Hi: I added a little more to my bio. Hope radtk is feeling better this morning. Been thinking again of all the $ I could save If quit drinking, and smoking. $250.00 a month!!! Thats what Im spending. Not including the junk I won on Ebay. And I wont have to run to the computer for damage control on the dumb emails I left. Besides that Im taking pills for cholesteral and BP that say dont drink alcohol. Kinda wish I could find some ex-drunks to hang around with because when I get my business caught up with I always go on a binge. I feel kind of lucky because I drink beer so I dont get drunk as fast and after a few days my stomack just wont take anymore. Wine gives me heartburn and I hate the taste of bourbon or that stuff no matter how its fixed up. But Im an alky just the same. Never been to an AA meeting. I looked for a message board like this a year ago but must of missed this one. So this one seems nice, some message boards I visit the people are insulting each other and fighting. One is an aviation place and you should read the commercial pilots calling each other morons and all that. Thanks for the welcome.
I woke up n the middle of the nite here in Calif, wrote you a note, wanted to say hello and how are you doing today, but I don't see it posted, did I send it in a Private Message?
Oh Well, it was the middle of the night, someone else probably got it, HaHa.
Welcome- Sounds unmanageable- Most of us here go to face to face meetings as well- its a gift and a privelege for me, I have some great ones in my area. In any case, keep posting- And try to get your hands on some AA literature if you can- Take Care, JB
I read up on AA some time ago, see if I got this right from memory. The two founders were a surgeon and businessman. They formed the AA that we know today. Back then thier ideas were poo-pooed by the shrinks and the AA was considered by the scientific community to be foolish. As time went by though the AA compiled statistics, using the scientific method, that proved indisputably the theories of the AA are viable and and effective means to counteract alcoholism. As I understand, to this day, when a medico or shrink wants to tamper with the AA theory they are turned away by all involved. Ive heard of (???) some sociologists and psychologists being escorted out of AA meetings because they want to change the AA, and make a name for themselves in thier circle.
Thanks for the reply, Ill get the book(s) and read again. Its been awhile.
hi, Jeff.. that's true about the early history,,, but to tell you the truth the only shrinks I've seen at AA or other 12 Step meetings were there as members and were doing their program.
You said that you wish you had some ex-drunks to hang out with,,, and then you said you have never been to an AA meeting. Well, go to one and you will find the other. That's where we are. Welcome to this site and board. You will get a taste of how AA is here, cuz that is what we are doing, as a supplement to our face2face meetings.
keep coming,
amanda
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
hi, Jeff.. that's true about the early history,,, but to tell you the truth the only shrinks I've seen at AA or other 12 Step meetings were there as members and were doing their program. You said that you wish you had some ex-drunks to hang out with,,, and then you said you have never been to an AA meeting. Well, go to one and you will find the other. That's where we are. Welcome to this site and board. You will get a taste of how AA is here, cuz that is what we are doing, as a supplement to our face2face meetings. keep coming, amanda
Thanks for the reply, until I started drinking to just be drunk I was pretty much an extrovert, being accepted to a college fraternity for example. But as the years of boozing went by and all my frat brothers grew up and matured, I want to stick with those frat days when you could always find a brother to keep company with. I miss those times and know Im reliving them in fantacy by getting wrecked. Foreward 30 years and Im introvereted, though I still keep in touch with some friends I pledged the fraternity with, but otherwise I stay to myself.
When I mentioned the shrinks and sociologists being escorted out of AA meetings, that was only reading between the lines of some publication I read and I threw it in on my own without thinking of the reaction of it.
Im introverted now, live alone, dont mix at all with anyone, reculsive on a place where the neighbors are arms distance away, but I like It that way. Getting in my car and driving to a meeting isn't too good an idea for me. Ill say more later. Have a happy New Year!
ok... well.. maybe for now.. going to a meeting is not what you can do... well.. then this is a step in the right direction ... for today,, and that is what we do.. we live in today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is uncertain,, but we have the present.. now.. this moment.. to do the best we can with. Progress, not perfection.
I have gone through 'hermit' times, and am not comfortable with a lot of people,, though I am much more comfortable than I used to be. I don't have to be a social butterfly, but I do need people, and to overcome my fears about relationships.
I'm glad you're here. God bless you,
love in recovery,
amanda
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
ok... well.. maybe for now.. going to a meeting is not what you can do...
Thanks for your intrest, lets talk. I like my seculsion and reclusiveness. The nearest tavern or liquor store are a couple of miles away so I stock-up on beer and cigaretts. Being a 57 year old I know the dangers of running out of beer and cigaretts. Couple of times long ago I drove home completley obliverated. Some other guy I knew one of those nites hit a kid, hard, with his car. He was very drunk too. So I stay in, drinking, last 20 years and have grown to like it. I maintain my property and personal hygene but I dont want people around me.
Hmmm- Some of that seems right- From what I've read though, the founders and most subsequent members were and are quite open-minded to new ideas provided they are observed to work- Both Bill and Bob had great respect for science, and had many allies in the fields of medicine and psychology- Carl Jung was instrumental in instilling the need for a spiritual experience to overcome the otherwise hopeless state of most alcoholics. And the textbooks cite AA as having the highest success rate of known treatments, increased when combined with individual therapy.
My opinion is that the best is a wholistic approach- AA is crucial, and facilitates improvements in all areas of life- But I also try to exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, be social, etc- Our minds and bodies need to be treated well to heal-
Here is a book I came across from a couple of MDs on strategies that complement 12-step programs- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158054391X/qid=1135654392/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3456838-5039152?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
I've never heard of anyone being escorted out of a meeting- I suppose it is a big world- Still, most of the AA members I know would simply smile and tell such individuals to keep coming...
I understand what you're saying, Jeff. I have gone through times when I have really isolated. I guess, for me, it stems from my childhood, both parents being pretty abusive. I couldn't count on anyone, trust anyone, be what anyone wanted. It seemed, for me, that the contact that I had with people was mostly just very painful, and it was better for me to be alone. Later on, in my late teens, and in a foster home, I hung with a drinking crowd and learned about the 'benefits' of alcohol. But this ended up to be mostly pain also. That's me anyway.
Through the 12 Steps, and some struggle with Steps 2 & 3 I did come to believe in a Higher Power that could restore me to sanity,,, and I gave God exactly one second, that first time I tried turning over my life and will to Him. Then I gave Him one more second, and for the first time in my life my body felt warmth and peace. Amazing. I am continuing to give God second by second, and He has become the only One that I trust, and who is with me constantly. It is through Him that I can feel more secure anywhere and everywhere.
I hope you keep coming here. It is a good beginning.
love in recovery,
amanda
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
Some of what I wrote is just what I heard or read somewhere so dont take it seriously. Thought I would write a lot to give a background on me. Id of been on this site long ago if I would have found it earlier, how long has it been here? This may be my cup of tea. Happy New Year.
Good Morning Jeff, I woke up n the middle of the nite here in Calif, wrote you a note, wanted to say hello and how are you doing today, but I don't see it posted, did I send it in a Private Message? Oh Well, it was the middle of the night, someone else probably got it, HaHa. Hope you have a Better day. Hugs, Toni
Toni, didn't get a private message but thanks anyway. Private or Public I shy away from putting anything on the net that anyone knows anyway. If you read my posts I said I pleged a college frat and was accepted. The frat actives tear you down and then build you up and no fib or white lie is left uncovered. Im an open person and will converse in public with you.
Need to claify, I was trying to respond in an open Post, but when I could not find it, thought it went into Private Message.
GLAD to see you hear,
I don't know where you live, but in most places around the country, you can call an Alano Club, and say you need someone to pick you up, for whatever reason.
I use to spend a lot of time doing Volunteer work at an Alano Club in California, and there were always people calling in asking where is the meeting, sometimes there were toasted, but we always found away to get them to a meeting. It is just a thought. if you have fears about meetings, I dont know anyone in the program that came in alone without their Knees-Knocking and pretty scared. But that is how it begins for most of us. It definitity started that way for me. Hated going for a long time, nerveous, Thought every one was lying about not drinking, But I put up with that, because I know the Only Real reason I was there was so maybe I would have a chance at not drinking that day. Sometimes, I would get some liqour after the meeting, and drink it and go back the next day, start over. they had a Slogan that I would read everytime I sat in that hard chair. the Only Requirement is a Desire to Stop Drinking and it slowly worked.
Im drinking last five days. Inured I think its called. Standing drunk? Guess the bad thing for me is I can do what I want after working a lot. All the posts and my bio are written drunk! You would not believe Im wasted on the phone, talking with me. I always make appointments early in the day so I can round up a 12 pack for the afternoon. You might think Im smarty pants in here for kicks but I'll be here.
