I made a fool of myself at AA

[bumblybumblingbee]

Just that really. I sort of got told off at the end of the meeting for speaking out of turn at one point. I thought the sharing had finished and asked a question about what page in the book it was from.
The second thing was that I referred to what someone else had said when I was sharing, e.g "I totally understand what X said". At the end of the meeting, the man in charge spoke to me about these rule violations it in front of the others.
I've only been a couple of times, but I feel so silly. I knew as soon as I asked the question that I'd mistimed it's and the sharing hadn't finished.
I had shared my situation, and felt like I'd laid myself bare, and so then when I was picked up on this at the end I felt humiliated.

Has anyone done anything similar? Please be kind - I already feel on the edge!

Bless you. The rules of AA are quite strict (for respect of others etc)

Try and brush it off, it's part of the building of resilience.

Maybe try another meeting too, have you got a sponsor? Someone that can take you through the steps and protocol of AA?

More importantly, well done, sobriety is worth the rocky road to recovery. Be proud.

It does sound incredibly harsh on you OP at a time when you are being incredibly brave

Its usual to feel very raw when sharing, or having a sense that you've over-shared and can't retract/feel humiliated. Try to sit with it and look at it from another perspective, that every one there is feeling this is very tough going.

From the pp is does sound like its a bit of a regime, so congratulate yourself for getting there and staying with it but also get some solid support from the outside and it also sounds as if it could be counterproductive if its not managed well.

I'm sure your resilience to it will grow as you start to feel more familiar with it.

I have huge respect for you acknowledging as you have and stepping up .

Don't go back to that group. I know someone who works in AA as an 'ex'alchoholic and still is one of the meanest creatures I have ever me but 'it's ok, he has done his steps and apologised'. Just because a person strives to get off the drink does not make them qualified or right to talk to others. Nobody should make you feel small for such a big step and certainly any leader should not. Wrong group and do try again somewhere else.

Bumbly, you won't be the first one to make a faux pas and you're not likely to do it again so please try to set your embarrassment aside. I know how you feel, most of us have said the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong place in many situations but life goes on.

Good on you for going to AA.

loseyourself,
Yes I totally agree with you and I find it shocking what OP went through and from my experience of AA this is not acceptable .

That sounds horrible for you and I'm sorry it happened. I bet a lot of people think it was uncalled for but the true Brit way is to just think it, isn't it. I'm also sure your share will be what you're remembered for, not being told off because you're new to the group and how it works. Nobody was born knowing, not even the person who told you publicly what you need to do next time.
I'm sure when you go back again you'll realise nobody remembers and they're pleased you're back.

Well done for stopping by the way. Best of luck in your journey
My husband gave up years ago and I'm so thankful he did. It's really worth it.

Thank you all for your replies, it was just what I needed this morning. I'm feeling slightly better now, and realise this is perhaps part of the journey.

@AnyMinuteNow yes, that's exactly how I feel. I would like every word I shared back - I feel raw and exposed and ridiculous. Hopefully this feeling will pass too!

That’s awful and not what AA is about. Go to a different meeting. You do not deserve to be humiliated when you are so vulnerable and putting yourself out there. What a prick.