[DePressMe]

I think the recovery chat was a smashing success! I would like to encourage everybody to come to our next one!

A few things I walked away with…

A renewed gratitude that I am not going through withdrawal. Hearing another person struggle with it reminds me of how hard it can be to get clean and sober. I have been through treatment 4 times and I have been detoxed by my doctor a few times outside of a detox unit…not to mention all the times I quit on my own. Detoxing is one of the toughest things I have done. (makes me wonder why I chose to do it so many times, you’d think I would have learned a little quicker). I have great compassion for those out there who are trying to get clean and sober. For me, the first few weeks were pure he**. But, the great thing is that it does get better. The bad part is that there is no way around the withdrawal—I just had to go through it—there is no easy way. Being in the detox centers helped because they gave me Valium and Librium to stop the DTs, but even then, you have to come off of those meds. I wish there was an easier way…but I have not found one—and trust me, I have looked.

I also felt comfortable being a non-AA person. Everybody made me feel welcomed and I did not feel like…like it was being suggested that AA and the steps are the only way to being sober. Sometimes, I have been told by some close minded people that I was a dry drunk because I was not working their version of the steps. Raynaadi, I think you really went out of the way to include me and I felt as if everybody was really open minded. There are many paths to recovery and I fully respect the “AA way.” Matter of fact, I occasionally borrow pieces of it here and there. I was told to take what you can use and leave the rest there.

We talked about isolation. I have struggled with isolation because I don’t have the support of the AA community. It has forced me to be extremely proactive in searching out friends and building close relationships with others. At this time I have 4 close people in my life who are in recovery—my brother (9 mos sober), my boyfriend (6 mos sober) my best girlfriend (6 years sober) and my soul mate (18 years sober)—none of us go to meetings, but I guess we have formed our own little community. I have developed friendships with people who don’t drink or who drink very little. Strange, some of them can have a glass of wine and stop—just like that. I also have weekly therapy sessions and monthly psychiatry appointments. I am very fortunate to have all this support.

I am talking in generalities about the meeting—I don’t want anybody to feel like I am talking about them or anything of that nature. I just want to share some of my thoughts and feelings from a wonderful and inspiring meeting.

I am grateful to be sober,
DePressMe

[Raynaadi]

I have to wholeheartedly agree, it was awesome!!!! I kept wracking my brain thinking about it, thinking about how we should do it......the only example I had being DocJohn's chats. But I didn't want to do a Q&A with me being the only one answering questions because I sure don't claim to be an expert on addiction, I only have my own experience. Then it hit me duh, just have an open discussion. Just let it be an hour devoted to anyone curious about recovery to come and hang out. So thats what it was and it was great! I didn't like the idea of being the "leader" but it didn't turn out that way at all! I just created the room and the rest happened on its own. Its so refreshing to see what happens when people with a common bond come together to chat.

DePressMe it was soooo important to me that you be there. You're absolutely right about there being closed minded AA's, thinking that the steps are the only way. I admit, I used to be one of them, because I didn't know any other way. It wasn't until I started hearing your story that I began to see that there are many ways to recover! So I am so glad you came to show others who might be inimidated by anonymous groups that it can be done. That anyone can get well and recover. What we did last night is form a fellowship here on PC. There was a fellowship because of our posting here, but we made it more evident last night and it was awesome!!!

I heard in a meeting the other day about how we alcoholics/addicts come from all different walks of life. How we are people who normally would not mix. He compared it to the Titanic, about how there were the people in steerage sleeping on the metal beds and then there were the rich people up above in luxery and they didn't mix.....until they hit that water and they had a common problem.

Thats us - people with substance abuse issues, we all have a common bond because of our common problems, and we all get to come together to try and help each other. What a beautiful thing!!!

Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to a certain member who, months ago, put this idea in my head about having a meeting here. You know who you are. Back then we thought about doing a 12 step meeting but I like what it has evolved into....just an open discussion. Oh I could just go on and on haha!!

I have a copy of the chat transcript for anyone who couldn't make it, or anyone curious for future chats. I'll save them every week as well. The message will continue to be carried, even passed Tuesday nights, for those who are interested. So if you missed chat and would like a transcript, shoot me a PM!

Thanks again everyone.....that chat helped me stay sober. And now I couldn't drink even if I wanted to, cuz I have a commitment here on Tuesdays.

I very much appreciated the chat... it was terrific.. going off Xanax is not an easy thing for me... it has been well "hxx".. and still is... a very long process..

I felt so isolated until last night during chat.. I learned that I am not alone.. I want to say Thank God... but on the other hand, I wish none of us would have had to go thru what we've gone thru..

So I felt supported,, included,, cared about,, and learned alot about w/d and getting support that I need to keep going..

[Raynaadi]

((((( freewill )))))))

It absolutely warmed my heart to read this. I'm so glad it was beneficial!!!! I can't wait until next Tuesday!!!!

[splitimage]

I thought it was great too - I can never get too many meetings. I also liked the way it just evolved in a general discussion. It was also great to have a reminder of why I never want to do detox again.

--splitimage

[Raynaadi]

Here here sister!!!!!!!!!