90/90

runnergirl · Senior Member

90/90

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hi runnergirl, It's one of the first things that I heard in '87 when I first began go to meetings seriously. The "theory" behind it is that if we had time to drink every day, then we (sans drinking) have a hour a day to attend a meeting. The meetings take the place of the drinking and turn a bad habit into a good one and keep us on track with recovery, while we absorb the information (and tools) to effectively build our new sober identity. That's a mouth full isn't it? But it's true that once we begin to get sober we change and we are responsible for the new direction that our personal development is headed. It takes time and we have to be willing to invest that time into ourselves, but it won't be long before you'll start to see the new you emerging and it is exciting when we realize that we can change for the better and the good feelings of self esteem and self worth that come along with that are sorely needed.

jasperkent · Senior Member

I've never seen it in AA literature and I'm fairly sure it started in treatment centers. The theory is that the first 90 days are extremely crucial because that is a time period when one can easily go either way. "90" is not a magic number, but the first three months are when most relapses occur. That is also a time period when one is still a "new pupil" and bad consequences are still fresh in one's memory-- thus, a person is most teachable then.

"90 meetings in 90 days" is not carved in stone anywhere, but it's a very good idea, IMHO.

Good question. Keep 'em coming. Glad you're here!

Aquaman · MIP Old Timer

Hey RunnerGirl,
I kind of saw it as Sobriety Basic Training. 90/90 made it hard for me to relapse, since I figured it would be bad manners to show up at a meeting drunk.

Peace,
Rob

Dave Harm · Senior Member

Not only are you changing bad habits to good ones... but also changing playgrounds and playmates...

ljc · MIP Old Timer

I believe the 90/90 started from a treatment center. If One goes there and leaves .. the staff or personel there suggest that the newly sober person attend 90 meetings in 90 days to get well grounded in AA and recovery.

I know it helped me to go to meetings as often as possible so that I could make new friends and allow those new friends to help me.

soberjulie · Veteran Member

Hiya Runnergirl. smile
I was told to do 90in90 and now I tell others to do 90in90 for a few different reasons.
AA looks different during your first meeting compared to your 10th meeting and again compared to your 37th meeting.....it takes a period of time for the fog to lift and for the message of AA to penetrate.
Was I willing to go to any length? Are the people who ask me to sponsor them willing to go to any length? If people cant commit to 90in90 then I wont sponsor them. This is something I learned from my sponsor. She wouldnt sponsor me unless I was willing to follow through with this simple request.
And, by the time 90 days passes anyone who has attended a meeting a day would find it nearly impossible to "hide" in the rooms. You become part of the fellowship part of AA.
smile
Peace

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

that's awesome julie.

mikef · MIP Old Timer

Literature from another fellowship(NOT IN VIOLATION OF OUR TRADITIONS) states in "What can I do"A meeting a day for 90 days is a good idea.It reenforces the idea of meetings keeping us in touch of not only where we have been but where we could go in our recoveries!!Meetings strengthen our recoveries and let us eventually 'share ' our feelings with others which in turn is the antedote to the disease "honest sharing'!We learn the "therapeutic value of one addict helping another by our sharing and listening for suggestions.After 90 days we feel a little more comfortable with the group and 'can start to save our lives" by letting others know we need help!! Nice meeting you .peace. smile