My mom is an A as some of you may know along with the fact that I'm 20 years old (almost 21 - which is legal age to drink). She has told me before (confirmed by a sober family friend) that she went to AA for a short while when I was little. The thing I'm questioning is whether or not her reason for why she quit going is true, in her head, an excuse, or what???????????????
She said she quit going because of the "Higher Power" aspect. She said she didn't like it and felt it was being pushed on her, didn't believe it, etc.
So is she telling the truth? Why did she quit going?
I answered the telephone for AA in my area for a while and the topic of God/Higher Power was the one that a lot of people wanted to cover when they were thinking about attending meetings. It was also one of the things that got me truly worried about going to AA in the first place. I tried to explain that AA isn't a religious program, but a spiritual one.
When I first went to AA I quit after eight weeks, as someone told me that they didn't think I was an alcoholic. I knew that I was, but what I was told was what I wanted to hear/believe at the time.
I can't say what made your Mom quit AA, but I do know that the God/Higher Power aspect can be a stumbling block for a few folk.
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
I have no answer for you, sweetie......I wish I did.........But, please, keep one thing in mind? (Something I remind my son of often). Your mother is an alcoholic, you mentioned turning 21 " legal drinking age". Please always remember you're the 'perfect candidate' for alcoholism. You've been predisposed....You and your Mom are in my prayers.
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
As an alcoholic, I can make up all kinds of excuses for my drinking behavior. Attending AA can get in the way of that, so I readily accepted my sweet little co-dependant's statement that I shouldn't go to meetings about 12 years ago, because she said she didn't think it was "doing me any good". Didn't take me long at all to go back to all my excuses to drink.
It took me about 10 years to get back.
The "Higher Power" issue? Well, I can also admit that I was and am a strongly questioning agnostic, so I could be easily be turned off an AA meeting or group, if there is a person (or people) who come in thinking they have to turn it into a church meeting. These days, I try to politely remind those who come into a meeting or on this board a little to eager to push their personal religious zeal onto others, that one of AA's mottos is "Live and let live". And, as Carol mentioned, it is a spiritual program, not a religious one. If someone feels that they have to "convert" the athiests, agnostics, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Taoists, etc. from around the world who are members of AA, (and who may come upon this board), they are not practicing the program.
I can't tell you what another alcoholic is thinking, but, I can say for myself, that I have to want my sobriety bad enough, that I also have to be able to practice tolerance, (even with those who just can't seem to contain their zeal), and am willing to accept what other AA'ers have told me they used as their "higher power", which is simply someone outside yourself. G.O.D. can simply stand for "Group Of Drunks", meaning the AA members/friends who I can count on to share their experience, strength and hope with me, and help me to stay sober.
PS. What Doll said!!!
May you find peace in your own path, Dan, an alcoholic in North Dakota.
We all have our own opinions, beliefs, and paths to follow. None is better than the other. I believe in a Higher Power and am spiritually satisfied with it. But, I don't expect anyone to understand my concept of it. I've heard that the concept of G.O.D. works for alot of folks.
Many meetings I go to end with the lords prayer, which is fine with me as I relate it to my HP as I understand it. Many times I see people who've had a great experience during the meeting, only to leave at the end and never to return because of the ending.
Yeah, the Higher Power thing was one of about a million excuses I used in the beginning. There was that, and then there was the woman who's eyebrows were plucked too thin, a guy across the table looked at me oddly one time so he must hate me and my tatoos, and the chairs weren't comfortable, not enough cute guys, my favorite tv show was on at that time.......anything for an excuse. Bottom line is, I figured I was smart enough to get and stay sober on my own. That was the final ass kicker in hitting my bottom.
I finally understood what "going to any lengths" meant. Went into treatment, and even though my beliefs aren't conducive to the Lord's prayer, I can stand there and hold the hands of my fellows. Not much of a price to pay for staying alive. Chris
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Thanks for all the replies and ESH. I hope more come. I want her to go back. I want to know why she went in the first place. i want to know why can't whatever reason that made her go in the first place make her go again now. I want her there period. I'm also scared of her quitting though - I'm scared of how it will affect her physically.
