New Alcohol self help

lewt

Sometimes we get lost in the process and forget where we set out to go. This is probably the case most of the time in our lives. We forget what the game is all about and what we hope to achieve with this game."

Today, think about your life. Where are you headed in work, in love, in spirituality? Are you where you want to be? What do you need to change to get there? Pull back the view finder and get a larger perspective of the big picture. Remember what you hope to achieve with this game"

This came today

habibi_2

brodev wrote: »

Funnily I remember complaining to my sponsor that a particular meeting was full of ****. He said "Good, you can do with some manure to help you grow". I could never win with him fortunately

Ha ha that's a good one.

Sponsors are very annoying sometimes :rotfl:

brodev

As a long time member of AA I am often asked if I see any differences since I joined. The answer is "yes, some good, some not so good" One of the aspects that I don't like is what I see as the dilution of the program. I came across an article that was written in 1976 about this and I thought "its nothing new". I am including a link to this article if anyone is interested. http://www.aaglasgow.com/aaglasgow11/gresham's_law.htm

mramoeba

A long and interesting article brodev thank you for the link. the problem however as i see it is not the dilution of AA per se, but the inability of AA to recognise that it is not the only way, and dare i say may not even be the best way for every individual. i believe until AA can acknowledge this there will always be the temptation to compromise and bend in order to attempt to fulfill the needs of a now more diverse and changing body of alcoholics and addicts. there is no doubt in my mind that the original tenets of AA have worked well for countless people and saved countless lives, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that where it doesnt work we are able to suggest alternative methodologies. After all sobriety is everything, whatever it takes to get there.

brodev

Sometimes it is the way we look at things. I do see it as dilution. I have no quibbles with anyone using any method to get sober but I do shudder at times when I see individuals going on the roundabout of in and out when sitting on the fringes. Perhaps it is down to my own experience when the magnificent obsession of being able to continue to drink was uppermost in my mind. The option of not drinking was not one i wanted to consider but I was not offered another. I turned my back and tried on my own but, in my day, there was no where else to go. I returned to AA in 1964 at the age of 23 and I have not had a drink since. My life has had it's ups and downs but generally speaking I have had a good, happy and productive life. All down, IMHO, to grasping the program of AA, albeit reluctantly.

mramoeba

im very glad i am sober, i dont think i will ever tire of thinking that, and im very glad you are sober too, you know what it feels like. it makes me giggle, i wish i'd got it age 23 ;-)

lewt

mramoeba wrote: »

A long and interesting article brodev thank you for the link. the problem however as i see it is not the dilution of AA per se, but the inability of AA to recognise that it is not the only way, and dare i say may not even be the best way for every individual. i believe until AA can acknowledge this there will always be the temptation to compromise and bend in order to attempt to fulfill the needs of a now more diverse and changing body of alcoholics and addicts. there is no doubt in my mind that the original tenets of AA have worked well for countless people and saved countless lives, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that where it doesnt work we are able to suggest alternative methodologies. After all sobriety is everything, whatever it takes to get there.

the thing is for people in AA it is/was/ the only way. AA does dont have leaders that put out info saying it is the only way for every drinker.the idividuals that do say it mean it for them.
i'm a recovered alcoholic and addict. i use the 12 steps as it suggests in the big book. i dont go for any other way and dont go by the 12x12 stuff as i see it as the steps were written and the big book a guide to it. i aint saying i dont read the 12x12 and other books. but i follow it as it was oridgonally set out. eg, i conmensed step 4 imeditaly after step 3. i feel the big bok has the precise percific clear cut instuctions on how to do the steps and find recovery. fair enough i had to find some one to point out the suggestions, i hear sometimes in meetings there are no musts in the fellowship, for me if i want the promises that follow each step talked about in the big book there are musts i need to do.
I dont mess around with my recovery of the message i carry, i carry what i did and what has happened since and i don think its a coinsisdence that everything promised ot me in the big book has come true since i started following the siple instructions.
Some have said to me you never recover you'll always be recovering. the big book tells me different. and i', livng proof that the 12 steps work. if other stuff works for other peopel and offers the peace of mind i have and tool i have to deal with things on a daily basis then good for them. i never found anyting that worked as good as what i do now.
i've also heard it suggested to do a step a year! i'd still be hovering round insanity if i did that. and prob alot worse than if i was using chemicals. i do a daily step ten like is suggested on p86. when we retire at night..... i still have a couple of amend to make on my firt step nine. but it was suggested to start 10 stright away.
i like other have said love the feeling of being sober, i love the feeling of not being controlled and consumed my the need for chemical. i have no need for them, even antidepressants which the doctors seem to like to throw about at anyone with a drinking or drugging history. answer for drug, ore drugs ? not for me..... anyway thats enough from me.... i'll go hide away again for a bit while people moan at me for posting like i do....

feelinggood_2

I love being sober, but I feel like I'm in mourning for the 'chaos' I once had - is that normal?

jo1972

feelinggood wrote: »

I love being sober, but I feel like I'm in mourning for the 'chaos' I once had - is that normal?

This is what I'm worrying about happening to me. I know we must take each day as it comes but I can't help worry about the future, I've always have rebellious tendencies.

Day 3 for me today

feelinggood_2

jo1972 wrote: »

This is what I'm worrying about happening to me. I know we must take each day as it comes but I can't help worry about the future, I've always have rebellious tendencies.

Day 3 for me today

I think my memory of how the chaos actually made me feel is slipping away, and I'm just remembering the good points. Its hard!