markz

What the steps are about is getting a HP that will help you. Its getting a belief in a HP. Its about helping other people. Its about change. Must change the way we think, or else. Its live life on a spiritual basis, or alcoholic death. Your choice!

Eddiebuckle

I think face to face support from people who know exactly where you are coming from would be helpful. Despite having gone through an intense 6 week inpatient rehab, I doubt I would have made it without AA.

Two of your comments caught my eye:

This is your life we are talking about, not reruns of Lavern and Shirley. If your sobriety isn't your first priority, you are putting your life at risk.

Fishinainteasy

Thanks eddie

Tamerua

See if you like it, I don't think it could hurt. I would say though that you may want to try a few different meetings before making up your mind. Each meeting has a different feel to it.

FeenixxRising

Two choices only? No it's not. Many people get sober and stay sober without living "life on a spiritual basis".

Of course, there nothing wrong with living your life on a spiritual basis, but it's not a requirement for sobriety. And a person won't die if they don't live their life on a spiritual basis.

FeenixxRising

Are you doing enough? I don’t know about you, but I failed until I did the most important thing. I finally decided that I would stop drinking for good, no "ifs, "ands" or "buts"? Before that, I was doing everything other than fully committing to quitting. I was engaging in a number of recovery activities in the hopes those actions would somehow eliminate my desire for alcohol. They didn’t because I was putting the cart before the horse.

I realized nothing would keep me sober long-term until I finally decide to commit to and fight to become a person who no longer drinks, and will never drink again. I don’t use AA, but two chapters before the 12-Steps are even outlined the Big Book conveys this very idea: "If we are planning to stop drinking , there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol".

IMO without a deep-down commitment to never drink again, almost all recovery activities are nothing but busy work. They would no more get and keep me sober than barking at the full moon each month. I had to firmly decide that I wanted sobriety, and that I would stay sober no matter what obstacles I encountered along the way.

Gargery

There is no downside to checking out some meetings. Even if you decide it isn't for you, you will get to hear some interesting stories about how alcoholism works. If you are reading material about recovery, it might be cool for you to meet some serious drunks who don't mind talking about themselves and their problems. You can see how what you are reading operates in real life.

anattaboy

I could share my exp. but it would not give you the exp. you seek. Jump in. Observe for a week, get a sponsor, read and share at meetings. You will know within 30 days if it's right for you.

tgreen

You should stay until your sober. Congratulations and good luck

endlesspatience

Why do you say you don't want to give up more of your time? What activities are you sacrificing in order to go to an AA meeting? If it prevents you doing paid work or volunteering or caring for your family, of course that's understandable. But most of us just fritter away a lot of time.

Time spent constructively doing things at AA sounds like a good place to be.

dsmaxis10

Pray about it

SoberCAH

I have been an active member since 1988.

I attribute my sobriety to God and AA, in that order.

Just my ESH.

Glad you are here.