I haven't drank in 2 weeks now, and I'm working on getting my life back together and this forum looks like the kind of support I need. I hope to get to know you all and you can help me help myself to a new life of sobriety after a foggy last 20 years.
Welcome to MIP. It's a great forum and everyone is really friendly. I do hope that you'll stay around.
Well done on not drinking for two weeks. That's a great achievement.
Are you attending AA meetings? For this alcoholic I couldn't stay sober without my meetings. I have met some wonderful people and I have lifelong friends who would always help me if they could.
Please keep posting and letting us know how things are going for you, won't you?
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Bill, you can always call your local AA helpline and explain your situation. I'm sure that they'll be able to find someone to take you to and from meetings. I don't drive either, but I have no shortage of lifts from good people.
When you get to a meeting, you'll find some of the most lovely people on earth in those rooms. There is no pressure on you to participate at all. I'd suggest just listening to what is said and for the similarities in the speakers drinking and in your own. They're always there.
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Welcome to MIP, Bill. It's wonderful that you've joined us here & that you're determined to change life for yourself. You seem disappointed in how drinking has affected your life & you sound ready for new beginnings. There is so much on offer here. The only requirement for AA membership is an honest desire to stop drinking & you are a member when you say for yourself you are. You're right. I find this forum is a fantastic support for my sobriety & we will share everything we can to help you feel welcome & encouraged.
Newcomers are the most important people as we can only keep what we have by giving it away. In this way, your being here is as much help to the next person as what you're hoping for yourself. We're no longer alone & we are united in our primary purpose to stay sober 1Day@aTime. Easy does it, Bill. Keep sharing here & getting all of your thoughts out of your head & shared with othersd who understand. Calling your local AA helpline will be a help in this too as you will be answered by a recovering alcoholic who will be glad to share what they have with you.
A new life will open up for you & more will be revealed as you go. I'm 21mths sober & life is still changing, slowly, day by day. It changes quicker the more help I ask for. Keep coming back. We're hoping to get a live meeting started online of a Sunday & we're working on the time slot. More news to follow on that if one of us will volunteer to run the meeting. I'm out with my Boyfriend to celebrate his 1st year Sober too! I may well do it next week!
Get yourself those books that Carol recommended & listen to speaker tapes too. There are Joe & Charlie chats based on workshops they do in studying & explaining the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. I'll find & post details of these soon. Carl, my Boyf, is using them & I had a listen too the other night. They explain alot about the disease of alcoholism & with humour too. Keep yourself occupied with as much recovery stuff as you can & this will help you build your defences against thoughts of that first drink. We have a motto ~ If you don't take that first drink, you can't get drunk. Live 24hours at a time & stay in today saying if you need to "Just for Today I won't take a drink.. Maybe tomorrow.. But, definately ~ Just for Today I won't!"
We're all here for you & it helps us to stay sober too. We work a 12Step program & it's a 'We' program. We count on the therapeutic value of one alcoholic helping another. You decide for yourself if you feel you are alcoholic too. It took me a few months to go from simply having a desire to stay sober as a problem drinker to realising I was alcoholic too. When I accepted this, my life & working of my program became easier. I'm learning to love myself too & as Quetzal says, AA has helped me to learn how to do this by loving me unconditionally while I'm learning how to. Ironically, this helps me learn how to love others more too. Winning all round ;)
Good luck in all your efforts, Bill. AA is for those who WANT it, not those who 'need' it. I love AA & it's helped me to grow up & learn how to deal with life without having to escape into another drink. Thank God! Just for Today, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
So I haven't been to any yet.