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Kappa · Newbie

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Jerry F · MIP Old Timer

Aloha kappa!!

You've come to the right place. There are hundreds of thousands of others who
have been where you are right now and have never gone back to the bottle for
any rhyme or reason what so ever. If you want what we have earnestly and
honestly you will do what we have done. You will find out how earnest and
honest you really are about quitting the bottle if after 90 days of following these
suggestion you are still drinking.

For the next 90 days get to as many open AA meetings as you can. Get there
early and on time. Get INTO the meeting not on the edge. Sit down...all the
way down and listen with an open mind. Keep all other issues and subjects
of focus outside the room. Learn to say this short phrase often, "Please help
me" and just before you end your day in sleep say it this way. "God please
help me." Don't let whether you believe in a God or not stop you from doing
that because while you have been drinking you have been missing out on a
lot of important events in your life and a Power Greater than your self not
named after some alcoholic beverage, is one of them.

Check back here as often as you can to let the other members into your life
and be supportive.

Go now...

(((((hugs))))) smile

ps. what was suggested here has already worked for me and still does.

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hello Kappa and welcome to our (your) board.What Jerry said ^^^^ I can't add much to that accept to get busy reading what we call "the Big Book". You can read it here free. Most of the answers to your questions will be found in there, you'll find yourself in there as well.

Dean

http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_tableofcnt.cfm

Sobrietyspell · MIP Old Timer

Welcome to MIP, Julie. 25 is a great age to stop what you're doing & change your life. Coming here & asking for help is a great start too although if you are alcoholic like me i.e. Cannot stay away from that first drink without help, once you start you can't stop & whilst under the influence cannot trust your behaviour & attitudes, A.A. will be of a great help. It has helped me to put down the drink & live a wonderful life after alcohol.

We do this 1Day@aTime with honesty, openmindedness & willingness. You are no longer alone. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. No one will tell you if you are alcoholic. That is for you to identify & decide. For me, once I realised & accepted I could not drink safely & that alcohol had been ruining my life from the inside out & could even kill me or drive me insane, my life got easier.

I poured my every effort into getting well & gaining my self-respect. I did not want to relive any of the humiliation alcohol had been bringing into my life. Already, I was dying a spiritual death & I was losing hope for the future. I was frightened that all the patterns of my past & how I felt about myself would continue to hurt me & that I would not grow to be the person I so desperately wanted to be. I hated & hurt myself & it is no longer like any of that today.

There is a life after alcohol if you want it & do as has been suggested. It is working for me & I have seen it working repeatedly for many others in fellowship too. Attend your meetings, ask for help & stick with the women. You can learn how to change & live alcohol-free.

Keep coming back & asking for help. We have been where you are & will love you while you learn how to love yourself. Helping you helps us by sharing what we have. You're very welcome to all we have to give. As you learn, you will be able to do the same :) It is a wonderful life sober! Goodluck & Godbless, Danielle x

Dodsworth · Senior Member

Kappa- Hey there...You are in the right place my friend. Read some stories out of the Big Book (you can read it online if you don't have a hard copy). You're young like me (I'm 26) and I know its hard but you can do this...

eastcoastscott · Senior Member

Hiya Julie,

We aren't built to conquer these things on our own, so don't even try to. Addiction is a psychological/spiritual disease that takes a journey of self discovery and treatment to "treat" not "cure" ourselves. Once we figure out exactly why we use, we can take corrective measures to regain the life we should have. It takes help from others to do so. In my opinion, it takes people who "know" what we are dealing with, such as others in the same boat, various types of doctors (addiction specialists, counselors, psychologists etc.). Never feel ashamed of being an addict, we don't choose these things. We can, however, ask for help in a humble way, from those who understand and freely give it. This place is one good example of that, as well as recovery groups, etc. You are among friends, ask lots of questions and keep coming back.

toni baloney · Senior Member

Hi Julie,

Just wanted to send a big Welcome to you. Ditto to all the advice already put on paper.

Hope you'll stay and get to know some of us.

again, WELCOME!

Toni

Kappa · Newbie

Thanks everyone for replying to me! It's really scary and really exciting. I can't make any meetings, because we don't have any around here. The closest is 30 minutes away and I don't have a car. This is why I was looking online for help. I am going to log onto that book though.. Just not tonight. I have just let the last 7 years of my life pass me by. I had a position as an RA at my school and I lost it because I went to my sorority banquet.. after 3 months of being sober.. and I drank with underagers. I worked so hard to get that job too! It's been killing me all semester. It's so hard to stay sober when you are in college still!

Dave Harm · Senior Member

Here's a thought for you. If you're still in school talk to a counselor about the possibility of starting a group on campus.

Kappa · Newbie

I have thought about that... but don't really know how to go about it and who would help.

Doll · MIP Old Timer

Welcome to MIP.

You've taken the first step "Admitting there's a problem" so why not check out your local AA....

Glad you're here.

Hugs and prayers.

Jen

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

You could call intergroup and they might help send someone to you or maybe help you find something closer. If you can make it to that one meeting 30 minutes away, you might find someone who lives right next to the college and you can get there together....or, that person might be open to having meetings at your school or at their house. It would take you being assertive, but might be worth it. My college was also like 30 minutes from town. Getting sober was the last thing on my mind in college and I wish it had not been that way. I now consider that I was largely a "fake" person through much of those 4 years even though they were great. I just think I would have learned more if I'd taken all the lessons outside the classroom without drinking. Back then I was just a hardcore binge drinker and I did graduate with a 3.6 GPA. Nonetheless, it was the start of me putting people pleasing, academics, and alcohol before my spirituality. It could be that spending time nurturing your spiritual side might be the answer. College is when I picked up booze and dropped my spirituality completely. If you put your journey to be the most fulfilled and spiritually healthy Julie above the parties, campus life, and even above the sorority, it will not be as hard to stay sober as you think. I wish I had done it then and I commend you for reaching the conclusions you are at your age.

kkotz401 · Senior Member

Hi Kappa,

Welcome to the board. I know it can be frustrating but don't let it get the best for you. I myself have had a few setbacks. Just try and stay positive.