Hi Eliot,
I hope you do go to another meeting or two or three etc. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Many people still drink when attenting at first.......but at least they know what the solution is and where to find it when they are ready to quit.
As to people's stories, we encourage that you look for similarities rather than differences. The alcoholic mind will look for the differences to convince you you are not like them.
Keep posting