Taking cards to the meeting, tonight and for work. I ordered one large print Big Book for another member and myself for presents.

You need to work it!
Liking comes later!

Good for you, I quit before I was 21...I noticed you mentioned you started at 15/16, at that age you were 5 times more likely to become addicted to alcohol than if you'd waited until maturity. It's amazing the epidemic we have today with under-aged drinking and the issue is almost ignored entirely. Prevention is not used...so it's always too late.

I run an anti-teen drinking org and also dated an alcoholic, attended many AA and Al-anon meetings, and in the end I lost out...she decided she was not an alcoholic because she had not reached "rock bottom"...so she stays at home and every night gets plastered. The "rock bottom" issue bothers me because people who are addicts know well before they RB and should seek help before reaching it. It's like they are just waiting...and that may be at the expense of others...or themselves.

I know from my own feelings that I may well be doing her RB for her...the depression of losing someone you dearly love to addiction is horrible. It's like they died.

I hope you the best.

Liking comes later!



So true, Conrad. My first chance at outside meetings what some referred to the 'real world' once I got away from the treatment center in Wichita called RSC I came upon the Metro Group. Ouch! I was still in denial and so said the first step in name only. I can remember feeling sorry for all those alcoholics and was troubled because they really hurt my feelings. They told me that they had spilled more beer than I ever dranked. Told me that maybe I should try some control drinking. I was so angry but just couldn't get enough of it. I mean I really wasn't having that much trouble with the other eleven steps. Life was unmanagable but I couldn't remember when it was ever managable. I mean I was raised by an alcoholic and I could never drank as much as he did. Where he could keep it down I would just puke it all back up when I was drinking those tall Budweiser draft quarts with Hiram Walker ten high. I mean dad would get glassy-eyed but could still drive. He could even drink himself sober. He could drink others under the table but all I could do is pass out. I remember this one time where I puked the pork and beans all over my bed and dad just said, "Damn, boy you didn't even chew them up." Then I had the dry heaves and puked till it hurt. there wasn't nothing left to puke up but I still kept on puking. Nine months of being in the program and not drinking but then relapsed. I saw the vision in my mind of that picture in the Metro group of a man in low lights staring into a glass with the skull and cross bones. A friend offered a drink and I saw the skull and cross bones. I had my first AA spiritual expereince which was different than the spiritual experience I had in church. Nobody had to ask me if I was an alcoholic then because in my heart I accepted the first step. The program starting working then especially the second step because then I begin to start 'seeing' the insanity. The steps then just starting making a whole lot more sense because I was one of those AA people. Like my sponsor at the Berryville said, "You are a member when you say you are." I used to like what he said about problem drinking: "I am not a problem drinker; There is nothing wrong with my swallowing." I love going to meetings and I go there because I want to be there.

It was a great meeting, tonight. I didn't have to chair which my sponsor enjoyed. Got to help a newcomer from being in trouble. He was given three chences by his parole officer and blew two of them. Then he had a legitimate excuse for a change because he had to choose between his two little girls getting home with his wife because her car broke down where he worked or see the parole officer. He called a member and that member got a hold of me and I got his family home where he could make it to see his parole officer. So I got him to chair the meeting.

Have not had a drink in 10 1/2 months!!!

Have not had a cig in a month!!


I feel so good and pure and healthy its amazing!!!

The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. I am happy for you. It does feel better to be sober. I am very grateful for AA.

I'm not an alcoholic, and i'm not normal. So does that count


Actually, I been around AA for 30 years. Went to meetings for 15 years, anywhere from 5 to 7 days a week. From my experience, it don't matter if your a memebr or not. Go to the meeting long enough. A seed will be planted. Going to the meetings was one of the best things I have done for my life.

Still going to meetings, still sober.

Good way to look at it. When I first came into AA I didn't think I was an alcoholic but I got help. For nine months everything was working great. I was eating better and thank God for the nurses who were giving me vitamins my health was getting better. Then I had the relapse and I felt so guilty because I thought I had let everyone down. I was so ashamed when I came back in but a member told me that I had let myself down not them. In actuality I was working steps 2 through 12 without really working one. It was like a jolt or a spiritual experience I felt when I found out I really was an alcoholic. It was then that I really worked the first step and the second step made more sense to me then. I was glad that the seed was planted before the relapse or otherwise I would have never really accepted the first step. Its a wonderful way of life.

Still here in the cheering section!

been sober 3yrs 8 months
havent had a desire to drink at all for 3yrs 6months....
try living your life like you are giving an open talk....HONESTY with everyone about your past and things you've done..
i do this everyday..i have better friends for it.they know who i am..i dont fear my past comming back to haunt me because my friends already know...i do not regret anything ive been through....
i go to a meeting about twice a year. once you change your thinking the desperate need for them disappears because you become ok with you and you live life without unnessesary fear

I think the 12 steps can help anyone, alcoholic or not. AA has change the way I look at life today and I can't hide from myself anymore A lot of people that don't go to the meetings think it's all about just being an alcoholic,It's not. The 12 steps are a guidline to help you with your life. This is how I know, just because i'm not an alcoholic. Doesn't mean I can't grow and learn things about my life.

I think the 12 steps can help anyone, alcoholic or not. AA has change the way I look at life today and I can't hide from myself anymore A lot of people that don't go to the meetings think it's all about just being an alcoholic,It's not. The 12 steps are a guidline to help you with your life. This is how I know, just because i'm not an alcoholic. Doesn't mean I can't grow and learn things about my life.


Another good point. I just got back from a meeting called the RU12 group. I like to listen to the Alanons because one of them helped me one time at a meeting. I was all flustrated after coming out of a divorce and she heard me speak about my ex. It was like one of those ex bashing meetings. Before I could say anything she said, "Don't tell me that it was a woman who has you so upset?" I said, "How did you know?" I thought she was psychic or something. She then told how alcoholism affects the whole family not just the alcoholic. It was a good thing for me to hear at that time because I wasn't owning up to my own character defects and my whole outlook was about blaming everybody but me. She wasn't alcoholic but she really helped me. She got me to concentrate on working the program. Eventually, I did get back with the ex but still hadn't got to the point of working the last half of the 12th step; Where it says. "and to practice these principles in all of our affairs." I couldn't seem to work it at home. But then we got a divorce and that cured that.

Another good point. I just got back from a meeting called the RU12 group. I like to listen to the Alanons because one of them helped me one time at a meeting. I was all flustrated after coming out of a divorce and she heard me speak about my ex. It was like one of those ex bashing meetings. Before I could say anything she said, "Don't tell me that it was a woman who has you so upset?" I said, "How did you know?" I thought she was psychic or something. She then told how alcoholism affects the whole family not just the alcoholic. It was a good thing for me to hear at that time because I wasn't owning up to my own character defects and my whole outlook was about blaming everybody but me. She wasn't alcoholic but she really helped me. She got me to concentrate on working the program. Eventually, I did get back with the ex but still hadn't got to the point of working the last half of the 12th step; Where it says. "and to practice these principles in all of our affairs." I couldn't seem to work it at home. But then we got a divorce and that cured that.
The problem is,that most People don't have the Urgency of working the Steps as Alcoholics/Addicts do!
For us it is a matter of Life and death,for most of them it is not.

The problem is,that most People don't have the Urgency of working the Steps as Alcoholics/Addicts do!
For us it is a matter of Life and death,for most of them it is not.


So true. I believe that is the conclusion that Bill W. and Doctor Bob came to, also. One of my first moments of clarity was from reading Doctor Bob's Nightmare. I believe it eventually helped me to get past my own denial problem. I am so thankful that I got past the denial for me that is a miracle. Another thing that helped me was hearing that recovery is not so much for people that need it but for people who want it. I think that is why it is mentioned in the preamble, "...If you want what we have to offer..." And the, "...All you have to have is a desire to want to stop drinking...". I went from wanting to die to wanting to live after just that first meeting. At some point that 180 change it speaks of in the Big Book happened and I quit fighting the program and just accepted it. Acceptance is the key for sure.

I sure have enjoyed Silky's page.
http://www.silkworth.net/sitemap.html

my sobriety comes from me having enough of me, which left my mind open to change in everything...studied quantum physics.(the power of thought)& a book called the 4 agreements and started practicing them adamently...all desire is gone..at peace with me in everyway...pretty much its been a cake walk....life is life and there is no such thing as good or bad,,just experiences....almost 45 months of pure sobriety and peace of mind...may you all find what you need..

Bravo, bedlum! Seriously. I fell in love with a man that was an alcoholic. I tried everything to help him, enabled him at times unknowingly, and finally I realized that HE had to want to stop drinking; that I couldn't help him until he did. I tried to get an intervention going, but his family would not stop enabling as I had. I finally had to let him go. It was sad. I was heartbroken. I give you and all on this thread my highest respect and love for being able to beat this demon.

I have been drug free for 4 years and 3 months now. Was not easy but I quite cold turkey. Still get cravings but I know better. I saw where I was headed and didn't like it one bit, so I had to break up with who I was with at the time because he was the one who got me into coke.