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90 meetings in 90 days -- meetings, meetings & more meetings. Ask your Higher Power every morning to keep you sober for that day. Get a sponsor. Work the steps.

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-- Edited by StPeteDean at 13:43, 2008-12-29

Hi,

I had a few slips when I started with AA. I just got to as many meetings as I could, got a sponsor, started working the steps, read daily from Big Book and Daily Reflections and spoke to at least one other recovering alcoholic. I also made sure that I stayed away from any temptation until I felt stronger.

But, the 13 days have given you experience. Try not to beat yourself up too much about your slip. Try to learn what triggered you to drink again and learn from that. That's what I did.

I also tried to keep myself as busy as possible during the early days. I did all of the jobs around the house that I had put off for so long and started taking regular exercise. It all helped me.

Please keep posting and letting us know how things are working out for you, won't you? You're not on your own.

Take care,

Carol

Thanks, all. I think exercise is a big one. My gym has shut down, I need to find something else I enjoy doing.

I'll let you know how I get on at the meeting tomorrow.

While relapse is personally very painful, the people in meetings generally benefit from hearing about your relapse and what happened. It helps them to know what to avoid through your experience and it helps other people who have done it many times recognize they don't want to feel that way again. The saying I hear about falling off the wagon is what Bill W. said, which is basically to not let it be a kick downstairs, but a kick upstairs. Know why you did it, recommit, and don't fall into the same trap again. I hope you are remembering HALT...never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Those seem to be some of the main causes of relapse. For me Lonely is the kicker....as well as depression which is really just anger turned inward. Someone also told me to keep sugary stuff around and it would help with cravings. I think I went to like 30 meetings in my first 13 days. I picked up a sponsor on day 6 which held me accountable. He suggested I raise my hand at every meeting to start off. Mostly you have free reign to share whatever and spout off anything at a beginner's meeting so those are awesome to go to at first. I cried repeatedly and was a huge mess (still not perfect either) but sharing and getting that stuff out helps. The only thing that concerns me about what you wrote is you saying you drank for no real reason. That puts you in a bit of a dangerous spot because if you don't know the trigger, how do you avoid it again? A sponsor and talking in meetings might help you really figure out what makes you tick and why you drank this time. Also "a meeting" is always great but trying to attend meetings where you see some of the same people again and again is good (when you find the regular meeting where you feel most comfortable and there are old-timers who have what you want). That way just feeling connected to some friends in AA might stop that first drink. Get their numbers and call them...it benefits them to help you.