Welcome Bill and congratulations on taking your First Step.

Some suggestions: go to AA meetings. As many as you can. If you don't know
where they are in your area, check the AA site online. They let you search.

If you are uncomfortable sharing at this point, just go and listen, listen,
listen. Look and listen to the men with over 2 years sobriety. When you fnd
someone you click with, ask them to be your sponsor.

I highly recommend you get a copy of the Big Book, 12 Steps and 12
Traditions and a copy of a daily meditation book. I recommend either 24
Hours a Day or Daily Reflections.

Another thing I find very helpful for the times you are tempted to drink is
to have an incident from your drinking days when it got you in trouble or
had serious negative consequences. Then when you are tempted, remember that
time and ask yourself, is it worth going back to that?

For me it is the time I went out to the bar drinking, woke up with 2 black
eyes, a broken nose and a torn rotorcuff and no idea how or when I got home.

Also, when you go to your first meeting, ask for a "call list". These will
be men from the group that are willing to take phone calls from fellow
alcoholics when they feel the need to drink and need to talk to not drink.

Hope some of this is helpful to you.
Good luck on your journey to sobriety.
Mary R
Jacobs Recovery House
http://jacobsrecoveryhouse.bravehost.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Zoloft" <Zoloft@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.recovery.addiction.alcoholism
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 6:06 PM
Subject: Finally Admitted I need help


>I am new to the concept of "Recovery" and Addiction. I have been a heavy
>drinker for the last 25 years, and have finally sought professional
>counseling (Last 2 months). Man, this is by far the hardest thing I have
>ever had to deal with so far in my life. (I am 45) I am going to give AA a
>try, and see if that works for me. I am single, and have no one I want to
>burden with this. I do have some close friends, but most are non drinkers,
>who would just not understand.
>
> The emotional element to alcoholism is huge, much bigger than even perhaps
> the physical one. I am established in both career and financial
> situations, I have worked very hard to get to this point in my life, but
> am scared I might be heading off the proverbial cliff. To blow my life
> away because of booze is a frightening thought. To admit this to myself
> has been, the most terrifying thing. This coming from a guy that has
> cheated death so many ways, Illness, Surgery, Car Accidents, Skull
> Fracture, and even Skydiving (Twice)!
>
> I feel like such a sap, unloading on a very public forum like this, but, I
> really do not have any other outlet at this time. No other mind bending
> substances I have ever done have had nearly the impact of Alcohol. I guess
> "Everyone has his Poison" and alcohol has been mine.
>
> I have read some of the heartfelt posts on this group, and the feelings
> are genuine, and mirror my situation. It is just a shame it takes so long
> to clue into what is going on.
>
> Bill.