| I quit drinking, now what am I going to do? This | | | | also on-line and phone meetings, chat rooms and |
| may be the question plaguing you if you have | | | | other such places where you can hang out with |
| recently decided to conquer your alcoholism and | | | | others who do not drink. AA meeting places are |
| follow the path of recovery. There is a popular | | | | usually a small building in your town, with a couple |
| saying in and around Alcoholics Anonymous and | | | | of rooms that actually looks a lot like a bar. A lot |
| Narcotics Anonymous, “The only thing you | | | | of them have pool tables, and other games, along |
| need to change is everything”. There are | | | | with people who just want to hangout with their |
| many programs designed to help you to quit | | | | new sober friends without being bothered by |
| drinking. Some of them work and some do not, | | | | those old friends who may tempt you to relapse. |
| but regardless of how you got sober to begin | | | | Sobriety is very important, without it, you would |
| with, the big question now is how do you live a | | | | not have anything else. It is said that, “if you |
| sober life, continue to stay sober, and not die of | | | | are spiritually fit then you can go anywhere”, |
| boredom? | | | | in other words, an alcoholic can be in a bar all night |
| A very popular and well-known method of | | | | long with out it having any effect on them |
| alcoholism treatment is Alcoholics Anonymous. | | | | whatsoever, if they are spiritually fit (without |
| Judges, parole officers, and therapists often send | | | | worries or resentments). This is a slippery slope, it |
| people who they believe are alcoholics to AA | | | | is recommended that alcoholics, especially if they |
| meetings. AA is a 12-step program that bases its | | | | are new to sobriety, should stay away from |
| foundation on the fact that you will have some | | | | “wet places and wet faces”; that is |
| sort of spiritual experience and turn you life and | | | | people who they drank with or places where they |
| your will over to the care of God, as you | | | | used to drink. They will most likely need to make |
| understand him. The authors of the Big Book of | | | | a completely new set of friends, those who do |
| Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. and Dr. Bob worded | | | | not drink. It is just too tempting to pick up a beer |
| this very carefully and deliberately. They did not | | | | when everyone else at the table is drinking beer. |
| want people who do not believe in God to have | | | | Why put yourself through all that temptation? If |
| an excuse not to go to AA meetings. The | | | | your friends are truly friends, they will want you |
| program however, is in fact a very spiritual one. | | | | to succeed in your recovery. If your friends are |
| A huge part of Alcoholics Anonymous is attending | | | | in fact your friends in the true sense of the word, |
| meetings every day, it does not specify this in | | | | they will not drink around you; they will find other |
| the “Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous”, | | | | ways to spend time with you in a safe |
| but; as you begin going to meetings it will be | | | | atmosphere without drinking. |
| recommended that you attend at least one | | | | Keep in mind that what you thought was fun |
| meeting daily, especially for your first 90 days of | | | | while you were still drinking will not be the same |
| sobriety. That is correct, every single day, two or | | | | when you are sober. You probably thought you |
| three times a day, if you feel the need to be in | | | | were the life of the party; you will notice the |
| and around the fellowship of Alcoholics | | | | longer and longer you are sober that you will hear |
| Anonymous more often to stay sober. | | | | ridiculous stories about yourself, most of them |
| For those “in the program” AA becomes | | | | embarrassing and/or dangerous. Remember, there |
| a lifestyle, there are also meetings for the | | | | is strength in numbers; the more sober people |
| spouses and significant others of the alcoholic, the | | | | you socialize with and keep around you, the safer |
| children of the alcoholics, and so on. Many AA | | | | you will be from relapse. Do not let the worry of |
| meeting places arrange dances, picnics, | | | | “what will I do?” block you from the road |
| motorcycle rallies and other social events quite | | | | to recovery. It is a long and bumpy ride, but once |
| often. AA and NA have a worldwide fellowship, | | | | you have reached sobriety, your chance at |
| with meeting places in just about every city in the | | | | serenity is not far behind. Good luck on your |
| U.S. If you cannot get to a meeting, there are | | | | journey of recovery. |