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Question about AA

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

Thank you for this and the time you take to write everything. I'm not as far along in the book as I thought I'd be but not for bad reasons. A couple months ago I acted on the desire to be active again. I'm a former athlete. I've booked my schedule tight with soccer, bootcamp and other activities to keep myself out of the house.And I've been really busy with that this week and am completely enjoying every minute! Tuesday evening I read for a good 2 hours. I didn't get far because I was into it more this time and kept reading things over and over.

Anyway I'm out the door again. I have a big challenge today. I was invited by some of my company's clients to a golf tournament. I wasn't going to go but it's mandatory. So I'm going to use some new tools I've learned to help me through the day. Thanks again, I'm really trying to make this work.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1562

Reason being I've noticed by reading some other posts there is some skeptism about AA.

Dear Jbblue,

There are people who enter fellowship and just hang-around the fellowship without even understanding what alcoholism is. They keep going to meetings but would have never even opened the book and read about it. Some of the meetings make the matters worse, they don't even discuss and share what alcoholism is. Gradually the fellowship is going towards a therapy oriented path. If you are lucky, you will find meetings in your area which focuses on the Big Book (aka Alcoholics Anonymous). Then one would get to hear what actually alcoholism is. In the book you will see a common description of the Alcoholic. Inability to Control Alcohol and being miserable (restless, irritable discontent, anxious, depressed....) when not drinking.....Its not about drinking too much alcohol, Duis, jail time, institution....

The person has to accept that he/she indeed is an alcoholic otherwise there is very little chance of recovery. Once you admit, you accept the fact that one has to abstain from booze for ever and then we look for recovery.

I like what Eckhart Tolle talks about in "Meaning of Surrender" in the book Power of Now:

Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life. The only place where you can experience the flow of life is the Now, so to surrender is to accept the present moment unconditionally and without reservation. It is to relinquish inner resistance to what is. Inner resistance is to say "no" to what is, through mental judgment and emotional negativity. It becomes particularly pronounced when things "go wrong," which means that there is a gap between the demands or rigid expectations of your mind and what is. That is the pain gap. If you have lived long enough, you will know that things "go wrong" quite often. It is pre-cisely at those times that surrender needs to be practiced if you want to eliminate pain and sorrow from your life. Acceptance of what is immediately frees you from mind identification and thus reconnects you with Being. Resistance is the mind.

Surrender is a purely inner phenomenon. It does not mean that on the outer level you cannot take action and change the situation. In fact, it is not the overall situation that you need to accept when you surrender, but just the tiny segment called the Now.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 251

My tools have been talking to my friends and family once I felt comfortable enough (but in the beginning, this wasn't always the case), the program here of course and lots of positive quotes. There are some great quotes out there, and if you can find one a day and live by it for that day it really helps.

Ray

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 125

What is helping me gain control...hmmm good question..at first it was just the need and the want. In terms of tools i have been drinking a lot of sugar free drinks and talking to some close friends. The program here I find helpful too.

I also going to start walking when i get a crave. I love walking so why not :)

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

Truffle I wish you luck in cutting back. What is helping you gain control of your drinking? I wasn't directing the AA skeptism comment at anyone in particular. And I must agree with you it is not the solution for everyone. I'm just trying to see if it is right for me.

I believe for myself the only option is absolute alcohol abstinence. So that's the path I need to find. And to answer your question I don't know what I like about AA as of yet because I've just began to read the book. Perhaps this will change in the future. Thanks for your comments.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 125

Hi jj,

Glad someone is on today. I am not really skeptical I just don't think it is for me personally. The program and supprot group here seems to be really helpful.

But if it works for you it works for you!

What do you like about AA?

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

I was really feeling down yesterday and didn’t mean to come across that way. I know it’s not very motivating to hear discouraging comments from someone who’s having a tough day. So I will do my best to project myself in a positive manner from now on. :)

The good news is I’m on another non-drinking stretch. A bit tough, but so far so good. Reading 1-2 hours per evening. I woke up feeling really good today. As I continue to read I'm really getting more curious but I'm not sure how comfortable I'll be with all the questions I have to ask. Reason being I've noticed by reading some other posts there is some skeptism about AA.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 125

I have heard a lot abotu AA and it seems to work from some.

For me though I want to cut down. I don't want to completely stop. I don't think this is a realistic expectation for myself. I have been somewhat successful in cutting back but I would like to cut back to only 2 drink three times a week...

completely stopping is just not for me...

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

JB,

Keep your positivity in check! Do what it takes and what helps you. We are here for support and understanding. Use the diary everyday to better assess your feelings and emotions, it can help to look back and realize your triggers and feelings.

We are here for you!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 37

I began to read where I left off last time. I realized I’m only through the first 70 pages over the last few months. So last night I started over. In a few days I should be well into it. I’m going to give this an honest shot however as an agnostic for the last few years I am confused and terrified of failing again. But it is fact that AA has helped so many people (agnostics included) I feel there's some hope for me at this point. I’ll of course have questions shortly as I am just starting to read the AA book again. Thanks for the ongoing support

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Question about AA