I don't have a drinking problem. I can go weeks (usually no more than days)
without a drink. The problem I have is once I have a drink I can't stop.
I'll drink until the bar either closes or runs out of beer. The point is
that I know I'm an alco***** however, I have not been able to bring myself
to attend meetings. I fear someone I know may see me coming or going. I know
I need assistance but I really don't know where to start.


GEO.

i suggest you "bite the bullet" and make the call to your local AA
central office.
they will help you find a meeting that is NOT in your neighborhood.
you will be amazed how much that anonymity DOES NOT MATTER after
awhile!
good luck to you.

--
rosie

http://airamericaradio.com/www/pub/globalDefault.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4709863/
http://makeashorterlink.com/?F35514208








"n/a" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:RFSfc.10454$0l.8094@newssvr23.news.prodigy.co m...
: I don't have a drinking problem. I can go weeks (usually no more
than days)
: without a drink. The problem I have is once I have a drink I can't
stop.
: I'll drink until the bar either closes or runs out of beer. The
point is
: that I know I'm an alco***** however, I have not been able to
bring myself
: to attend meetings. I fear someone I know may see me coming or
going. I know
: I need assistance but I really don't know where to start.
:
:
: GEO.
:
:

I wouldn't use that as a cop-out!

I attended my first meeting, back in my home town, about a year before REALLY
getting serious about quitting---and sure as shit, my old high school soccer
coach, as well as my honor's biology teacher were there, and some folks I knew
by sight too!

Then, down here in the south, I started going regularly. And again, sure as
shit, the small engine repair guy that I have been going to for years was
there, as was a police officer who wrote me a ticket for speeding a few weeks
earlier, and a cashier at a gas station I frequently go for smokes.

Kind of weird at first, but got over it very quickly. I mean, why be ashamed
to go there? the folks attending aren't!

Later
John

"n/a" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:RFSfc.10454$0l.8094@newssvr23.news.prodigy.co m...
> I don't have a drinking problem. I can go weeks (usually no more than
days)
> without a drink. The problem I have is once I have a drink I can't stop.
> I'll drink until the bar either closes or runs out of beer. The point is
> that I know I'm an alco***** however, I have not been able to bring myself
> to attend meetings. I fear someone I know may see me coming or going. I
know
> I need assistance but I really don't know where to start.
> GEO.
>
Many of us have experienced such fears Geo. I realized the following when I
first started attending AA:
--Anyone I ran into in a AA meeting was either an alcoholic seeking help or
they had been sent by the court.
Neither of these were a threat to me.
--People who might see me in the parking lot before or after a meeting would
think I was going to some church function since
most meetings seem to be in spaces rented from a church. Not a problem
either.
I would suggest looking up Alcoholic Anonymous in your phone book and giving
them a call. They can often provided meeting schedules and even a ride to
meeting with a local AA member if you ask them for such help.
Julie
I didn't get in trouble everytime I drank, but everytime I got in trouble I
had been drinking,
>

hey julie, that is a good point. Our meetings are upstairs from a pool hall,
next door to a guitar shop, and around the corner from a Army/Navy store.

And if someone sees me going in, who gives a damn? I don't. I'd rather have
them see that, then my former self, throwing up off my balcony!

"n/a" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:RFSfc.10454$0l.8094@newssvr23.news.prodigy.co m...
> I don't have a drinking problem. I can go weeks (usually no more than
days)
> without a drink. The problem I have is once I have a drink I can't stop.
> I'll drink until the bar either closes or runs out of beer. The point is
> that I know I'm an alco***** however, I have not been able to bring myself
> to attend meetings. I fear someone I know may see me coming or going. I
know
> I need assistance but I really don't know where to start.
>
>
> GEO.
>
>

Hi Geo. If you see someone you know, it is most likely they are there and
have been going there for the same reason you are.
Think about it..

Best,
Gail

n/a wrote:

> I don't have a drinking problem. I can go weeks (usually no more than days)
> without a drink. The problem I have is once I have a drink I can't stop.
> I'll drink until the bar either closes or runs out of beer. The point is
> that I know I'm an alco***** however, I have not been able to bring myself
> to attend meetings. I fear someone I know may see me coming or going. I know
> I need assistance but I really don't know where to start.
>
>
> GEO.

Geo, I felt much the same when I first decided to attend meetings. I
didn't go to any within 10-15 miles from my home. Slowly I started
attending meetings closer to home. The first time at a meeting only 2
minutes from my home, I was greated by 2 old classmates, and an old
neighbor. It wasn't embarrasing at all, we were all there for the same
reason!

Besides, when I was drinking, I had no clue about any meetings in my
area, and if I had seen someone I knew going into a meeting, I never
would have known it was AA.

After some time I learned to laugh at myself and realized that for years
and years I didn't care if everyone I knew saw my car outside the bar
everyday, and often all night when I was driven home. So why should I
be worried about having someone see that I am taking steps to help myself?

Tono

I'd rather have
: them see that, then my former self, throwing up off my balcony!
:
:

YUP!


--
rosie

http://airamericaradio.com/www/pub/globalDefault.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4709863/
http://makeashorterlink.com/?F35514208








"Bpyboy" <bpyboy@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040416124558.18849.00000400@mb-m23.aol.com...
: hey julie, that is a good point. Our meetings are upstairs from a
pool hall,
: next door to a guitar shop, and around the corner from a Army/Navy
store.
:
: And if someone sees me going in, who gives a damn? I don't. I'd
rather have
: them see that, then my former self, throwing up off my balcony!
:
:

"n/a" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:RFSfc.10454$0l.8094@newssvr23.news.prodigy.co m...
> I don't have a drinking problem. ** however, I have not been able to
bring myself
> to attend meetings. I fear someone I know may see me coming or going.
Dear Geo
I can identify with you there. It was one of the few good thing about
drinking is that I was too shy to go to AA but did not care a damn about who
saw me drunk, when I was drunk.
My first meeting I went to, not sloshed, I walked passed the meeting place
about four times. When I went in at last the meeting was chaired by an old
school friend of mine to crown it all! Now, fifteen years later, I really do
not give a tuppence about who knows that I am an alcoholic. It was only a
problem until I found a solution.
Kind regards
Mias

In article <RFSfc.10454$0l.8094@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com> ,
n/a <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
>I don't have a drinking problem. I can go weeks (usually no more than days)
>without a drink. The problem I have is once I have a drink I can't stop.

How is that not a drinking problem?

K