I haven't been going to meetings the last six weeks. A friend of mine implored me tonight to just go to a meeting per day, whether I was drunk or not. He said that since I was organizing my work and social life around drinking, I could do the same for meetings. I guess he thinks that by going to meetings, I will more likely want to stop. I like my local meetings, the people Ive known for 9-10 months. But, the reason why i dont want to go now, is that im still drinking and i do not want to show up with alcohol on my breath...i would look like an ass. Shouldn't I just wait until Im ready to seriously stop? Is it frowned upon to show up at meetings while drunk or still drinking?
I have been at meetings where someone has shown up with alcohol on their breath, and where some were even obviously 'under the influence'.
I have never seen anyone asked to leave, unless they were extremely disruptive, and that would be regardless of whether they were drunk or sober. I remember one young lady even telling the group about how she would sit and listen to AA tapes while she was 'bombed' on booze and drugs, but was struggling to 'get' it. The only message we shared with her was that we cared. We also asked her to keep coming back, but I never saw her again after that meeting. I pray that she made it.
-- Edited by Sick of being sick at 17:17, 2008-10-09
i know this is innappropriate perhaps, but it just amazes me how alcohol just turns a switch on..one minute, your 9-10 drinks into the evening, kinda feeling ill or tired, or hungry...you stick with it, somehow the 11-12 drink makes you feel splendid. Amazing and oh so dangerous...
Whatever it takes, Dods. Here in Akron, Ohio, we recognize that with some people, expecting abstinence BEFORE getting to meetings is putting the cart before the horse. AA is there to help you GET stopped, as well as stay stopped.
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~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
I drank for 2 months while going to meetings everyday. Did they know? Probably, but no one said a negative word.....I think they were just glad I was there...Eventually, it all sunk in! I even remember posting on here, while drinking and reading the big book!
So, I agree, we just need the desire!!!!
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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. "
I went to my first meeting on the end of a 3 day 24/7 drinking and drugging binge. I was out of it. Cant remember too much about it but I remember people were lovely and kept saying keep coming back. I did and for today and one day at a time I am nearly 11 months sober.
Another close friend of mine in the fellowship doesnt remember when she first came to A.A., she was out of it all the time for at least 2 months when she first came round and remembers nothing of it. Her husband used to bring her and literally push her into the room. A lot of people thought she wouldnt make it but she did and has nearly 7 months sobriety now. She has had some major problems to overcome in her life this last few months and has stayed sober. Shes an inspiration to me.
Ive seen lots of people who keep relapsing and when they get back they are welcomed with open arms, no matter how many times they do it, people are just so glad that they made it back.
Try it for yourself and go to a meeting, I am sure you will be welcomed with open arms.
I've seen a handful of people over the years show up to meetings drunk. It's frowned on by some and tolerated by others, and of course everyone would rather you were sober at meetings (I mean come on- what are we there for?) but every time someone has showed up drunk someone has eventually taken them to the side (or outside) at some point during the meeting and has spent some time with them, talking and listening and hopefully getting them pointed in the right direction.
Totally off topic but related nonetheless: A couple times I've seen some real mouthy drunks get belligerent during meetings and get taken by the arm and trotted outside and mercilessly shamed by a couple very large, usually very considerate and sometimes very overwhelming (when they want to be) bikers. That's always been caution enough for me. ;)
11-12 drinks made me feel a lot of stuff, but splendid wasn't one of them.