so, does anyone attend AA?

[kaddy]

so, does anyone attend AA?

l go to aa meeting find them good,,,only go 1 a week as l live in a small town and no go,,,(by my chose) but when things are very bad l will ring someone from my meeting,,,they will pick me up ,,l find they do not tell you what to belive,,,but belive in a higer power,,, so you can go to that when your had your wores,,,
sorry about spelling
jackie

[kaddy]

so, does anyone attend AA?

sorry that ment no car

[StraightLines]

so, does anyone attend AA?

I've never gone - I've sat in on hundreds of meetings though cos of my ex, it's not my thing. My ex is VERY INVOLVED with AA in our region and I guess in a way even if it was my thing, that stops me.
I attended AlAnon years ago when we were in the throws of his crictical abuse, and it was just horrid. Saying that, every meeting is different, I know the ex says some he likes some he steers well clear from. He has his regular meetings at certain ones.

I have to admit I think it's a bit Cult'ish, but that is just my opinion. It has been the life saver and continuous thing that keeps the ex on the straight and sober path therefore I have to be thankful for it, just not for me.

Give it a go, try a few different meetings, be an observer and then see what you think if it's for you or not

[Shikakai]

so, does anyone attend AA?

maasai;270214 wrote: i havent been to the meeting myself, but i have the AA big book which is acollection of so many life experiences from recovererd AAmembers and it has been soo helpful, just sitting with agroup of people who have a common problem,and sharing your experiences sounds great to me i would really go if i have that opportunity,

Um hmmm... they gave me the Big Book as well. I can't wait to get into it. Of course, if I read it on the train I'll have to find an 'alternate' cover

[paula]

so, does anyone attend AA?

I went regularly to AA, and found it really helped me to stop drinking. One of the reasons
I stopped going was that everybody seemed to smoke heavily, and I would sit there choking. I do have quite a few AA books which I have found very helpful.
Paula.

[tea]

so, does anyone attend AA?

I attended a group a few years ago, yes I liked the comraderie in the meeting but a few members took it upon themselves to keep calling round to my house uninvited as they were 'just passing', to some this may seem friendly but to me I found it intrusive.

Lx

[Reenie]

so, does anyone attend AA?

Hi Me: I attend AA meetings occasionally. I enjoy the meetings, especially the Speaker and a particular Woman's meetings. AA has helped me tremendously. When listening to the other's stories, it only confirms further, that I'm not the only one battling this disease and that some other seemingly normal people are dealing with it too. I don't view AA as being a cult. I view it as a group of people battling the same problem, striving to reach the same goal, and that is, to keep sober. I have met some wonderful men and women. They were there for me the last time I relapsed on July 2, 2007. I woke up disgustingly hung over and very down on myself. I didn't know what to do. I was half out of my mind and was wishing I was dead. I called a woman of whom I met at an AA meeting. She was the same age as me. I told her I was a mess. She kept saying to me, "Reenie, this is an f-n disease. You are not weak. You have to cope with this disease before it gets the best of you. You can do it. I've been sober for 6 months now. Life has truly gotten better". When I heard this beautiful young woman, who is dynamic, makes heads turn when she walks in the room, a person who loved going out to bars and socialize, had 6 months sobriety, I thought I can do it to. Instead of driving off a bridge or doing harm to myself, I immediately went to an AA meeting and sought help and hugs from strangers. To this day, I have over 7 month’s sobriety. I attend AA when I feel like it and want to make a social event of it. Meaning, I'll go to a meeting where I know there are young people and where there is a beach nearby. I buy a cup of coffee, attend the meeting, then walk or sit on the beach afterwards. When I'm out of town, whether it is Oregon, Florida, etc... I'll attend a meeting. I pop into a local meeting on occasion that is all women. You would be amazed at how beautiful, poised, and fun these women are. You would never suspect that they were once heavy drinkers. I find hearing other people's stories and their length of sobriety inspiring. I'm leaving for a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with my husband next week. There have been times when I think, hmmm, “Maybe I'll have a drink or two on vacation”. However, there seems to be a "brake" in my head. The thought stops dead. I know that I worked hard to get to this point. That it's the taste of vodka or red wine that I miss. I don't miss losing control or my mind. Anyway, as soon as I get to PV, I will look up an AA meeting and attend one. What's an hour out of my life and vacation to attend a meeting when it's going to help me stay sober another day? Oh... I went off on a tangent. I'm pro AA. It's another tool in addition to this site that can help you stay sober. The people you meet in AA have "heart", just like the people here. -Reenie

[Mags]

so, does anyone attend AA?

AA must be a personal experience, I guess. I went for a while and attended several different groups trying to find one I liked.
I don't want to write a long thing, but if I had to depend on AA to stop drinking, I would be drinking much more than before I started going to meetings. I thought that the meetings were unbearable, the people were mostly fakes (many mandated and others just playing the part to feel good), and I found the book offensive and anachronistic - especially to me as a female. At the meetings, I just wanted to sit and listen many times and they kept telling me I had to talk. It was horrible. I just made up a bunch of crap like many of the other people there probably did. Just to get it over with. And I did make the mistake of giving my phone number to one person who promised not to give it to anyone else and I got phone calls from a dozen people for weeks. I could tell you more but I won't.

I'm real happy if it works for some of you. It's definitely not for me.

[skygal12]

so, does anyone attend AA?

tea;270259 wrote: I attended a group a few years ago, yes I liked the comraderie in the meeting but a few members took it upon themselves to keep calling round to my house uninvited as they were 'just passing', to some this may seem friendly but to me I found it intrusive.

Lx

Tea - OMG! How did they find your house??? Isn't AA supposed to be "anonymous"? I would never go if I knew that people there would know where I lived.....wow

[MDBiker]

so, does anyone attend AA?

I go to AA, and I think it is a great part of my ability to stay sober. I know there are some good meetings and there are some bad meetings. Even here in my town (where we have about 6 groups meeting) I find I don't like some of the groups. But the groups are all designed around different needs. We have a meeting for executives, 17-25 year old street kids, gays, hispanics, hard drunks ( some still active), and college students. All these are open to whoever wants to attend them, but they are designed for a specific purpose. Our saying here is if you can't find a meeting you want to attend, buy a coffee pot and start one of your own. Hell, we could have a MWO group. he he

I believe having someone here who knows how I feel and how I think is a great advantage to keeping my sobriety. I have lots of people I can call or see when I am losing it. They don't tell me what to do, they help me understand the options and open my eyes to the truth of drinking when I can't see.

I think it is a personal choice, but I think it should be made with all the information. Go to a meeting or two and decide for yourself.

bear

[me145]

so, does anyone attend AA?

hey guys, yeah i agree with you all.. people are all different, and no one is perfect. some meetings might work and some might be full of nutty people. that is our world.. but it definitely seems like a positive thing to talk to others about the same problem and realize you are not alone!

[Accountable for Me]

so, does anyone attend AA?

I have been to meetings in the past.... I went to this one group - and it was FULL of older guys. They were super nice, but I felt totally out of place. I stopped going to that one within a few weeks. When I did stop going, I had one guy hunt me down too. I was not impressed with the bombarding of phone calls and have some stranger show up at my door. I did give out my number - only because that was what you were to do - get a sponsor. It left a foul taste in my mouth as I am a very private person.

I went to another group... pretty much the same. I found the stories depressing and hearing them over and over did nothing for my state of mind. I found myself wanting to drink more when leaving these meetings.

I then went to another group.... BUT this was CA. Cocaine Anonymous. I have never touched the stuff in my life, but the people were my age and the meetings were a lot of fun!!!! I also attended the NA meetings - and they were a lot of fun too! I met lots of people suffering from addiction. I felt like I belonged.... I made some really good friends back in the day.

I say, there are good meetings and bad meetings. I believe it is worth checking out. I am contemplating on finding one here. I would like to meet people who can understand, and maybe make some 'sober' friends. Who knows.

[Noelle]

so, does anyone attend AA?

I have nothing nice to say about AA, NOTHING! However, I think everyone should at least give it a try, and not just one meeting. Try several different ones. Apparently I'm a round peg trying to fit into a square hole. But's it's okay, I just do it my way and these boards help.

[AAthlete]

so, does anyone attend AA?

Okay, I'll play Noelle's opposite - as I have nothing but nice things to say about AA! I have a 7am morning meeting group that I attend, which is a mix of professionals and blue-collar workers (which is awesome because it gives a different perspective). No one there is pushy, no one there to hunt you down if you don't show up. We are very serious about our program, but how can you not be when the ultimate outcome of progressive alcoholism is usually death, jail or the nuthouse?

How can I say bad things about a program that has kept me sober for eight months on Friday, and has completely removed the obsession to drink? I think about my program every single day, but I never think about drinking anymore - absolutely no desire. I am a better person in terms of not being so selfish, and friends and family have noticed a huge change in me as a person. I'm not bitter anymore, I'm more outgoing and friendly and willing to do things for other people.

But other than that, it hasn't done anything for me! As others here will say, different strokes for different folks.

[tea]

so, does anyone attend AA?

Lol Sky, yes it is anonymous as in you wouldn't tell anyone how you know a person or that you met them at an AA meeting etc. They knew where I lived as they lived in the same area. I suppose they really were trying to be friendly but I just didn't want that, I wanted to attend the meetings and then go.... I didn't want the every day 'pals' part that they were offering, I know that some would like that but I just didn't and felt too rude to say so.

Lx