Where do I start

[n/a]

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.

[rosie]

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.
:
:

[Bpyboy]

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

[Julie]

"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,
>

[Bpyboy]

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!

[Gail]

"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

[Tono]

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

[rosie]

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!
:
:

[Mias]

"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

[Kenneth Burns]

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

[Blue Moon]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 15:10:09 GMT, "n/a" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

>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.

After a while, I became disappointed to realise that people usually
don't give a damn where I'm going or why.

--
Blue Moon

[n/a]

It was humor. Obviously I know I have a problem or I wouldn't have logged
into the group. I also don't have a problem seeing people I know at the
group. If they are there it means they have the same problem. I think I am
more concerned with someone seeing there and then seeing me at the bar. Once
I walk into a meeting it means it's over and I don't know that I'm ready for
that.


GEO

"Kenneth Burns" <krburns@cawtech.com> wrote in message
news:c5s26d$puo$1@selandria.cawtech.com...
> 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
>

[Peder]

"n/a" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in
news:o2sgc.18325$2v6.13493@newssvr22.news.prodigy. com:

> Once
> I walk into a meeting it means it's over and I don't know that I'm
> ready for that.
>

Over? I think you may find some relief in a new beginning and an only
slightly different but better you on the other side. It's not that bad
over here, either. I still see my friends, even go to a bar occasionally.
I just don't drink anymore. You may even find a new respect from your
friends that you're now in control. It's a little awkward in the beginning
(for both sides) but you both get used to it. There's a lot of positives,
not just denying yourself "pleasure". You may find you're not missing much
either (except the headache!) Anyway, best of luck.

--
Peder (Please reply to group only, email invalid)

[Tono]

n/a wrote:

> It was humor. Obviously I know I have a problem or I wouldn't have logged
> into the group. I also don't have a problem seeing people I know at the
> group. If they are there it means they have the same problem. I think I am
> more concerned with someone seeing there and then seeing me at the bar. Once
> I walk into a meeting it means it's over and I don't know that I'm ready for
> that.

I really think I know how you feel. For my first 6 months in AA I told
my fiancee not to tell ANYONE! She happened to be a chef at the place I
used to drink at, so when I suddenly disappeared, there were a lot of
questions. At first I told her to just tell them that I'm taking a
break from drinking and trying to get back into shape. I didn't even
tell my family for a long time. Eventually I've come to where I talk to
a very few of my old drinking buddies about me going to AA. Actually,
it's been months since I spoke to any of them, I certainly CAN NOT hang
out with them. It just wouldn't work!

So again, I recommend going to meetings outside your area where no one
will know you. You used to spend all that time and money drinking, so
what is the big deal if you spend that time and money for gas going to
meetings? That is how I dealt with it until I became comfortable with
the truth.

Tono


>
> "Kenneth Burns" <krburns@cawtech.com> wrote in message
> news:c5s26d$puo$1@selandria.cawtech.com...
>
>>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
>>
>
>
>