Yes, trying to love yourself and building routines that empower you with self-belief is essential. However, I know that it doesn’t take self-love for other people to love you. I also know that you do not have to believe in yourself 100% for others to believe in what you are doing. I don’t even think it’s possible to love and believe in yourself 100% of the time. Some people do need meetings every day, and others do not. Regardless of the difference in our needs, the most important thing is that we just don’t drink. Your sobriety is your own, and how you do it is entirely up to you. In AA specifically, meeting people who have lived through relapse and recovery cycles is common. It is also common for people to project theonething that eventually worked for them onto others as theonlyway to be sober.
What happens at 60 days sober?
In the first 60 days of being sober, there might not be any changes right away. Changes will happen when you continue to work on your recovery. The brain needs to be re-trained to function normally without drugs or alcohol. Treatment can be helpful in the early stages of this process.
I do see the purpose of being part of a community and it is vital for humans to be in one. But to submit to a greasy dude who now rides a harley and because he now outwardly has his stuff together, I don’t see how that is going to make life anymore bearable or the wisdom in that. They are like stay sober without aa paratroopers when you say that are new to the meeting, there are like 20 of them ready to tell you to how to live your life. Do everything i tell you and tell me all the nasty stuff you have done and you will get to stay sober one more day. Going to meetings is humiliating and depressing.
Life
It may have its place in my life 20 years ago when i didnt know better but i am 39. I think that i will take with me what has worked and leave the rest. Convinced in rehab I had an incurable disease of the mind, which put simply only gets worse has absolutely destroyed me. Being convinced im sick and have a disease has been a huge weight to carry around. I have decided to leave AA for good now, Sober House although sober I have struggled from the outset with the disease model. Nowhere in the Big Book of AA does it say to go to meetings and get a sponsor. Neither do I think you should come up with your own program. I had a hard time getting to a meeting in the beginning, just becaus ei did not really think that I had a problem. I can only say that from my own personal experience it saved my life.
I have got myself a sponsor and although fearless regarding my approach to this wonder why i should divuldge my inner most secrets to someone i dont know because i wouldnt expect it of her. There are other options out there, but my experience is AA membership monopolized my time, and when I needed support, you could hear the tumbleweeds dropping seeds. I asked for companionship from friends, a sponsor of many years. The passive/aggressive responses were so shocking, I think I may have been in denial they were happening at the time. The more my life fell apart, the more abandoned or I became. I think I communicate well and asked for what I needed and wanted, but I am not willing to take responsibility for the reactions of others. Today I forgive myself for all the neglect that I caused other people and myself through my abuse of substances and through my AA/NA membership. Thank you also for reminding me about the spiritual idea… because the reality is I have been a selfish person and without AA’s look at me behavior I would never acknowledge that. Purely and simply AA has shown me that there are other people in this world. I absolutely agree, I had started to do some volunteer work and loved it!
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Having people you see regularly and are all working towards the same goal also provides a level of accountability. Having to face your group of peers and admit that you broke your sobriety can be a powerful deterrent in the face of weakening resolve. In early recovery, you may be worrying about how you will have fun and enjoy yourself without drugs or alcohol in your life. Sober life allows you to focus on fulfilling activities and pursuits. When you walk through the doors of an AA meeting, the warm welcome everyone receives is because of this common bond. Even though you do not have to join any group or pay any dues, the common struggle of like-minded alcoholics is priceless. It is the primary thing that makes AA so special.
These types of restrictive measures are often debated in the recovery community. As you can see, there are many alternatives to AA. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to find the right program. With so many options, it’s always a good idea to talk to professionals. They can help you decide what treatment methods are right for you. Search our rehab directory to find the nearest treatment center to you. There are treatment options available for drug and alcohol relapse. Seek out an inpatient or outpatient rehab treatment facility, an experienced professional, or addiction support groups to start.