I wish I had the courage to go to AA.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Massachusetts
Posts: 1,637
Originally Posted by IWillWin 
WWG - I did it. Just got back. I put on my big girl pants and marched right on through that open door. Apparently, I've hit the AA jackpot because the meeting is right around the corner, on Sundays at 2pm (manageable with my busy work schedule) and the people there were amazing. It is a closed discussion meeting and many, many people make it their home group. I won't blah, blah, blah all about it but I can tell you that for the first time I feel like this is right for me. I may never be a devout participant, but my ass is going to be at that church EVERY Sunday from now on. There are so many tools available and face-to-face support is right there...and it is free! No more paying therapists to listen to my tales of woe and struggle, these folks want to hear AND speak from experience.
All in all, it was wonderful to say the words out loud. I am an alcoholic. And in that room, I was not ashamed to admit it. As soon as the words left my lips a giant invisible weight left me too. I'm hoping you try it...at least for a few meetings. That is my plan and I'm worth it. So are you. This battle is not won alone ... Trust me, I've tried.
And so begins my AA journey...
All in all, it was wonderful to say the words out loud. I am an alcoholic. And in that room, I was not ashamed to admit it. As soon as the words left my lips a giant invisible weight left me too. I'm hoping you try it...at least for a few meetings. That is my plan and I'm worth it. So are you. This battle is not won alone ... Trust me, I've tried.
And so begins my AA journey...
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
WalkingwithGod, don't you think you should go to a meeting now and see what everyone is talking about? You will meet some very nice folks who will welcome you with a smile and a handshake with no expectations of you. AA helps a lot of people, you should go and see if it is for you. At the least, it may get your thinking around to the idea about never drinking again, and that is a good thing.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: My city of ruins...
Posts: 593
Originally Posted by walkingwithgod
Great job on going to the meeting. I hope I can do it.
So,new friendships on the horizon...just another plus of being sober and hitting a meeting.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 13,044
Originally Posted by walkingwithgod
I wish I had the courage to go to AA. My therapist thinks it is a good idea, but I am scared and ashamed of myself.
Give It a try I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Modesto ca
Posts: 2
I am scared too.
Originally Posted by walkingwithgod
I wish I had the courage to go to AA. My therapist thinks it is a good idea, but I am scared and ashamed of myself.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Massachusetts
Posts: 1,637
Originally Posted by 1mixedflowers
I just signed up to this site today and I am terrified to actually go face people. Maybe if you go , I can go to?
Recovered from Hopeless State
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 2,156
GO! There is no possibilty of regretting that decision and action. NONE!
I just got back from my first meeting in what I thought was about a year. Turns out it was almost 3, after talking to a few people tonight.
Got tons of smiles, handshakes and a hugs. I know why. I could tell by looking in the of the people I knew. There were glad to see me, glad I was at a meeting, and glad I was still alive!
Felt/feels GREAT!
I just got back from my first meeting in what I thought was about a year. Turns out it was almost 3, after talking to a few people tonight.
Got tons of smiles, handshakes and a hugs. I know why. I could tell by looking in the of the people I knew. There were glad to see me, glad I was at a meeting, and glad I was still alive!
Felt/feels GREAT!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Massachusetts
Posts: 1,637
Originally Posted by Sapling
All right...If you two guys go...I'll go.....I wish I could come over and snatch both of you up and take you myself....I'm telling you...You'll like it.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 1,737
Originally Posted by walkingwithgod
I wish I had one of you to go with me.
By the way, I have no idea where in MA you live, but you mentioned wanting a meeting before work. If you happen to live near Gloucester, there is a meeting every morning at 7am near the Friendly's rotary on Gloucester Avenue. I have family in the area and go to that one when I am in town; it is a really good meeting - check it out.
Good luck!
Edd
Recovered from Hopeless State
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 2,156
I went alone tonight. You can too. Granted I knew there would be people there who I remebered and who remembered me but it really doesn't matter.
Everyone is very welcome. Speaker meetings are best, IMO, for new comers. Don't worry, you don't speak, someone with 90+ days does, arranged in advance. As someone said here, newcomers are extremely welcome. Everyone there was a newcomer at one time and they want to help you as they were once helped.
Everyone is very welcome. Speaker meetings are best, IMO, for new comers. Don't worry, you don't speak, someone with 90+ days does, arranged in advance. As someone said here, newcomers are extremely welcome. Everyone there was a newcomer at one time and they want to help you as they were once helped.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Here, Now
Posts: 4,268
It does get better. I first time I did think I was going to throw up. Asked if there were new members and I actuallly raised my hand. I felt more welcomed than when I changed high schools. I really needed to understand it was not about AA it was about me.
Euphoric Recaller
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PHX Suburbs
Posts: 371
I went to my first meeting because my therapist told me to go. I was really nervous and scared and ashamed going to my first meeting. Now going to a meeting is no big deal for me. I go all the time and I love it. Sometimes I wish I could go through the experience of going to my first meeting over again.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jordan, MN
Posts: 91
Over 10 years ago, I wrote about the same thing here and the comments I received made me kinda excited to go. Guess What. It was the best thing I ever did in my life and IT was the most AWESOME time - my first meeting. I didn't want to leave! I knew that this (AA rooms) was where I was going to get the answers. I have now enjoyed 10 years and a month of continuous sobriety. The 12 Steps WORK ... but you have to do the work, nobody else can do it for you ... for emotional and spiritual growth and health.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 13,044
I was so excited to receive my newcomer token. I have it with meat work. I am taking a five minute me break to check in. I have numbers for people I know I can call and found one meeting I really liked. I will keep going back to that one. Good luck to all of you going for the first time. I had the same feelings. I was embarrassed, scared, and mad at myself for getting here. I was embraced by total strangers who made me realize I wasn't alone, and I know I wouldn't have found that feeling other places, except on this website.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Massachusetts
Posts: 1,637
Originally Posted by Delilah1
I was so excited to receive my newcomer token. I have it with meat work. I am taking a five minute me break to check in. I have numbers for people I know I can call and found one meeting I really liked. I will keep going back to that one. Good luck to all of you going for the first time. I had the same feelings. I was embarrassed, scared, and mad at myself for getting here. I was embraced by total strangers who made me realize I wasn't alone, and I know I wouldn't have found that feeling other places, except on this website.
Awesome, and good for you. I want to go, but I feel embarrassed telling my wife I want to go. My wife knows that I have an issue, but she still thinks that I can have 2 and stop. I don't think that she can understand how I obsess about drinking, and cannot stop the thought of drinking. I made 11 days recently and she was proud, but I am not sure she knows how hard it is for me. She and understands the disease, but not sure she understands how hard it is for me.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: AZ
Posts: 183
Yeah, the fear of it is much worse than the reality of it (isn't that usually the case?!!). I think [we] alcoholics are a pretty sensitive and friendly bunch, for the most part, so there IS a lot of compassion there. I did introduce myself last night at my first meeting, and said I only had 2 days and just wanted to listen. A member afterwards told me he was surprised I even talked -- that it took him 3 months to talk when he first came.
I WOULD recommend it if you like the Feeling of being hugged (whether they hug you or not...).
I WOULD recommend it if you like the Feeling of being hugged (whether they hug you or not...).
Sober Alcoholic
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,539
Walkingwithgod you might want to call and speak with someone from AA (see the link below for Massachusetts numbers). Talk with them and tell them your situation. Perhaps the person you talk to would be willing to go to a meeting with you, show you how things go, answer questions etc. Most people answering phones are more than happy to help.
Alcoholics Anonymous : Local Resources that provide A.A. Meeting Information States
Alcoholics Anonymous : Local Resources that provide A.A. Meeting Information States
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,443
I think the bottom line is if we're not prepared to try new things that might be good for us - however good the reasons might be - we're just left with the stuff we know and have tried before, like drinking....
and that's really no solution.
I really like your user name WWG - and I really believe that if you go to a meeting you won't be alone when you do.
Have a little faith - it'll be OK
D
and that's really no solution.
I really like your user name WWG - and I really believe that if you go to a meeting you won't be alone when you do.
Have a little faith - it'll be OK
D
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 13,044
Originally Posted by walkingwithgod
Awesome, and good for you. I want to go, but I feel embarrassed telling my wife I want to go. My wife knows that I have an issue, but she still thinks that I can have 2 and stop. I don't think that she can understand how I obsess about drinking, and cannot stop the thought of drinking. I made 11 days recently and she was proud, but I am not sure she knows how hard it is for me. She and understands the disease, but not sure she understands how hard it is for me.
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