Hey all, I'm relatively new to this forum and 7 days sober. I've found an AA meeting that meets today at noon, here in my small town of 40,000 where I've resided for only 3 years but already know many of the characters.
I woke up with the greatest intentions of going to this meeting but am having severe anxieties over going, and wonder if that's too much anxiety for me this soon. I've felt wonderful, energetic, and optimistic since I detoxed and am so happy - except for this step.
Hi PJ sweet girl, The anxiety is the best reason to GO. The people who go will welcome you with open arms. There is nothing wrong with being an alcoholic only if you do not do anything to treat it. And you are going to treat it with AA. That is something to be very proud of and not to be ashamed of at all. I promise you will be fine and the fear you have is your friend "fear" telling you to get going and the more you resist the louder the fear is speaking to you through the anxiety you are having.
Sorry about the format of my post my cursor is going wild due to the pasteing.
God bless and let us know how your meeting went. Love Rosie
I remember the very first AA meeting I went to. I was 3 days sober and a complete wreck. Apart from leaving the house to buy alcohol, I just didn't go out. I, too, was suffering severe anxieties. But, I made the effort and walked in.
To my amazement there were quite a few people there who could understand exactly what I was going through and how I felt. I wasn't 'crowded' by people, but I was made to feel so very welcome.
Then, after I tried to go it on my own without meetings and having drunk for eighteen months I went back. The same old fear and anxieties were there with me again. I could have made excuse after excuse not to go to that meeting. But, I didn't. I promised myself sobriety and honesty.
It was the very best thing that I could have done for myself. I was given the gift of desperation and that got me to my meetings. Today, I have been given the gift of sobriety.
I haven't looked back since.
Be kind to yourself and get to that lunch meeting. It's the very best thing that you can do for yourself. You deserve it and you're worth it.
And, we're all for you.
Please let us know how you get on, 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
Hi PJ, Okay PJ I have been not going to meetings on Day 10 now but because I have handed advice to you I am committing to going to my first meeting in months tonight at 7 pm.
I promise you and then tomorrow we can talk about our meetings. Deal?
You have helped me to get myself in gear to do so and also you Deirdre and all who are on this forum.
I just spoke to a lady I have known for many years and who is in AA. We have few meetings here in this area and I would have to drive 45 minutes away to a city that is too much for me right now to go to meetings. There is only one noon meeting, which I wish I had everday, on Tuesdays.
The rest are meetings that are after 6 at night. So I will do my day and take a ride to the meeting tonight and go from there. I feel getting out into the public is a good thing to do. Isolating with this is not.
This forum is a great place to be and I thank God for it. It has give me the strength to stay sober this week and to overcome a lot with the abusive relationship and to deal with other things each day.
Getting to the meetings daily and twice daily if needed helped keep me sober! Couldnt have done it alone! Reach out, your hands will be grabbed!!!!
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
They always say that 'The meeting you don't want to go to, is the one you need to go to.'
I've always found that to be very true. You might be amazed at how the 'Topic Phenomenon' works its magic, and it's on the exact thing you need to hear. There could be a newcomer (with just ONE day) there, and they need you more than you could imagine, as they could be just as anxious if not more.
The first meetings I went to were absolute hell on my psyche, not knowing anybody, not wanting to know anybody, not being drunk (I drank to function), and just bein an angry angry mess. I found that my willingness and my level of surrender was directly proportionate to my level of pain. People started talking to me even though I didn't 'like' it and kept sittin near the back, and now you would think I'd been at my group since the dawn of time!
A suggestion: Take some donuts or sandwhiches to the meeting with you, it's a perfect ice breaker and, if you're like me, so out of your nature that it's exactly what you should do!
IT WAS GREAT! A small group (smaller than usual they said), and they devoted the entire meeting to talking about their first AA meeting, knowing this was mine! I talked afterwards to a few (on a big country front porch with a swing) and told them all about my group here! And that I couldn't wait to get home and write to y'all that it went so great! And I probably would not have gone today without all of your encouragement! Rosie, you cool girl - can't wait to hear how yours goes tonight. I am on central time so we are one hour behind you on Eastern time. Deidre, you were so right on! Also picked up the big book. Wonderful day; I left smiling rediculously!
Hi PJ, Good for you!!!!!!! I knew you would have a nice time and the porch swing sounds wonderful.
You would be about 3:31 right now then if you are behind an hour.
I will go for 7 pm tonight. I look forward to it and have finished my paper work business and things on the computer. So I will do up some housework and take my shower in a bit.
You got me going to mine so that is cool also. We all can help each other in so many ways. I know for me procrastinating and putting off what is good for me gets easy as I isolate. And then in trouble with booze.
So up and at em' is the name of the game!!! There are so many good things we can do with our lives that booze just stops dead in its tracks. Good for you Miss PJ. Take care dear soul Rosie
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
