Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

[Cherbear]

I'll start the thread off this time!! first time for everything!

Just read the daily reflections for today and I am going to really think about how I finally decided I had to let go and admit the powerlessness. That was the key to the longest sobriety and happiness I've had in my adult life!! I can say that and I actually get choked up.
admitting powerlessness and daily figuring out where I am powerless and where I am NOT is so freeing!

I am in the process of selling my house and buying another one and believe me the stress could be through the roof but my daily tools of AA are so incredibly helpful.

As it says in the reflections, I am not powerless over my attitude or negativity, which so many people will try and bring to my life. I will not let them steal my joy!

Happy sober 2011!

[j-vo]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Hi all and welcome Anthony!
Thanks for starting this week's thread, Cher. And thank you for directing me to the daily reflections. I have it sitting right next to my other AA literature, and I don't always pick it up, but I did today because your post!
This is the question my new sponsor reviewed with me last week prior to beginning my 4th. She wanted to know if I thought I was powerless over alcohol. Yes, I do believe I am, because I've tried for several years to control this disease, and I could not. My life became unmanageable because of the disease of alcoholism. I'm satisfied with the fact that I tried moderation many times, abstinence a few times (one being over 60 days) but because I am an alcoholic, I am powerless over alcohol, but not powerless over other things.

The trick is understanding and learning which things we have power over and which we do not. This brings my thoughts to the serenity prayer. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." AMEN!

Here are some things daily reflections mentions we are not powerless over:

1. Our attitudes
2. Our negativity
3. Assuming responsibility for my own recovery.
4. I have the power to exert a positive influence on myself, my loved ones, and the world in which we live.

Happy 2011!

[retteacher]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

I've been faithful about reading the Daily Reflections & love that this month, we're focussing on Step 1. At some time during the day, I admit that I'm powerless over alcohol, & when I drink my life becomes unmanageable. We had a busy, wonderful weekend. We had a New Year's Day party w/AA friends. What a great start to the year! I feel positive! I'm pressed for time right now, so I'll keep this short. I am going to a large, lively meeting at 8. I'll be back tomorrow. Mary

[Sona]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Hello all.

I got out to my favorite meeting last night. The church building we usually meet in was still closed for Christmas, even though it was supposed to be open! So about fifteen of us met at the same restaurant we met at over Christmas break. It was a good throw together night. I actually kind of like it when events take us by surprise and we need to quicikly improvise. Those make for fun meetings.

I am making today an AF day, then January an AF month, and looking forward to an AF 2011. MWO and AA have been a great help to me so far!

[retteacher]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Sona: I think you'll find this AA thread a nice one in terms of support for AA. Glad to see you here. Mary

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Off to a great start it appears. I've made it to 5 meetings this year. Our 630 am group is growing, it is kind of exciting to watch people change.
Let's all have a great first week of 2011.

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Hi all,

J-vo kindly directed me to your thread. I hope to go to my first proper meeting today or tomorrow (depending on when I feel well enough as I have just been through withdrawal and still haven't managed to get outside yet). i have only been to a handful of meetings over the past ten years as I didn't believe it was for me at all.

But I have finally realised after a lot of relapsing this year (I was previously sober for quite a while) that I need the face-to-face support of people that really understand, people who have been there, to help me finally stay sober. i drink at times of crisis, upset and anger - don't have a problem with not drinking socially, and I believe it will be really important for me to have someone to talk to or somewhere to go when bad things happen where I will be supported by people who can empathise and make sure I don't drink.

I am kind of anxious but I want to commit to doing the 30 meetings in 30 days I belive it is they recommend at the beginning, find a group I like and use that as support. I don't really know about the steps and all that - first and foremost I need the human contact.

Anyway I hope I can join you guys while I am learning the ropes and any advice you have for me as a newbie would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
(slightly nervous) k x

[j-vo]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Kimberly,
The Big Book is online, so you can easily look it up if you don't have one. It's a great book and it's helping me to understand how the program works. You're right. The first and most important thing is to get to the meetings, find a meeting that you really like. Some you will find that you're more comfortable. Good luck, and let us know of your experience.

[j-vo]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Hi all,
Welcome to all new folks starting on this thread. Glad to have you!
Well, I've been sinking into this depression again. It's an annual thing, and though I made it through the Holidays, I feel it coming on. I start to cry at everything, get very tired, and anxious. I ended up leaving work after 1st period yesterday. Couldn't face the day. Went home and slept several hours, woke up and started praying. Called my sponsor and didn't get a chance to talk to her. Read daily reflections, and decided to get to a meeting. After my meeting (which I'm so glad I went to) I got to speak to my sponsor. I'm grateful to this program for all of the support and tools I have now. I would have stopped at the liquor store or somewhere to get booze yesterday had I not been in this program. It would have been a beginning of a downward spiral. Thank you all, and thank you AA.

[retteacher]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Kim: I too didn't have a problem w/social drinking. It was the alone drinking that took me down. I too drank during times of crisis etc., but I eventually became a several-times-per-week drinker. I also was a secret drinker which wreaked havoc on my mind & spirit. I had been a member of MWO for a few years & realized through my reading & posting here that I was an alcoholic. However, I continued to relapse, which really took its toll on me. Finally, after a particularly ugly drinking episode, I tried AA. That was in March 2009, & I've been sober ever since. I was scared to death going to my first few meetings. I did find the meetings I felt most comfortable in, but I continue to explore different meetings just to get out of my comfort zone...which is good for me. The notion of 30/30 is a good one. You might have to force yourself into meetings. There were many in the beginning that I felt I wanted to run right back to my car, but I made myself go in. I can only say that it's been so worth it. I got through my father's death sober. My daughter was diagnosed w/breast cancer last year, & I was with her through all her operations & treatments sober & was helpful to her & her family. I love MWO, but I really needed face-to-face connections. You don't have to share, & you don't have to accept everything immediately. Keep an open mind, & you'll find help. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions. However, this thread can give you any info you need. You can have a sober life...you're worth it! Mary

[catch22]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Hi everyone,
I love readin my Daily Reflections, every morning sometimes i do a bit of power reading and read a few pages ahead.
My new year was nice and quiet one, until half hour into the new year both nieghbour were fighting in the middle of the street had to call the police......The End.
Anyway i had a co or flu before christmas thought it gone but come back twice as bad feeling a bit weak inside me, the funny thing is i fancy a drink stupid i know but when i use to be ill in the oast i alway thought a drink use to help me. I have to go got work just hope i dont callapse, take care all.x times up

[dancelot]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Catch, have some tea or broth or something, anything but a drink (stinkin' thinkin'!). I see you're coming up on one year. I have heard of people getting these thoughts at certain points (30 days, 3 months, 6 months, etc), or worse, acting on them. I don't know the reason or reasons why.

Get to a meeting, call your sponsor, get past it, just for today. I used to use a cold as an excuse to drink too (like it would actually help me get better ), or early in the day, which I didn't do at the time (talking about years ago).

If you like spicy stuff, something that is good for a cold and makes me feel better is chicken soup (the brothy kind) and add lots of garlic and cayenne pepper. It warms you up, opens your sinuses, and both garlic and cayenne are good for you (chicken soup supposedly has healing properties too).

I hope you are feeling better soon. :l

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Hi all,
well I have my first 'proper' meeting in a couple of hours and my stomach is doing somersaults. I was actually awake all night thinking and suddenly I just began crying uncontrollably. I think this was a moment of admitting my powerlessness if you will.

I have tried weekly relapse prevention, counselling etc but have still been relapsing all the time - I think I have been too proud to do aa in the past, thinking I didn't need it or that I wasn't the sort of 'weak' person who needed AA. But last night I think was a realsiation that my alcohol problem is much too big for me to deal with alone and I need to reach out to others to help me cope with it. I AM too weak - its such a big problem and I need to focus on it every day.

So I think the crying thing was a mixture of feelings - relief at finally submitting, apprehension, sadness, all that sort of thing. In a way the very fact that it happened in that way makes me believe even more that this is the right thing for me to do, as if my subconscious knew it all along if that makes sense.

So AA has arranged for a local member to meet me and take me in, which is a comfort. I only hope I don't ruin my mascara too much during the meeting!

Mary thanks for your words - I am so happy for you that AA has enabled you to get past so many difficult things. This is what I want for me too. J-Vo and Catch I hope you both feel better soon.

Right well, fingers crossed, I will post on MWO how it goes.
K x

[retteacher]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

Kim: I can't tell you how many meetings I've cried at for one reason or another. Of course you're nervous. Everyone is when they walk into their first meetings. I too thought I could do it alone. I didn't think I was "like those other people in AA." Well, I've found out that the details of our lives might be different, but the despair & desolation is the same. It doesn't even really matter what my drinking pattern was or whether I lost job, family, etc. I'm an alcoholic, because once I start drinking, I cannot stop & my life becomes unmanageable. I found out that I don't have to live in a cardboard box to be an alcoholic. I've met tons of different kinds of people in AA: nurses, priests, teachers, etc. There really isn't a stereotype. Good luck. Let us know how it went. Mary

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA thread Jan. 3-9

i'm joining you guys, biscuit-munchers that you are what a wonderful and relieving experience. well ok not the first ten minutes - I walked in there and straightaway started crying uncontrollably for about 10 mins, but the lady who was looking after me calmed me down and after that although I felt very edgy and unsure of myself, I am convinced this is the way.

I was made so welcome and two ladies gave me their numbers as well to call at any time. i'm going to post on the general forum about my experience, but I BELIEVE in this now, I really do. So I am going to do 90 days of 90 meetings (haha not 30 after all) and ease myself into all the AA stuff. All that is important now is that I attend a meeting every day - the rest of it will come as I become more comfortable.

See you on the thread and I hope you guys will also help me learn how best to use the AA although everyone at the meeting seemed really helpful anyway, so I hope I will start picking it up as I go along.

I expected to leave feeling partly horrible, having joined some club for the terminally wretched - but I don't. I feel like I will be joining a little secret society of lovely people