noticing some people wearing drinking/party shirts at a festival the other day. You know, like "it's 5 o'clock somewhere" and that kind of thing.
I Quit Drinking...it was the worst 5 minutes of my life
everybody needs something to believe in...I believe I'll have another beer
theres thousands of them out there. When I see somebody with one of those shirts on, I sure do think of the slogans differently now. I'm not gonna sit here and berate the slogans or the people who wear them. My drinking problem was mine.
imagine wearing a shirt that sez "Thank God My Drinking Days Are Over"
I remember this one shirt that described me to a tee (pardon the pun): "I don't have a drinking problem. I drink, I get drunk, I fall down. No problem!"
I pretty much went through a rough separation back in 2010.Then eventually Divorce.It was so hard I really didn't know how to cope.Bought a big bottle of Jack one night and it made me feel like EVERYTHING was fine,so I little by little started buying it.I finally got to the point where I was so weak the next day,that I had to slow down.I don't drink that anymore but I still drink lighter stuff.I would say probably 2 fifths a week.Next day I am soo depressed.I want to quit feeling like I need it to feel good and cope with life pretty much.
I remember this one shirt that described me to a tee (pardon the pun): "I don't have a drinking problem. I drink, I get drunk, I fall down. No problem!"
That one worked for a while...
Then it was 'I've Fallen And I can't Get Up, Please Help'
Marc
-- Edited by MarcLacroix on Monday 15th of August 2016 08:11:15 PM
Welcome chelle30. Keep coming back here. You can here the wisdom from a lot of people who have been through similar circumstances and have learned to use their daily reprieve from drinking to build a sober life. Let us know how we can help.
Hey chelle, ... That's the cool thing about AA, you never need to give your full name(first name only, only if you want to) ... and if you go to a meet'n, you don't have to share anything if'n you don't want to ...
Early in AA, I've found it best to sit back and 'listen' anyway ... it's the easiest way to determine if you have a problem or not ... there are no 'due or fees', no contract, no commitment of any kind, just go and learn ... try it, I think you'll like it ...
Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
No.I have not.I seen a website on here on how to find help in your area but that's the whole thing I like about the internet right now.Anonymous...
Welcome, chelle30....
If you want to remain anonymous, you may want to consider using a different avatar other than your picture in case others in your area come to this board. Also, you are an attractive young woman and by posting your picture you may receive more than a warm and supportive "welcome" than you would prefer to or need. I am considerably older than you and I received inappropriate comments by someone who used to be on this board a good while back and I never even posted a picture of myself. In the meetings, I was hit on by several men when I was a newcomer. Not trying to lecture, just saying this out of concern. You may want to research "13th Stepping". AA advises women to stick with the women and men stick with the men and for a good reason.
Ok,LTR.I will do that.I havn't even read any of the steps yet.I am still trying to learn where to turn.If you go to meetings in your area,wouldn't people notice you there as well?That is what I am afraid of.
Ok,LTR.I will do that.I havn't even read any of the steps yet.I am still trying to learn where to turn.If you go to meetings in your area,wouldn't people notice you there as well?That is what I am afraid of.
This is possible, but these people are alcoholics as well, many of which have been far worse off than yourself. It is unlikely that these people will tell others, there is a strong understanding within AA and it is called Anonymous for a reason. Basically, you will be anonymous from everyone outside the group.
Also, you will most likely be very surprised, if not shocked (I know I was), by how sympathetic and understanding the majority of people in meetings are. These people have been there and back again and lived to tell about it. But of course, as LTR pointed out, be wary of sexual predators. Not trying to scare you, it's not as if all the men in AA will be trying to gain "favors" from you (or say things like the title of this topic lol), but men like this are everywhere. A young lady such as yourself should be careful in any given situation, but you probably already know this.
-- Edited by Jakamo on Thursday 10th of March 2016 10:27:05 PM
Oh, and back to the shirt topic...I have seen AA/sobriety shirts, some of which non-members might not get. "Easy does it", "One day at a time", "Dopeless Hope Fiend" "Sober not Dead" even "Bill W. is my Homeboy"
Here's one that I would definitely wear (especially at an event that Baba Louie was at, but day-to-day too):
-- Edited by Jakamo on Thursday 10th of March 2016 04:45:34 PM
Thank you for the advice, Jackamo.I will try and find local meetings,maybe phone books?I dunno where you find these places.Yes the topic had me a bit curious as to what he was talking about as well.Lol.I could definitely wear the Monkey shirt.It is soo TRUE!The circus is always in town!
Hmmm,the closest to me is 42 miles away,Ughhh!Hate living in the stix!
There may be other AA meetings closer than that. Not all meetings show up in the 'listing by zip code' at the main aa.org site.
In addition to the main aa.org web site, most areas have their own separate web sites just for their local meetings. A good way to check for local meetings is to do a Google search on the phrase 'alcoholics anonymous' followed by the name of your county or the name of the closest large city, Like these:
alcoholics anonymous San Diego, alcoholics anonymous Miami, alcoholics anonymous Minneapolis
That kind of Google search may reveal a locally-maintained web site that has more complete and up-to-date listings just for your area. It may also have a phone number you can call to talk to a local AA volunteer who can help you find a meeting and answer any questions you may have. (And of course, feel free to ask questions about AA here, too. We're glad to help!)
another suggestion about meetings is to do a search on AA Intergroup in then type in your area. It should bring up the closest one to you. Sometimes new meetings start and sites and the When & Where AA booklets are not updated with them for a while. If you call the number provided maybe you will find out that there is a closer meeting to you.
And just to clear up any confusion, the 13th Step is not actually one of the Steps suggested in AA that we work. It is just something someone made up and used to describe inappropriate behavior which unfortunately does happen sometimes in AA. At first I, being extremely insecure, felt pretty good getting right much attention from men--and especially at my age. I ate it up at first. Then, after I was in the program for awhile, and started feeling better about myself, I realized that it really was no compliment to me to get "that" kind of attention. And after awhile longer, I let a couple of the more persistent desperate poor souls know that I didn't appreciate what they were trying to do and I was not interested in them that way. In time, I also realized it was not a good idea for me to be as friendly as my nature is inclined to be to everyone, because I think some thought that it was a sign of interest on my part.
And nice monkey shirt, btw, and yes, indeed about the "circus" part.
Had you read the AA Litterature you would know that 'We are not Saints'
And that BigBad AA's like me actually do possess proper apparatus to provide NewComers a NoChargeOrObligationLift. So I'm gonna' give MadeMeZellie a FreeOne. :)
Awww,Thanks Marc.I was advised to change it.Lol.I'm a newbie I am reading all kinds of posts. :)
Public Discussion Boards, in some ways, are not unlike the restroom walls along our nation's highways where you will likely find Idle babble, Hooey, Assorted Graffitti and etc. So Yeah, you will see all kinds of posts.
Chelle going sober sucks but rocks at the same time. I'm only 19 and in college so going to my first AA meeting was awkward to do but I'm so glad I did. I know most of the people there now and they are all wonderful people. Pappy is very wise and helps out a lot as well as others on here. I'm only 15 days sober but I'm slowly chugging along haha.