How do face to face groups help your sobriety?
now's the time
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,181
How do face to face groups help your sobriety?
Hi all,
I'm going to my first F2F meeting in about an hour and I am nervous.
Outside of the specifics of whichever program you use, what benefits you the most from going to F2F meetings? Help me talk myself into this! Part of me is saying "whatever, I can always go online for support"... But I know I should probably go and check it out.
I'm going to my first F2F meeting in about an hour and I am nervous.
Outside of the specifics of whichever program you use, what benefits you the most from going to F2F meetings? Help me talk myself into this! Part of me is saying "whatever, I can always go online for support"... But I know I should probably go and check it out.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 278
Fantail... I'm no expert. As I just started going to meetings last week. it's allowed me to vent some emotion...
I love SR... But having someone hug me Wednesday night & tell me that despite all I've given away because of my drinking that I've found a home... Well, that was just powerful stuff for me.
I love SR... But having someone hug me Wednesday night & tell me that despite all I've given away because of my drinking that I've found a home... Well, that was just powerful stuff for me.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Eire
Posts: 211
hi Fantail, I just posted to you and Jazz in secular section. I started that same meeting 3 weeks ago. And I say to you - "GO". I too was nervous, but these meetings are very relaxed. The meetings consist of each person discussing their last week and how it went for them (concerns/triggers etc) and people help each other out, giving advice from their past experience. Its not intimidating at all. In fact its quite refreshing to be able to talk with like minded people. I am not normally comfortable with talking about this problem, but find it very comfortable at these meetings. In fact, I look forward to them now, each Tuesday night. Please go and let me know how it went. Best wishes.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 278
Oh my gosh- my first meeting was on Monday... Not last week... What the heck was I thinking!
So- impactful for sure considering I've only been to 4 meetings. My 5th starts in 15 min!
We can do this!
So- impactful for sure considering I've only been to 4 meetings. My 5th starts in 15 min!
We can do this!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
f2f AA meetings are where i found a group of individuals who share their experince,strength ,and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help other alcoholics(like me) achieve sobriety.
AA meetings for me today are where i go to give freely what has been given to me so others may survive and rediscover life.
sendin ya some courage!!
AA meetings for me today are where i go to give freely what has been given to me so others may survive and rediscover life.
sendin ya some courage!!
now's the time
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,181
OK, I went! It wasn't a great meeting... it turned out to be a workbook study, which I hadn't realized, and the facilitator wasn't very good at directing the discussion. Also, I was the only woman there and most of the other people were 30+ years older than me, so it was hard to find common ground. But everyone was nice, and I got over my nervousness.
It was funny though... I've read people here talking about crying in meetings and I was like, "I don't feel like crying, I don't understand that." Well I did feel like crying a couple of times! Just saying things out loud is heavy.
So all in all, glad I went. I'm going to check out a discussion group rather than a workbook group next time and hopefully find some place with more ladies.
It was funny though... I've read people here talking about crying in meetings and I was like, "I don't feel like crying, I don't understand that." Well I did feel like crying a couple of times! Just saying things out loud is heavy.
So all in all, glad I went. I'm going to check out a discussion group rather than a workbook group next time and hopefully find some place with more ladies.
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,967
You can ask them if they know where the women's meetings are!
The common ground is that we are all in there to save our butts from a dis-ease that wants us dead!
Glad you went!! I know how difficult it is getting to our first meeting!
With hugs & love,
~SB
The common ground is that we are all in there to save our butts from a dis-ease that wants us dead!
Glad you went!! I know how difficult it is getting to our first meeting!
With hugs & love,
~SB
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 278
Originally Posted by fantail 
OK, I went! It wasn't a great meeting... it turned out to be a workbook study, which I hadn't realized, and the facilitator wasn't very good at directing the discussion. Also, I was the only woman there and most of the other people were 30+ years older than me, so it was hard to find common ground. But everyone was nice, and I got over my nervousness.
It was funny though... I've read people here talking about crying in meetings and I was like, "I don't feel like crying, I don't understand that." Well I did feel like crying a couple of times! Just saying things out loud is heavy.
So all in all, glad I went. I'm going to check out a discussion group rather than a workbook group next time and hopefully find some place with more ladies.
It was funny though... I've read people here talking about crying in meetings and I was like, "I don't feel like crying, I don't understand that." Well I did feel like crying a couple of times! Just saying things out loud is heavy.
So all in all, glad I went. I'm going to check out a discussion group rather than a workbook group next time and hopefully find some place with more ladies.
And I have cried & cried in these past 8 days, in & out of meetings. Lol.
Sobriety is Traditional
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Orcas Island, Washington
Posts: 9,067
The fellowship of AA is a miracle that has survived for over 75 years because of "The Twelve Traditions" (http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-122_en.pdf). I go to AA meetings to help solve my problems, and do not need to be thrown into the storms of conflicts that often accompany clubs and organizations. The Traditions assure a supportive place for recovery no matter what meeting I attend anywhere in the world.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 429
I would never never been able to do this on my own! EVER! Most can't.
I am grateful for my treatment (although I went reluctantly) I only have 11 days left, and learned alot. I have been going about getting to 2 AA meetings a week, & feel the face to face interaction is calming, & helps me feel accountable.
I would hope experiences the joy of getting & staying sober with other alcoholics.
~peace
I am grateful for my treatment (although I went reluctantly) I only have 11 days left, and learned alot. I have been going about getting to 2 AA meetings a week, & feel the face to face interaction is calming, & helps me feel accountable.
I would hope experiences the joy of getting & staying sober with other alcoholics.
~peace
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Eire
Posts: 211
Fantail. I responded to other post in secular section. Hopefully you find a discussion group as opposed to step group, to suit your needs. Great though, that you got to say things aloud which we cant do comfortably with non alkis.
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