I have to go to AA for court. Im NOT an alcoholic. In fact my crime had NOTHING to do with alcohol. But a lab came back saying i had "liver damage" or my liver was low in something. So now im in the Veterans court system and my councilor wants me to get a sponsor and work the steps because he suspects substance abuse. I like that aa has helped people. But its simply not for me. Again my party days are over I havent touched alcohol in years. Please is there ANYONE here willing to explain to me how i can do everything a sponsor would help me do without wasting their time or mine. ill have to fake everything anyway. I just need my councilor to believe Im going through the steps. He sees me once a week. Thank you so much for your time.
There is nothing to fake. You won't be fooling anyone, including yourself.
If my liver enzymes were low (or whatever the test indicated) and I was not a heavy alcohol user I'd high-tail it to a doctor to see what the heck is really wrong. If it is not from alcoholism, per an appropriate physician, that should be a factor for the legal side of things as well.
People do end up getting "sent" to AA who are not in need of it-it happens-but the good news is that you are free to go to any open meeting-they are open to the public-and just be yourself.
I personally do not care for the saying "Take what you like and leave the rest", but that may be the right approach for this situation. If you are not an alcoholic, it certainly can't hurt to go, and it won't make you into one LOL!
Your counselor should know that he has no business telling you you "have to" have a sponsor--that is NOT AA...and there is not one word in the Big Book text (up to pg. 164--not the stories) about having a sponsor. Tell him you'll get your attendance slip signed but how you "work your program" is your business. Alcohol is only mentioned in the first half of the first step--the rest are a great guide for living-you have nothing to lose by just sitting and listening.
It might be best to just go along with it, as you're not exactly in control of your destiny (we never really are) at this point. Non- compliance is something that us alcoholics have to learn to deal with. Doing it "our way" only got us here. We learned how to take suggestions and direction, how to let go and turn it over to the care of our higher power, in order to have a life we can live with and be grateful for . Happy Easter DH!
That's interesting. I went to my first meeting because I thought it would look good on a pre-sentence report. I didn't like AA and I had no intention of staying. That was 18 years ago and I'm still here. Way back in the olden days, the Big Book said "we are sure our way of life has it advantages for all." That's why there are so many different fellowships. I even know some people who don't even have a drinking or addiction problem who use the 12 steps as a design for living. Just check it out. But don't drink the coffee. You might catch AA.
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Not all my days are priceless, but none of my days are worthless, anymore.
