When someone finally commits to living their life sober, depending on what stage they are at they have to learn to go to a meeting instead of the bar they know or go to a meeting instead of sitting at night drinking away their frustrations. And for those who drink daily, they often have to go to meetings during the day instead of grabbing that dose of alcohol to function. They have to learn that when they get the urge to call their sponsor and to remember their sponsor is helping them and not take their frustrations out on the sponsor. They DO support each other and agree to be on the support list to call instead of grabbing the alcohol. I do remember that all too well and even now when my husband insists on taking calls when certain individuals call him.

I have met a husband and wife that both had problems and they would go to meetings together constantly. Sometimes one partner would decide to get sober first even though their partner still engaged. Then after a while their partner seeing things get better would also end up working at it too. Gradually, these individuals learned they could socialize WITHOUT the aide of the alcohol and still enjoy interacting with others.

I think that Covid restrictions has hindered these important and necessary meetings that many depend on. It's amazing watching how people who know the importance have created other ways to have people be able to interact when needed. Many had set up ways on their own property with bonfires and places to sit socially distancing and helping others get there to attend. It's extremely cold out right now so these efforts had to stop.

There is also a fear that some who have several years sober may give in and drink and that's very bad because it's not like being able to start over, instead it goes right back to where that individual left off. And I have learned that some did drink and died of liver failure because of it. I don't like to overhear that because that's what happened to my friend, her liver and organs all failed even though she was still relatively young.

I have this thread because I know people really do not realize how alcohol addiction can ruin relationships. Even the alcoholic often doesn't get it and would prefer to believe it's not THE problem. And instead it's always someone else's fault there is a problem when problems come up in relationships.