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Anonymous #1
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: m4dScientist]
#22911340 - 02/16/16 09:58 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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You're not powerless to stop drinking. AA sure does make you feel better about embracing weakness, though, then it hits you with religion when you're already feeling like dirt.
You might feel a little less impotent to make a change if you stopped believing fully that you are not in control of yourself or your actions. It's this notion of powerlessness and submission to the idea that we need some spiritual higher power to be sober that is my main bone of contention with AA in the first place.
There is no universal cure for alcoholism, including AA. In fact, the people who have used AA "successfully" tend to be very reminiscent of other culty religious groups that heavily emphasize proselytizing for the group and that, to me, should raise some red flags for any discerning mind. The reason I put quotations around the word successfully is because these same people always argue that they aren't recovered, but that they're always in a state of recovery. That's fucked up and nurtures this alternative dependence on the program to remain sober. It's better than being a down and out drunk but wouldn't you expect more from yourself?
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m4dScientist
Music Always Helps


Registered: 08/04/14
Posts: 1,616
Last seen: 10 months, 24 days
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Anonymous #1]
#22912136 - 02/16/16 02:08 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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I see what you're saying, but your concept of AA is highly flawed.
The God concept is whatever you make it out to be. I don't believe in God as a dieity, but I do believe there have been situations and circumstances in my life that can't be explained as mere coincidences, so while I don't believe in a "God", I do believe in something greater than myself, n I keep it at that.
N while I see the point you're trying to make, yes, when I start drinking I'm unable to stop. In hindsight, yes, anyone can put down a drink if they put their mind to it, but when I'm caught in the grips of addiction, I am unable to stop drinking until I get thrown into a rehab or jail. The physical withdrawals are so severe, the level of anxiety is unbearable, and the amount of self hatred I possess is the reason I drink like that in the first place. I was simply drinking as a means to slowly, and eventually die in process.
AA showed me that there's another way out. There's a lot of wise people in AA who don't spew preachy nonsense, but simply have more life experience than me and show me how to live.
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Thayendanegea
quiet walker



Registered: 02/20/12
Posts: 7,596
Loc: 7 Lodges Nation
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: yogabunny]
#22912450 - 02/16/16 03:36 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
My problem with AA is that I do not believe that I have to STAY powerless. I wholeheartedly believe I can reprogram myself to be someone who does not have addictive/compulsive behavior toward alcohol. I believe that is one of the primary things I have been accomplishing over the past 5 years on the medicine path with Ayahuasca.
Just be careful with this bunny....I have this disease and I constantly have to remind myself that it centers in the smarter part of my mind....I cannot out-think this disease...It will win.
I also have a friend that attends both Buddhist gatherings and AA. I love the Buddhist teachings. Don't let anyone try to tell you to not try to better yourself or understand things through a different set of eyes...just always remember...You lost the fight, Alcohol won. Trust that there is a higher power that can help you....clean house....get the garbage from your past on paper and get rid of it.... and finally, try to help others when you can. Those are the principles of AA....not too bad of a way to live life.
-------------------- Look Deep Into Nature,and Then You Will Understand Everything Better. Albert Einstein
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Thayendanegea
quiet walker



Registered: 02/20/12
Posts: 7,596
Loc: 7 Lodges Nation
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: neznaika2]
#22912472 - 02/16/16 03:46 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
neznaika2 said: Alexei, Alcoholic
I think Shroomery is a good website for AA. I keep reading heartbreaking stories of your lives and recovery and it gives me hope. It helps me to vent here so I don't have to go to AA. Someone from AA gave me their 3 months coin for some reason lol.
I have family that still supports me, but their help comes at the price of losing my dignity. I stopped drinking for 5 months and so far I keep losing my battle against alcohol (it still on my mind). I keep living in the past when I was self sufficient individual and could "control" my drinking. I still have some social life, but it just not the same without drinking. Everyone notices it too around me.
Materialistically, I still have almost everything I want. In some aspects I am getting better, my depression is fading away. The biggest thing I struggle with is finding, what do I really want out of this life? I can't enjoy things the way I used to.
Identifying yourself as alcoholic is as easy as answering 20 questions...look up AA online and google 20 questions....answer them as honestly as you can. If you get 3 wrong...they say you're alcoholic. Lol....First time I took this test I got 13 wrong..and, I thought it was bullshit...I just liket to party lol. My point is...no one can tell you but you. I see you have some of the signs...I'll tell you honestly why I call myself an alcoholic....because once I start, I have a hard time stopping....over and over again and I usually wind up with guilt or remorse over what I had just done. That's it!...nothing else. One of the common misconceptions about alcoholism is that....If you're successful and show up for your obligations most of the time, you can't be alcoholic. This disease has nothing at all to do with material possessions....I was able to hold down a good job and eventually start my own business...all the time with a raging disease that wants me dead. I wish you the best and hope you don't have to go down the messed up road I had to.
-------------------- Look Deep Into Nature,and Then You Will Understand Everything Better. Albert Einstein
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Enjoywho
Rags to Bitches



Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 20,880
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Thayendanegea]
#22914439 - 02/17/16 03:44 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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I went to 2 AA meetings the other day voluntairly. It was nice talking to people who get addiction. Lot of good thoughts as well. I plan on going more but I need to kick again. Alcohol wds are a fucking bitch. And Im an ex heroin addict. 3 years clean of that.
They were all really nice but they all grilled me too.
-------------------- "I don't give nothin' to nobody, I just pay the cost to do business." - Riley "Young Reezy"-Boondocks "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "In the days of kings and queens I was a jester." "And then the great lord created bears... too many bears... shoulda really dialed back on the bears." Squidbillies "Can you start speaking words instead of your damn filthy lies!"- Louise "Bobs Burgers"
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yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Thayendanegea] 1
#22914616 - 02/17/16 06:41 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Thayendanegea said:
Quote:
My problem with AA is that I do not believe that I have to STAY powerless. I wholeheartedly believe I can reprogram myself to be someone who does not have addictive/compulsive behavior toward alcohol. I believe that is one of the primary things I have been accomplishing over the past 5 years on the medicine path with Ayahuasca.
Just be careful with this bunny....I have this disease and I constantly have to remind myself that it centers in the smarter part of my mind....I cannot out-think this disease...It will win.
I also have a friend that attends both Buddhist gatherings and AA. I love the Buddhist teachings. Don't let anyone try to tell you to not try to better yourself or understand things through a different set of eyes...just always remember...You lost the fight, Alcohol won. Trust that there is a higher power that can help you....clean house....get the garbage from your past on paper and get rid of it.... and finally, try to help others when you can. Those are the principles of AA....not too bad of a way to live life. 
I think you guys are misunderstanding my sentiment. I'm not saying I could drink again now or at some point in the future and have control over it. Not at all! I know that if I consumed a glass of wine today, it would lead to the entire bottle. I'm just saying that I can change myself from a person who needs to pick up a glass of wine for every little annoyance, frustration and sadness in life; to someone who does not need or even WANT wine.
I think one of the reasons my previous attempts to quit failed; is because deep down I always felt that it would be temporary. That I would go back to drinking and be able to be one of those people who could have 3 ounces of wine with dinner and that's it.
Now I know that is never going to happen and I'm OK with it! I'm OK with being the person who doesn't drink. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I don't need alcohol to be be someone I'm not around people.
Recovery 2.0 begins today guys! If anyone is interested you can sign up here: http://recovery2point0conference.com/
My teacher/mentor/guide/sponsor/colleague/friend Elena shares her story today in one of the videos they're putting out for today. Each days videos are available until the following morning 6am PST. So, todays videos will be available until tomorrow 6am PST, and then they'll release tomorrows videos.
I'd love to watch them all, but I am realistically not going to have time to do so. I'll watch Elena's and then the other one I want to watch today is Ann Borsch because I just made some pretty radical diet changes to help maintain a healthy fasting blood sugar.
If you guys have never done a sugar fast/detox, I HIGHLY recommend it. One of the most empowering things I have done in my adult life. You really don't really how addicted we all are to it, and how often it is hidden in sooo many foods until you try to quit it completely!
Ok, this post is by far long enough now...
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Cognitive_Shift
CS actual




Registered: 12/11/07
Posts: 29,591
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Connoisseur]
#22921235 - 02/18/16 09:50 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hell yeah this thread would be frowned upon, as using any substance (except of caffeine and nicotine) is not being sober and thus not living the AA life.
-------------------- L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés et désirs
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Enjoywho
Rags to Bitches



Registered: 07/06/09
Posts: 20,880
Last seen: 2 years, 6 months
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Cognitive_Shift]
#22921586 - 02/18/16 11:26 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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I dunno what your talking about. The meetings I go to they hand coffee out like candy. I don't drink coffee though but whatever.
-------------------- "I don't give nothin' to nobody, I just pay the cost to do business." - Riley "Young Reezy"-Boondocks "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "In the days of kings and queens I was a jester." "And then the great lord created bears... too many bears... shoulda really dialed back on the bears." Squidbillies "Can you start speaking words instead of your damn filthy lies!"- Louise "Bobs Burgers"
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yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Cognitive_Shift]
#22922182 - 02/19/16 07:07 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Cognitive_Shift said: Hell yeah this thread would be frowned upon, as using any substance (except of caffeine and nicotine) is not being sober and thus not living the AA life.
This aspect of the 12-Step paradigm has been discussed A LOT in the Recovery 2.0 conference.
Sugar is a drug too! Caffeine, nicotine - both drugs!
For a lot of us addicts, sugar was most likely our first addiction. It definitely was for me!
When I have quite alcohol previously, invariably my sugar/sweets intake increased. Listening to these interviews I'm finding that MANY addicts have had the same experience.....This time around I am being really mindful of my sugar intake & not just refined white sugar - I eliminated that from my diet years ago; but anything and everything that turns into glucose in the bloodstream including all grains, most fruit, most legumes, and most starchy vegetables.
I shudder thinking about how much sugar I used to put on cereal that was already LOADED with sugar.
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JustForToday
New Life, New Beginnings


Registered: 09/08/14
Posts: 3,186
Last seen: 6 years, 5 months
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: yogabunny]
#22926334 - 02/20/16 11:50 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Sorry for the delay bunny. I didn't see the sun stay in place when I asked you to complete that assignment. Now you understand what powerlessness means. Most things in life we have no control over. Especially the first drink. And after that first drink, if you're an alcoholic like I am, your life quickly becomes unmanageable. Step one even goes into greater detail to talk about our disease. Which in turn is made up of 3 parts.
Physical - Phenomenon of Craving
Mental - Obsession, Idea that overwhelms all other ideas
Spiritual Malady - A disconnection from spiritual things and people. Malady means a conflict. This disease is in fact spiritual in nature because if it was physical surely doctors could cure us and we would be fine. But fact is doctors are the most common ones who don't understand us at all and feel bad because they don't know what to do.. UNLESS they know about AA.
-------------------- Hey Shae, Are you still doing that hand thing? I heard you was doing that hand thing today. Oh God what is that?!
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yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: JustForToday]
#22927431 - 02/20/16 05:31 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
JustForToday said: Sorry for the delay bunny. I didn't see the sun stay in place when I asked you to complete that assignment. Now you understand what powerlessness means. Most things in life we have no control over. Especially the first drink. And after that first drink, if you're an alcoholic like I am, your life quickly becomes unmanageable. Step one even goes into greater detail to talk about our disease. Which in turn is made up of 3 parts.
Physical - Phenomenon of Craving
Mental - Obsession, Idea that overwhelms all other ideas
Spiritual Malady - A disconnection from spiritual things and people. Malady means a conflict. This disease is in fact spiritual in nature because if it was physical surely doctors could cure us and we would be fine. But fact is doctors are the most common ones who don't understand us at all and feel bad because they don't know what to do.. UNLESS they know about AA.
Yeah, you're right. I am definitely not able to "just have one drink".
I see the benefits in working the 12 steps and am going to seek out meetings when my boyfriend & I get to the North East!
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JustForToday
New Life, New Beginnings


Registered: 09/08/14
Posts: 3,186
Last seen: 6 years, 5 months
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: yogabunny]
#22929414 - 02/21/16 10:31 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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What is sober date? I'll add it.
-------------------- Hey Shae, Are you still doing that hand thing? I heard you was doing that hand thing today. Oh God what is that?!
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yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: JustForToday]
#22930104 - 02/21/16 02:07 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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1/9/2016
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Cognitive_Shift
CS actual




Registered: 12/11/07
Posts: 29,591
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: yogabunny]
#22932326 - 02/22/16 01:49 AM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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All you need in AA is a desire to stop drinking, you don't actually have to be sober correct?
-------------------- L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés et désirs
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micro
bunbun has a gungun



Registered: 05/09/03
Posts: 7,532
Loc: Brick City
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Cognitive_Shift]
#22933515 - 02/22/16 12:56 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Cognitive_Shift said: All you need in AA is a desire to stop drinking, you don't actually have to be sober correct?
IME, it depends on the group.
Some groups care and expect you to be ashamed, some groups welcome all, some (if not many or most) are complete Jesus freaks, too.
AA only made me want to drink more. Same thing with that fucking court appointed "class" I had to take for probation.
-------------------- Any research paper or book for free (Avatar is Maxxy, a character by Mizzyam, RIP)
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Rebelutionsssss
Mdmazing



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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: micro]
#22933529 - 02/22/16 12:59 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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I was sober about a week. Back on again. A week seems to be the most I can make it
-------------------- : To define is to confine.
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micro
bunbun has a gungun



Registered: 05/09/03
Posts: 7,532
Loc: Brick City
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Rebelutionsssss]
#22933690 - 02/22/16 01:55 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Rebelutionsssss said: I was sober about a week. Back on again. A week seems to be the most I can make it
Why is that? What is your motivation to quit?
I had the same problem and I realized I was doing it for other people.
That won't work. Even when it was for a significant other, when I actually cared, it only held for so long. Maybe a year and a half?
The others, well funny thing is I actually thought they were my friends at one point.
They weren't friends. Friends support you in the choices you want to make.
Some were self-righteous morons trying to live vicariously through others by dictating how they should live their lives to offset their own boring failure of an existence, having gotten nowhere in life while simultaneously doing nothing of interest to anybody.
Others were just people who got scared when their personal boundaries of what should constitute normalcy and/or sanity were shattered.
Honestly, the first group can fuck off. The second... Even though part of me feels bad, they are better off not knowing me in the first place. I then realized California was overflowing with these motherfuckers (mind you, this certainly wasn't everybody, just a disproportionately large amount compared to other places I've been). I guess it's good that I got out of there, even though it wasn't really something I had planned for prior to jumping on Amtrak.
Funny thing is I only drank a little since I got here and haven't had a problem with it yet.
I'll stop rambling. There is a point buried in there somewhere, if you aren't really doing this all for yourself.
If you are, well... It would make me wonder what pushed you to the decision to start again.
It always starts with "just the one or two" drinks, so that is a given and I'm sure you already knew that.
So, if not for other people why the internal conflict making you think differently at two different times?
If it's because of stress and stuff like that, there are other outlets to channel it you could use.
Hell, other drugs are probably better if you have a serious problem with that and not the rest.
-------------------- Any research paper or book for free (Avatar is Maxxy, a character by Mizzyam, RIP)
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Thayendanegea
quiet walker



Registered: 02/20/12
Posts: 7,596
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Cognitive_Shift]
#22934061 - 02/22/16 03:53 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Cognitive_Shift said: All you need in AA is a desire to stop drinking, you don't actually have to be sober correct?
That is correct....it is our third tradition...There is only 1 requirement and that is it. Anybody ever tells you otherwise...tell them to read the traditions.
-------------------- Look Deep Into Nature,and Then You Will Understand Everything Better. Albert Einstein
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Thayendanegea
quiet walker



Registered: 02/20/12
Posts: 7,596
Loc: 7 Lodges Nation
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Rebelutionsssss]
#22934076 - 02/22/16 03:56 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Rebelutionsssss said: I was sober about a week. Back on again. A week seems to be the most I can make it
All any of us have is 1 day....24 hrs.sober...A daily reprieve.
-------------------- Look Deep Into Nature,and Then You Will Understand Everything Better. Albert Einstein
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Roostertail
Registered: 09/27/15
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous (Come and share thread) [Re: Thayendanegea]
#22934591 - 02/22/16 05:45 PM (7 years, 11 months ago) |
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I seek of understanding of divine Grace.
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