I hope hope my last message didnt upset anybody with what I said about there being a lot of sick people in the rooms but I am afraid there is. I really did witness it first hand and took it to heart. Im sorry. Or is this just my insecurities again.
Thank you so much doll, i too know how sick i am but i must say i got a little worried the last time i was in the rooms. I know for a fact that there is a doctor just near most the meeting i went to who woul tell patients to come to AA even if they werent alcoholics but because they had other mental health problems. All the time I have been drinking, it has been on my own and at home because believe it or not, I am scared of people when they are drunk, even my best friend. Up untill 10 years ago, I lived with a drunk, he used to knock me about and nearly killed me a few times, and my oldest friend who died in March this year was an alcoholic and whilst I was sober 4 years ago, I went to see her at the request of her husband and she was psychotic, I again ended up in hospital. If ever a sponsor brings somebody into a meetings whilst they are drunk, I panic. Is this normal.
There are all kinds of sick behavior. And, as many here can tell you from their own encounters, just because someone stops drinking, they don't miraculously become perfect.
I was scared by some drunks a couple of times when I was much younger ( around 10 or 11), but not these days. Actually, since I have put the stopper back in the bottle myself, I most frequently tend to find people who are drinking to be a little obnoxious and overbearing. (Boy, sure glad I wasn't like that....... right everybody?)
Hi Karen, I've been thousands of meetings all over the country and in other countries where no one spoke english and never once have I felt threatened. It's a rare occurrence that someone who is drunk attends a meeting. I did (and do sometimes) have some authority figure or control type issues with people in the meetings. But I've come to realize that having alcoholic parents, I'm predisposed to feeling like that. Hopefully you're in an area with lots of meetings to choose from. The older more established meetings (where the old timers go) are usually in churches, that's where you'll find quality meetings. Morning meetings are generally quality meetings also because what active drunk or highly dysfunctional person is going to get up early to hit a 7 am meeting? Are there women's groups in your area? Step meetings? Big Book meetings? Usually people who are serious about their recovery are going to 12&12 and BB meetings. A sponsor is a good person to take you to a number of different meetings and calling the local AA intergroup, those answering the phones will be very familiar with the local meetings. The speakers meetings are where you may find the beginners and the issues that you've mentioned.
I had to go back and find the post you were referring to!
You know, there are 'sick' people everywhere; it isn't just limited to alkies and the rooms of AA.
I've encountered many sick folks in the workplace. I've encountered sick folks in social groups other than AA.
Our tiny little AA group here is pretty 'sick' in general right now, but my thinking is what can I add to contribute when I attend meetings?
I remember early in sobriety becoming truly disappointed and disillusioned when I began to realize there were indeed 'sick' people in AA, even though they weren't drinking. I had put all AA fellows up on a pedestal to begin with.
It was a growing experience for me, and today I can accept that even 'sober' alkies can be sick too.
I don't let that keep me away from AA or contributing :)
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguements and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
~Herbert Spencer
Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose - that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
I posted this to remember why A.A. exists & what its purpose is along with the success of all those who manage to get well & work a good program. Sometimes, the contrast of somebody coming in drunk can be quite a shock but ought not to make anyone too uncomfortable as we all have had to start somewhere. My discomfort is in being reminded of how it was for me & that I may not have been a pretty sight. I couldn't really know. I never truly saw it though have occasionally destroyed photos. I get nervous around drunk people during the few times I've been near them too. The chaos & haphazardness makes me jump & I get especially disturbed if they're knocking things over. That reminds me of childhood bewilderment around drunks too. I'm glad I'm sober today. Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
