Just wanted to introduce myself!

[sis1215]

My name is Stephanie and I'm an alcoholic. I will have 90 days, God willing, on the 5th and was just told about this site. I tend to be extremely busy during the day and it makes face to face meetings harder for me to get to. I go as often as possible but would like to talk about recovery even on the days I don't get a chance to go to a meeting. It's not easy being a youngperson in AA, very few people (as far as I've seen) understand our need for recovery 'so soon'... It adds to the additional challenges of being a newcomer in the program which seems hard enough in and of itself. Any help with navigating the site would be greatly appreciated. :D Thanks so much

[angussdundee]

Hi Stephanie, welcome to AAsoberliving, it's great to have young people like you on board and we hope you continue to share some of those issues you've already mentioned with us.
Learning to deal with your addiction is your number one priority now. The sooner you put down and keep down the alcohol and other drugs the easier your recovery will become. Using during teens slows down the growing up process so you're sober time now is a time for catching up and learning to deal with parents, family, friends and with all the lost or abandoned things like your education, hobbies etc.
It's now YOUR responsibility to start to understand YOUR recovery! And if you do what AA suggests everyone else will eventualy come along too.
As far as navigating the site - just get clicking away at all the topics and you'll soon get the hang of it. Send the lady members a personal message and they're sure to return one to you.

Keep coming back, it'll work if you work at it... ;)

Anguss

[samf]

Stephanie, Hi!!! WELCOME!!! ;D

I am so glad you are here, and so very glad you got here young!! That is a wish of mine, for young people!! :)

And maybe so you won't feel AS alone, here is a link to ICYPAA, which is ALL young people!! They are amazing, the ICYPAA-ers!!

http://www.icypaa.org/

Sending hugs!!!

Samf

[ruben]

hello my name is Ruben,
I do not know what to say. I have been drinking for over 30 years and i'm having a very tough time with soberity. I have been through a lot these last couple of years and have founf myself alone. I'm 46 yrs. old unemployed and recently released from jail. I know that my alcoholism had a great deal to do with the way my life is right now. I keep wishing for my old life but I know it is not going to happen. I am so ashamed of what I did these last two years that when I thing about it I just want to forget about it but I just can't not.
Like many people I have lost everything that mattered to me kids, wife, home and job and see no way up. But I know that if I drink I will never get better but like many of know, that is the only way life will get better, but it is very hard.

[samf]

Hey, Ruben!!

WELCOME!!

This can be the start of a whole new life!! No kidding!!

Our lives could be pretty similar in a lot of ways, and I promise, it can get better! Mine did!!

First thing I wanted was just to STOP drinking (and using). I didn't realize, at the time, that life could get so much better!!!

Are there AA face to face meetings, near where you are? It really helps to go. It really helps to get a Big Book (the book, Alcoholics Anonymous), to get a sponsor, when you can...and there is plenty folks can help you with, here...and to take the steps. You just take them one at a time, and it happens. Sounds crazy, I know.

Hope you will keep coming and keep talking, and hope you can do things suggested. It gets better.

Tomorrow, I get to go see my older grandchild. There was a time when I didn't even see my kids. I thought I'd lost them forever!!

Sending a big hug, and am very glad you are here!!!

There IS a way, up and out. Every person here, and thousands upon thousands of folks recover and do find help and hope. AA, NA, CA...all those places, are just full of miracles...folks clean, sober and sane.

What a gift!!

Sam

[ruben]

Thank u Sam.
There are AA groups here and I guess I should go to a meeting and also get a book. I'll get working on that because this doing it alone is not working. I only see the same old people tht I used to party with, and so far I've been able to stay away.

[samf]

That would be a good, deal, Ruben...let me know how it goes, if you'd like! I'd love to hear!!

Yes...I couldn't stay around my partying friends, any more, for me, anyway. But now I have a whole new set of friends, too.

Glad you wrote! Hope you will keep sharing!

Have a great evening, I hope.

Sam

[risbridger]

Hi Anguss,

I've been reading some of your messages to to others. I have made a new commitment to stay sober today. I've been in and out of treatment centres for years and AA (25 years).

I kept relapsing because I refused to put the programme first so half measures availed me zero.
I'm now in my 3rd day of sobriety and today my new temp sponsor visited me.
I also joined a new home-group last night.

This is a great site and naturally withe the OBSESSION to drink still virulent i'm grateful to finally see the benefit of theses AA related discussion forums.

I'll have to quit the cigs soon too, but first-things-first!

Mike R

[angussdundee]

Hiya Mike,
Welcome aboard me old hearty!!! :D I wont offer you any suggestions just yet as I'm sure you'll have heard plenty over the past 25 years ;) Hey is that some kind of record... ???
Joking aside, it would be great to hear a little about your story so we can perhaps get an angle to come in from. The people on this site are from all over the world (but the yanks are just great) and just like in any real AA room, they'll do what it takes to help you if you're serious about stopping for good this time.
So go on feller, let's hear a bit about yourself - and keep it clean there are women in the room... :D

Anguss.