freshstart57

17 months sober after 30 years, no AA. I thought that I was supposed to go to AA after I quit drinking so I did, and I learned a lot about it. One of the things I learned was that it was not for me.

You posed your question with an either-or assumption, but there are now so many different ways to approach addiction and your personal individual mechanism, and AA is only one of them. Learn as much as you can and understand that you can indeed get sober and stay sober.

MIRecovery

3.5 years sober. AA is the only thing that has ever worked

2granddaughters

24 years in AA coming up next Anniversary.

I agree. Do what works for you. Just don't die trying to make what won't work... work.

All the best.

Bob R

soberlicious

6 years next month. I don't attend AA.

Fandy

moving toward month 21

No AA...no formal program, but lots of support from here and friends
the one thing I do do daily is be grateful, it has been very helpful to count my blessings and appreciate what sobriety does for my quality of life.

Gal220

AA for me, sober 5 years. Welcome and I hope you find what you're looking for!

Joe Nerv

Heading towards my 29th anniversary, in AA.

caboblanco

not everyone goes to AA. what I like about this site is people are very open-minded and respectful of everyone's style of recovery. If you go tho an actual AA meeting they probably won't be as open minded. There are definatly ways to stay sober which don't include joining AA for life

smacked

I have never used AA or NA, I have been clean and sober for almost 4 years.

Gal220

There are definitely ways to stay sober without AA, but I disagree that people who attend AA meetings "probably won't be as open-minded". When I go to an AA meeting, it's to discuss AA recovery. Why would I discuss other methods of recovery, especially when I'm only familiar with AA? If I go to an AA meeting, I should be prepared to hear about AA. I think this is true of any recovery program that has meetings. I highly doubt everyone sits down and discusses every possible recovery plan and then just steps back and says, "you pick".

I was told when I first went in that AA did NOT have a monopoly on sobriety, and if I wanted to try something else I was welcome to do so. They just wanted me to be sober and happy. This forum is "Alcoholism", and people with all sorts of recovery stories are here. If I go to the "12-Step" forum, I am prepared to hear about the steps. I don't think saying, "This is what worked for me, maybe it'll work for you" is being closed-minded.

Db1105

I celebrated 35 years over the holidays thanks to AA.

MIRecovery

Wow, were there dinosaurs back then? 35 years is amazing and congrats!!!!!

KissMyTiara

I attempted AA twice. With two sponsors. When I told them I was supplementing my AA and step program with SR they both "fired" me. You might say I have the wrong sponsors, but over the several months it seemed to be the feeling in the several rooms I participated in that nothing outside a strict AA program would work. I had to leave because of that.

Just my story. It's all different.

2granddaughters

Db, we get to be oldtimers "one day at a time" if we don't drink and don't die.

You have done more ..... you have become a good oldtimer. Congrats !!

I'm trying, with God's help, to follow in your footsteps.

All the best.

Bob R

heath480

Sober in AA since May 2003.


Longest period of sobriety without AA 3years.

hamabi

My stats:

In AA, sober 30 years. Best ever effort without it, 4 months.

Number of runs made at not drinking forever backed by yet another irrevocable firm decision, with or without rehabs/treatment/(inpatient&outpatient)/fringe AA/therapists/counsellors/doctors about 25-30 over 9 years.

We should have collectable cards issued with brittle throwaway bubblegum sheets enclosed.

ru12

Two years sober with SMART, RR and posting here. I tried AA and I like the people but not the program. To me it doesn't matter what you use, as long as you are sober and happy with the results.

Adillac

I have found for me- what i seek, I must seek with...Forever alone and disconnected from the world, AA, albeit uncomfortable 70% of the time, brings me closer to the human race. If I could think my way out of alcoholism, I would have already done that. When it's all said and done though, it all comes down to asking for and then accepting help. Hope you find what works best for you.

Sasha4

Tetra, I go to AA when I can.
Its not often as I work full time and have a three year old and no childcare.
Sometimes my job means I can fit one in on a lunch time.

I like driving to different groups when I can.
I am always made to feel welcome.
I went to one and met some girls my age (30's) and it reminded me we come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.

I have never been to a meeting whee I have felt uncomfortable or not welcome.

I spend a lot of my time on SR as its easiest.

However, with hindsight, I wish I had spent more time attending AA meetings before I had a child and worked full time.
Its not as easy now.

Are you thinking of going?

LexieCat

Four and a half years in AA. Although I know many people who have happy, successful sobriety using different programs, or no formal program at all, in my experience, most of those people have undertaken personal internal changes in how they deal with life similar to what the 12 Steps are intended to accomplish.

They are growing, too, but along their own pathways.

I celebrate ANYONE'S happy, successful sobriety.