Food & Drink Anyone here done AA meetings or the like?

[Kenshi]

Yeah my dude believing in God isnt a cult thing but best of luck with your bullshit, you've completely missed the point of the AA programs. You should try going back to square one.

Understanding you can't control your addiction and believe in a higher ideal than your selfish impulses is key in overcoming an addiction. The other people in these programs can take it too far, but you're all there to hold each other accountable. That's not a cult. That's community.

I'm not sure what you're on about. I never put down belief in God or a higher power. I believe in God myself. A lot of people do find AA to be cult like so I was just mentioning an alternative in case it was helpful to know. I went to both.

In the end whatever helps a person overcome their addiction is what they should pursue. Not everyone benefits from seeing themselves as helpless over something. I saw it as having taken a wrong turn and having to navigate my way back. I don't relate to, "there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss it", or the people who count the days. But if that works for people then more power to them.

 

[Croaker]

I'm not sure what you're on about. I never put down belief in God or a higher power. I believe in God myself. A lot of people do find AA to be cult like so I was just mentioning an alternative in case it was helpful to know. I went to both.

In the end whatever helps a person overcome their addiction is what they should pursue. Not everyone benefits from seeing themselves as helpless over something. I saw it as having taken a wrong turn and having to navigate my way back. I don't relate to, "there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss it", or the people who count the days. But if that works for people then more power to them.

My bad, most of the time people use the religious aspect of AA as a means to demean religion (and then by proxy sobriety itself). I've heard that one so many times it's my default assumption. You have to have an ideal higher than yourself, otherwise your behavior will revolve around what feels good, and that is what what hits most addicts in the first place. There has to be a hierarchy of values in place.

 

[Kiniun]

I was on a list for a while and will finally be going to my first group meeting next week. I'm happy to get things going, but I'm anxious about the process.

The meetings are 90-minute long. It seems very long.

What can I expect? Any tip?

(Yes, sherbros, you can make fun of me because I'm a dumb alcoholic. Don't feel bad. Don't hold back.)

-When i went to AA/NA there was a heavy emphasis on finding a Higher Power, which may not be for everyone.

-Alot of the old-timers I meant loved to tell war stories about their addiction. They kept pestering me to get a "sponser." Alot of the time it's a power/ego trip. "Oh you think you had a drinking problem??? I used to....blah blah blah..."

-A lot of them recommended I do a 30 in 30...thirty meetings in thirty days...

-You will be inundated with coffee and slogans: "it works if you work it so work it your worth it"

-The AA old timers hate weed. They call it the "Marijuana Matinence Program."

-There is alot of zeal from peeps who just got their taste of sobriety for the first time in a long time. They feel good and the euphoria drives that Born Again energy which can make their aura gooey, sugary and caffininated. In extreme cases you have people who become "dry drunk" eaning that they are sober but are still exhibiting the toxic behaviors associated with drinking except they've replaced their addiction with the dogmatic aspects of AA through the "AA" bible. They are virtually indistinguishable from the asshole Catholics I knew in my former parish or the retarded campus progressives I used to work with.

 

[koquerelle]

I went to 3 meetings and it's been good for me. The groups are small (between 5 and 7 people). It's a great thing for a guy like me. There's no place to hide. I have to talk/interact. I like that. I didn't think I would, but I do.

It's not AA. God doesn't have anything to do with my recovery. It's about me and the impact my bad choices have on my closed ones. I'm the one who needs to make changes.

It's sad to see young women and men go through worse shit than you do. Many of them don't even have support. I feel lucky. My family and friends are helping me a lot through the process.

so they need to craft a narrative where you're the weird one

What?!? Come on, man. I seriously doubt you've met many alcoholics who told you that.

 

[irish_thug]

I was on a list for a while and will finally be going to my first group meeting next week. I'm happy to get things going, but I'm anxious about the process.

The meetings are 90-minute long. It seems very long.

What can I expect? Any tip?

(Yes, sherbros, you can make fun of me because I'm a dumb alcoholic. Don't feel bad. Don't hold back.)

Ages ago a coworker gave me a 24 hours coin as a gag gift, the running joke being that's the longest I would go without a drink (far from the truth). That's been my only exposure to the program. Nothing but respect to anyone who recognized the need to find a peer network to help them help themselves.

 

[koquerelle]

Ages ago a coworker gave me a 24 hours coin as a gag gift, the running joke being that's the longest I would go without a drink (far from the truth). That's been my only exposure to the program. Nothing but respect to anyone who recognized the need to find a peer network to help them help themselves.

Very kind of you, sherbro!

I just did 48 hours without drinking Scotch and it was hard. Sounds so damn silly.

 

[irish_thug]

Very kind of you, sherbro!

I just did 48 hours without drinking Scotch and it was hard. Sounds so damn silly.

Not silly at all. Giving up whiskey was incredibly hard for me. But I had to make a choice between a good time and continuing to have a healthy relationship with my wife. I chose the latter.

I still struggle with it and need a reminder now and then.

 

[koquerelle]

I find religious people to be insufferable. I just can't do it. Good for him, and all that, but to flatline into some belief that a higher power has your hand is beyond idiocy. I find strength in people. My family, people I trust. People I talk to like you. There is an interconnectivity that is palpable and real.

100% agree. My meetings don't rely on God. It's all about me making bad choices and the impact on my environment. No BS. I love that aspect.

 

[koquerelle]

Best of luck. Remember it’s the company you keep and the crowd you’ll bring in the end if it’s not really for you. They seem to be good people at those meetings though and most are genuinely trying to get better.

They all have their own reasons for getting help and getting healthy. Just go with an open mind. You have to participate a bit and read some text every once in a while, since the meetings are 90 minutes I’m going to guess they’re having a public speaker so you won’t have to do that much talking.

There's plenty of talking because the groups are small (from 5 to 7 people). It ended up being a good thing since I can't hide.

I've had 3 meetings and 3 different speakers. One was good. One was awesome. One was awesome. It'd be nice to have continuity, but I realize it's not always possible.

 

[jeff7b9]

Nah. Not me.
I'm not a fucking quitter.

When I start something I see it through.


... not like productive things, or most creative things or anything that contributes anything of value to society. But when it comes to drinking and whatever drugs my body can still handle and have any sort of mildly positive experience or whatever might dull the endless monotony, that stuff, I ain't no quitter.


that said, salute to any of you out there who are trying to better yourselves. Good luck.

 

[JangoMike]

I went to AA, Al Anon, CODA & many variations of other 12 step programs. They can work & have worked for many people. Either way, good luck & i hope you find the healing you need regardless.

 

[El Chimpo]

I had court ordered AA for a Marijuana charge... never made sense to me.. I went to the first mandated meeting and it was so depressing

I quit drinking on my own around 25, too many mornings waking up and throwing up blood.

 

[Berserker13]

I don't need to go to a meeting to remind me how stupid drinking is most of the time

 

[jeff7b9]

I had court ordered AA for a Marijuana charge... never made sense to me.. I went to the first mandated meeting and it was so depressing

I quit drinking on my own around 25, too many mornings waking up and throwing up blood.

 

[evergreenrider]

I had court ordered AA for a Marijuana charge... never made sense to me.. I went to the first mandated meeting and it was so depressing

I did too. When I caught my first minor in possession charge at 13 yrs old lol. Only thing I learned was how to smoke cigs and drink coffee like a grizzled addict

 

[Berserker13]

I did too. When I caught my first minor in possession charge at 13 yrs old lol. Only thing I learned was how to smoke cigs and drink coffee like a grizzled addict

Irony is, Cigs and coffee give you anxiety which makes you want to drink ....

 

[evergreenrider]

Irony is, Cigs and coffee give you anxiety which makes you want to drink ....

I just sat for 2 hrs once a week daydreaming about getting stoned the coming weekend and the double decker taco I was going to devour after class

 

[jeff7b9]

I did too. When I caught my first minor in possession charge at 13 yrs old lol. Only thing I learned was how to smoke cigs and drink coffee like a grizzled addict

My wife somewhere had actual hospital paperwork for a "Marijuana overdose"

She tried to keep up with the boys at my frat house and yeah that was a terrible terrible idea for which I am.110% to blame but I was young and dumb dumb so dumb.

We were just gonna drive her around til she fell asleep but I forgot she got motion sickness and so driving around was another terrible.idea and she puked out my buddies window, so then we actually took her to the hospital and she told them she ODd on weed.

"How many pots have you smoken Maam?"

"3 foot Bong hit. They gave it to me.
Then pukey pukey spinning mess."

I love that woman so much and failed her so badly that night.
She wanted to try to be cool and try to show she could hang.
I very much should have known better.

 

[El Chimpo]

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Yeah I know it didn't make sense but my lawyer said don't worry about it lol

 

[jeff7b9]

Yeah I know it didn't make sense but my lawyer said don't worry about it lol

Did you go?

And if you did did everyone laugh at you?
I hope they did, no offense.

I would have definitely picked my spot after the most horrendous "sucking dick in the bus station for meth" type of "share."


"Wow that was quite a story becky"
"Anyway I'm jefff and I am here for court ordered Marijuana addiction treatment... i have been sober for 4 or 5 hours, not consecutive but uhmmm you know, cumulative over the last few days. Anyway, great to meet you guys!"