Your right.

and I really don't want to argue...very few non-AAers post here....

Such is life!

Namaste How To

Good post howtolive and I totally agree with you.

I found my way into AA when I had exhausted all other options I knew of - I was not keen but I found its spiritual solution worked for me.

Happy, sober a few years and priveleged to carry the AA message to other alcoholics who want it.

I feel equally delighted for those who found sobriety another way too!

AA or not as long as it works, find your support system and work it.
How you are right about f2f it is always better when you can talk to others that went through the same thing as you. I missed you and oftem wonder how you are,glad your still here and hope to chat again with you real soon.
PEACE,MARK

Spunky you know I will support you on any choice you make to get and stay sober AA or no AA -

I believe everybody has to find their individual path to sobriety - there are a variety of things out there to help but like you mentioned various options may not be available in all areas.

Whatever it takes to get sober to anybody wanting it then they need to do.

First and foremost -it's all about choices, choices to get sober and the choice to take action to make it happen no matter what that action maybe!

peace!

I had so many people brush me with the AA wand it was causing me headaches....however when I knew I needed to stop drinking I looked for help of someone who had declared himself an alcoholic....I ASKED him to go get a drink with me...he said he did not drink..I said Bull Shit I know you drink (I guess I knew very little) and he said he had not drank in 10yrs...I said I needed to talk to him because I had stopped drugging but the booze thing was something I decided had whipped me...we went to KFC and talked...I shared my idea of recovery with him and he told me the meeting was right next door to my apt in Catholic Campus Ministry building on thursday nights...I went with two cases of beer in fridge for ocean fishing trip...told those guys I was going to drink it and they said keep coming back...It was small small small meeting of just four of us I think...one of those guys hung himself, and another was diagnosed with HepC...one of the others there either that night or the next thursday had Aids...and the guy who I talked to at KFC is also suffering from Aids now....I knew five active recovery people with aids back then....now I just know one and he is not AA but another 12 stepper...I found a way after I came back with intent to stop the drinking....I could not have done it without the last beer I drank....

I am a devout AA person however I will say however that there are many ways to achieve abstinence. Being a retired professinal in the field of addictions I found some common characteristics regarding success: Commitment, consistency,keeping an open mind and being willing to forsake whatever to achieve the goal of change (people, places and things).

Great post HTL. I am totally with you. I went to AA out of desperation and at that time I just wasnt in a position to argue. I learnt after a time to focus on the program and its principles rather than the wide range of personalitles some of whom I like and some I didnt.

The great thing about AA for me is that it didnt just give me what I needed to stay sober but I have also been able to change my whole attitude and outlook on life. I have been given freedom and that is the best thing I could ever have got.

When I first arrived at AA i didnt know what i wanted, what I needed, what was good for me, where I wanted to go. Really I knew nothing apart from how to drink badly. Luckily I met people who knew what I needed, because they had walked my path before, and were patient enough to help me until I could see things for myself.

hey girl glad to see ya posting again. I agree 100% There are so many how to's out there Its up to each of us to find our own.never knock anyone for what they are doing atleast there doing something.I have never been part of AA but I just joined the bigbook study group because I am curious as to what they believe.and im sure I will find things I agree with or never thought of that I will put tords my recovery.my recovery is a mixture of a whole lot of things and so far so good.

I will tell ya one thing that happened to me HTL.
My behaviors progressed but the people that wanted to be around me,, regressed.
AA was really the only people that could tolerate being around me.
~~Truly~~ now I have to stir the rumor mill that I might a had a beer, just to keep ever-bodies expectations of me at bay,,,ya know,,,LOL!!

I agree too. There is no clear-cut cure-all that works for everyone. You have to find the solution that works for you.

i know several people in aa, some with sucess,some not. i am a believer with any addiction, some people can stop with other means and others need the support with aa. i would not beat myself up with either measure. whatever works for you. i was in a support group once and they said take what you need and leave the rest behind. that could go for people as well. good luck.

Back when I was desperately ill , if someone told me that they got sober by eating 39 moonpies daily, and they seemed to be doing good, I would try eating 39 moonpies daily. And if there was a group of happy, seemingly well adjusted folks who were doing the same with good results-all the better.

My point is: what has worked for so many has got to have something to it-I believe that. And even if it seems odd at first-just go with it. You have nothing to lose, and it seems this truly can help you.

I do not do AA as you very well know, but dang do I think it is good to have out there as an option for folks who do well in that setting.

Oh and don't do this half ass my dear. Full throttle ok? See what happens at about six months-see if you feel different. xo