Cheli

Is going to AA an essential part for recovery? I ask this because I have tried three different AA meeting at different locations near me but they were not for me. I felt like I didn't fit in. I hear so much about AA in SR. I'm worried I won't get better if I don't go. I went to all the ones that were near me and convenient but they just didn't work.

Any advice or tips?

PurpleKnight

Hey Cheli, I personally don't attend AA, so it is possible to be Sober without it, there are so many types of recovery options, here's a link:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...formation.html

It all comes down to what works for you, the goal is to be Sober, but there are different methods out there available to reach it!!

Cheli

Thank you PurpleKnight!

frank68

You can get and stay sober without AA.

Did you attend more than one meeting in each location?Many folks feel out of place in meetings at first,it takes a while to settle down,give AA a good try before you dismiss it.It has worked for me for many years.

Mountainmanbob

not for all who sober up
but
for many it seems to be of great help

one reason that we may have a hard time fitting in there could be
AA is full of many not perfect ones such as ourselves

a pastor went to town
and saw a man that he hadn't seen in church for a while
he asked of the man
"why have we not seen you in church lately ?"
the man said that the reason was
"that the church seemed to be full of hypocrites"
the pastor replied
"well then you should feel right at home there"

MM

Anna

Many of us here do not use AA. The main thing is to do what works for you and what you're comfortable with in your day-to-day life. I use SR and some great books. Take a look around and you'll find lots of ideas.

JDUBSEA

I tried AA in the past, going to many meetings at several different locations, and I never felt comfortable. It just made me want to drink more.

Mcribb

People in AA always weirded me out. It took awhile for me to find group that wasn't creepy and it took hours and hours for me to get comfortable.

freshstart57

Like you, i went to some AA meetings and I found they weren't going to help me with my sobriety. I guess I had already quit drinking for a few days at that point, and going to my first AA meeting helped me accept that fact, so there definitely was some benefit. I recommend going to AA to anyone who expresses interest.

I also tell anyone who asks that folks most definitely do get sober without a formal program like AA. AA is not an essential aspect of sobriety. Most quit without AA, they quit drinking for good, and get on with the living of their new lives.

You can do that too, Cheli. Do you have a plan?

Croissant

Sure, but I had to read up on my alcoholism and find ways to understand why I drank and how to change my life.

I would probably try an AA meeting now for companionship. But it's not integral to my daily routine that reinforces sobriety.

You can do it.