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Now, after 20 months in the program, I am once again isolated and miserable. It has been driven in to me that I am sick and insane. I am diseased and will be for the rest of my life. I’m grateful for having the AA experience but it’s holding https://ecosoberhouse.com/ me back from being the person God wants me to be. I’ve recently been so — touched —-by God that it’s now very clear to me. Today, I have not one single friend in my life from AA after 23 years of active participation in my community.
And, for many, AA is a wonderful resource that offers a strong community of peer support as well as a step-by-step program that can help you get and stay sober. When you have substance abuse problems, your life revolves around alcohol or drug abuse. This means that you find yourself with a lot of free time when you decide to live a sober life. Developing new healthy habits can help you manage stress and distract you from negative feelings. This could be joining a new club, starting a new hobby, or engaging in recreational activities.
What Are 12-Step Recovery Programs?
After slimming down my meeting attendance and quietly giving up my service commitments, I just called my sponsor and told him I was leaving. There came a time when my life fell completely apart despite my best efforts to resolve staying sober my difficulties. Suicide, family losses, joblessness, divorce, loneliness. I needed support, and I am not talking about hand-outs for money, a place to live, etc. . I have known for years it’s not a disease nor an allergy.
- Thats where the part is with AA that if you leave you die.
- Addiction treatment professionals peg its average long-term effectiveness at somewhere between 8 and 12 percent.
- It is vital to learn from these past mistakes, don’t harbor the feelings, and speak to your loved ones and anyone else you believe you have hurt.
- These include medical services, behavioral therapy, and support groups, along with other customized therapies.
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are real and can be dangerous, if not deadly.
However, before showing up in a church basement, it is a better idea to rule out a possible medical issue that may set off cravings. Then, explore the possibility of a psychiatric diagnosis. A manic episode related to bipolar disorder can set off cravings for alcohol. Treating a chemical imbalance with an anti-depressant, or medication for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia is not the same as ‘using” at all. However, anti-anxiety meds and pain killers can present a significant risk for the addicted. At some point in your recovery, you’ll feel stressed out, whether it’s major stress or minor stress .
What Percentage Of AA Members Stay Sober?
I’ve also witnessed the fantastic potential and empowerment that often emerges by building relationships with people in recovery. Extraordinary magic comes with being in the company of people that are in the process of growing beyond what they knew they could ever be capable of. Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider. There are sober coaches, counselors, and psychologists out there happy to support you on your recovery journey. If you make excuses for your loved one’s behavior, lend them money for alcohol, or tolerate unacceptable behaviors, you may be enabling their addiction and entering into codependency. NIDA and most experts agree that a supervised medical detox minimizes complications, risk, and discomfort during detox and withdrawal from alcohol.
However, in a highly curious duality, AA has no problem with tobacco. You can puff away all you like, suck in some 4000-plus toxic chemicals, expose your brain to the highly addictive nicotine, and it’s perfectly acceptable. The last step calls for you to carry the AA message out into the world. In other words, to help others with their addiction. Do not allow COVID-19 to stop you from seeking the care you need. We are here to answer your questions and alleviate any concerns. Most of all, I was isolated and lonely, my drinking and poor choices having alienated me from everyone around me.
Press Play for Advice On Self-Discipline
I’d say my life is healthier now than it ever was in AA. My decision to discontinue participation in AA meetings, sponsorship and events came about over the course of events in my life, especially the last 3 years. I have not talked much about it with anyone until very recently. It has been a very confusing and difficult decision to sort out. I am still sober, and I haven’t abandoned what I’ve learned about staying sober – identifying my triggers and honest responses to drinking. I have had continous sobriety and have been an active participant all this time.
I don’t like the arrogance that AA members have that their way is the ONLY true way to stay sober and everyone else are just dry drunks. I think that I have the conscious choice to pick up a drink or not. It always amazes me to read leaving aa experiences because when you are “in the rooms” no one wants to hear it when you have a grievance so you feel like an outsider. It’s almost a set-up for more rejection (again!) and no alcoholic needs that!
I stopped attending meetings because a lot of stuff I was instructed to believe became less useful the more “sober” I got.
These are the bromides, the bumper sticker slogans that power the simple-minded, and often times, deeply religious folk who flock to the meetings. Lean on close friends and family for support, even if your relationships aren’t what they used to be.