[Christina86]

Yep, I am planning on going.

I got a very cold email from the AA people about information, and was turned off temporarily.

But with my friend (nicely) hounding me, and after telling him I wont go unless he finds me a meeting that meets certain criteria (days free, accessibility, closeness to campus where I live) ... he found me a meeting. For next week.

ACK!

What happens at an OS (open speaker)?

Someone tell me I'm worrying for nothing.

I hate going into new situations like this. I also dont want to be the youngest person there. I only just turned 22 on Wednesday.

I'm going to an AA meeting. EEEP.

[bebop]

at OS meetings they have a speaker to come tell their story. it is pretty interesting. I use to go with my late husband to give my support of his efforts.

[bmoz]

Is this your first meeting?

[Christina86]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
bmoz said:
Is this your first meeting?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Yep, first meeting. I was told by many people that it would be good to at least look into as an idea, since I have some addictive tendencies.

[Christina86]

Thanks bebop.

Am I going to be pressured to talk? Are the people generally friendly? I guess I'm socially anxious.

[ECHOES]

Open Speaker was my favorite.
The speaker usually had a very meaningful and often humorous version of thier story to tell. Usually included when they hit bottom.
One man told about leaving the bar, getting in his car and heading home. It had snowed while he was in the bar. Driving home, he noticed they only plowed a narrow strip down the road. He came to the first stop sign. For some reason it was on his left instead of his right. Wow, the plow must have really had a hard time finding the road, he thought. He turned the corner and the next stop sign appeared on his left also.....
He was driving down the sidewalk
And so began his story.
The meeting also included important announcements, including new people saying hello if they wished to, and those who were celebrating anniversaries sharing how long they had been clean/sober.
Donuts and coffee and socializing after closing the meeting.

All new things are anxiety-making. They're new. Familiar things don't feel that way... but all familiar things began as new things.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Christina86]

(((((((((((ECHOES))))))))))))))))

Thanks for that. Wow... that's a heckuva story.

[bmoz]

Christina, if you are ready to quit now please look into AVRT Addictive Voice Recognition Therapy. Availible at www.rational.org go directly to *the plan* then *recover now*. Hope you find this to be the wonder I did. You will do well whatever your choice. Peace, Boz

[Slippers]

Eeep. Very cute.

Hopefully since its near campus there will be other young people there. In larger cities there are specific meetings called Young Persons meetings. Some colleges even hold meetings on campus.

The speaker meeting is a nice first meeting since you will mostly sit back and listen. You'll know you are in the right place if there are a bunch of people standing out front smoking....if you are not a smoker, plan to hold your breath as you smile, wave and walk through the door!

Once inside look for the literature table. There should be booklets with all the meetings listed. If you walk around looking uncomfortable, with one of those in your hands someone will notice you are new and may come up and talk to you. Women may offer to write their names and phone numbers in the back so you can call them if you need to talk. They may even pass your book around the room. That happens at women's meetings a lot. Women's meetings come highly recommended. Great fun.

Take care.

Slippers

(((((((((((((((((((((((((( christina86 ))))))))))))))))))))))

It was funny to find your post this morning, because last night after AA I was considering getting on and posting how much I liked the meeting I went to yesterday and how lucky I feel that I found AA!

Going to that first meeting IS scary. I couldn't even drive afterwards - had to sit in the parking lot in the car and talk to a friend on my phone until I felt less shaky. BUT - I have learned a new way of life there that has helped me so much on my journey towards healing.

There is a lot of laughter at the meetings. I enjoy going, and have fun. Each meeting has it's own "personality" - try more than a few and find the place you feel most comfortable.

One thing that I was told that was very helpful to me, is to not compare my story to others stories. Just because I haven't been in jail (yet) or lost my family (yet) or a bunch of other things, doesn't mean that I'm not in the right place. Look for similarities in your story and others stories - for me, the feelings others describe really hit home with me.

Good luck to you - please let us know how it goes!

[Christina86]

Hi bmoz, thanks for that link. I checked it out.

[Christina86]

Slippers, thanks

There is actually an on-campus AA meeting, but it only runs during the school year, so not so reliable.

I'll hopefully learn a lot and meet some nice people, yes?

[Christina86]

I'm so glad all I have to do is get on a bus then...

I read the AA pamphlet for younger people... and identified with a bunch of the personal stories. It hurt, but at least I kinda understood what I was getting myself into.

thanks earthmama, and congrats on attending your first meeting.

Hope it goes well! I've had AA suggested to me a bunch of times but to be entirely honest, the whole idea of it terrifies me and I was put off by some not-so-great stories I heard, plus not wanting to be the youngest guy there.

Best of luck.

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Christina86 said:

thanks earthmama, and congrats on attending your first meeting.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I've been in the program for 3 1/2 years, so I've been to a LOT of meetings since then - and I promise, they haven't been scary at all!!!

[Christina86]

((((((((Griffe)))))))))))))))

Same here... so I'll let you know how it goes, ok?

[Christina86]

Oopsies. My bad. Thanks ((((((earthmama)))))))))

[bebop]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Christina86 said:
Thanks bebop.

Am I going to be pressured to talk? Are the people generally friendly? I guess I'm socially anxious.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

no not in open meetings hon. they might ask you to introduce yourself but I doubt it hon. most are very friendly though.

[Christina86]

"Hi, my name is Christina".

I can do that. They better not expect anything else though. Not quite ready to spill my entire life story to strangers.

[bmoz]

Nothing to be scared of. There will be people like you and me. Haven't had a drink since. I made it through alive so can you. Peace, Boz

[ECHOES]

You don't have to speak if you don't want to. I never did.

[splitimage]

There's nothing to be scared off - ok I was terrified of my first meeting too. If you're going to an open meeting, they all pretty much follow the same routine. They'll open with a moment of silence usually followed by the serenity prayer. Then there will be a bunch of readings, but the people doing the readings have all been selected before the meeting starts by the chairperson. There will be the group secretary's announcements of upcoming birthdays (sobriety dates) and they'll ask for announcements from the floor. Some meetings will ask if there are any out of town visistors or new people. It's totally up to you if you want to introduce yourself or not if they ask. They may give out chips. Chips are these little plastic tokens to mark lengths of sobriety in your first year. they have them for 30 days, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months. They also have what's called a desire chip. That's for anyone who is new to the program who has a desire to stop drinking and kind of represents your committment to yourself not to drink. They'll pass a basket for donations. You don't have to put anything in if you can't afford it. The suggested donation around Toronto is $2 but lots of people can't afford that so just put what they can in or nothing at all. Then there will be a speaker who will tell about their experiences drinking, getting sober, and what life is like today. You just have to sit and listen.

Don't be surprised if lots of people come up to you to introduce themselves and say hi. AA's tend to be pretty friendly, I actually found it kind of overwhelming at first.

You might also find other women, once they find out you're new offering to give you phone numbers. When they say you can call them - they mean it. Helping other alcoholics is a big part of the program.

You could also do what I did at my first meeting, based on the suggestion of the guy on the AA hotline. When I got there I asked to speak to the group secretary, and told her that I was new. She introduced me to a bunch of people and gave me tons of literature to read.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy the meeting.

--splitimage

[Lenny]

You have nothing to loose by attending Chris...and everything to gain...

I have literally been to thousands of meetings and one of my greatest joys is in being in the company of a newcomer...one who can show me the freshness and power of willingness...

I have not met anyone in AA who does not put their pants on one leg at a time..

Nope..we are all the same...

I am proud of your courage...that is what it takes to change..

IMHO.

Lenny

[Christina86]

(((bmoz))))))) thanks

[Christina86]

Good to know. Thanks (((((((Echoes)))))))))))