Doing a Meeting a Day but Still Finding it Hard
Guest
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,802
Doing a Meeting a Day but Still Finding it Hard
Every day either morning or night I do a meeting. The problem is that I still get intense cravings for a drink every now and then which I really find it hard not to act on. My neighbour has moved so I have a lot of time on my hands. I have that crazy feeling I had when I first gave up smoking. I try to distract myself but seem to have lost interest in everything. Any suggestions? Tomorrow is payday and I'm terrified I will go on a binge and lose my new sponsor. She said its all about ringing people when you get an urge.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,276
If it was me I’d make the calls on payday. Arrange to meet up with some people from AA before and after the meeting. Maybe go to a meeting in the morning and in the evening. Do some step work with your sponsor or with someone else from the program. Just keep busy. Best of luck.
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,357
Good advice here sweetichick.
Cravings are not pleasant but we can mage not to give into them.
Payday is a danger time for you so I'd be mustering all the support you can from the real world, and sitting on SR a lot,
D
Cravings are not pleasant but we can mage not to give into them.
Payday is a danger time for you so I'd be mustering all the support you can from the real world, and sitting on SR a lot,
D
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it-then you are ready to take certain steps.
At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Remember that we deal with alcohol-cunning, baffling,powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power-that One is God. May you find Him now!
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:
probably time to work the steps with a sponsor,eh?
getting sober is hard. its not an over night matter.
staying sober is easy. well worth the fight.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it-then you are ready to take certain steps.
At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Remember that we deal with alcohol-cunning, baffling,powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power-that One is God. May you find Him now!
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.
Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:
probably time to work the steps with a sponsor,eh?
getting sober is hard. its not an over night matter.
staying sober is easy. well worth the fight.
Blue Belt
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Soberville, USA
Posts: 4,174
Sweet,
I don't go to meetings anymore. I come here, hit the gym, do home mx, shop, golf, tinker. If I ever relapsed, I would go to AA meetings.
No more drinking.
Booze is a brain damaging neuro toxin.
I am positive I have deep irreparable brain damage.
I might end up having a stroke.
I am an addict for life.
The craves got easier each day, but I still crave. That is how I know I am an addict.
Thanks.
I don't go to meetings anymore. I come here, hit the gym, do home mx, shop, golf, tinker. If I ever relapsed, I would go to AA meetings.
No more drinking.
Booze is a brain damaging neuro toxin.
I am positive I have deep irreparable brain damage.
I might end up having a stroke.
I am an addict for life.
The craves got easier each day, but I still crave. That is how I know I am an addict.
Thanks.
G-Woman
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Mississauga, ON
Posts: 979
Your sponsor's suggestion for reaching out to others when you have a craving is a great one. Any chance you can meet with your sponsor or another non-drinker for coffee & chat today? Maybe more than one meeting could help fill your time as well.
AA meetings didn't necessarily stop my early cravings either. But they helped me ride them out and get through them.
AA meetings didn't necessarily stop my early cravings either. But they helped me ride them out and get through them.
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
I wish you all the power you need to get through pay day. By all means call other alcoholics, but it is better to do that before any urges come. The action of trying to help another seems to keep the urges away.
In my experience I never could make a call when I wanted to drink. By then it was too late. The obsession was back and the last thing I would do, if I remembered at all which I usually didn't, was talk to someone who would try and stop me.
Recovery is not about endlessly fighting urges and desperate calls for help. In AA we have a spiritual program of action, one result of which is that the drink problem will be removed. I have seen plenty of people try and fail to stay sober on meetings alone, and the same people, when they sincerely began working the steps, suddenly found it easy to stay sober.
In my experience I never could make a call when I wanted to drink. By then it was too late. The obsession was back and the last thing I would do, if I remembered at all which I usually didn't, was talk to someone who would try and stop me.
Recovery is not about endlessly fighting urges and desperate calls for help. In AA we have a spiritual program of action, one result of which is that the drink problem will be removed. I have seen plenty of people try and fail to stay sober on meetings alone, and the same people, when they sincerely began working the steps, suddenly found it easy to stay sober.
Guest
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,802
I have got a new sponsor and are working the steps. It's just the ongoing anxiety and lack of sleep that is hard. Last night I was at a meeting and nearly collapsed getting out of the car. I went home because I didn't want to end up in hospital and panic people.
Guest
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,802
No exhausted. Was up all night worrying about the collapsing thing. I went out and got some healthy food. Tomorrow night is my home group. My sponsor is ringing me soon. Been listening to the Joe and Charlie tapes. My psychiatrist said it may take a few months to get better. Thanks for asking,
Guest
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,802
Have to mention I was lucky to reconnect with my sponsor of 12 years ago. She knows my history and the devastation I brought on myself. I pray that everyone will find someone they connect with.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
