((((chalmette)))))

The only person who can decide if you're an alcoholic or not, is you. I know it's scary going to a first meeting, but generally I've found people at AA to be pretty friendly. LOL for the first little while I was going to AA, I couldn't understand why all these people were being so nice to me and why they kept wanting to give me their phone numbers.

I don't know if you're going to an open or a closed meeting.

An open meeting, might be a better choice to start out with, if you have that option. I know that there aren't a lot of meetings down where you are. AT an open meeting here, there's generally a speaker who tells his / her story. There'll be a bunch of readings at the beginning, the 12 steps and the 12 traditions, and probably one or two other things depending on the groups. You don't have to participate if you don't want to.

A closed meeting is different (only alcoholics can attend) They tend to be more discussion format. But don't feel pressured to talk. You can say you'll just pass, or that you just feel like listenning tonight, unless of course you have something you want to say.

They'll probably have a literature table with pamphelts about AA and acoholism, have a look though them.

One thing I would recommend, if you can, is get a copy of the book Alcoholics Annonymous, which is often called the Big Book, by people in the program. You may find it kind of hard to read at first. It was written by men back in the 30's so some of the language is a bit dated, but it's still a really good book. Up here in Canada they're around $10, so they''re pretty cheap.

Good luck with it, and let us know how it goes.

splitimage