Drunks already know that from being poor, doing things they regret, losing their jobs, and running off their families.
So when you're Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired, consider visiting a welcoming AA meeting near you!
Learn about the AA fellowship
--groups are in every city in America
Find 12 Step meetings nearby and check em out. If you don't like one AA group, find another. All you need is a desire to stop drinking!
What happens at a meeting?
Meetings are held in a rented office or church meeting room and they last for exactly one hour. Members arrive a few minutes beforehand to visit with new or old friends and promptly at the hour, the volunteer leader for that meeting opens it with the Serenity Prayer.
Then someone reads "How it Works" with the 12 steps. The leader chooses a topic, whether from the AA Big Book or other literature for discussion. or someone else suggests one.
Then they start around the table and each member may have the floor for about 5 minutes to offer personal experience with their drinking or experience with their sobriety. Visitors usually just listen the first few times to get to know folks.
Anonymity is the AA rule.
First names only. No photographs taken. Many groups add a reminder to all: "If you hear it here, when you leave here, let it stay here!"
Sometimes a smaller group of experienced members will take a first time visitor to the back room for a welcoming "First Step Meeting" to tell you about how AA works, and how they got to their meetings and early sobriety. You aren't expected to say anything if you don't want to. First step meetings are a time for listening! Yes, it'll seem like they're ganging up on you as they tell their stories--but it doesn't hurt and they hope their openness and sincerity will show you that it doesn't hurt THEM to be open to you either!
In each regular meeting, the attendees discuss a chosen passage from The Big Book or other literature. Sometimes you hear horror stories. Sometimes see a few tears.
Relapsing is the hardest part!
It takes dedication for the goal of sobriety. If you disappear for days, weeks, or months,"slipping back" into your old ways, you're simply welcomed back because alcoholics know that relapses go with the territory.
Many members really get into their group, helping others with their own sobriety, sponsoring/mentoring others, coming to Friday night Covered Dish dinners, giving each other rides, going on campouts, and listening to speakers. Many become very good friends with each other!
More Online advice...
Wikipedia on AA - the Fellowship of more than 1 million is generally lifelong-- to help members stop drinking by going to meetings. AA unconvincingly claims to be 'spiritual' but not 'religious'--pretty much so not to scare off new people, who they hope will find God and use Him for help with sobriety and other living improvements.
Click to Link: FIND A FREE AA MEETING NEARBY.
KC AREA AA sobriety meetings (maps, days and times!)
They're free...supported by a dollar or two donation. The only AA rule is a desire to stop drinking. Ya don't have to TALK and they only use first names! AA is Anonymous! To work for you, this program does require SINCERITY and DEVOTION to overcome your addiction!
Link: Living Sober
Commenting
Find 12 Step meetings nearby and check em out. If you don't like one AA group, find another. All you need is a desire to stop drinking!
What happens at a meeting?
Meetings are held in a rented office or church meeting room and they last for exactly one hour. Members arrive a few minutes beforehand to visit with new or old friends and promptly at the hour, the volunteer leader for that meeting opens it with the Serenity Prayer.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can... and the wisdom to know the difference."
Then someone reads "How it Works" with the 12 steps. The leader chooses a topic, whether from the AA Big Book or other literature for discussion. or someone else suggests one.
Then they start around the table and each member may have the floor for about 5 minutes to offer personal experience with their drinking or experience with their sobriety. Visitors usually just listen the first few times to get to know folks.
Anonymity is the AA rule.
First names only. No photographs taken. Many groups add a reminder to all: "If you hear it here, when you leave here, let it stay here!"
Sometimes a smaller group of experienced members will take a first time visitor to the back room for a welcoming "First Step Meeting" to tell you about how AA works, and how they got to their meetings and early sobriety. You aren't expected to say anything if you don't want to. First step meetings are a time for listening! Yes, it'll seem like they're ganging up on you as they tell their stories--but it doesn't hurt and they hope their openness and sincerity will show you that it doesn't hurt THEM to be open to you either!
In each regular meeting, the attendees discuss a chosen passage from The Big Book or other literature. Sometimes you hear horror stories. Sometimes see a few tears.
If you don't want to talk, you just say your first name and "I'm glad to be here and I'll pass to the next person." You're always welcome when you come. They're a cheerful bunch, being there for the same reason--to find and keep sobriety.AA meetings are free, but funded by meeting participants. They do pass a basket around. Some pay by the month but most usually drop a dollar or two in the basket being passed around if they have it.
Relapsing is the hardest part!
It takes dedication for the goal of sobriety. If you disappear for days, weeks, or months,"slipping back" into your old ways, you're simply welcomed back because alcoholics know that relapses go with the territory.
Many members really get into their group, helping others with their own sobriety, sponsoring/mentoring others, coming to Friday night Covered Dish dinners, giving each other rides, going on campouts, and listening to speakers. Many become very good friends with each other!
Note: Prayer and fellowship doesn't get everyone to stop drinking. There are alternatives including professional counseling or drugs that really stop cravings.
Some AA old timers aren't big on suggesting prescribed medicine to quell intense cravings. Ignore those people! There are some really excellent medications like Vivitrol (Naltrexone) that kill your white- knuckling desires. (Read up on this here.)
Go see your doctor, or ask for them at a drug treatment program. Doctors want you to be in a program when you take them for a few months to ease your habit. It usually takes six months of being clean. These drugs also work for opiate addictions.
(Click to read the entire article, including criticism and effectiveness information.)
AA Free Websites for your PC:
AA Free Websites for your PC:
- Free Daily Reflections emailed to you...
Hazelten.org uploads a daily Thought based on your iphone calendar. The Daily Reflections website: Android app shows a daily reflection and prayer fm the Big Book based on your iphone calendar and this is often used during AA meetings.
--by: GeorgiaSobriety. Apple App, look for it in your Smartphone's APP STORE! pp links to PDF files of each chapter of the main text of the Big Book... (Doctor's Opinion through Chap 11), plus short articles on spiritual growth, a "Higher Power", humility, forgiveness, tips on getting a good sponsor, and even a "Sobriety Calculator". Very handy.Your AA Neighborhood Meetings
Click to Link: FIND A FREE AA MEETING NEARBY.
KC AREA AA sobriety meetings (maps, days and times!)
They're free...supported by a dollar or two donation. The only AA rule is a desire to stop drinking. Ya don't have to TALK and they only use first names! AA is Anonymous! To work for you, this program does require SINCERITY and DEVOTION to overcome your addiction!
Link: Living Sober
Read it ONLINE
Living Sober website: home.Earththink.net...Living Sober. Install and click on short topics, excerpts from the book
AA's Al-Anon - Help for Families!
If you have an alcoholic in your family--a parent, spouse or child, learn how to handle YOUR loved one and your OWN feelings. You probably have a lot of anger and resentments over your love one's addiction! This helps.
Get your own peace... and also learn how to work with the alcoholic you love. You have the power to help him/her heal, or make matters FAR WORSE by handling him/her badly!
Living Sober website: home.Earththink.net...Living Sober. Install and click on short topics, excerpts from the book
AA's Al-Anon - Help for Families!
If you have an alcoholic in your family--a parent, spouse or child, learn how to handle YOUR loved one and your OWN feelings. You probably have a lot of anger and resentments over your love one's addiction! This helps.
Get your own peace... and also learn how to work with the alcoholic you love. You have the power to help him/her heal, or make matters FAR WORSE by handling him/her badly!
NA- Narcotics Anonymous
Many AA groups bluntly want to only talk about alcohol addiction, even tho a great many alcoholics have 'co-addictions' of both alcohol and drug use addictions.
Many AA groups bluntly want to only talk about alcohol addiction, even tho a great many alcoholics have 'co-addictions' of both alcohol and drug use addictions.
Even so, AA's sister 12-step organization is for substance addicts. Many AA and NA meeting halls are located near each other.
Some people choose one or the other--or go to both. The newer NA program is less structured, and they have their own 'big book' written much more recently. NA tends to attract younger people.
Links: Wikipedia discusses NA
More about NA (meetings in most cities)
National Narcotics Anonymous -
Kansas City NA meetings
More about NA (meetings in most cities)
National Narcotics Anonymous -
Kansas City NA meetings
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