Arranged to go to AA but am freaked out....advice?

Question

Have been to one meeting a couple of years ago but it seemed like a cult and I found the idea of people who'd been off the booze 20 years still calling themselves 'recovering alcoholics' disturbing.

Im 26 and am nowhere near the point of drinking at 8am or getting the shakes but i know i need to stop as i keep getting myself into negative situations and am using it as a crutch to relieve anxiety and depression.

I use it six nights out of seven and sometimes have one or two in the day depending.

Advice please

f**k me the first two people to answer are jesus followed by the devil...get away from me you freaks!!

Answer 1

I am a recovering Alcoholic of 2 years and 4 months. My first meeting freaked me out but it was the best day of my life because I have never had a drink or drug since.... its a simple 12 step program to follow, and life is so much better not drinking. Its difficult in the beginning I don't deny that, keep an open mind. You meet some interesting people Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, they all go there as everyone knows. I to this day take anxiety tablets due to panic attacks and I suffer with depression, the doctor's help me, there is so much help for you, take it, give the drink up because its a killer. Go to another meeting, and another and another and another, your meet people who will guide you through and turn your life completely around. Good Luck to you and I pray for you. xxx

Answer 2

They call themselves "recovering" because they will NEVER be able to take even one swallow of alcohol. One swallow will lead to one drink. And they are now back to square one.

AA helps a lot of people, but I can understand how you feel the "cult" atmosphere. It is very religion based.

It isn't easy to quit drinking, but it is possible. You don't say how much you drink each day. I think you should give AA a chance. Go to a couple of meetings. There are many people there who can help you. You may find someone you can relate to and identify with, or you may not. But the people there have "been there" and know how to help. Not everyone there drank as soon as they got up or had "the shakes" when they didn't have a drink, but drinking caused problems in their life and they needed help to stop.
Stopping on your own is possible, but it will be hard. The people at AA will be able to advise you how to handle the situations that trigger your drinking.
The fact that you realize that drinking is becoming a problem is the hardest step. The next hardest is getting the booze out of your system. It is like being hooked on drugs.
You might want to check out any rehabs in your area where you can go to "dry out".
Best wishes.

Answer 3

Well, I'm an AA member, and I'll try to explain to you why those people call themselves "recovering" alcoholics despite the fact that they have been sober for 20 years.

They do this because they are not cured of alcoholism no matter how long they have been sober. Just like diabetics can be healthy with treatment, but get sick again if they do not treat their diabetes, an alcoholic will get sick again if he or she drinks. This may seem strange, but I have seen it happen. I've been sober almost 9 yr in AA and have seen people with long term sobriety decide they are "cured" and drink again. They are a mess within a short time, as if they had never quit at all. Use of the word "recovering" simply shows respect for this reality.

I'll share a bit of my own personal experience. When I was 26, I was drinking much like you describe. 12 years later, when I finally got sober, I was a mess, incapable of working and with my family life in tatters. Those 12 years were hell. I would give anything to get them back. You have a chance to keep those 12 years.

AA is not a cult. It is a recovery program which will work if you follow it, and you do not have to be religious at all, just sick and tired of feeling like crap and watching your life go down the toilet.

Answer 4

There are different meetings. Find one where you feel comfortable. There's mens meetings, womens meetings, singles meetings and on and
on. Find one where you relate. As they say....you don't HAVE to go to the bottom to jump off at any given floor.

AA alone wasn't enough for me and I had to find other avenues for help. Not drinking didn't do squat for me because I had other problems. Fortunatly through AA members I did get the help I needed. I wouldn't have though ,if I took the whole program on the first meeting with the first people I met. They say "find the winners"...they are there and you know them when you see them. They aren't living out at the hall 24/7.......coz for many, meetings become as much a crutch as alcohol or drugs were. Give it some time.....they are there and they aren't all cult people or relegious freaks. It is a great program yet it's not perfect.

Answer 5

AA isn't a bad idea, but I've always been uncomfortable in meetings...no one my age was there, just a bunch of old dudes drinking coffee.

AA is based on the premise that once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic...meetings help keep you sober, but once you say you're not a recovering alcoholic anymore, that's when you set yourself up for a relapse, because you're not "working the program".

You might try to find meetings in your area that are centered around the younger population...some meetings tend to have more young adults than others...

You also might look into outpatient alcoholism treatment...you get to be in group therapy and/or meet with a counselor once or twice a week...that might be what you need to stay sober without having to sit in AA meetings.

Answer 6

I relate....I avoided AA and had married an alcoholic and went to Alanon....Couldn't deal with that either. For me, it was what you said re alcohol being a crutch to relieve anxiety and depression! Exactly my situation, too. I finally found a good therapist, eventually got onto medication for anxiety---it used to be such a gut-crunch, I could hardly function, so hit the bottle! The change in my abilty to function successfully in my life is amazing. I DO believe in a lot of alcoholism, there is a chemical imbalance and that we find as young people that we can medicate the anxiety (and the resulting depression) with alcohol. I found that the root of this anxiety and depression was deep in my childhood--continuous fear as a child no doubt can become chronic anxiety--and since nothing I could do to solve problems due to the anxiety, came depression. IF a person does find a Higher Power to rely upon, that is all and good. Many of us have to find a root cause. You are aware that it can become a real problem for you and good for you. You have an inquiring mind--addiction CAN take over our lives--the relief from that gut-crunch gained from alcohol reinforces alcohol use as an immediate remedy, but as you wisely say, can eventually cause major probs in our lives. But I'll bet you'd be a good candidate to find the deeper answers. GOOD LUCK!! Shop around until you find someone you can work with--some therapist that you feel comfortable with. For me, a good psychiatric social worker has a good background--esp those with experience with our symptoms! It's like finding GOLD!!! I'll bet you can root it out with GOOD help

Answer 7

You need to do something, otherwise you wouldnt be asking us. If theres no alternative kind of therapy or help around, or if its taking time to arrange it, then go to AA. Theres no obligation for you to end up as someone whos been there 20 yrs. Maybe these people find they still need support every now and then. You could always give it a go, try a few meetings and if its still not for you then try and get into some other kind of therapy.

Answer 8

i am an alcoholic at a a you will find friendly helpful people all alcoholics willing to help and support you get over this illness all you need is the desire to give up drinking i went 7 months ago and have not drunk since you dont have to believe in god i didnt but now in a short space of time i have got my mind and body back and now am truly happy without the influence of alcohol go to an aameeting and keep going back you will find help and support you would not think was possible BEST OF LUCK

Answer 9

If you are asking advice you are admitting you do have a problem and that is half the battle, at such a young age you should look forward to what life has to offer and that is not always in a bottle. Try thinking before you act especially at what the excess alcohol is doing to your liver and do you want to die young? that should give you a kick up the backside and a taste of reality.

Answer 10

Be honest with yourself. Can you stop? Most importantly, do you want to stop? If you don't really want to stop, no one can help you. Don't buy any more alcohol and don't talk to anyone who will encourage you to drink even once. It's time to take care of yourself and stop poisoning your body. One day you'll be a parent and you will want to be around a long time for them. Surround yourself with good people at a church. Just go, don't think about it, just do it. Talk to everyone you meet there and tell them you're not drinking anymore. You'll be surprised at how many of them may be able to encourage you.