Hello I have another question. Im wondering how AA can change someone who's main problems are disabilities? Like I said before I have not drank since the year 2001 drinking is not messing up my life right now, but my disabilities are..
They always have and that is the reason I ever started drinking in the first place. See a person's life with disabilities is not the same as a person who dosent' have any at all. They have to fight for every thing, includeing the right to live.
Its hard to understand unless you have experienced this for yourself. But I deffeinlty can see a big difference between my life and my brother and sisters lives. Everything comes much easeier for them then it does for me,,
and something else too, the thing with me an alcohol is that it makes life livable for some odd reason, when I drink i get rid of the stress of the day, Once I was actually told by a doctor that people like me need to drink sometimes. WOW, I was in shock to hear those words comeing from a doctors mouth. And of course I belived him,,,
I suppose he was being somewhat of a jerk, probably some kind of sick little joke he thought was funny,,,
Guess what?? I am an alcoholic, and booze always got rid of the stress of the day for me too...but it eventually started adding stress to my life. And that's putting it mildly!!!
i could never tell you if i could stop at one...actually i never could stop at one!!!I am powerless over alcolhol...and my life was unmanageable. DO you honestly believe you are an alcoholic? If you do then AA is for you. You say that alcohol isn't messing up your life right now...that to me sounds like you don't think you are an alcoholic.I can't speak from personal experience for disabilities, and i don't know what yours are. I do know people with disabilities who are alcoholics. I guess they separate the two..find support for your disability issues and if you have the desire to stop and stay stopped drinking then go to AA. It will teach you how to live life on lifes terms. With out turning to alcohol to run from myself and my problems. I don't know if what i've said has helped you any, I 'm sure more friends here will come along and share
Matisa, You said you have not drank since 2001, so you have 4 years of sobriety, I wonder were you would be today if you had been drunking all this time?
I have several physical ,health problems, one being Scleroderma. I agree with Wendy, you need a support group for the disability you have. I belong to a group for auto-immune diseases. The understanding I get there is invaluable.The people in AA and Al-anon who know about my health are always there to listen and give me a hug when I need it, but they don't have a clue what it's like to live with the pain or the stress every day.They understand what it's like to live with alcoholism and with an alcoholic.
I would hate to think where I would be today if I was still drinking, because as I look back I see how the drinking only made my problems worse. I think I would be dead today.Stress is one of the things that makes my health problems worse, so AA has been a life saver for me. I learned the Serenity Prayer, I learned it's okay to walk away from certain people, places and things because I can not change them. I am responsible for myself and I can help those who want help and I can let go of those who don't.
Matisa, how long have you been in AA? I think AA can help you , we get what we need when we need it. I think you are a great asset to this board and you have helped me. I'm sure you have something to give to someone in AA,also.Please,keep coming here, keep posting,sharing your experience, strength, and hope.
AA helps me to deal with life on lifes terms. It helps me to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
There are some of us here that have seen deaths door. But for the Grace of God, we have been spared going through that door.
I have a doctor that still tells me that 2 shots of whiskey a day will help physically.
Well-the old Alky mind starts working and says hmmmm---if 2 shots a day will do that, think of how great 20 would feel.:)
Not going there. There are consequences to every action. Ide rather stay on the positive, sober end.
Have a great day guys.
__________________
Easy Does it..Keep It Simple..Let Go and Let God..
Alcoholism is the great equalizer...I've seen deaf people, blind people, people in wheelchairs,people with brain damage(from alcohol or accidents),learning disabilities, doctors,lawyers, rich,poor...none of us are unique when it comes to our drinking and how we felt.
That list could go on and on. I have had had chronic depression for the bulk of my adult life.Of course drinking made me feel better...or so I thought. By drinking, i was hiding from the world and the probllems I had. At some point, I couldn't drink enough to forget.I never knew what I was going to do, just have a drink and go home, or go on a BINGE. And I got tired of playing the guessing game.
After I dried out, they told me that AA was a new way of life to live. My sponsor told me the 12 steps were a blueprint for living...if I worked the steps daily then my life would change. And it has for me. I have been sober for 4 years, as you have. I am happy with my life today, I don't have an underlying sense of dissatisfaction or doom anymore. Yes there are things that I need to change about my life, but I know that when God is ready for me to make those changes I will have the strength to do so.
The obsession of alcohol is gone...I no longer think "if only i could have a drink."Or "I'll show them...I'll just go get drunk." I lead a happy productive life without alcohol. And had I continued to drink I would be in jail, or dead. I believe that I used my final chances up years ago. I was a timebomb that got defused.
You say your main problems are your disabilities, and that is probably true. But why add alcohol to the mix if you don't have to?
Thanks Guys ! you put it back into prospective for me, I could use the exstra help I can get from AA. Can I stop at one, well probably not, back when I drank I never did, didn't think I needed too. Could drink A whole big bottle of rum by myself in one night and never thought anything about it.
But now the thing that keeps me from drinking is knowing that GOD will punisih me if I drink, and this is something I belive with my whole heart and soul but, I could use some encouragement from other people,,, Yes , deffeinlty... Not to mention I need good friends in my life As I have none right now..
Gammyrose, thank you !!! and Im glad that something I have said has helped someone else, Although I don't see how,,
Please remember that you are very important to the world. You are an individual person who just by being you can help others and give them pleasure in life. I pick up that you have a sense of humour and I for one love that in a person. I have always looked for people who can make me laugh, I am not much good at making others laugh or laughing myself but when I find people like that I hang on to them.
Anyway the point is that you will make friends if people get to know you. Someone is going to enjoy your company and one good friend is better than a million fake friends. In the meant time really spend time with yourself, it sounds corny but I dont just mean sit on a couch but go swimming or try painting, paint a wall if you have nothing else to paint. If it were me I would just hang an old sheet first and then paint that. I love expressing myself but always hold back because I am a procrastinator of note, maybe you can pick up where I left off.
Another idea, do you know anyone who has a dog that you could visit ? Animals can be very fulfilling to us humans( as long as you dont have any allergies). They are the best friends who give unconditional love. Make sure it is a gentle animal whatever you do.
Good luck and remember you are worth it, every effort you make for your happiness is worth it. Drinking or drugging is the single worst choice we could make today, I really believe that.
