EvolutionHealth.care

Home
Main Forum
Managing Drinking
Questions about the Managing Drinking Course and Tools
12 Step Programs

Advanced Search Form

12 Step Programs

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi andywarhol,

Great to hear you made it through the holiday without a drink! Keep taking it one day at a time!

What have you learned about yourself from earlier relapses that can help you avoid future cravings?

Vincenza, Health Educator

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 26

Hey There AndyWarhol,

So what are your thoughts on going to AA so far? Do you feel that it is something that might be helpful to you? I have, just through my readings on the internet, felt that AA is not the way to go for me.

I hope that you will have better luck! Your efforts are worth it.

I have avoided AA because of its religious aspect, which does not suit my own beliefs. Goodness, I certainly respect and appreciate their efforts to assist people....it just happens to not be the right path for me.

Keep on with your efforts.

You can succeed with your challenge.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 15

Thanks everyone.

I've gone to my first meeting. Albeit I've had a few relapses over the past few weeks. I did however make it through all of Easter weekend without a drink (especially hard since I have not openly come out with my addiction to my wife's Father, who offered me a drink at least 10 times throughout dinner).

I have found these past few weeks to be incredibly difficult, especially in trying to change my habits. So much of my "down time" was centered around drinking. I'll keep going forward though.

Thanks again for your advice and support!

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 272

Hi Andy,

I was given this advice about going to my first AA meeting. It was an open meeting, which means that anyone can go, not just alcoholics, and they have a speaker rather than individual sharing - way less intimidating than a closed meeting where everyone shares.

I was told to ask for the group secretary and to introduce myself to them and to tell them that I was new and it was my first meeting. I did. The woman I talked to was very friendly - she showed me, and gave me a bunch of pamphlets, and showed me where the coffee was. No cookies, but lots of coffee. Every AA meeting has lots of coffee LOL. At the end of the meeting, she insisted on giving me a copy of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. I tried to pay for it, but she wouldn't let me. Not all groups are like that - most sell the big book at cost, which in Canada is around 10.25. It's worth picking one up, if you can afford it.

Everyone really welcomed me, and gave me lots of advice and a lot of women offerred me their phone numbers, which I thought was really weird - don't worry it's normal.

It can be kind of overwhelming at first, but you can take it at your own pace.

I'd also suggest trying at least 5 different meetings before making up your mind as to whether or not AA is right for you. Each meeting has it's own feel and flavour, based on the group membership.

Then once you find a group that you feel comfortable with, join it and make it your home group and try to get to it's meetings as regularly as possible - it kind of gives you a home base to work from.

Good luck.

splitimage

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 156

Hi Andy.

Open meetings are not so nerve wracking and there is usually greeters at the door to welcome you.

There is a book & pamphlet section with people there to talk to and they can introduce you to some one to sit with.

There's coffee and cookies to be had as well and people around in that area are very friendly as well.

Once you find a seat, you'll feel more comfortable. Try to get there 20 minutes before it starts to get a good seat.

Hope this helps.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1562

Hey Andy,

You could call the AA Hotline in your area and have someone visit you. That is called 12 step work. Some recovered alcoholic will visit you and then you can start attending meetings with them.

Other option is you can google AA meetings in your area and look for AA meetings. You may want to visit the one that is for New comers. But once you are in the fellowship you want to stick to meetings that are based on some literature cos thats is where you will find Solution oriented folks.

Even before you go, you may checkout the Alcoholics Anonymous book and the workshops (free) on my blog.

BTW, I am a recovered alcoholic and been a member since 2006.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

This is a great discussion topic!

I am interested to hear what other members have to say. I am sure will be along shortly to comment.

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 15

Hi Everyone,

I've been struggling with an increasing dependance on Alcohol, mostly as a stress reliever. Things got really bad into the fall and early winter of this year where my alcohol use fueled a deep dip into depression. Things are better now, but I am having a lot of trouble getting my use under control.

I want to start attending AA meetings, but am really nervous about going to my first one. Does anyone have any advice from past experiences? How do I pick a meeting to attend, are there any that are good for someone who is going for the first time? Whats the first experience like? Do you just walk in? How does it work? Thanks in advance.

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

12 Step Programs