I am 6 months and 17 days sober 😁. I

Recovery
#1

I am 6 months and 17 days sober :grin:. I have been asked to speak for the first time at a meeting tomorrow. I am so nervous !!!! I might just throw up :weary:.Any words of advice ?! Thank you in advance !

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#2

Is this like a speaker meeting and you are going to tell your story?

#3

Yes I will be telling my story at a speaker meeting :sweat_smile:

#4

Well I’m assuming you have heard a lot of stories. Some you were able to relate to, some not! I think that telling your story is more helpful to you than anyone else! So relax, breath and don’t stress, it will be over before you know it, lol… best wishes! Let us know how it went! :call_me_hand:t3::v:t3::sunglasses:

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#5

Thank you very much !

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#6

De nada Amiga! :v:t3:

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#7

I know that feeling! I’m not sure we torture ourselves with these anxiety feelings…but we all do lol. So you’ve been in the program for a while. Then you know it’s fear which is stemming from your ego. Knowing this has never helped me in the past lol. I was told to pray and meditate about it. I prayed for strength and courage. I asked my HP to relieve of my ego. I meditated too. Sorry to say that nothing really helped too much. I guess my ego is too big lol. However, I did push thru and shared my story. I received a lot of love and support from the group. They appreciated my vulnerability, and accepted me. I felt more connected to the group afterwards. Wish I could give you a better solution for your anxiety, but that was my experience. Btw, I’m so proud of you staying sober, getting involved, and speaking. :pray::peace_symbol:❤‍🩹

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#8

Thank you so much ! I said no initially but he asked he to think on it. I spoke with my sponsor, prayed and meditated on it. I know it is the right thing to do. I am leaving it in my HP hands and will continue to pray and meditate. I’m just hoping the right words find me and I don’t make a fool of myself :rofl:

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#9

Congrats on your sobriety. You got this

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#11

Tomorrow! Darn! I’ll be in Boston this weekend. I haven’t looked at my meeting app yet, but how crazy would that’ve been!!

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#12

That would have been crazy lol

#13

Yeah, then you really would’ve :poop: your pants :joy:

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#14

Lmaooo

#15

Just remember, it’s your story. You know exactly what your talking about. And the folks there are there to hear it. Hope that helps relive the pressure.

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#17

Never been there but one thing you could do is write out a cheat sheet of things you want to cover in case you start getting lost, it might help.

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#18

Nora! Congrats on 6 months and 17 days!
Speak your truth. I like to ask my higher power for guidance before the meeting and take a big deep breath right before I introduce myself. It helps me to calm down internally.
Remember everyone that’s at the meeting is sick as well as you. We are just alcoholics all trying to help each other achieve sobriety. Share your experience with alcohol- what it did to you, how it made you feel, etc. strength- what sobriety is doing for you, and your hope,
Basically- what it was like, what happened and what it’s like now. You will be completely fine.
What step are you on?

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#19

I’m 9 years clean from alcohol and 2 years clean from binge eating. I never know what to say when asked to be the speaker. I always feel like I’m rambling, but the more I ramble, the more people hug me after and tell me they can relate to my ramblings. So maybe it’s less about what you say and more about the fact that you showed up, :woman_shrugging:t2:.

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#20

What we were like, what happened, and what we are like now.

I think roughly 25% dedicated to my descent. Nobody wants to me ramble about active drinking.

Then 50% “what happened”. My bottom. Why that time was different. My desperation. My surrender. How admitting failure and defeat prepared me for the life I have now.

Then 25% about my program. My progress. My step work. My solution. Where I’m at. What part of my program is strong and what parts are a daily struggle. I finish with the promises. 9th and 10th step promises. How they have come true.

I’m specific in my recovery and vague in my addiction. I’ve gotten into some legal troubles suffices. I don’t need to read my rap sheet.

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#21

With any public speech i always made notes. Not a written script but talking points you want to make sure to hit. I like the 25/50/25 model someone had mentioned. You will do great!

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#22

When I speak I like to keep something to hold in my hand that calms me down. Usually my bloodstone crystal, which is smooth and I can rub it. Or an AA chip.

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