newhope01

@ displacedgritz Im actually going to attend a women's group at 7pm. I figure I might as well give it another chance.

@sugarbear I dont think my b/f genuinely wants to marry me. But thank you for your kindness.

soberbrooke

I thought that AA wasn't for me when I first came to get sober. I thought "I am not like those people", "I don't belong with those people", etc........
What I was really saying is "I don't want to be like those people", "I don't want to belong with those people".

I had to put my EGO aside, and become teachable again for my sobriety to work. I have now gotten some of the best friends through AA, which I never thought would have been possible.

newhope01

So, I went to another AA meeting in a long time and it wasn't as bad as it was the first few times I attended a meeting. I'm thinking because it was all women and maybe because I shared for the first time. I told them how terrified I felt and how I didnt think I would be able to remain sober. They told me they have all been there before and not to be scared. One lady came up to me during the meeting and told me even if I drink again to just keep coming back. That made me feel a little better.

But, it still didnt feel quite right. I'm going to give them a few more tries of course as it was only one meeting. I think my major concern now is how do I get past this whole higher power issue? I like the idea but I dont want to navigate the steps around a higher power. Is it impossible to do if you are not religious?

hypochondriac

I'm not sure about this myself Newhope so I looked for a few old threads on the subject...I think it's something that comes up a lot:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...her-power.html

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...thout-god.html

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ve-god-aa.html

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...aving-god.html

I hope that helps some x

Dee74

I'm a bit late - but welcome to SR newhope01

D

Zencat

Hello newhope01, welcome to SR.

AA's 12-step program of recovery can be described as quasi-religious or a spirituality of a religious nature. It is not a bona fide religious program. So, no, you need not be religious to work the steps.

I replied to another SR member that was concerned about their atheist upbringing and how to fit into AA. There are some good links and info here → http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ml#post3484048 Not to imply your atheist BTW.

As an "implicit atheist" (non-theist) AA member, it did take time me to find the information about other agnostic/atheist members and how to achieve that psychic change that brings about lasting sobriety as they did. The search was well worth the effort as I found how I can fit into AA.

I have a HP of my understanding and that would be "GOOD/Higher Potential" that I can base my "rigorous honesty" of who I am and what I am: addict/alcoholic.

00z

I'm new here because drinking a quart of scotch almost killed me three days ago. I passed out in my drive way and woke up in an ambulance which was ordered by my neighbors because I was unresponsive. So far the withdrawal symptoms have been moderate. I will be seeing my doctor on Monday and do everything in my power to stay off the stuff.