For those of you who attend AA

[Changed1]

For those of you who attend AA

The New Me,

Sounds like an interesting book and I did read a few pages on Amazon. I'm curious, what is the author's take on AA in general? I guess I agree with him about AA, not to mention the fact that it does take time to get ready, drive, sit in the meeting for an hour.

I am going to go to my aftercare for the first time tomorrow night. The facilitator called wanting to close me out and I'd paid good money for the rehab so I may as well go.

[Guest]

For those of you who attend AA

Changed1;670883 wrote: The New Me,

Sounds like an interesting book and I did read a few pages on Amazon. I'm curious, what is the author's take on AA in general? I guess I agree with him about AA, not to mention the fact that it does take time to get ready, drive, sit in the meeting for an hour.

I am going to go to my aftercare for the first time tomorrow night. The facilitator called wanting to close me out and I'd paid good money for the rehab so I may as well go.

I too hated having to give that time. My job often involves working evenings and I'm losing money every time. Way I look at it is the amount of time and money I wasted being drunk is nothing compared to a few evenings a week and a few ???s a week I can make that up as long as I'm sober. I don't actually spend that much time getting ready either these days, I just freshen up a little and off I go. It's not a show, I'm there to try and stay straight.

[The New Me]

For those of you who attend AA

Changed,

He did not like it, but look at it as necessasry evil. But, he was a creative advertising guy who does not like any structure. I think it is a great idea for you to follow up with your rehab and take advantage of all the benefits that you paid for.
If you are a reader, I do recommend "Dry" Well written, funny, honest to the bone. You may relate to his rehab expereience. There is a lot of wisdom in his wise crack remarks. And - it will give you something to do. You said that your concentration is not there - you may be surprised how much you can get into stories you can relate to. I have been trying to stop my addiction to alcohol books now

UKblonde - the goal here is to stay away from AL - whatever it takes. If it is AA, that's great. If it is the gym, or a church, that's great too. I think the beauty of this site is that we all find our own way out. We are like snow flakes - everybody is different. We just share our experience here.

[Changed1]

For those of you who attend AA

Thanks for the info The New Me. I will pick it up on Amazon. I think I can concentrate on a book like that. I think I'll just go to my aftercare and SMART at this point. I put the patch on today and need to steer clear of smokers anyway, and a lot of people at AA smoke.

UKBlonde, I think it's a great idea to go to AA if you think that will help you to stay AF. I just don't agree with the fundamental tenets of AA and want to be able to be true to myself. AA is structured and I am not a structured person. I think that's why MWO has been such a breath of fresh air for me. Everyone is different in their approach and that is ok here. I know I've flip flopped in this thread, but think that maybe with my aftercare I may be able to make some progress. Too, I put the nicotine patch on today and that will reinforce not drinking. I can't drink without a cigarette (love the two together) and when I smoked a cigarette today (no wine) my lungs just burned. It was icky. One other thing I am doing is to put $ into a box each day I don't drink - whatever money I would have spent on wine. It will add up. If I can quit smoking I'll do the same. I figure between the two I spend $5K a year, which would be enough to pay my taxes on my house and homeowners insurance for a whole year.

Anyway, now I am just blabbing, so forgive me. I appreciate everyone's input here. :thanks:

[Guest]

For those of you who attend AA

That's ok. I'm not trying to persuade you, all I know is that I don't really agree with the AA stuff. Never have done. If the gym could have saved anyone it would have saved me! I'm so desperate to compete in my chosen sport, for the first time in my life I'm unfit and unable to train. Never thought it would get like this.

I've now paid for 4 rehabs, including aftercare which didn't get me anywhere and eventually the only conclusion I can come to is that there must be something in AA - especially since most rehabs to refer to the 12 step system in one form or another, even if it's just a passing reference.

I really don't want to do the meetings thing but I've exhausted everything else so will have to go against my better judgement.

Never thought I'd be saying this a year or two ago.

[Changed1]

For those of you who attend AA

Ukblonde;671140 wrote: That's ok. I'm not trying to persuade you, all I know is that I don't really agree with the AA stuff. Never have done. If the gym could have saved anyone it would have saved me! I'm so desperate to compete in my chosen sport, for the first time in my life I'm unfit and unable to train. Never thought it would get like this.

I've now paid for 4 rehabs, including aftercare which didn't get me anywhere and eventually the only conclusion I can come to is that there must be something in AA - especially since most rehabs to refer to the 12 step system in one form or another, even if it's just a passing reference.

I really don't want to do the meetings thing but I've exhausted everything else so will have to go against my better judgement.

Never thought I'd be saying this a year or two ago.

UKBlonde, by all means do give AA a try. It just might be the thing that works for you. Sure cannot hurt to try at least for a bit. I've done AA before and it just hasn't been for me and I've really given it a fair shot. I'm starting to wonder if I can even do the whole AF deal, although it's very important I do. In the last nine days I have drank three times. It's better than nine of of nine like before. Still, I noticed my mood considerably worse on a couple of occasions and, given the fact I take meds for depression, I shouldn't be drinking at all. I wish you the best of luck with AA. I really wish it would be for me as AA is everywhere. MWO is a great substitute for me though.

[Guest]

For those of you who attend AA

Ok, Changed1 - can you not see how it could be creeping up on you again?Trouble is those little, handleable times can really trick you I find. I had a night were I didn't feel to bad the next day, had only drunk enough to have a good time. Then with 1 week or less I'm back on 2-3 day binges.

I once had a psychotherapist explain what happens to the brain when you go over the line into addiction, why cravings occur and why every time you drink (even if it's only one or two) you could be setting yourself up to more temptation. Be it today, tomorrow or in 2 months time.

Just be careful, I've seen it in so many others and I know I do it myself.

[cacky]

For those of you who attend AA

I went to an AA meeting last night and really had a good time. Yes i did say a good time. There are some really great meetings out there. Some not so great but some wonderful meetings. Its worth getting out there. Dont forget that everyone there is for the same reason..so if someone is going to gossip then dont they have to tell on themselves too.

dont forget you dont have to share. you can wait until you find a group you feel you can trust

[Changed1]

For those of you who attend AA

Ukblonde;671404 wrote: Ok, Changed1 - can you not see how it could be creeping up on you again?Trouble is those little, handleable times can really trick you I find. I had a night were I didn't feel to bad the next day, had only drunk enough to have a good time. Then with 1 week or less I'm back on 2-3 day binges.

I once had a psychotherapist explain what happens to the brain when you go over the line into addiction, why cravings occur and why every time you drink (even if it's only one or two) you could be setting yourself up to more temptation. Be it today, tomorrow or in 2 months time.

Just be careful, I've seen it in so many others and I know I do it myself.

(((UKBlonde))),

Yes, I can see how things could be creeping back. In no way am I suggesting I want to moderate. It's too much work quite frankly. No, my moods are very affected by alcohol and I can see it in my house right now. There is crap everywhere on top on counters, all over the table where I am typing, etc. The only thing I was trying to say is that there were six days in there I wasn't destroying my liver. Too, I am really seeing the damage done, even if it's only in the form of looking at the giant mess I have. I end up going off of my diet and just generally feel disgusted with myself when I drink.

I woke up last night thinking about all of the ways I've screwed up my life thanks to alcohol and the depression. It was a bit too much for me. I drove to the store and got some cigarettes. I was so happy to drive there knowing I hadn't had a drop of alcohol and didn't have to worry about getting pulled over. Not drinking is a much better way to go.

I hope your day (or getting close to night) is going well for you and thanks!