Hello.

Your thread has helped me remember the great things i have received from AA. i have been sober for 3 years now and i know that it was only through the help of 2 different guides, aka: sponsors, was the only way i could have done it. I did not have the capacity to do it alone because i was so into believing that i wasnt really an alcoholic.

My sponsors had time in the program and were able to help me understand my disease and give me the hope and support i needed to hang in there. I was also a teacher and so i went to a near-by town for meetings. There are over 200 different meetings in my county. Sadly, i had to take an early retirement because i damaged my liver and have cirrhosis of the liver.

It was difficult at first for me to overcome the fear and shame that i had become an alcoholic, so i know how you might be feeling. I told my faculty and several great parents about my problem and they were all very caring and supportive. It was amazing. But, I am not recommending that you do that. It was all about step 1 in the beginning.

I dont want you to feel any pressure from my post, but i highly recommend that you do it with the AA group and with a person that you will come to love and trust to be your guide. When I realized that i could not do it alone, i was able to do the work of getting sober.

Good luck to you on your journey. It can be so much more beneficial with the host of friends you can have in the AA program.

peace

popper