I am an alcoholic. I have been sober for 2 months and 10 days now with the help of a councelor that specializes in addiction. He has been a lot of help but I need more support and am planning on attending my first AA meeting today. Reading some of the posts last night helped me with the anxiety I felt sitting at home thiking about this problem. I just wanted to say Thanks.
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And sometimes to help them we have got to help ourselves. - SRV
Welcome camitch, you'll find a wonderful caring group of people here. I went to my first AA meeting just a couple weeks ago and the support I found there was overwhelming. Great decision on your part to get to an AA meeting.
Welcome to the board camitch, and congrats on 2 months! Don't sweat AA meetings, it's a group of friendly people, the same kind that you drank with, that have found a way to live and have fun without having to drink. Make a decision to enjoy you're first meeting, there's nothing to it. All that you should do (you don't have to do anything) is raise your hand and introduce yourself when the leader of the meeting asks is anyone is here for there first meeting or new to the program. This will allow people to introduce themselves to you, give you some phone numbers and generally it's a start to get to know the people there as they will be your support group. You'll surprised at how varied the group is in terms of age, profession, education ect... We've got all kinds and it's cool to see everyone coming together to address our shared problem with staying sober one day at a time.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Sunday 11th of April 2010 08:33:33 AM
I would love to hear what your reaction is to your first AA meeting.
Mine was amazment, It was nothing like I had pictured in my mind. what I found was a group of clean people that were smiling a lot and willing to share stories about themselves that would raise the hair on the back of my head and then they would all laugh about it especially the one telling the story. I was in a lot of mental pain and I saw hope for me in these people. Turns out I was right.
Keep coming back and share often, help us stay sober.
Larry, ---------------------- A person that is not an Alcoholic,doesn't lay awake at 4 am wondering if they are an Alcoholic
-- Edited by Larry_H on Sunday 11th of April 2010 11:27:26 AM
Welcome Camitch! glad you found us,we need you as much as you need us..WE work this thing together..Enjoy the love of the fellowship,identify with the disease and those just like you.Congrats on 2 months,continue living the miracle.......
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Hey, camitch, congrats! I've been going to meetings for the last 2-and-a-half weeks...I have found meetings that I love and others that I don't so much, but I'm staking my seats and making contacts, and most importantly, staying sober a day at a time. :)
Welcome to the forum!
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"I answer to two people, myself and God... and I don't give a s#*% what anyone else thinks of me."-- Cher
Congrats on the two months, and agree nohing to worry about and I cannot think of one person that attended their very first meeting without some fear.
As you know probably by now, that the emotion of fear is the underlying emotion of all alcoholics.
But it will just dissapear when you sit down, see someone or many, smiling a welcoming smile.
Raise your hand or not. Just listen if you want, the only require ment that you ever need is a desire to stop drinking, that is the ONLY requirment.
Also looking so forward to hearing back about how it did go.
I think what Dean said is so true, we were the people you drank with, makes it a lot easier......
And by Posting, you are no longer new and also a part of our little family here at MIP. Miracles in Progress, and the word Miracle is so right on. For people in the rooms of AA, that were people that could not, not drink, and here we are years later, and without alcohol ruining our lives. Nothing short of a MIRACLE....indeedy.
Hugs and again, Welcome!
Toni
-- Edited by Just Toni on Sunday 11th of April 2010 03:14:00 PM
Hi Craig, Welcome, you are a winner. The AA program of 12 steps is one of the greatest tools I have ever known. Together with the AA fellowship of people we can and will be able to live a very productive life. We are also fortunate in today's age of being able to talk on forums such as these. Wish you well. God bless. Gonee.
Me too! Today was my first meeting and I didn't expect that at all. I am going back tomorrow. I totally didn't expect to relate to these people or feel hope. I dreaded it so. But I did raise my hand when they asked if anyone was new, and while it was terrifying to have everyone staring at me while I shook, when I said it was my first time everyone clapped and two wonderful people took me under their wing in a very sweet and unassuming way. If someone wants to take you for coffee and you feel even slightly comfortable with them, go. It was beyond a relief for me to find someone to whom I could spill my guts to about drinking without worrying that I would shock them. Just knowing that so many people "got it" and were able to get better gave me such hope.
I just returned from my first AA meeting. I am kind of surprised at myself that I didn't invent a reason not to go. I almost changed my mind in the parking lot but made it inside and even introduced myself to the group. It was an open discussion and the stories reinforced what I know I need to do and really really helped to be there and hear them.
I want to thank this online group for the support I may not have made it into the meeting without you.
Thanks,
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And sometimes to help them we have got to help ourselves. - SRV
