[splitimage]

I'm reworking the steps with my new sponsor, and I met with her yesterday to go over what I'd written about step 1 in response to the questions in the NA workbook. It was really hard, but good. It was hard, because while I have no problem admitting that I'm powerless over alcohol, I have a really hard time admitting that my life is unmanageable, and that I'm having trouble coping at the moment. I admitted to her some stuff that I've never told anyone before, and it was ok. She didn't freak out or anything. It was good.

Now I've got to get up the courage to admit my problems to other people and ask for help in the other areas of my life that are out of control and that feels really scary, but I know I need to do it.

So it was good.

But I don't think the poor woman was expecting to be presented with 11 single spaced typed pages. It took us almost 3 hours to get through everything.

Now it's on to step 2, which I know I'm going to have to take slow as I've looked at the questions, and some of them make me really uncomfortable.

splitimage

[madisgram]

I have a really hard time admitting that my life is unmanageable, and that I'm having trouble coping at the moment.Now it's on to step 2, which I know I'm going to have to take slow as I've looked at the questions, and some of them make me really uncomfortable.
so do you think you've completed step 1?
if i recall correctly split when you were drinking your life was spiraling out of control and there were severe consequences for you. imho your life was unmanageable then. u've been thru the steps sober, this is about the process now of really getting sober, reviewing the steps again. reflecting back should show you your past unmanageability. also there does seem there is unmageability in other areas of your life.
Now I've got to get up the courage to admit my problems to other people and ask for help in the other areas of my life that are out of control and that feels really scary, but I know I need to do it.
asking for help by way of professionals is an option recommended in chap.5 of the big book. take false pride out of the picture, humble yourself and seek help. that should help overcome your unmanageability in other parts of your life. plus you will learn new coping skills, etc. that you've been unable to attain up til now. all this is good action cause skewed thoughts and inability to cope, etc can lead you back to drinking unless you resolve these obstacles.
and being totally honest with your sponsor is a big step but keep in mind, "we are sick as our secrets". those secrets will cause us to fail over and over again.
hope this helps.

[Leed]

Hi ~ I agree with EVERYTHING Madisgram said. She's exactly right.

As for Step 2, "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity"----That makes alot of people uncomfortable. Many of us were agnostics. We thought that we could stop our madness by ourselves -- but after awhile we had to admit that we needed a spiritual basis of life because our "way" didn't work. We didn't have the 'power' -- so we had to find a power greater than ourselves.

We may talk of God, but it's your OWN conception of God. If you look around the tables, you'll find that the old-timers DO believe in a Power greater than themselves - and most call it God. But yours can be a tree, or the sky or a star.

As long as you have the WILLINGNESS to believe in a power greater than yourself, you'll be ok.

Lots of times we make the Steps alot harder than they have to be. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

[popeye]

I have been going to AA for more than 5 years and have remained sober since going. I have had 2 sponsers. I was really beat up this time and close to dying from alcohol related heath issues. I went to 140 meetings in 90 days and went through the steps very quickly with my sponsers. I really wanted to get and stay sober this time. I was ready to do whatever it took to do this. It worked for me...I hope it works for you.

Good luck, splitimage. Owning your problems and working to correct them is hard work. I wish you the best.