Beginner's AA Meeting - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

quitforme79 · 08-07-2012, 05:44 PM

So the few AA meetings I have gone to have been somewhat helpful but I felt somewhat lost because there were mostly people that had many years sober. Of course, they said great things and had inspirational stories but I felt a little out of place being the "newbie". So I found a beginner's meeting tonight, drove the 45 minutes and it was awesome. It was a small group and it allowed us to be more intimate and have more of a discussion focused around things newbie's are going through. It was perfect for me because people relayed how they are on day or 10 and really really struggling with trying to stay sober. Then there were people with 6 months that had some great advice. I am comforted tonight in the thought that I may have found my niche in this program, in a support that works for me in maintaining my sobriety. Just a great group of people really trying to keep one another sober. They asked me to go out to eat after but I just wasn't ready....so exhausted. I will go next time though

All in all I was so terrified of going to AA and really was against it for a long time. It really is true what they say---you have to keep trying different ones until you find a fit. And if it's not for you that's ok too. Tonight, I am sober because of the people in that meeting. I look forward to seeing them again this week and being able to proudly say "yup, still sober"

Tres · 08-07-2012, 05:56 PM

That's so great to hear. I too was afraid to go to a meeting. I didn't go for the first 6 months. Once I started I felt so much relief. I go to two women's meetings a week. I have really look forward to going. The support and love there is amazing. I am now at 9 months sober and feel better since joining AA.

Good for you!

jennikate · 08-07-2012, 06:00 PM

Awesome! Beginner's meetings rock. In my area, not all of the attendees are new but the focus is on the newcomer and helping them to understand the program and to get through that initial hard time. Glad you found a place where you fit in.

sugarbear1 · 08-07-2012, 06:02 PM

We have a 12 step Alcoholism Forum on here!

Sapling · 08-07-2012, 06:12 PM

Good for you!!

Itchy · 08-07-2012, 06:20 PM

Congrats!
Yeah I was forced to go to my first one and then was told that it was part of our rehab. So I quit rehab for that and other reasons. Then a couple of weeks later I found the perfect home group for me. I needed that one on one in my early sobriety too. It is great to have a place to say it like it was and not be judged for it. Where who we were becomes less important than who we were becoming. Now I just use here at SR, but in early sobriety the right home group, and SR were an unbeatable combo for me.

quitforme79 · 08-07-2012, 06:27 PM

Thanks sugarbear...i will check it out! And yeh Itchy, I need some face to face time as coming home after work at this point can lead me to become lonely and want to drink. I actually still want to drink but I won't and the meetings the past 2 nights have prevented me from doing so. Really helps with my cravings. I don't have a support system here as my family and friends are in another state so hopefully reaching out to others in recovery will be beneficial in that I won't tend to isolate like I have in the past. Get me out of the house to do sober things w sober people. And SR really is helping a lot, I wouldn't have even tried AA if it weren't for some people on here who mentioned how helpful it was

I'm adding as much concrete to my foundation as possible in this early stage....gotta try something different because my way just wasn't cutting it. Feeling blessed <3

Ampsmarie · 08-07-2012, 06:43 PM

This Thursday will be my first beginners meeting. All of the ones I have been going to are open discussion. I am looking forward to Thursday because it's step study!

Glad you found a good group!

changer · 08-07-2012, 06:44 PM

quitforme,
i want to thank you for this thread. it warms my heart and helps me stay sober today.
keep on going, you are on the right path

Zebra1275 · 08-07-2012, 06:45 PM

Once you find a group where you fit in, the fellowship is awesome.

2granddaughters · 08-07-2012, 07:26 PM

quitforme79, I wish you the best in your recovery.

Bob R

Fallow · 08-07-2012, 07:47 PM

Nice! I'll have to check for a beginners meet too! Glad you are seemingly feeling better.

SobrietyNow · 08-07-2012, 08:28 PM

So happy for you! It's such a relief finding a room full of people that say "yeah, i know what you mean". Wishing you the best!

IndaMiricale · 08-07-2012, 09:02 PM

Thank you for putting a the biggest

on my face I had today. Two minutes before midnight here. It was a good day for me, but yours is awesome. I am so glad you did it, and found what you found.

Stay on the beam

quitforme79 · 08-07-2012, 10:27 PM

You guys are all the best...I am overwhelmed with the support I find here. Let me know how you like it amps!

SheWanders · 08-08-2012, 07:26 AM

I have been terrified of going to a meeting. Your post has helped me to think about it more seriously. Like everyone on here I have had many failed attempts at sobriety and have only tried to go it alone. Thanks for the inspiration.

FlyerFan · 08-08-2012, 09:10 AM

Thanks for this post. I too was terrified of AA 7 months ago, and today I am 7 and a half months sober thanks to those meetings.

08-07-2012, 05:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
quitforme79 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: east coast Posts: 1,281	Beginner's AA Meeting So the few AA meetings I have gone to have been somewhat helpful but I felt somewhat lost because there were mostly people that had many years sober. Of course, they said great things and had inspirational stories but I felt a little out of place being the "newbie". So I found a beginner's meeting tonight, drove the 45 minutes and it was awesome. It was a small group and it allowed us to be more intimate and have more of a discussion focused around things newbie's are going through. It was perfect for me because people relayed how they are on day or 10 and really really struggling with trying to stay sober. Then there were people with 6 months that had some great advice. I am comforted tonight in the thought that I may have found my niche in this program, in a support that works for me in maintaining my sobriety. Just a great group of people really trying to keep one another sober. They asked me to go out to eat after but I just wasn't ready....so exhausted. I will go next time though All in all I was so terrified of going to AA and really was against it for a long time. It really is true what they say---you have to keep trying different ones until you find a fit. And if it's not for you that's ok too. Tonight, I am sober because of the people in that meeting. I look forward to seeing them again this week and being able to proudly say "yup, still sober"

08-07-2012, 06:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
sugarbear1 ~sb Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: MD Posts: 9,763	We have a 12 step Alcoholism Forum on here! __________________ Someday everything will all make sense. For now, laugh at confusion, smile through tears, & remind yourself that everything happens for a reason. All Big Book quotes are from the first edition. Linked with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

08-07-2012, 06:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Itchy Re-Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 4,008	Congrats! Yeah I was forced to go to my first one and then was told that it was part of our rehab. So I quit rehab for that and other reasons. Then a couple of weeks later I found the perfect home group for me. I needed that one on one in my early sobriety too. It is great to have a place to say it like it was and not be judged for it. Where who we were becomes less important than who we were becoming. Now I just use here at SR, but in early sobriety the right home group, and SR were an unbeatable combo for me. __________________ "Here's to the few who forgive what you do, and the fewer who don't even care" — Leonard Cohen Fairy tales are more than true — not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten. -- G. K. Chesterton

08-07-2012, 06:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ampsmarie Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada... Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 69	This Thursday will be my first beginners meeting. All of the ones I have been going to are open discussion. I am looking forward to Thursday because it's step study! Glad you found a good group! __________________ Sobriety Date: July 1, 2012

08-07-2012, 07:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
2granddaughters in my 24th year of sobriety Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Canada. About as far south as you can get Posts: 4,390	quitforme79, I wish you the best in your recovery. Bob R __________________ . . .If you want to drink, that's your business ..... .If you want to quit, that's A.A.'s business. . . --- driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity. . . L.D. 1989

08-07-2012, 05:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tres Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: FL Posts: 895	That's so great to hear. I too was afraid to go to a meeting. I didn't go for the first 6 months. Once I started I felt so much relief. I go to two women's meetings a week. I have really look forward to going. The support and love there is amazing. I am now at 9 months sober and feel better since joining AA. Good for you!

08-07-2012, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
jennikate Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 733 Blog Entries: 3	Awesome! Beginner's meetings rock. In my area, not all of the attendees are new but the focus is on the newcomer and helping them to understand the program and to get through that initial hard time. Glad you found a place where you fit in.

08-07-2012, 06:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sapling AA Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Between Meetings Posts: 9,004	Good for you!!

08-07-2012, 06:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
quitforme79 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: east coast Posts: 1,281	Thanks sugarbear...i will check it out! And yeh Itchy, I need some face to face time as coming home after work at this point can lead me to become lonely and want to drink. I actually still want to drink but I won't and the meetings the past 2 nights have prevented me from doing so. Really helps with my cravings. I don't have a support system here as my family and friends are in another state so hopefully reaching out to others in recovery will be beneficial in that I won't tend to isolate like I have in the past. Get me out of the house to do sober things w sober people. And SR really is helping a lot, I wouldn't have even tried AA if it weren't for some people on here who mentioned how helpful it was I'm adding as much concrete to my foundation as possible in this early stage....gotta try something different because my way just wasn't cutting it. Feeling blessed <3

08-07-2012, 06:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
changer Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 119 Blog Entries: 1	quitforme, i want to thank you for this thread. it warms my heart and helps me stay sober today. keep on going, you are on the right path

08-07-2012, 06:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Zebra1275 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,412	Once you find a group where you fit in, the fellowship is awesome.

08-07-2012, 07:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fallow grasping new soil Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Meditation Posts: 698 Blog Entries: 2	Nice! I'll have to check for a beginners meet too! Glad you are seemingly feeling better.

08-07-2012, 08:28 PM	#13 (permalink)
SobrietyNow Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 53	So happy for you! It's such a relief finding a room full of people that say "yeah, i know what you mean". Wishing you the best!

08-07-2012, 09:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
IndaMiricale Powerless over Alcohol Join Date: May 2011 Location: Trudging the Road to Happy Destiny! Posts: 4,020	Thank you for putting a the biggest on my face I had today. Two minutes before midnight here. It was a good day for me, but yours is awesome. I am so glad you did it, and found what you found. Stay on the beam __________________ "The only real thing in life are dreams, which nature cant touch with decay." Bob Dylan "Each day,somewhere in the world ,recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic , sharing experience,strength and hope."

08-07-2012, 10:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
quitforme79 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: east coast Posts: 1,281	You guys are all the best...I am overwhelmed with the support I find here. Let me know how you like it amps!

08-08-2012, 07:26 AM	#16 (permalink)
SheWanders Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: nowhere and everywhere Posts: 63	I have been terrified of going to a meeting. Your post has helped me to think about it more seriously. Like everyone on here I have had many failed attempts at sobriety and have only tried to go it alone. Thanks for the inspiration.

08-08-2012, 09:10 AM	#17 (permalink)
FlyerFan Woman in AA Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,145 Blog Entries: 49	Thanks for this post. I too was terrified of AA 7 months ago, and today I am 7 and a half months sober thanks to those meetings. __________________ "Sit back, relax, and look at the world from your multi-colored glass."

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