First Meeting

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Re: First Meeting

Post by sobermom27 » Fri Sep 14, 2012 12:09 am

hello yall im charity and this is my 1st time on this site i relasped today and i really have guilt and shame bad as hell right now i just got outta rehab wendesday someone please let me know ur opinion on what to do to get back on the wagon and stay on this time!!! i have NO FRIENDS who understand what im goin thru at all i need to find some friends does anyone know how i can find NA meetings in dayton/beavercreek ohio??

Re: First Meeting

Post by Roman » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:11 am

Hi everybody, do anybody have a phone number for AA meeting schedules in Pennsylvania, Chester county? I checked information on web site and address that they have for meetings is incorrect. That meeting moved from that place. Need to call and find out where is today meeting in my area. Any phone numbers?

Re: First Meeting

Post by Caroleann » Thu May 17, 2012 12:00 am

I have been drinking 1-2 bottles of wine per night for over a year now. I am not sure how this has not effected my work, but needless to say I haven't been a good mother. I love my son more than anything and I want to get better as much for him as for myself. I finally realize what a problem I have and want to try and fix this. I have insurance but not the $$ for rehab. Can I get sober by going to meetings only?

Re: First Meeting

Post by abclimo » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:25 am

Chuck and Idefneedhelp: Hi and welcome! Hope your first meetings went well. If not, please realize that all meetings are not the same and you should "interview" other meetings. That's what I did in the beginning. I picked 6 and of those, I felt really comfortable and welcome at 3, so I attend those. You can always bring anyone along with you, as long as the meeting is not listed as a "closed" meeting on the na or aa websites. Closed meetings are only for those who suffer the disease of addiction. I've never been to a closed meeting so I don't know if they do anything differently there. It's important when you do go to your meetings to collect phone numbers and set up a support system of people to call before you drink or use. Admitting you have a problem and taking the first step is huge and you both deserve congrats on that! Now it's important to keep going and it's not always going to be easy, but you can do it! You need to tell yourself you are worth it!

Re: First Meeting

Post by Idefneedhelp#1 » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:09 am

Figuring_it_out wrote:
> Hi, I am planning on attending my first meeting this evening. My way of
> fixing my drinking issue has obviously not worked and I feel like its time
> to do it right. I'm "normal" 95% of the time but its the other 5%
> that just cant happen, therefore I cant have one or two anymore. It has
> taken me a long time to figure this out. I was just wondering if anyone has
> any tips for what I should do or expect tonight? My father is a strong
> advocate of me going and would like to come along, is this acceptable?
> Thanks in advance for your help.

It is always good to have someone with you for support.

Re: First Meeting

Post by delcomark » Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:57 am

Good luck chuck. Im sure you can do it.

Re: First Meeting

Post by chuck » Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:06 am

I just started recovery in a IOP treatment. I am 8 days clean. Interested in attending na meetings. I am a little nervous in attending but I am will be going to one this evening. This is not easy but I am doing my best.

Re: First Meeting

Post by abclimo » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:18 pm

Delcomark: Hi and hope things went well at your second meeting. Our disease of addiction is not an easy one. We can't have just one or two of anything, we don't understand or can't exercise moderation, so for us it's all or nothing. Let us know how the second meeting went and whether you were able to share or not. It's interesting when we go to our first meeting, we don't really know what to expect and there's a lot of anxiety with that. Glad you're taking the steps to kick this to the curb. Hugs!

Re: First Meeting

Post by delcomark » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:41 am

Hi, I went to my first meeting last wed. Im getting ready to go to my second meeting today at 1230. The mid-day meetings seem to fit more into my schedule. Although I wasnt able to get up the nerve to say anything last week, im hoping I will today.Everybody there was friendly and I felt comfortable just sitting and listening to others share. I'll admit I didnt make it from last wed till today without a drink but Im not close to giving up. It took along time for me to get to the point where I want to stop drinking. So Im just going to keep trying for as long as it takes. Thanks and good luck.

Re: First Meeting

Post by abclimo » Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:44 am

Topcat: Hi and welcome and Congrats! Admitting you have a problem and taking that first step is huge! I've been to lots of different meetings and I have only run into two people I knew already, one was from rehab and the other was a friend who I knew had an issue and went to that meeting. If you do run into someone from your work, you have to just remember that they are there for the same reason as you and they are probably just as uncomfortable with running into someone they knew. Chances are they will not tell anyone they saw you there because they would have to admit they were there. It's great to wake up and not have to wonder what you did the night before and having the regrets. Please post back and let us know how you did with your first meeting and how you are doing because we do care.

Re: First Meeting

Post by topcat » Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:08 pm

Well, I have known I have a drinking problem for awhile now so...I'm going to my first meeting tomorrow. I'm nervous but ready to make a change because I'm tired of the choices I've been making and the regrets that come along with getting drunk. I like the sober me so much better than the drunk me and I'm hoping to start a positive climb in my life. Hoping I don't see anyone from work, I don't know why but that seems to be my main concern. Thank you to everyone who has posted on this, I've already learned a lot from reading your stories and questions and hope that I can get a handle on this.

Re: First Meeting

Post by abclimo » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:40 pm

Kristen: WooHoo!!!! Great going! and Congrats! I know how hard it is and thanks for posting so we can cheer you on.

Re: First Meeting

Post by kristen » Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:58 am

well another sober night and fresh morning this am

Re: First Meeting

Post by kristen » Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:42 pm

thank you both of you :) im doing hour by hour so for this hour i am sober evenings are difficult for me but have plans to keep busy they going to meetings still need to figure out why i dont go, im not really that shy? sooo ?? maybe i should write about that!!!! i think i will set aside 1/2 hour tonight and write about why i fear going to that meeting for the first time? xoxo ty ty ty so much for being on the other side of my computer

Re: First Meeting

Post by abclimo » Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:06 am

Kristen: I'm glad you were back and posted. When we hear "never, ever, or forever" in any situation it is overwhelming. And I think when we're in an already upset state such as trying to kick an addiction to the curb, it is difficult enough without trying to think of never, ever, or forever. It's difficult to admit that we have a problem too and I know when I admitted I had a problem, I felt really crappy about it and went through a lot of "I hate myself for doing this" kind of feelings. Eventually, we learn to deal with those and remember that we are not such a terrible person after all. It's a whole big healing process. I also have something else I do when I am struggling and that is journaling. I journal everyday. In the beginning, when I realized I had a problem, I would journal what I was feeling, what was going on, etc., when I had really bad cravings and right before I used. Then after a while, I would go back and read what I had written. It's amazing what I learned about myself by doing that. So many times we are drinking/using to cover feelings, including feelings of anxiety, depression and more; be more able to deal with things or people; to deal with stress at work, etc. Sometimes we can uncover what feelings we are having when we have the severe need to use/drink and deal with those, and that becomes a huge help. Also, we have to get honest with ourselves and others. At one meeting I went to, there was a speaker with about 21 years clean time and she talked about WHO (willingness, honesty and openmindedness). I have learned so much by going to meetings and the better meetings have never been stressful to go to and no one has ever put stress on anyone to share if they didn't want to. I know that meetings are not for everyone and that it is very difficult to walk into one for the first time. I am a shy person by nature, so when I walked into my first meeting, outside of rehab, I didn't really know what to expect. When I walked through the door, I almost passed out from the stress of it. As soon as I got through the door, I saw that there were only 2 women there and about 9 men and though "oh, boy". I have to say that is still one of my favorite meetings to go to. There was one man, a little younger than I am that came over, hugged me, and welcomed me right away, offered me coffee, and took me to a seat and sat by me and explained how meetings worked. The reason they hug you at a meeting is because you never know when it may be the last time you get a hug from that person, or the last time they receive a hug from anyone. Please keep posting here, and I'll be happy to keep posting back to help you through by answering any questions and just being here for support. Hugs!

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