california alcoholics anonymous
What is an alcoholics anonymous meeting like?
I’m looking for a thorough description of an alcoholics anonymous meeting. I’m also looking for some addresses for alcoholics anonymous meetings in Southern California
They welcome newcomers and celebrate different time lengths of sobriety. They read out of “The Big Book” of alcoholics anonymous. That takes about 15 minutes. Then the meeting is usually open for “sharing”. Often there is a topic or theme to the discussion. That is what “sharing” means- people take turns talking, trying to keep it less than 5 minutes. People talk about their problems with alcohol and the process of recovery. There are some meetings which are step study, which means they will concentrate on a particular step. The first is admitting that you are an alcoholic and have a problem with alcohol. #2 is coming to believe a power greater than yourself can relieve you of alcoholism. The third step is making a decision to turn your will and life over to a higher power.
A short version of the steps is “trust god, clean house, help others.” There are 12 steps and 12 traditions. The steps are the foundation of recovery.
Sometimes they have a speaker meeting, where the meeting is turned over to someone who shares what their life was like and what they have done about it. In that type of meeting, there is usually no sharing, and may be a good meeting for a first timer.
Usually people are friendly and will greet you and try to help you with your problem. It is often suggested that you get a sponsor, a person who will guide you through the 12 steps and also a person to call if you might need a drink or need some advice or help about problems that you may have with alcoholism.
By all means check it out- its free, they have coffee and they will always welcome you no matter how screwed up you are. the only requirement for membership is a desire to quit drinking, and even that is ?? Not that big of a deal. No biggy if you go and get drunk, they’ll still be there when you come back.
www.step12.com will have meeting schedules for California
Blunt Talk From a Former Drunk—No More Excuses
Are you on your way to becoming a drunk, like I was for too many wasted years of my life?
A new study this year from researchers at the University of California and Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care System finds one in five men in the United States and other developed countries are at risk of abusing alcohol or becoming alcoholics. The risk is about 10 percent for women during their lifetime, according to their findings.
At the least, they add, you’ll cut your life short by 10 to 15 years if you drink too much and/or become addicted to drinking. But we know that at the most, you might immediately die or kill someone if you drive drunk.
I’m lucky I’m alive after abusing alcohol for too many years of my life. I ruined relationships and risked my health. But I quit, and you can, too.
But first, I had to stop making excuses for myself, and allowing others to make excuses for me. If you’re on your way to becoming an alcoholic, or binge drinking, or even at that stage where you’ve had one two many, don’t make excuses.
Don’t let yourself get by with saying you drink because you’re celebrating, or you’re shy, or you’re sad, or because you have a lousy job or because you’re broke.
Alcohol won’t let you take control over any of those problems; but it will take control over you. So tell yourself, ‘No more excuses,’ and then do whatever it takes to help you quit.
Call an addiction hotline. They’re listed in the phone directory. Call a treatment center. Call on a higher power – I did. Call Alcoholics Anonymous. Call your doctor. Call your parents. Ask a friend to help you. Do whatever it takes to quit.
This is the age of the Internet, so you can start looking for help there, too. Go to Alcoholics Anonymous at www.aa.org. You can also find hundreds of resources at www.soberrecovery.com/links/resources.html.
When I quit, I discovered that I could do big things. I proved that when I stopped being a drunk and quit drinking. That was one of the greatest accomplishments in my life. I discovered I could be alone, after years of always having to have someone else around when I was drinking. I know now that it was fear that fueled my drinking. My new life became about confronting my fears, not using them as an excuse.
I can look at people who are addicted and understand why they’re addicted. Hey, it’s a tough world we live in. But I can also see that addictions don’t make things easier in the long run; they just prolong the pain.
So here’s blunt talk from a former drunk: No more excuses!
Linda Joy Allan of Santa Barbara, Calif., is the author of the book, “I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars & Booze,” which has been described as a “courageous account, ultimately victorious,” of Allan’s personal journey to overcome three addictions. Dr. Laura Schlessinger, author of the book “Stop Whining, Start Living,” has said Allan “will motivate and inspire.” For more information and tips on quitting your addictions, visit http://www.dovelinpublishing.com
About the Author
I live with my 2 cats in Santa Barbara. I invite you to stop by my website @ DovelinPublishing.com and sign up for my tip of the week.
Alcoholics Anonymous
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