Finally going to get help about my drinking

LegacyUser

I have finally admited to myself that I need help and I have decided to attend an AA meeting I was wondering what will happen the first night?

LegacyUser

alls that will happen will be that you'll feel scared, nervous, wondering what the hell you're donig there, then you might start thinking you're being dramatic and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the way you drink...

BUT please don't stress or worry about it. Don't bolt. Just hang on to your seat and if you can, tell someone that this is your first meeting and you'd like to talk to someone. Try and identify with the speakers, don't compare, just identify. You'll be absolutely grand, this is the best thing you could possibly do for yourself. If you don't like that meeting, give another one a try. I'm sober for just over 2.5 years and am a regular AA attendee. It works for me, I can't say enough good things about it.

Best of luck to you...

PS try giving central services a call too, they'll probably be able to put you in touch with other AA'ers in your area who might be able to bring you to a meeting, answer any questions you might have etc.

Odysseus

Well unless you live next door to where a meeting is held I guess your talking about tomorrow some time.

At a meeting there will be a a person doing the "chair" and a secertary who opens and closes the meeting. The person doing the chair shares their experience, strenght and hope or what it was like, what happened and what its like now, in AA speak.

This lasts for about 20 min and then the meeting is open to the rest of the group, who identfy or share about their day.

After the meeting members often go for a coffee a good time for an informal chat though the whole thing is informal anyway. Its a good idea to try get there 10-15 mins early you will be offered a cup of tea and it gives you a chance to meet a few of the group members. A very brief description but should give you some idea.

Hope this helps, best of luck with it mate.

LegacyUser

I have decided to give it one more go at giving up for a while on my own. I have decided to not drink for 3 months and get into the gym and start working out. However if I mess up and have one more drink just one more im going to seek help. Are there alternatives to the AA?

Victor

I think getting some help is the way to go about it. Have a word with your GP, I'm sure there are other support groups.

ineedtogetsober wrote: »

However if I mess up and have one more drink just one more im going to seek help.

Isn't that just denial?

AARRRGH

ineedtogetsober wrote: »

Are there alternatives to the AA?

Just an idea...

Get this photo enlarged by Reads of Nassau Street and stick it around your house.

Do you really want your liver turning into that?

JuliusCaesar

ineedtogetsober wrote: »

I have decided to give it one more go at giving up for a while on my own. I have decided to not drink for 3 months and get into the gym and start working out. However if I mess up and have one more drink just one more im going to seek help. Are there alternatives to the AA?

Rational REcovery?

tbh

ineedtogetsober wrote: »

I have decided to give it one more go at giving up for a while on my own. I have decided to not drink for 3 months and get into the gym and start working out. However if I mess up and have one more drink just one more im going to seek help. Are there alternatives to the AA?

why are you not going to the AA? It'd be like if I had cancer, I could say "I'll give my body one more chance to get rid before I go to the hospital", you know? I'm not having a go at you, I'm just trying to get you to specify what you are frightened about so that we can help you get over that fear. If it's a fear of strangers, maybe someone on boards can take you to a meeting. If it's a fear of change, we can probably help there too. Remember, AA = Help, it's nothing to be afraid of.

Honestly, I think that you don't want to go because you don't identify yourself as being alcholic, would that be fair?

AARRRGH

I can actually understand why some people dislike AA. It's a bit heavy on religion and the whole concept of a higher power, you know, only God can save you...

That wouldn't be my thing at all.

However, I'd give it a shot. It's free, and it's a step in the right direction.

Worst case scenario it's a waste of time.

But I can understand the resistance...

Seaswimmer

I gave up alcohol last September after 30 years of heavy drinking. There was not a week when i did not exceed the 21 units. I had made a few attempts to cut down/give up before then trying various different methoods. Things like only drinking at weekends, not drinking on my own, not drinking at home, only drinking at home and not going to pub, getting my wife to give up with me. I discussed AA with my cousin and decided it was not for me. What finally got me off drink was reading Aan Carrs book (easy way to control alcohol). I read it a few times and it is very much common sense and very readable. It may or may not help you but it worth a read and does not cost much.
Also i would not set a target of 3 months (or any number of days/weeks) because if you last a week and drink again you have percieved yourself to have failed. Take one day at a time. I first started counting days, then weeks and now months and you will be amazed how quickly you get used to not drinking.
The biggest problem i still have is other peoples reaction to my not drinking. However in your case you can tell people it is part of your new get fit regime and after a few weeks they will stop hassling you. Also most of your friends will find it hard to see you as a person with a drink problem as in all probability they may drink as much if not more than you and will not like to be reminded of it by seeing you give up..
Best of luck..

Karen_*

ineedtogetsober wrote: »

I have decided to give it one more go at giving up for a while on my own. I have decided to not drink for 3 months and get into the gym and start working out. However if I mess up and have one more drink just one more im going to seek help. Are there alternatives to the AA?

Have you reached rock bottom? Is your life unmanagable because of drinking. Is it destroying your relationships? Giving up alcohol is hard to do all alone. At least sit in in a few meetings and just hear whats going on. You might feel like bolting, you might feel that you're not as bad as them or that you're worse and they can't piossibly understand.

Someone who doesn't have a drinking problem does not ask themselves if they do have one. Please don't put off getting some support. You might say to yourself you'll give up tomorrow but there can be an awful lot of tomorrows and eventually not enough tomorrows.

I recommend reading 'Drinking, a love story' by Caroline Knapp and also Alan Carrs 'Easyway to control alcohol'. Get yourself some books and read some literature.

Odysseus

ineedtogetsober wrote: »

I have decided to give it one more go at giving up for a while on my own. I have decided to not drink for 3 months and get into the gym and start working out. However if I mess up and have one more drink just one more im going to seek help. Are there alternatives to the AA?

There are a few options, firstly do you need medical help to safely stop drinking? If so namely avoiding withdrawal go to your GP, even if the answer is no there are other medical interventions. Antabuse helps some people others it causes more problems. There is another drug that I just can't think of now that helps with the complusion side of things. So that the medical side.

Plently of psychological options, contact you local community alcohol services they usually supply group psycho-educational sessions followed by individual therapy. Or you could seek out a counsellor/therapist in a local community addiction service, as oppossed to the HSE addiction services who won't see you if its just an alcohol problem. I suggest that as it would be free or low cost. Or if you can afford it seek out a IAAAC accredited therapist.

Hope that helps