Death without Dying

[Eilonnwy]

Padraic, you say you are a recovering alcoholic...are you in AA?

Yes,although I rarely go to to meetings these days.

AA helped me a lot ,especially for the first year. I will go whenever I get ratty. (REALLY thirsty)

So far so good. I've been sober 7 years,2 months and 2 weeks exactly.

I recommend AA to any suffering alcoholic.My home group is about 40% atheist. (around 40-50 members,it varies). There are a lot more atheist in AA than most people are aware and AA will admit.At least here in Australia, which is a lot less rabidly religious than the US.

AA did not get me sober,nor did any higher power. I got me sober,by first wanting to stop,for my own sake,then by seeking and accepting help from a range of sources. I quite a 70 day smoking addiction the same way 6 months later.I had my last cigarette 14 Jan 2003.


I boast about this because it's one of the few things in my life about which think I have the right to feel proud. AND to show it can be done.

That's awesome, and something to be very proud of. I'm curious how AA works in Australia.

Here, it's way too religious. :/ People often tell me to go to Al-anon, which is a group for people living with alcoholics, but I never wanted to go because of it's basis in religion. AA is why my mother is sober, and she's been sober since 2002.

I think AA is great for people who need it, I just don't like some of the ideas it preaches, such as alcoholism being a disease and AA being the only road to recovery. My sister used to be in AA then she realized she didn't have a problem, she just had a bad time in her life, now she drinks but she doesn't have any problems with alcohol.

I've never had any issues with alcohol despite having two alcoholic parents. Unfortunately my father has tried AA and it repeatedly fails him, but he's convinced himself it's a disease and won't seek out alternate help. It's frustrating, especially since his brother, my uncle, just died from liver failure related to alcoholism.