Hey everyone. Im brand new, Ive tried to quit drinking before without really committing to AA, but now Im ready. I need a change NOW. Where do I start???
Can I also add, what worked for me? Get the literature, Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and quietly read the first 164 pages. Go find a female sponsor to help you thru it. Keep coming back.
-- Edited by Jerry F on Monday 28th of March 2011 05:55:57 PM
Hi Holly, and welcome to the board. We have a lot of qreat requlars here, many women with qood sobriety. If you qooqle for AA meetinqs and the AA hot line in your town, you'll find a meetinq schedule and a phone number to call. Those phones are staffed with recoverinq AAs that can answer your questions and perhaps have a couple of women take you to or meet you at a meetinq so that you won't have to qo alone. The meetinqs are an hour lonq and come in a few different formats. Speakers meetinq (qreat meetinq to attend early on) will have two folks tell their "story" about how they qot sober and what it's like to be sober. Also there are beqiners meetinqs for new folks. I attended those reqularly for about 9 months. There is also discussion meetinqs (most typical) where people share on a topic related to sobriety. Then there are book study qroups. Lastly, Women's and Men's meetinqs. Most people that make it to a year of sobriety take the recommendation of attendinq 90 meetinq in 90 days. It's 1 hour a day to replace the time you'd usually spend drinkinq, which is a fair trade off, if you think about it.
Some of it may depend on how much you're drinking. If you drink a lot every day, like a pint or more of hard liquor or the equivalent, then quitting cold turkey could cause medically dangerous withdrawal symptoms. You might want to talk to your doctor. He/she can help you get through that period, maybe by checking you in someplace.
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Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
Look up intergroup or do a google search on AA meetings in your area, then pick one. Follow up and go. Tell them it is your first meeting and you need help. The rest will be spelled out for you by caring people when you go to your first meeting.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
You just begun the process, now see it through. Telling us a little about yourself and your situation is a good start. Adopting a good sober routine, like developing a repoire with sober minded people, in AA and forums like this one, and getting a sponsor who has a working knowledge of the steps is crucial -as well. Then...start working the steps with your new sponsor, incorporating the principles you learned into a program of recovery that will stand the test of time.
Searching out solutions to solve life's most baffling moments -without drinking- is key here, so keep a look out for those unguarded moments. Oh...One last thing: Keep hoping, keep praying, keep believing in miracles, until you become one yourself.
~God bless~
-- Edited by Mr_David on Tuesday 29th of March 2011 12:45:30 AM
-- Edited by Mr_David on Tuesday 29th of March 2011 12:46:22 AM
-- Edited by Mr_David on Tuesday 29th of March 2011 12:47:26 AM
Welcome Holly, The best place to start is usualy the beining. Sounds like your there. you said- " Ive tried to quit drinking before without really committing to AA, but now Im ready. I need a change NOW. Where do I start??? " You gave the answer in your question. The change your asking for is a commitment to AA and your self. Remember if nothing changes, nothing changes. Glad your here.
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Since it cost a lot to win, and even more to loose, you and me gotta spend some time just wondering what to choose.
