by accident . they are there because they have a problem with alcohol. We need to explain that it is a goodthing to "listen to the similarities and not the differences" Greg

CoogeeMum 02/08/2012

Some of those 'yets' had already happened. I just hadn't seen them for what they were. Amazing how selectively I blocked things out.

m8bear 02/08/2012

And that to me is why we still go to meetings.....to carry the message (and not the mess).

Good to be reading your posts again G8 :)

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