Alcoholism and Addiction: The Hype's Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous

[Reek]

I just thought this might be a good idea. I don't know if I have a problem or not, but I drank so much that when I did stop, I had a seizure. I've gone to A.A. meetings in 'real life' and have been too embarrassed to talk about it to anyone. It says 'anonymous' but for me it wasn't really anonymous enough just yet. I would just like to hear what people say about their own experience and maybe this can be an area for people to talk without fear.

I went to 'real' A.A. meetings... even bought that blue book... the stories I heard scared me to death. The problem was I felt completely alone. I was shocked at what some of these people shared, and simply did not know how to share.

I hope this thread might turn out to help some people learn that type of courage. Isn't this as 'anonymous' as it gets?

 

[Tanin]

I hate AA's 12 step program. Forcing god into it alienates people and they don't seem to care.

 

[Reek]

I hate AA's 12 step program. Forcing god into it alienates people and they don't seem to care.

that was another thing that made me uncomfortable. I am not religious. the whole Lords prayer and all that made me feel so weird.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

I have been in and out of AA since I was 16. I just recently went back into the program and will have 30 days sober on the 27th. AA doesn't force God or any particular religion on anyone. Some rooms are for people focusing on a particular religion but if that bothers you don't go to those meetings. It's about finding God as YOU understand him and getting in touch with your spiritual side. My sponsor was an atheist for several years when he started. You have to be willing to accept that there is a something greater than you and that you can't control everything. God for you can be literally anything that you can accept. For most of us alcoholics left to our own devices we will go into self destruct mode, I know I do. They say let go and let God and that's an important thing to remember since you can't control a good majority of what happens around you, being able to accept that and not let it bother you is one of the things the program can help you with.

The important thing is to go to meetings and listen to what people have to say as well as how they program has helped them. The old saying is meeting makers make it. If your really serious about giving it your all try and do the 90 in 90, that's going to 90 meetings in 90 days so at least one every day. The more you go the more comfortable you will get. Don't worry about sharing until you get some real time under your belt unless you just have something you want to share and get off your chest. Also try and show up early and stay late so you can just mingle and get to know people, this is a good way to connect with everyone. Don't be afraid to ask for someones number, most will gladly give it to you if you ever need to call someone and talk. Pick up a Where & When while your there too so you can know all the meetings in your area. After a while you more than likely will encounter someone who's sharing speaks to you on personal level so don't be afraid to speak with them after about their experience so you can learn. If that person has some time under their belt and they have what you want (ie good life, stable income, etc) feel free to ask that person to sponsor you. Once you have a sponsor they will help guide you with the steps, this is done one and one and is all about helping you get rid of the desire to drink. My sponsor is coming over here shortly to do some step work with me this morning. It may take you a few sponsors to find someone that you really connect with on a personal level and teaches they way that you learn but don't give up and don't be afraid to try.

I will post more in this thread to try and help anyone but if you ever want to know more stuff and don't want to post in here feel free to pm me. Here in a little bit I'll post some of my story so people can get a better idea where I'm coming from.

 

[Reek]

I have been twice now and fear I may need to go a third. The 3 places near me are all very uncomfortable for me... Everyone is religious (which i dont mind) but they are all significantly older and seem like they would rather be preachy than supportive.

 

[the last son]

No one I know drinks like me. I down fifths of jack Daniels in one sitting. I've been arrested drunk, falling down in public, having my family send me to rehab. When I drank heavy in my early 20s it was 6 nights a week black out drunk. That went on for 5 years. Then without AA I got a year sober. I broke it this year and usually breakdown once a month. AA didn't help me, but it does help millions stop drinking. Period. At the end of the day you have to look deep down and say no to the bottle.

 

[mkilban2]

My brother is now a year sober from everything (went to rehab for heroin, but was into everything) the program has helped him, but the most important thing (for him at least) was changing the people around him and his lifestyle. Hope this even helps a little bit.

No one else can truly help you but yourself in the end though, it needs to be a committment you fully make yourself. Best of luck man.

 

[Reek]

My brother is now a year sober from everything (went to rehab for heroin, but was into everything) the program has helped him, but the most important thing (for him at least) was changing the people around him and his lifestyle. Hope this even helps a little bit.

No one else can truly help you but yourself in the end though, it needs to be a committment you fully make yourself. Best of luck man.

thank you. I was thinking we would all have a place to talk here. I moved two months ago and, here, it is hot and humid as hell... so I got completely dehydrated, but had also been drinking heavily and had quit for 3 days then collapsed and had a seizure. i looked it up and talked to the doctor about it... all a combination of withdrawal, dehydration, exhaustion and bumping my head on the porch. Obviously, without the withdrawal, I don't believe it would have happened.

i don't remember anything from that day anymore. I remember falling... waking up on the couch confused...then woke up in the hospital scared to death. I then slept for nearly 2 straight days, which I won't lie, sleep is great. But when you wake up and realize your friends have already moved everything for you and you only contributed for the first day of moving... its pretty heart breaking.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

If you go to AA's website they have list of all the meetings in your area, feel free to find ones that suit you better. They have beginners meetings, young people meetings, really there is a lot usually. I'm not sure how metropolitan your area is but usually there is a good variety. The important thing, I feel, is to talk to folks before and after the meeting. We all share our stories and try and stay on topic during the meeting but some of the best info comes from casual conversations about it. Don't be afraid to ask how people did it when they started so you can get an idea of what's ahead of you. Also get numbers, that way if you ever feel the need to drink or vent or whatever you can have people to call on.

No lie, most of these folks will pick up the phone at 4 am and help you man, that's what it's all about. We have to give it away to keep it. If you don't have a car like me than meeting people is a good way to get rides and believe if you want to get there they will make sure you are there. Lots of times people go out to eat afterwards and all kinds of stuff. Just remember to keep going as much as possible, you don't have to share anything during the meeting but try and talk to folks like I said.

 

[Reek]

sobriety is goddamn hard. how do you deal with holidays? i have that 'divorced' fam where i have to try to attend both gatherings. im uncomfortable even thinking of attending.

 

[Reek]

sorry, was at a meeting tonight, i have never talked before, but this question bugged me.

 

[Godzilla2000]

Trust me, if you have any kids it's the best reason and motivation for sobriety. I am a testament to the permanent psychological damage that an out of control, untreated alcohol addiction can cause on your innocent, confused offspring.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

For me, it was all about working the steps. Going to meetings is good but finding a sponsor and working the steps is what took away my desire to drink. There is a metric ass ton of reasons that used to make me drink and until I dealt with those I was just a dry drunk. A lot of people have a misconception that AA is all about religion. It is not. It's about coming to terms with a power greater than yourself. You can chose to call it whatever you want. Your God can be Good Orderly Direction or just a Group Of Drunks. As long as you believe that I or anyone else believes than that is more than enough. The disease of alcoholism/addiction is 3 fold:

-Physical
-Mental
-Spiritual

In the past I have only worked on 2 out of 3 and it didn't work for me. Now that I have got to a point in my life that I truly want to change things and work on all 3 things are much better for me. Again, I want to stress this, AA does not endorse any religion. The program is simply designed to address issues on the 3 fronts I listed earlier. In your area it may be older folks but I guarantee if you talk to enough people you will find plenty of people who had a problem with the whole God thing and I would suggest you ask how they came to terms with it. My sponsor had a big issue with that very thing early in his sobriety.

Cory my advice to you about the holidays is this, if it makes you uncomfortable and you feel like it may be a situation where you would want to drink then DON'T GO TO IT. I found it was very important in my early sobriety to stay as far away as possible from things that would trigger any cravings or make it easy for me to drink or do a drug. Just be honest with your family and I'm sure they will understand and be happy about the choices you are making in your life right now. I try to avoid hanging out at places where everyone is getting ****ed up since it would make it easy to join them. Early sobriety is hard and the last thing anyone should do when dealing with that is put themselves in a situation that makes it any harder.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

One thing I forgot to mention, don't be afraid to put your sobriety above everything else. Trust me when I say it was the best thing I did for myself. It truly seems like once I did that then good things just started happening to me more often. That's not to say I don't have a bad day here and there but they are a lot less frequent than when I was out partying all the time

 

[Lantern Venom]

Godzilla and DJ Kidd have posted some sound advice. Cory, make sure you are talking to people about your struggles either in a group setting or one-on-one. While it's true that there is often a physical predisposition to addiction, the need to get drunk or high is a mask for other problematic areas. Make sure those are getting attention too, even if they aren't easy fixes.

I also need to say that no addiction ever gets managed without willingness. If you are going to meetings and asking for advice on the internet, you have taken the essential step upon which all the others will follow. I tip my hat to thee, good sir.

 

[Black Narcissus]

Exercise!

Go for long runs. The discipline of that should ease the temptation and make it easier to quit.

 

[KalMart]

Congratulations to anyone who takes this step, and stick with it. Stay strong, and best of luck.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Cory, check out http://www.aa.org/ and enter in your city, state and all that jazz and look around for a YPG (young peoples group). You may find more people that are in your demographic that is easier to relate to. I just got back from a YPG and I love this group. After the meeting we had a bonfire and roasted hot dogs and made s'mores. I'd also see if there are any beginners meetings or step meetings around you too. Those are really good for early sobriety and help a lot

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

As of 8 mins ago I officially have 1 year of sobriety. Thanks to my higher power, my sponsor and all the good people I have met along the way. If you're struggling with an addiction there is a better way available to you if you want it but you will have to work for it. If I can help you in any way please feel free to post here with any questions or if that's not your style feel free to PM. I can't believe it's already been one year and how much better off I am today as opposed to a year ago. This is just the tip of the iceberg for DJ!

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Today marks 2 years of sobriety for myself. I won't sit here and say that I never had a bad day but thanks to good sponsorship, the rooms of AA, getting the privilege of being of service to another alcoholic, and doing my best to try and maintain a contact with a higher power of my understanding I didn't have to take a drink or a drug on any of my bad days.

If you're struggling with alcoholism or addiction there is a better way. I break my anonymity here for the sole purpose of showing that is true. If you are struggling feel free to PM me and I'm more than happy to give you my cell if you need someone to talk to or need help finding a meeting.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

All the best in your struggle DJ.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

The beautiful thing is it has long since ceased being a struggle and turned into a blessing. It's all about doing it one day at a time homie.

 

[KevanG]

Good job DJ.

 

[Marvolo]

Congrats, DJ. Stay strong.

 

[jokesonm3]

You can do it DJ. t: