Hey Doug. I actually don't know about the chat function but just wanted to say Hi. I type too slowly for chat rooms anyhow.

Good for you for getting on stuff early. I know what you mean about putting the alcohol before stuff at times- when my drinking started getting serious there were restaurants I wouldn't go to because although they served unreal food they didn't serve alcohol and we never went to plays or anything like that anymore. If it was after 7pm and it wasn't a drinking function, I didn't do it. Later I let it get in the way of stuff I regularly did- taking my kid to the park and surfing, getting to the gym regularly, jogging and swimming. It's an insidious thing, alcoholism, and it is sneaky. I would rationalize why I was hanging around on my front porch drinking instead of doing anything constructive.

But for me it really has been easy to beat, with help- and AA is in my opinion the best place to start. There's some confusing stuff about hitting bottom that doesn't make complete sense to me yet. I too caught my alcoholism at a stage that I think was pretty early. I think when people refer to "hitting bottom"- well everyone has their own personal bottom. Because I feel like I could have gotten way worse if it weren't for my own guilt of me knowing what I was doing was just totally wrong for me. I think I probably did hit my own personal bottom. It's really, really nice to be going back up.

I was really shy of going to meetings for all of the obvious reasons- I hated admitting I wasn't totally in control, I was nervous about going into a place that had all these new people I had to meet and talking about something so personal. That went away quick as soon as I went. Everyone at the meetings I've gone to totally understand. They've all been there- a lot of them in the very recent past. Also- you have to experience it to really understand, I think- but everyone's frank honesty about the issue of alcoholism makes it way easier to look at it analytically and not take it all so personally. You'll hear from people that are realloy wounded from it and you'll hear from people that can joke about it- and either way it's very serious business, but I've found the groups and people to just be really good people, the most sincere and caring people I've run into ever.

It's wierd too, starting out. Time flies. You begin all nervous, coming to a strange place and meeting new people and you're the guy that has one day or one week sobriety or whatever, Dont think that'll last. Before you know it you're the guy helping set up chairs and you waltz in late and grab a cup of coffee, and you're the guy that's got two months and are all self assured and there's twenty or fifty new people with one week or one hour, and you just empathize with them. But mostly I have to laugh at how long I agonized over going to AA, because now- well last week I was sick with a cold and the flu and a big swell came through and I couldn't surf because I was sick, and I missed like a week of work and it ruined my weekend and the one thing that really bugged me was I had to miss my meetings. They've totally become a regular part of my routine, just like checking the surf and talking about current events with the guys at the coffee house. Meetings aren't terrible. They are pretty much what you make them.

Anyhow- you're meeting people online right here. Good morning. My name is Toby, I'm an alcoholic, welcome.

Hi Doug, welcome to MIP. I'm sure if yu keep reading you'll find a whole lot of things to relate to here as we all share our experiences, strength and hope with eachother. Alot of good people and good sobriety here. Hope yu keep posting, Chris

hey Doug! My name is Jamie... I am also one of the newer people on here. This is a great way to get started. I was just like you a few weeks ago. I came on here and asked a bunch of questions to everyone about what AA was like (just to build up the courage to go and be better prepared... just wanted to know when I was walking into that first meeting what it was all about). This is a great place for that. Any question you have feel free to post on here and rest assured you will have many helpful responses! :) Everyone here helped me through the beginning stages and actually made me feel comfortable with going to a meeting. Of course it was still tough to get through the door of the meeting once I was in the parking lot, but honestly once you get in there, it's not so bad. My first meeting was last week and I think you would be surprised as to how many people come and talk to you and make you feel right at home by being there. In your own time you will be able to go and feel comfortable doing it. You will feel alot better once you get thru the door! Any questions or thoughts feel free to share... that's what makes this so great! I learned on here (just like they always said in school) "no question is a stupid question"
Glad you could join us!
oh and by the way Toby... I love your little ADD side comments haha "I dont mean to derail this train but has anyone ever pointed out that you look kinda foxy for a wren?"

destinydreamer wrote:

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oh and by the way Toby... I love your little ADD side comments haha "I dont mean to derail this train but has anyone ever pointed out that you look kinda foxy for a wren?"

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Thank you so much. My keen sense of humor and immaculate sense of timing goes largely unappreciated in this star system.

Good Morning Quetzal. I've gotta go tuck the crumb-cruncher in and get my tired butt to bed.