Are there any recovering alcoholics here?

Wolvo · Alley Cat Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 181

I hope this is the correct section for this.

I am a recovering alcoholic who attends AA and wondered if there are anymore here. I have been struggling with the higher power concept of AA for the last six months because of the strict religious way i have been brought up.

I know it is a case of a God of our own understanding but the way i was taught as a child my understanding has been a bit warped. Which is one of the reasons why i am here on this site i suppose.

Anyway i was just wondering if there any others here, if you'd rather not post then feel free to send me a message.

admin · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject:

I'm not AA but have many friends that are. My understanding is that the twelve steps are crucial to recovery, including the giving in to a higher power.

You can translate this into your own terms - but according to my friends if you skip a step it's not as effective.

I once said that I thought AA was the one true religion - partly as a joke, but AA works!
_________________
Cybermonsters (Most Beloved Admin)

Favorite Octopus Video! - My Site - Studio
Have a question or need help with your account? E-mail: forum @ askland.net

FFT · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

AA only works as good as any support network. The "12 steps" don't have any actual effect on recidivism.

This is what actual studies on recidivism rates have shown, anyway. If you want to believe in spite of the facts then by all means go ahead, but the facts show that AA works because it is a support network, not because of the steps themselves.
_________________
When Science was in its crib, Religion tried to strangle it. When Science was in its infancy, Religion tried to abuse it. Now that Science is grown up, Religion wants to be in its good graces.

Theology is philosophy/ethics for people who already know what conclusion they want to come to.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7005 Location: USA

I don't fully agree with FFT.

Certainly the 12 steps are not for everyone, but there is a certain value to the program.

I myself am a recovering alcoholic, 8 years sober this past March. Wolvo, you can PM me anytime and we can talk in depth.
_________________
JP's Mind - my blog

eleven · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

You can count me in on this one as well.
If you need to talk, I'm willing --- either here or privately.
Let me know.
_________________
Pain is inevitable;
misery is optional.

admin · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject:

If it's at all possible to post any of this publicly it would be helpful for others.
_________________
Cybermonsters (Most Beloved Admin)

Favorite Octopus Video! - My Site - Studio
Have a question or need help with your account? E-mail: forum @ askland.net

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7005 Location: USA

Post what publicly, my life story? #Shocked

Well, here it is in a nutshell:

Took my first drink at 11 (actually got smashed at my friend's family's Halloween party). Drank off and on for the next couple of years whenever I could sneak something.

At 15 I began drinking regularly, or getting stoned, until I left home to join the Army. For the next 18 years I could count the number of sober days on two hands until I got my second DUI, at 11:50 p.m. March 15, 2000 and spent a little time in jail.

At that point my marriage was in jeopardy, my employment was null and void, and everything else in my life was turned upside down. Decided then that I had to either quit drinking or fade away into the sunset. I haven't had a drink since, which as of today is 8 years, 4 months, and 4 days.

Okay now... I just wrote 3 more paragraphs talking about a lot more than I've discussed with anyone in my life, ever, and after reading them, I have deleted them. Some things in my life just aren't appropriate for human consumption, not at this point anyway.
_________________
JP's Mind - my blog

admin · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

My father was an alcoholic and died from drinking - his liver shut down - so it is of interest to me.

I attended meetings for a bit with Adult Children of Alcoholics when I was youngeer. A lot of crap to wade through with that stuff.
_________________
Cybermonsters (Most Beloved Admin)

Favorite Octopus Video! - My Site - Studio
Have a question or need help with your account? E-mail: forum @ askland.net

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1271 Location: US

My dad was an alcoholic and true to form, though I am not an alcoholic, I married an alcoholic and stayed married for 15 years.

My brother is struggling with this addiction as well. He has been (mostly) sober for the last couple of years and he is back on the wagon now. I think he's been sober close to 5 months this time around.

As you can see, Wolvo, you are not alone in your physical or spiritual struggles.

I have always believed in God but my raising, too, left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, (not in reference to God, per se, but in reference to religion).

As children, my siblings and I were abused in various ways by our step dad. At the same time, we were going to church several times a week and going door-to-door to preach to others about God. There was a definite internal battle brewing there. The way we had to live was in direct contradiction to what we presented at church and how the bible said we should be treated.

I have come full circle, my friend, and hope you will too. My life is much better these days. I'm in a good marriage, I'm working on my relationship with God and I attend church regularly. It took a while for me but thank God for God's grace and mercy!

Take care,

Luv Smile

_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

Wolvo · Alley Cat Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 181

Thanks for the comments so far.

I started drinking heavily in my mid twenties along with taking drugs (ecstasy and cannabis). I guess i used to drink while i was married, but upon becoming single and at the same time leaving the religion i was brought up in (JW's) i was like a coiled spring being released.

I partied hard for many years, i am 38 now. It is only the last 4 years that i gave up the drugs and the last 18 months or so i have tried to control my drinking.

However December of last year i felt it was best to abstain completely, rather than control so i went to my first AA meeting in January.

I didn't know about the spiritual side of the AA program, so when they closed in a prayer i left fuming. This said i am from the UK, i do not think that the AA focuses as much on God as in the States for instance. But I thought to myself what has God ever done for me? God has caused nothing but trouble in my life i began to think.

This in turn made me look at the JW religion and to see why i felt so much anger towards God. I have even been to a few of the meetings after a 10 year abscence, if only to take a good examination of the doctrine i was taught. This has took my anger away, i now feel sympathy for a JW, especially the younger ones who know nothing else.

The last 5 or 6 weeks really has been an eye opener for me. I have managed to seperate God from religion.

There is no doubt in my mind that i will fight this disease every day of my life and not give up on it, whether i have God in my life or not.

But for now i really must examine what God means to me. As i have been brought up that God must come with a religion, i feel that this is something i now need to examine.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7005 Location: USA

ShardikSon · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject:

shepreach · Cobra Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 493 Location: ga

you can count me in on this one as well. next Easter i will have been sober for 30 years. the craving doesn't go away, but some days are easier than others. i have to be careful on very stressful days and this year has been extremely stressful.

being a pastor, i can tell you that there's a big difference between religion and God.
_________________
a servant in Christ

I'm wounded sore but not yet slain, I'll lie and bleed awhile then rise to fight again.
--?

Nobby · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

Hey shepreach!! Glad to see you girl! Very Happy

Always glad to have you back among us.

I never had the drinking problem! But the smoking, now that was something different. Now I had almost a 3 pack a day habit. Now 18 years ago I quit cold turkey, I haven't had a puff since. Of coarse I didn't stop until I destroyed my lungs. Smile

I'm just so glad to see you here again. I miss you!
Lotsa love,
Nobby
_________________
Much Love Nobby
CVP Smilies
dictionary Bible

FFT · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

Frankly I enjoy drinking. Sometimes I even drink as a public service; about once a month I gather volunteers for a program at the Memphis Police Academy wherein we drink enough for our body weight to get to .08 or slightly beyond (we actually had one yesterday and the highest I blew was .099) then recruits have to use the various approved tests to figure out if we are intoxicated.

Not only is it a lot of fun, it has helped me elsewhere: I know how to tell how drunk someone is and whether they should be driving. Considering the crowd I hang out with this is quite a useful skill.
_________________
When Science was in its crib, Religion tried to strangle it. When Science was in its infancy, Religion tried to abuse it. Now that Science is grown up, Religion wants to be in its good graces.

Theology is philosophy/ethics for people who already know what conclusion they want to come to.