Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Hi all!

Sol as I was reading your post I was thinking about moments I have gotten frustrated like that (at AA or at life or at MWO or whatever) and I was thinking "gratitude list." Then you mentioned gratitude! :h It's so often the cure for what ails us. I remember sometimes going to my friend the "Step Coach" earlier in AA when something would happen in a meeting (or out of it) that would upset me. He used to just calmly shrug his shoulders and remind me "we are all sick people. Some of us are sicker than others." That helped me to keep in perspective that AA has such a wide variety of members - the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. And then I go to a different meeting. I can't change others - only me.

bettygirl;1399670 wrote: oh, and i was invited to go to a weekly women's big book study at a really neat woman's house...i'm so stoked!
That sounds awesome! I also love the story about how you said you were so grateful you are not alone anymore. That really is HUGE isn't it?

Kimberley;1399663 wrote: Thank you Mary - I really appreciate being able to share and having your support. I'm trying to think 'this too shall pass' but it's difficult when it doesn't seem to be going away. At least I'm not getting too wound up in negative thoughts. I know it's unlikely to last forever. That does keep me going. Very hard in the meantime, but my life when I as a drunk was incredibly hard too, and I still survived it. Guess I can survive this too x

Hi Kimberly! Wow it is so good to see you post here - you are ALWAYS welcome to post here! I am so sorry to read what you are going through with the immediate medical stuff - the sinus/vertigo stuff - and also the depression which can be oh so complicated it seems!!!! I hope that getting out next week to the meeting is at least a little helpful in making you feel less isolated. ((((Kimberly)))) Have you ever read Julia Ross's books? (The Mood Cure / The Diet Cure) Not sure if any of that info would be helpful, but some people swear by her recommendations for help with mood issues like depression, anxiety, etc. I hope you find a good solution that helps you get back on track. I can't imagine how horrible this must feel for you!

Hi Mary and everyone else!!!!

I am so grateful to be sober today. That is all. :h Love you guys!

DG

[GinaCA]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Wow, Sol! Are you sure that wasn't a bad dream? :0 Sounds like the Twilight Zone. Must say, it made me chuckle!

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Friday's I-opener (7AM meeting) has its chip ceremony. There's standing room only! Lots of great energy in the room. BTW, BB studies are wonderful...enjoy. Mary

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Thanks Betty and DG for your supportive words. I texted my sister this morning and she's coming to my house for lunch. Weird, I really needed her and she's got a day off today, so that's nice. All I can do I guess is push through this period, as hard as it is. Hopefully she'll distract me a bit. I have had exactly one hours sleep, so I may fall asleep in my soup

[catch22]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Hi all :l

Thanks for the feed back,
bettygirl, yes it is the funny stuff i have been smoking. I know what it is i want to do and i been thinking about it long and hard because i have seen others do the samething am helping someone else before am helping myself first. Like what you said about the nodding of the head i do that it a sign saying that you can relate to everything there saying. I had tears reading when you said your not alone anymore it so good to be with people that understand what we go through and different stages in our recovery. BB study sounds really good and a women as well, let us know how it went.

Doggygirl, I think you have a good point i think i really need to speak to my sponsor about this one, there are things i have shared with her that i would never share in the rooms. The think is i would hate it if i would have to let this person down we had a cuppa together had a great chat she feels comfortable with me and me with her. It good to be back.
Solitaire, Glad to hear your son is alright. Good for you for speaking up. I think for newcomers it always good to let them find there feet first. lol dont take this seriously i think we need to take this stuff seriously i have been to too many funerals the last 2years.

Kimberley, So sorry to hear that your not been well. Being fatigued is part of the depression, try and not rush things you have been ill. Doing that chair will help. Let us know how your head scan goes. Keep positive you will get through this i know you will, am proud of you how you are coping with this Big (((((:l)))))) from me.

Have a good weekend every1 and take care. x

[catch22]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Kimberley, Glad that your sister is coming round when you most need it . Enjoy your soup :-) AND Take it easy ! x

[bettygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

such wisdom here, i LOVE IT!

take care kimberly, hopefully your soup will taste good even if you are face first in it!

dg, what a good reminder that we are all at different satges and some of us are sicker than otheres...it even says that in the book. thanks for that!


catch, well, you know what you gotta do, and you'll do it in time. imho weed isn't as damaging as al, but why bother with using anything if you can be sober! easier said than done, i know...i love pot and would probably smoke everyday if i had access. i never would have started drinking so much! i'd be in na instead right now ...oh man, i'm kidding a little bit. i smoked pot for 15 years 24/7...if i hadn't had a kid and worried about the illegality of it, i really probably would have kept on smoking and never drank this much. can;t live in the past...i gotta deal with where i am now! good luck in whatever you do, hon. we are here for you!

have a good one everyone, i gotta get to my noon meeting at serenity hall...it's a fun one with a lot of...characters!
peace!

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Hey all,

Thanks for all your supportive messages. Lunch with my sister did not go so well. It was entirely my fault actually. I am well aware that, as amazing and lovely as my sister is, she can be very sensitive. I usually take this into account when i see her - but yesterday I didn't and screwed up.

I have made my amends the best I can. I sent her a long apology email and I hope it will make her feel better. It was lovely of her to come and see me, and I made a mistake. I know I wouldn't have done that without the depression. Funny how it can make you feel very unlike yourself. But I have done all I can to make things better.

Catch, thanks for your kind words. I read another post of yours and understand that you are going through some stuff at the moment. You have my number if you ever feel like a chat. Big hugs to you. You're a very strong lady, and I know you will get through this in the end.

The 'one day day a time' mentality usually works very well for me when I feel life has me beat. Usually I know the next day may well be easier. I am finding it hard to do that at the moment, because generally the next day is NOT easier, lol! What i find helpful in momonets like this is comparing how I felt a week ago and thinking that maybe next week will be easier. I know when I look back to a month ago, physically I am feeling much better in comparison. If I can stay sober and do the right things, hopefully in a week or a month's time I can look back and see how much things have improved, even if they are not perfect.

Anyway, big love to everyone - I am very grateful to have you all and to have a place to share when going out is difficult. x

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Hi everyone! Quick in and out for me today but wanted to just stop in and touch the lifeline! :h

Kimberly - very good point about sometimes taking the longer view and looking at how far we've come, and trusting that things will continue to improve over the long terms. No matter what our problems are today, we have all sure come a long way from where we used to be, haven't we? You are right - this gives me a lot of hope that todays troubles can be resolved too so long as we stay sober.

:h

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Oct. 22 - 28

Last night's meeting was on step1...very appropriate for me. I'm doing more listening than sharing since the relapse but did share on step 1 last night. I just felt that I needed to say that I must admit our powerlessness on a daily basis...even just to myself. Much of my stinkin thinkin was of the variety:
-I can do this one drink & be OK.
-I can have a drink as long as it's just to get to sleep.
-I was probably not as bad as I thought I was.
-etc.

As the days went on my obsession grew & proved to me that I truly am powerless. Additionally, I began "managing" my drinking not my life.

Step 1 is where it's at for me. I cannot slack on it.

Mary