At the risk of starting a war
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,552
I failed miserably the first few attempts at AA. One when I was 19, I found it depressing, my AV said nope, u don't have a problem. Then I wandered back into the rooms in a different state about four years ago. It was again, doom and gloom. So it gave my AV another excuse. I am back in AA in a small town with huge numbers. Lots of 10 years and 20 plus sober time in there. It is usually filled with laughter and yes, there are the gloom and doom stories but...I don't know, it's different this time. Older people with a lot of sober time. I just made it my home group yesterday.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: West Tn
Posts: 3,043
Depression certainly coexists with alcoholism quite a bit, so it has been my experience that I see quite a few people in AA with depression and, for that matter, some other mental and nervous issues.
A good many of them get help for those issues.
I have been going to AA since I got sober and my meeting preferences have drifted from time to time.
I just keep going and haven't had a drink since I walked into the treatment center a few 24 hours ago.
Best.
A good many of them get help for those issues.
I have been going to AA since I got sober and my meeting preferences have drifted from time to time.
I just keep going and haven't had a drink since I walked into the treatment center a few 24 hours ago.
Best.
Fellow traveler
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: On the road to happy destiny
Posts: 25
I've been to meetings in Dover, somewhere in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. They were all somewhat different than my US meetings, but that said, every region in the US is different and really every meeting has its own personality.
If a meeting isn't doing what you need it to, please find one that does before writing off AA altogether. People need different things, some people need to hear that "Everything sucks but I didn't drink today" message, and others need to hear "this is how I took Step 4" and still others need to hear "Today I'm grateful for..." Some people need to say those things.
Fellowship is only one part of how this works. Doing Stepwork is another. Find a balance that works for you...
If a meeting isn't doing what you need it to, please find one that does before writing off AA altogether. People need different things, some people need to hear that "Everything sucks but I didn't drink today" message, and others need to hear "this is how I took Step 4" and still others need to hear "Today I'm grateful for..." Some people need to say those things.
Fellowship is only one part of how this works. Doing Stepwork is another. Find a balance that works for you...
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 780
Originally Posted by Chiffon 
And I REALLY just want advice here - NO arguments. Every time I have gone to AA, it's been like 'Depressives Anonymous'. Nothing, to do with quitting booze, just loads of people telling everyone all about their problems and looking miserable because they couldn't drink alcohol. My question is - is this NORMAL at AA meetings or have I just found a group of depressives? It put me right off and left me feeling like i needed a drink to get all their problems out of my head (I tend to take things on board and want to solve things for people)
I'm from Scotland btw. I've laughed, cried, came out of meetings elated and frustrated at times. Guess that's just life.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Yew-Kay
Posts: 279
Can we dump this thread please - it was an innocent inquiery but have been slapped on the knuckles for it. I'm onto youtube now listening to Maroon5 and 'moves like jagger' - highly recommend it for a booze distraction and thanks to all you who replied, but lets dump this thread now x
x
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Yew-Kay
Posts: 279
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: liverpool, england
Posts: 1,708
Originally Posted by Chiffon
I say this light-heartedly but it's not far from the truth - a share in the UK goes along the lines (in a monotone voice, staring at the floor) ... My Grandad died and then my Gran blew over the cliff with her wheelchair on fire... I wanted a drink but the cash machine wouldn't let me have any money'
I mean JesusH - Dolly parton couldn't come out with it.
You might think I'm joking but it REALLY IS that depressing
I mean JesusH - Dolly parton couldn't come out with it.
You might think I'm joking but it REALLY IS that depressing
i lost my child who was 16 to stomach cancer and if i looked down when i was sharing its because it was a dam painful experience in my life and still is
i hope you never find out what its like to lose a child and i hope if you did and you came to an aa meeting upset over it and sharing over it that i would be there to help you
the meetings in my area we share what the drink did to us, where we ended up, how we thought and felt and then how it is today since coming into aa
getting a sponsor, and the impact a sponsor can have on helping to change the thinking, how the program has helped us grow
but the bottom line is how it was and how it is today
and of course also if people have issues going on then they share them over the table, a bit like anyone can start a thread on sr with a problem and throw it out for others to come up with anything that might help
like my ex wife is in bed with someone else tonight and its killing me as i want to go around and beat the pair of them up
would you get upset as its not on the program ? or its not in the big book ? or its not what YOU want to hear in an aa room ?
have alook at yourself and your reasons for even starting this thread as its not a healthy or helpful thread and as for your comments well its clear you have a long way to go to grow
or maybe i should of just ignored your comments and kept my own comments to myself
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