Here is the starting point. Go to meetings, get a Sponsor and work the program…. God will take care of everything else.
How It Works
from the Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average.
There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it — then you are ready to take certain steps. – The Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women
who share their experience, strength and hope
with each other that they may solve their common problem
and help others to recover from alcoholism.he only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting
through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect,
denomination, politics, organization or institution;
does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
The 12 Steps Of AA
Click the button to read them
The 12 Traditions Of AA
Click the button to read them
Alanon is for the family of Alcoholics
Click the above symbol to go to Alanon
“While the alcoholic lies passed out, anesthetized, the family goes through the years of his drinking — stark, raving sober. Their world is like no sane family’s world. They believe lies, expect miracles, have him locked up, bail him out, wish he were dead, and pray that he gets home safely”. From the book Getting Them Sober.
Does the bible correspond to the 12 steps?
Feeling the heat of the fire? Malachi 3:13 says:
Here is an excellent article. Click here to read
“Alcoholics and Addicts – Helping Them the Old School Way” by Dick B.
The Promises
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be
amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new
freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to
shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose
interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will
slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of
people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know
how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do
for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled
among us — sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always
materialize if we work for them.
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84,© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Click Here to read more promises found throughout the Big Book
Recovery Humor
Remember this hottie from the bar?
“We are not reformed drunks–but informed alcoholics”
“Recovery is an inside job”
The AA paradoxes:
—from weakness(adversity) comes strength
—we forgive to be forgiven
—we give it away to keep it
—we suffer to get well
—we surrender to win
—we die to live
—from darkness comes light
—from dependence we found independence
Acronyms Used in AA
AA = Absolute Abstinence
AA = Adventurers Anonymous
AA = Altered Attitudes
AA = Altruistic action
Click Here to read more acronyms
Cunning alcoholism one step ahead
By Richard Atwater LPC
Published in the Northwest Herald Sunday, February 22, 2009.
Alcoholism is a thinking disease.
It sneaks up and gets you where you’re weakest. It waits. It does push-ups while you’re sleeping. It’s smarter than you. Identifying alco-thought is like trying to put your finger on mercury.
I was talking to a gentleman recently who has had repeated problems with his drinking.
He was on his way to the grocery store after about a month of non-drinking when he decided to swing by his favorite gas station (where incidentally they sold liquor) to fill up. “I need to fill the tank,” he thought. read more
Inspirational Video
Don’t quit before the miracle happens… keep coming back… just don’t quit. Make a meeting, get a sponsor or reach out to one of the addiction recovery programs available for help today. Just don’t give up.
Life Lesson: Never quit. You are probably closer than you think.
Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Some Favorite 12 Step Slogans
“Live and Let Live”
“Easy Does It”
“Progress Not Perfection”
“One Day At A Time”
“Keep Coming Back”
“First Things First”
What is reality to the alcoholic/addict?
As alcoholics and/or addicts we often do not see reality the way it really is. Everybody is not after you (well in your case, they are), you can not drive drunk better than when you are sober (remember, the authorities have this well documented) and the 2 tubes above are crooked. As an example how things sometimes are not how they are perceived the tubes above are straight as an arrow and totally parallel with each other. Due to the lines in the background (your brain) the tubes appear leaning and crooked (your perception) when they are truly straight and parallel (reality).
Same thing with the picture below. The snakes are straight also and equally spaced apart. Ok, I’m just messin’ with you this time but are the snakes moving or is it just me?
The Power In Prayer
By Soberado
www.cleanandsobernotdead.com
Prayer is not performed solely by clergy or just for the religiously pious. Prayer is for everyone… this includes you, the addict. Prayer is a powerful tool used in recovery to overcome and deal with addictions. It is a proven tool used successfully in recovery by the millions who are not using today. This powerful tool of prayer and making contact with our Higher Power is available to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in our daily journey to overcome the struggle, isolation and daily fights of addiction. As we seek God to help us, he opens doors and gives us the power we lacked before in tackling our addiction. With his help you will be able to find a new way of life… clean and sober.
Praying does not come easily for some addicts. Some have never prayed before and/or have misconceptions about praying. Prayer is simply communicating with God—humbly listening and talking to him either silently or out loud. One can pray from the heart spontaneously using your own words or reciting a prayer from a book. One can kneel at their bedside or pray to God while in the shower. You can pray with your eyes open or closed or however else you feel comfortable. The important part is reaching out for his guidance and help in your life. Through prayer we can get the comfort, guidance and understanding we seek to overcome our addiction.
It is all up to you on how to make contact with your higher power. God is able to understand and reach down and touch your life in a million ways. Sometimes his touch goes unnoticed, sometimes they are subtle. Sometimes God touches us in major ways such as Bill W’s spiritual awakening as recounted in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Addicts have been alone in their head for a long time usually knowing the normal person would never understand what you are feeling or going through. Through daily contact with your Higher Power you never have to be alone again. God is with you every step of the way.
To pray to God you simply have to start talking. If you are not used to prayer, it will seem a little odd at first. You might even feel this is a worthless exercise for blind sheep actingy foolishly . We just ask that you work past those feelings until you experience the real power of prayer. Once you connect with this power and make contact with God through prayer you lean and trust him to guide you through all situations.
Feeling all alone is a common symptom we share as addicts. Feeling nobody cares or understands us just contributes to the isolation and misery we trudge through daily. This can be overcome through prayer if we harness the power behind it. That power is God and he is ALWAYS with us. He welcomes us anytime to talk to him. No appointment is necessary and no subject is off limits.
When you feel you’re at your ropes end try saying a praying. All it takes is an effort on your part to make a conscious contact with your Higher Power. He will do the rest.
Pictures of Bathrooms
Your not suppose to forget your last drunk… well for me that is to remember the last bathroom. Here are some I don’t regret not getting up close and personal with.
Click here to see
Cool recovery art by Parker L. Check out his blog here
3 Simple Questions – submitted by Dennis D. of Youngstown OH.
We all know about pulling a “1-2-3” when we are confronted with any problem or dilemma, regardless of whether it is something that is directly threatening our sobriety (Should I go to this party? What will this other person do if I hang out with them? etc.). We go through Steps 1, 2 & 3, (“I can’t, He can, so let Him!” And the threat is neutralized, just for now, just for today…and so the Miracle happens time and time again.
A bigger problem occurs for some of us when we are contemplating doing something, going somewhere, or even just having one of those wonderful emotions that we absolutely do not want to surrender — i.e. anger, resentment, entitlement, self-pity, depression, sadness, etc. We don’t truly appreciate how much that kind of situation indirectly threatens our sobriety just as much, but in a much more subtle way. For those kind of situations, I ask myself these 3 simple questions in order:
Does it (the event, place, or emotion) get me closer to sobriety or closer to relapse?
What part of His will is in it (the event, place, or emotion)? and
Do I need it (the event, place, or emotion) in my life more than I need my Higher Power?
When I force myself to answer those 3 questions and stay rigorously honest, I get immediate answers and am forced out of my mind and back into reality.
Remember, oftentimes the threat is not open and conspicious; a lot of times, the disease is like a sniper, dressed in camoflauge, sitting there, patient, cunning, baffling, and powerful. It will wait for days weeks months or years. Waiting for me to take off my helmet and body armor, stupidly thinking that everything is fine now, there is no disease/sniper out there. And that is unfortunately when they put the crosshairs between my eyes and fire the fatal bullet that kills my sobriety, screws up my brain, and jerks me from the Road of Happy Destiny and drags me down into the ditch.
Hopefully, this little technique will allow you to stay sober, just for today. See you down the Road!
Dennis D.
Youngstown, OH
New Quotes Submitted to the Clean And Sober Not Dead
The refund I get for “over-praying” is Serenity!
Looking for a relationship in the rooms is like shopping for a car in the junkyard…
Thanks Mat C. of Raleigh N.C. for the email and quotes
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