Alcohol & Substance Issues | Forum profile

Wow - what a great thread!!? I am so grateful for ALL of you - newcomers and old-timers alike.? This board has been an intregal part of my recovery.? Whenever I feel lonely, or angry, or just need to reach out - I log on and become grounded in my recovery once more. Thank you - ALL of you, for helping me stay sober one day at a time.? God bless!

Hi and welcome.? Do you have a good friend that might go with you the first time?? I went by myself the first time and it was not what I thought it would be.....I understand the fear/nervousness that comes with that first move toward help.? Remember, we ALL have to walk into that FIRST meeting.? Let us know how it goes.? God bless....

Hi...friend... Try to look at it this way...I dont know about you...but I could do anything when I was drinking.? I bet if you were drunk you could walk in a meeting?? I bet when you were drunk you could sit in a bar alone? Go to a liquor store alone?? Those place are MUCH more scary than an AA meeting. The people in AA are there to get better.? The people in AA will welcome you.? You have nothing to be afraid of...I know its different...but...

Yesterday I ran into a grocery store for a moment and bought a last minute item. There was a lady collecting for the Salvation Army. Immediately I heard my mom's voice, "Never pass a red kettle without putting something in." And I know that, despite this recession, I have fewer monetary worries than Mom and Dad did raising us.

...I am grateful that I woke up sober this morning...I don't have to worry about how much wine I have...will it last me through the day and evening...until the liquor stores open tomorrow...I won't have any moments from today that I won't remember...I won't wake up at 0200 wondering where the boys are, what time did they go to bed...is my husband mad at me?...I am thankful that I am in such a happy place...I hope that you...

Thanks so much for all your kind words!? I am so much happier sober, I wish I would have been strong enough a few weeks ago to know better!!!!? Thankfully, I was able to recognize right away that drinking was not the answer but the enemy.? I can tell myself over and over not to dwell on the fact that my alcoholic brain won, but it won't do me any good... all I can do is move forward.? As much as it sucks that I no longer can say I am 1...

I got a sort of "get out of jail free" card this year.? Like Monica, I was not one for a "just a glass" at a family get together.? If I could have stuck a straw in a bottle of wine, I would have.? And trust me, there were plenty of family get togethers where I would skip the food and hang out by the bar the whole night!? Start with wine, switch?to vodka, and when that was put away, start in on the "dessert"...

Opal--great post.? I'm going to keep it to one item. I am thankful for this board and?ALL the women who have been faithful to help?me stay sober over the last 10 months.? ?For Brenda's positive attitude, for Beth's words of experience, for Leslie's faithfulness to cheer us on, ?for Missy's?honest sharing(and the tip about MMs), for Monica's consistency at reminding me how good it is to be a sober mom, for...

I think that I did so well so long and I am disapointed yet again. No one around me thinks I am an alcoholic which is weird for me. They think that I am using it as a coping mechanism and that once I learn how to live with my life stress I will not even think of reaching to alcohol to numb myself. It is hard...I cannot tell who is right and who is wrong. All I know is that my mom has been wearing me out lately and with getting married, the...

How long have you been drinking to get withdrawals. I am just curious...not trying to offend anyone.