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Any ex-drinkers in the house?

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HAL9000 said:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/?PageID=56

I don't think I could go to that.
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i don't think you could either if you don't.

those aren't earthshaking steps btw, nor are they unique to AA. they have been practiced by spiritual people for thousands of years. most were a lot happier than i was when i came into the halls of aa so what did i have to lose, lol.

also, you say that drinking is but a symptom of your problem. thats right from the big book as well. why do you think we practice those steps? we needed to change ourselves. if you aren't willing to change and you are a true alcoholic, things won't be getting much better for ya.
 
Atomic Playboy said:
I think our beliefs have quite a bit of overlap, with the exception being that I have no intention of quitting drinking... Anyway, I'm telling you, from personal experience, the God thing is not a big part of it. It's a creed that gets read of the start of every meeting. Takes about 5 minutes, tops. The other 55 or so minutes? People telling their stories, people talking about their successes or failures, people winning trinkets and accolades for passing milestones of sobriety, etc. It doesn't feel like a faith-based organization or meeting in my opinion.

Try out a meeting or two. Get a feel for it. Being around other people who are actively trying to quit is the BEST way to avoid alcohol yourself.
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I think this is definitely what I'm going to take away from this thread, I know there are other groups that I think will be a better fit for me, so I'm going to look into them, I can definitely see the logic in being around other people whoa re quitting and I think it would be a huge benefit to me to do that.
 
rise said:
i don't think you could either if you don't.

those aren't earthshaking steps btw, nor are they unique to AA. they have been practiced by spiritual people for thousands of years. most were a lot happier than i was when i came into the halls of aa so what did i have to lose, lol.

also, you say that drinking is but a symptom of your problem. thats right from the big book as well. why do you think we practice those steps? we needed to change ourselves. if you aren't willing to change and you are a true alcoholic, things won't be getting much better for ya.
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I am willing to change that, I need to change that, but I'm not a spiritual person, my life relies on logic and reason, if I start believing in things that are outside that then I'll lose a part of who I am. I can do this without being a spiritual person. There are other groups where that is not a pre-requisite.
 
if you do go to a meeting, don't just go and sit there telling yourself it won't work or be all hung up on your preconceptions. look for a beginners meeting or a discussion meeting (they are noted in the books in the US) and put your hand up. tell them you're new and had some questions if someone would be willing to talk with you after the meeting.

or just show up early, stay late and put your hand out. people are always willing to help.
 
rise said:
if you do go to a meeting, don't just go and sit there telling yourself it won't work or be all hung up on your preconceptions. look for a beginners meeting or a discussion meeting (they are noted in the books in the US) and put your hand up. tell them you're new and had some questions if someone would be willing to talk with you after the meeting.

or just show up early, stay late and put your hand out. people are always willing to help.
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OK, I'm going to look into groups in my local area and see whats close and what's popular and then I'll make my decision, I'm not completely opposed to going, I just think that I might find it hard to take it seriously if God is a big issue.
 
What is the line for being an alcoholic? If I drink a beer or sip a glass of Scotch everyday (without abusing it and have it affecting mil life), am I an alcoholic still?
 
Blueychan said:
What is the line for being an alcoholic? If I drink a beer or sip a glass of Scotch everyday (without abusing it and have it affecting mil life), am I an alcoholic still?
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I think at the point where you become dependant on it, I.e. you can't go a day without it, or you can't go a week without it. Or at the point you don't feel right without having had one.
 
Blueychan said:
What is the line for being an alcoholic? If I drink a beer or sip a glass of Scotch everyday (without abusing it and have it affecting mil life), am I an alcoholic still?
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If you drink, then you are an alcoholic.
You either drink or you don't.
 
HAL9000 said:
I think at the point where you become dependant on it, I.e. you can't go a day without it, or you can't go a week without it. Or at the point you don't feel right without having had one.
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damn if that's the definition, I might be an alcoholic. I find myself with a drink every evening before bed, nothing more though.
 
Blueychan said:
damn if that's the definition, I might be an alcoholic. I find myself with a drink every evening before bed, nothing more though.
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back in the day they had a "2 for 6" test. you have two drinks of your choice, no more, no less, for 6 months. everyday. if you can hold it to that, then God bless you, you probably aren't an alcoholic.

really though, only you can say whether you're an alcoholic. if you google it there is a 20 question test or something that may show you some warning signs.
 
meh, my dad drank like that hjis whole life. a couple scotches or martinis every night but he wasn't an alcoholic. he could stop when he wanted to, at one drinkn even, not just abstinence.
 
I started smoking pot, figured it was better for me in the long haul health wise than drinking, now i only drink maybe 2-3 times a year. Its also alot cheaper.
 
rise said:
meh, my dad drank like that hjis whole life. a couple scotches or martinis every night but he wasn't an alcoholic. he could stop when he wanted to, at one drinkn even, not just abstinence.
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Yeah fair enough.

Rifter said:
I started smoking pot, figured it was better for me in the long haul health wise than drinking, now i only drink maybe 2-3 times a year. Its also alot cheaper.
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I'm never going to take an illegal drug, I never have I never will, I definitely will never try canabis given that I already have mental health problems.
 
Rifter said:
Ahh you buy into the pot will make you nuts goverment propaganda, gotcha.
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No, my Dad's best friend from school was diagnosed bipolar, smoke a lot of cannibis and is now a paranoid schizophrenic that can't leave the house.... So...
 
1. Drive to Colorado
2. Drink until you think you can blow over a 0.2
3. Mandatory jail time
4. Don't drink when you get out

Done.
 
I used to drink quite a lot (military buddies, lol hard not to). Nowadays in my old age I drink once or twice a week a little, and once every couple of months I'll get drunk with an old friend.

Some people never slow down though, so if you feel its causing you trouble in your life (health, relationships, work), then by all means pursue some manner of rehabilitation in this area.

All the best wishes in your endeavours.
 
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