I'd love some input!

Recovery
#42

For me it's important to remember that what folks say are merely suggestions, no matter how they come across.

The steps are about letting go of the past and moving forward to be a person I want to be. I don't care for sponsors who want to sit there and say every steps takes a long time. I prefer someone who will guide me through them quickly.

I've tried exercise and meditation as a filler for alcohol and it worked for a long time, but it's only when I am plugged into a sober community that I feel best. Not saying it has to be AA, even for me, but AA is the easiest for me because it's all around.

3 Likes
#43

Someone posted about refuge recovery the other day. They use a different method and have online meetings several times a day.

Iā€™m not a huge fan of AA but the steps can be very helpful. People who work them seem to succeed

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#44

What a wonderful thread! I love hearing about everyoneā€™s recovery experiences. I appreciate yā€™all sharing. Itā€™s discussions like this that make Loosid a wonderful community of support. Iā€™ve learned so much this time around. While AA is my main go to for recovery, I no longer have to rely on it 100%. Yā€™all have given me the ability to grow and expand upon my recovery exponentially! Letā€™s all keep an open mind as we continue to help one another stay on the path of recovery. Recovery is so much more than abstinenceā€¦itā€™s learning to live a happy, balanced, and healthy life :pray::peace_symbol::heart:

2 Likes
#45

:100:.. I really love this community!

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#46

Hi, Colleen!

1 Like
#47

:wave: hi

#48

Maybe you need a group that's focused on something else. Like a creative group or nature group, some type of positive sober community that's thing isn't necessarily being sober, but people who have hobbies like that just tend to be sober.

5 Likes
#49

Great share

#50

Thatā€™s a good idea. I was thinking of going to a hiking meetup or going to the Buddhist temple for meditation

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#51

Perfect reaponse

#52

Have you heard of She Recovers?

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#53

I think that's a great idea. Since the pandemic shut down the spin studio I taught at I've lost a lot of my healthy community connections.

It's usually just myself and my daughter and I rarely go out unless to work.

My lifestyle has been a big void for the past 7 years which was a big reason I drank.

Guess it's time to get back out there!! Lol

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#54

SMART recovery is great.

Iā€™ve also heard really good things about she recovers

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#55

I haven't, but I'll definitely look into it.

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#56

Great idea, Iā€™m trying that approach myself, still looking for the right group.

#58

I find myself leaving meetings often in a better mood than I walked in with but I also feel your pain. I donā€™t want to continue ranting about how I used to be, I want to change the thoughts that made me drink in the first place. I find peace in nature and art, stopping to drink in the world around me rather than forget it. Finding a ā€œgroupā€ of that variety is especially hard in Texas. :joy: Online seems to be the easiest way but nothing beats a face to face interaction.

#59

Honestly you sound exactly right. Trust your instincts.

If you're have no desire to drink, then telling oneself you're powerless to abstain on your own is totally counterintuitive.

If you are healthy and in control of yourself, then maybe you actually understand your own needs better than some doctrinaire, pseudo-religious book peddlers with a track record no better than invocations for fair weather.

No, you actually sound spot on.

1 Like
#61

In my experiences with A.A. it was a good starting place to begin sobriety. Some meetings were pretty laid back. Others were like I joined the Jim Jones cult. Personally, I like diversity in sobriety, ie. going to different meetings, not being forced to join a home group, doing things like talking to people because your sponsor wants you to. Sometimes the meetings felt like another addiction. I am not knocking A.A. because it does genuinely help people.
There are other outlets to be apart of a sober network without having to continuously labeling myself as an alcoholic. Soon, I really thought I was limited to thinking I am.
We are Also beautiful creatures who choose various ways to alter our minds.
How about getting down and dirty with ourselves and be truthful to ourselves that we like to intoxicate ourselves because sometimes the pain is unbearable or for whatever reason we choose to not feel. How about doing some accepting for ourselves that we are normal instead of labeling ourselves as alcoholic or powerless. I don't need someone to tell me I'm powerless. I need friends and the will to be honest with me.

1 Like
#62

Love this!! I completely agree :revolving_hearts: I love my happy bubble and want to live a sober life. I want my focus to be there and not in the "I'm an alcoholic, always have been, always will be" mentality. I do love people though so I'm sure popping around to different meetings every now and then will still happen , but I can't lock in to one "home group".

The negativity just got too heavy for me so I pulled away :upside_down_face:

#63

Hey you :kissing_heart: