Tuliprose

Hello. I'm ready to try again after making it for two months just before Covid hit. I've been anti-AA because I am not religious. (Not atheist). The closest thing to a higher power that I believe in is Mother Nature. I'm interested in the zoom meeting idea because I feel like I actually might be more willing to go to meetings in that capacity. Next question, one of my family members is very active in AA and we also live very close to each other. Because of my non-religious lifestyle and wanting my own sobriety journey not just in the footsteps of my family member, I feel confused about how to find a meeting where I can still keep some of my privacy intact from my family member and the large group of people in their local AA network.. Thank you.

Anna

Hi and Welcome,

I am not an AA person, but AA is not religious. Yes, you do need a higher power, but it can be anything that works for you. I believe that Zoom meetings are very popular during covid and in fact, some/many regular AA meetings are cancelled for now. As far as running into your family member, it could happen since you live in the same area, but it's generally accepted to not talk about what is heard in meetings. If you are concerned about that, maybe you could look outside your area for meetings once covid is over.

Also, please know that you will always find support and anonymity here at SR.

least

Welcome back! I don't know anything about Zoom meetings, but isn't there an option not to appear on camera, just listen to the meeting?

Anna is right tho, about SR being a great place for support and ideas that is anonymous and friendly.

Dee74

Hi Tuliprose - welcome

everything Anna says is correct, although I don't 'do' AA either.
There are other secular based approaches around like SMART Recovery which also have Zoom meetings

https://www.smartrecoverytest.org/local/meetings/

fini

Tuliprose, great you want to give meetings a go, and good old Mother Nature is a perfectly fine power greater than you
you can join any AA zoom meeting in the world at any time.
with thousands of them, it is highly unlikely you will run into someone you know.
there are advantages to knowing sober alcoholics in “real”life, though. just sayin’

BarbieKen

Hi,
I’ve been in AA since getting sober. I am not religious. The only requirement to join ... a desire to get sober. While I have a Higher Power , one I call the Universe, it isn’t mandated.
Bobbi

EndGameNYC

I don't know that all this maneuvering and setting conditions for your recovery is a good way to start. Sobriety benefits from an open mind.

There's some literature in AA that mentions God; a "higher power" seems to be an important part of the process for a lot of people. The literature recommends it. Mother Nature is as good as any.

No matter what we do to get sober, the way we get sober is a personal struggle that's unique to each of us, whether we like it or not, whether we do it alone or together, and sometimes with and sometimes without our permission. Although we walk in no one else's footsteps, many of us get sober with the help of people who got sober before we did. People who are continuing to do it.

One of the best things you can do is to reach out and then allow someone else to help you.

MythOfSisyphus

Welcome back, Tuliprose! There are lots of approaches to getting sober; the important thing is to find one that works for you and to put in the work. I know you can do it!

shakeel

The Zoom meetings are on this link 24hrs 7 days:
https://aa-intergroup.org/oiaa/meetings/
Here are a few recovery programs that could help you along the way:
AA online meetings: https://aa-intergroup.org/oiaa/meetings/
SMART ( they use CBT) their online meetings on here https://www.smartrecovery.org/commun...p#.Uv_4ws6dCRM
AVRT (addictive voice recognition technique) https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...ined-long.html (AVRT Explained (long))
RECOVERY INTERNATIONAL (CBT) online meetings on here: https://recoveryinternational.org/meetings/#Online
You could also read this interesting article on how the brain heals itself from addiction: Google The Brain That Heals Itself: Neuroplasticity and Promise for Addiction Treatment.

aasharon90

When I entered recovery back in 1990 I was aware
of addiction running in the family. I was also extremely
excited to find out that one of my uncles was living a
successful sober life too.

When I found that out, I reached out to him.

Knowing that I didnt have to go thru this journey in recovery
alone emmediately kept that burning desire to remain sober
no matter what.

My uncle and I attended a few meetings and yes, he gave
me one of my chips when celebrating one of my early sobriety
birthdays.

For that and for him, I am truly grateful.

With willingness, openmindedness and honesty, I have
also found success living my life in recovery for 30 yrs
now. It's a gift and journey of changes in life and within
myself that has strengthened my heart, mind and soul
to be the best sober person I can possibly be today.

Having someone right there close to you that is achieving
success in their own recovery life is a gift right there for the
taking and accepting. You are never alone in your quest
for your own success in life and recovery.

D122y

I don't know much about AA either, but the few meetings I went to did have a prayer time (Lords Prayer).

It was a circle hand hold thing. I never saw a single person decline to hold hands, but many didn't verbalize the prayer.

I totally understand you having issue with AA for staying anonymous. Thanks God for spell check.

SR has been working for me for the last 5 years. I have had awkward times, but there is enough patience and support here that things always have worked out.

I recommend SR as a primary sobriety tool.

But, if I needed to hear someone speak or be heard myself real time, Zoom would be an option.

Thanks.

Mizz

You can attend the AA meetings with a fake name and also with a black box. I did this for close to one month. I also heard a speaker a few weeks back who said their higher power was a series of Female rock stars initially.

I had reservations that were similar to yours in regards to anonymity. My reservations had a lot do with my employment and also how small of a community I live in. I specifically wanted to stay anonymous from ONE person. After a few weeks I spoke with this person, who is very active in AA, and we have never spoken of it again. This person is happy for me but stays in their own lane and works their own program.

I then found other "reasons" to continue using a fake name and a black box .....After some friendly pressure and nudging I am a real name and a real person now

So, give it a try. It cant hurt. You are researching here.