Concerned

A friend invited me to a meeting with her. It was at someone's house. There was a couple of people there that were suffering a lot. Crying, and hysterical. I felt so sad for them and scared of them too. When the meeting was over the person was still in a pretty bad state. I asked my friend about it and was told that this often happens, and this person is BP. It seemed odd to me that this was an explanation. I am concerned that this occurs and that people are nonchalant about someone's illness. It seems to me that this was not so compassionate to let someone fall so hard during a meeting. It also seemed that this suffering person needed way more than a meeting before and after so much stuff was taking place Maybe, I don't see or understand the whole picture, This is just bothering me a lot.

It does sound like this person needed a lot of comfort and support, but she also needs professional help. I'm not so sure that an AA meeting is going to do her much good AT THIS POINT. I think she is in a bad phase of her disease right now, and a therapist would be of much more help than an AA meeting.

I DO believe that AA can help her, but not right now. I think first she needs to stabilize her BiPolar condition, i.e. have her medications adjusted or something. She's just too manic/depressive right now for AA to help her. I doubt she got anything out of the meeting, to be honest. First she has to understand that she's worthy of being cared for, worthy of getting well, and worthy of people being concerned about her, but most of all she has to learn to love herself.

The people at the meeting just plain didn't know how to cope with her. They aren't trained cause they're just like you and me. They were probably afraid of her. LOL

Anyway -- I hope someone got her some help. She sure needs it. Thanks for your post and your caring! God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

oh so glad you posted your concern. at my home group if a person is over emotional or antagonist or disrupting the meeting a person who has been sober for some time is to take that person aside from the meeting itself. it's not being unkind. it is to one-on-one help that person and also not break the continuity of the meeting for others that are composed. sometimes the chairperson doesn't have enough sober time and that's when the disturbance is not attended to in a constructive way for all there. sounds like that meeting was out of control. perhaps a meeting outside of that environment with a more acceptable formal approach will encourage you to attend AA.
i hope this reply can help you and reassure you that this meeting's occurances are not the AA way, imho.

Thank you both for your reply. I prayed for these people, and hope they can get the help they need.

Hang in there because U know you can do it. U have out in you. Stay strong soldier.

Thanks Clash, are these some lyrics from Eminem, the words sound so familiar...

you are a welcome

sorry eh what is the 'eminem' i don't think they have that in france

lol 'Eminem' is an American rap artist who has been recovering for awhile, and has written the song called "Not Afraid" it is very inspiring. Maybe you can give it a listen. oui?