Originally Posted by
newme2day 
Hi all! Today is day 5 of sobriety for me and I am feeling really good. I have struggled with drinking for about 20 years now. Always able to "control" it somewhat. But when I lose control . . . wow . . . I am another person, and I don't remember a thing. This website has been a blessing, but I am thinking that I would like to speak some people face to face who are facing the same thing. What are everyone's thoughts about Alcoholics Anonymous? I live in a really small town, and I have found that there are meetings here once a week, but I am kind of afraid to go, not knowing who will be there, and who might see me! Still worried about appearances I guess. If I can get past that, I would just genuinely like to know what to expect from someone who has been there. So please, let me know.
I don't want to do this on my own. I haven't made any promises to anyone in my family about my drinking, because they have come up empty in the past. This time, I figure I will SHOW everyone, not TELL everyone, but I need someone to be accountable to. Sorry this is so longwinded! Any thoughts?? I would greatly appreciate it!!
what to expect...hhhmmm... id say don't expect anything. that way youll be better off.
walking into that 1st meeting, when I was finally ready, was the hardest thing I ever did. I was at the point of desperation: the pain of getting drunk had exceeded the pain of reality and it was get help or kill myself. I didn't care who saw me fall off a barstoll and I didn't care who saw me getting help, which im sure that all them folks that saw me fall off a barsoll could very well be glad I finally got help.
who was there were [people that had been in my shoes. people that had a solution and were more than happy to help me with the solution.
I found my home and my family.
8+ years of many,many meetings, meeting thousands of alcoholics and there are only 2 that I know that I drank with.
the only one I have to be accountable to is myself. my family surely didn't believe a dam thing when I said I was getting help. I had to earn their trust and respct by my actions.
was dowen at my nieces 2 years ago refinishing the floors on her new house. at the end of the day, about 10 or so of my family and a few of my nieces friends were sittin out back relaxin. my neice and sister started bringin up thing I did while drunk. it was awesome to be able to laugh with them knowing that I was a sick man back then.
then my neice said,"uncle tom, im very glad your sober now."