Bostonsportsfan

Since I'm out of detox I'm strongly considering AA and other forms of support. I went to an AA meeting every morning during detox each time I went and I'm starting to like it. Some guy gave me his number and told me to call him if I'm interested in AA.

I'm reading up on it and want to know some of your experiences. I'm wondering how it works, how the 12 steps works, etc.

Thanks

mick3580

I love aa. That wasn't always the case. I first had to determine whether or not I was alcoholic and then had to determine exactly what that meant that I needed to do in order to solve my problem. Aa was confusing to me for a long time. I had to realize that not everyone works the aa program(the steps) and practices it the same way. I also needed to learn that some aa members like to control and advise other members on things having nothing to do with sobriety and nothing to do with aa. I needed to learn that following this advice was not in my best interest.

What I can say about aa is that there have always been many many many people who have reached out to me when I asked for help. I have never met someone in aa who actually seemed to have bad intentions.

I can say that I have been sober 6.75 years as the result of the help that was available in aa. I can say that a very serious gambling problem was also sorted out automatically as the result of the steps, without much thought or effort on my part.

Some in aa operate on the "just don't take the first drink and you won't get drunk" policy. Others, like myself, were convinced that using dill power and therapy and mental exercises and revisiting the painful memories of drinking were largely ineffective.

How the steps work? I can more easily explain how I worked them than I can explain how they work. The best way I can describe the process is "eye opening at a level above common sense and intellectual and rational thought and reasoning."

I would be happy to talk with you further I have found people on this site to also be available to help on a one on one basis, sharing what worked for them.

Happy new year to you

IOAA2

Hi. It works fine. The steps are a guide to a healthy lifestyle without alcohol. Spiritual does not necessarily mean religious, for me it's an inner quality that is a positive guide.

BE WELL

Joe Nerv

Almost 30 years sober using AA and the 12 steps. It works awesomely for those who really want it to, and go in open minded and willing. AA gave to me everything Alcohol promised, but lied about. And took away.

Wishing you the best on you journey.

bigsombrero

While AA wasn't the best "full-time" solution for me in the long run, it certainly was instrumental in my early recovery. Like you, I started using AA in a mandatory setting as a resident in a recovery center. After I left, I found it very helpful to continue in the early goings of my new sober life. By attending AA on my own outside of the center, I felt that I was taking some personal responsibility for my recovery independently. That alone was a great step. You certainly have nothing to lose by giving this a shot outside of detox.

tomsteve

"I'm reading up on it and want to know some of your experiences. I'm wondering how it works, how the 12 steps works, etc."
I hope yer reading up on it inlcudes reading the big book.thats where the program is all laid out.
it works by working the steps, which requires action, which has been workin pretty good for me for a while now.
im no longer a hopeless,helpless, useless,worthless POS.

ChrissieB

Absolutely love it AA has changed my life, if you think of alcoholics as sick people be aware that within the rooms of AA some are sicker than others. Stick with the winners. Theses are the people who work the program and are happy, helpful people. The steps have given me a program of living. Get yourself a sponsor to help you go through the program, someone who you can relate and identify with. wishing you every success on your journey and wishing you a wonderful, sober 2014 xx

Nevertheless

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it without it. There were sooo many times early on I could have fallen on either side of the fence. AA kep't me landing on the right side.
I probably shouldn't say this. But I am a firm believer in take what you need and leave the rest. There are a lot of people that wont go for one reason or the other. It can't do any good if you don't go. This can be a life or death "situation". Going can make the "situation" go away. Calling one of these people can also make the "situation" go away.
Being with others going through the same thing I was going through was a huge help. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stay sober.
Call the guy. You have everything to gain,and nothing to lose.

Fred

Bostonsportsfan

I plan to call him and at least give it a shot. He was nice enough to offer his number to a bunch of us. I was the only one who didn't just tell him no.

Bostonsportsfan

I was reading something that was summing up the big book. I guess my question is what actions are taken to complete certain steps, besides the obvious.

EndGameNYC

Working the AA Big Book Twelve Steps helped me to change my life around completely and very much for the better. Twice.

When you have the time, read the AA Ninth Step Promises, pp. 83 - 84. There isn't a single one that hasn't come to pass for me.

It isn't magic, it isn't a cult, and miraculous success stories abound; it's not about petitioning an invisible friend for advice or favors, and it doesn't "work" if you do it in a half-assed manner. And it was the only way out for me.

MIRecovery

AA saved my life plain and simple.

I have been active in AA for four and a half years and in reality have absolutely no idea how it works but it does.

In some ways I'm as confused as ever but I'm confused on a higher level and about more important things

Db1105

Give the guy a call, and get to a meeting. It worked for me. You clean up, clean house, help others, simple.

JaylaaKent

AA has been the only thing to help me not drink now for over 4 months. Spent a lot of money and time on other things and never made more than 30 days without alcohol. I'm thinking there might be something to those people and their "program" It addresses more than just "drinking". I feel it helps a spiritual and emotional emptiness I've felt all my life.

Bostonsportsfan

Thanks for all the advice.

I'm probably gonna call that guy soon and figure stuff out. It's just a confusing time for me right now. 2 detoxes in 3 1/2 months and still only 21. I wanna try AA, but It's just like my mind wont accept I can't drink. I first told myself I had a problem if I couldn't stop. Then it was if I needed to detox. Then I lied to myself and thought I could control drinking. Still not a huge problem until another detox...and that came because I lost control again. I feel like I'll hang onto this until it takes everything from me. AA might be the only way for me to break this mindset and just "give up".

JaylaaKent

You would be surprised how many young people are in AA. Personally, I only drank for 3 years. I was a devout Mormon until about 8 years ago. Slowly I let my guard down about drinking. I also went to detox, then went right back out drinking again, thinking "I got this, I'm not an alcoholic, that's silly!!" It was a hard thing for me to accept to - that I might never drink again. I honestly can't look at it that way. I say I'm not drinking anytime soon, or maybe tomorrow. Then I reassess, and yeah - I just am tired of detoxing and the emotional turmoil it took on me (I also had liver damage, but have healed from).

You are young, and it's hard, our society is so full of glamorous drinks and how complete our life is with it. Advertisements with dripping sweating beverages (I call it alcohol porn *LOL*) all just the profit driven companies trying to make a buck. The don't show the domestic violence, DUI's, cirrhosis, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc.. I think eventually they will start showing ads for people to stop drinking, like you see the public announcements to stop smoking, some day.

A lot of people are amazed how quickly I fell into alcoholism with my drinking, but again, it's a combo of things. Some people's body just can't handle it. I was watching a documentary posted by someone here about the drinking in U.K. there was a young guy your age that had just received a liver transplant because of all the damage he had done to his body drinking.

Might I suggest you read Chapter 3 of the BB - "More About Alcoholism" - you can google it - should come up.

tomsteve

its all laid out in the big book.

1newcreation

Be free to search but for me & many others, AA saved my life(while Jesus saved my soul)
Join a group, get sponsor & network; pretty soon the fog will clear up & your life will be in HD
Don't quit or give up no matter how difficult it gets
Happy NY

Nevertheless

When I walked through the doors off AA almost 5 or so years ago (the time sobriety stuck) a 17 year old was chairing the meeting. I had been in and out a couple times over the years,and seen quite a few people chairing meetings.
Anyway,this guy had is ducks in a row. He did quite a few things when drinking. Stole a car. Beat up his mom. But he had enough,and was following the program as close as anyone I had ever seen.Age isn't the issue. Drinking is the issue.
Most all of us couldn't bear the thought of never drinking again. That is why tomorrow doesn't matter. All you gotta do is focus on staying sober (right now). Don't worry about not drinking again. Just stay sober today.
As far as the steps,thats a very tough question. Get a Big Book. That will help to answer somewhat. Some steps are very simple. Others are more like(you gotta be kidding me). I myself never got past step 4. I think one can spend a lifetime on that one.
Some might say I am a "dry drunk" or have some other term because I didn't follow the rules. Thats a tough call. I have seen those that follow the rules and are drinking again. Perhaps they were pretending. Hard to say.
I am sober today though. What I think is what matters.
I think the biggest part depends on just how bad we want to quit. That is up to you. AA is the most economical way there is to get help on the planet in my opinion. But that said,you can't buy sobriety. You already have it. You just have to find it.
Fred

Music

AA and the 12 steps work really well if I work them. Call the number.