My psychiatrist does everything but forces me to go. I wish I didn't neede them, but they do keep me away from beer and whiskey. ANy thoughts?
AA and NA made me say to myself "I cannot, cannot, cannot, end up like these people." That being said though, I meet the nicest people there. Support from someone that understands you, and you KNOW they came from the same situation, is refreshing. I let alot off my chest, and let alot of old ways vanish. I thought it would be shit because of the religious connection, but it's more than that. It helps empower people. I sometimes think of going back to just visit, my home group was great, and helped me realize that day after day, it's only you that can make the change you want.
How can your psychiatrist force you to go, when I saw a psychiatrist she would just recommend I go to AA but the choice is yours.
We all have our addictions - I guess for some gradual reduction, for others Cold Turkey and some replacement of choice - sweets, food, exercise - One has to find their own way of dealing - though what IS essential is Support - Good luck to you
Have tried mouthwash, nyquil, natty light, lode. Yeah, but the former as well as dxm/antihistamine "maple syrup" makes you ,coonstipated, uindigestaed, and makes SWIM a friggin madman. In nany case, I do need the encouragement to facilitate healthy behavioral, it's tough though. Ergo, I am god, you are ZGOde, we are all him, nature, christ, how di I pray to myself and other earthly beings (I beilive pantheism, like Emmerson and Benjamin Franklin, and Jethro Tull), for peace of mind...to stop wsomething that is fun, haitit forming, and ascosiated with pleasure, freinds, party, family, comfort?:afro:
This really sucks. She makes me go, so i have to listen to these hillbilly stories like "back in 1976, we was popping qualudes and i had a fifth of jasck daniels and my truck hit a tree, killed my dog but i survuved, dam tree"
If you think you have a problem , and as you said " it keeps you away from it " , then why knock it ? Use it for what it is , if it helps you . And it seems to me that those " hillbilly stories " are from people just like yourself . Who suffer from addiction . Through solidarity and knowing others are facing the same problem , it seems to work for some people . When not much else does . If it works for them and they draw solace from it , more power to them . Part of becoming honest with yourself is becoming more humble , and realizing that "those people " are just like you , and not allowing your pride or addiction to tell you that you are better than they are . People are people, no better , no worse . And mabye some stories you can't relate to . But just maybe there are one or two you can relate to , and say wow that's just like me . So give it a shot . What do you have to lose ?
Gotta figure out what keeps you drifting back to alcohol... what does a support group like AA furnish that your social circle doesn't? Find new friends and keep family at a friendly distance. Seems like those "hillbillies" are some of the precious few people willing to support you in your battle to stay sober so don't knock them. True class is the ability to be comfortable around folks no matter what their walk in like- and to have them comfortable around you.
Despite being the place to send alcoholics, be it through court orders or psychiatrists or what have you, AA has a pretty poor record of recovery. I remember watching an episode of Bullshit a few years ago where they take on AA, and the percentage of people who really recovered through AA was insignificant, if the show was to be believed. Looking at the AA program, it's not surprising. I can honestly say that would not work for me, I would be too resistant to their ideas in general to be able to take anything from it. Admitting you're helpless, etc. I don't think you need AA, just someone to talk to, support from people around you, and most importantly, a sincere desire to stop drinking, or even just drink a little less. I don't know how bad your problem is, but I'm not one to buy into the whole "alcoholism is a disease" thing.. All it comes down to is not drinking. Physical action, or rather, inaction. There is no involuntary action forcing the alcohol into you. It's your choice.
I went for a couple months, I didn't go stone cold sober after AA but I did cut back signficantly on my drinking after it. It's pretty much free, I found some people's situation relatable to mine which was what I needed to hear at the time, I don't enjoy everything the program is about but it's a good program imo for those who don't have the immeadiate support and don't want to dish out the cash and full on restrictions that come with rehab.
Revisiting this... the topic of alcoholism hits home for me- coming to terms with the specific history related to that is necessary to enable me to forgive- I sense that the OP desires to get better- though there may not be a 100% commitment. That's all part of being human- which is a disease we're all afflicted with... lol. Anyway, addiction is the physical manifestation of a deeper issue shared by more than just alcoholics and drug addicts. There are character and spiritual problems addressed by AA and NA that I see in myself and it has occurred to me that it's only the addiction itself that separates me from an alcoholic or drug addict- just because I haven't picked up a crack pipe or heroin syringe doesn't make me the least bit superior to the addict- and in a big sense, one who is truly seeking recovery understands him/herself far better than I understand myself- by necessity; the process of routing out critical flaws, the recovering addict is actually a better person than I could ever hope to be. There's respect I have for those hillbillies that I cannot have for myself. for someone struggling with an addiction it might help to consider that in reality the rest of us are no better than they are. I wish you the best of luck in tackling the demon that you at least have the guts to admit exists... that puts you ahead of soooooo many others. My perspective is only possible from wisdom offered by a very close friend who is successfully tackling many of his own demons. Peace.
We found it best to focus on our similarities rather than our differences. We cannot graft a new idea onto a closed mind.
