Meetings - which to choose and what to expect

[Yourfutureselfwillthankyou]

I have come to the realisation that I have to stop drinking. I can’t (don’t want to) moderate. I have no off switch. I have drank a bottle of wine every night for the last four nights. I watched my mum die from liver failure. I have to stop drinking - the alternative ending is unthinkable.

ive tried reading quit lit and podcasts and neither really work for me. I might give hypnotherapy a go - I’m interested to hear of positive experiences. But my mind keeps taking me to AA meetings as potentially the source of clarity and strength I probably need. I say this having absolutely no knowledge or experience of how they work.

im really worried though about choosing a group. I’m worried about bumping into someone I know, especially if I’m unsuccessful. Or im worried that if I choose a group in another area of my city (or even if I choose a group near to home I suppose) that I’ll seem a bit of a fraud (is my drinking really that bad?) and / or I will find the other people in the group and their experiences terrifying.

and this constant merry go round of what ifs prevents me from me from taking a decisive step…. Can anyone help me with what to expect? Is it better to go close to home? I’m lucky in that there are loads to choose from, although I do find the different names of them confusing - I assume they are all basically the same?

Would you try an online group? I don’t personally do AA (just not for me), but I have been to meetings. I found the ritual of it all quite confusing tbh. This was before online groups even existed I think, as was back in the pre-zoom dark ages. 😂 But if you go online, you don’t even have to actively participate. You can just sit and listen to start and may just be a way to stick you toe in.

There are also other options besides AA. I really recommend Bee Sober (which have online groups every day). But without the ritual of it all.

Beyond that, really just go. It’s so much scarier before you do it and once you do it, you realise it’s no big deal. I wouldn’t go out of your way to go somewhere out of area. If anyone you know is there, if anything that’s a bonus, then you immediately have someone to connect with in real life. No one will judge. They’d be thrilled to see a familiar face.

Ive just had a look at Bee Sober and I’d be interested but unfortunately no groups in my area. Not keen on online really because I very rarely get the opportunity to be home alone, uninterrupted.

perhaps I’ll look a bit more into AA though - didn’t know anything about rituals!

I'm not sure what a PP means by rituals tbh, but I can't recommend going to a meeting enough.

Seriously life changing and I'm so grateful for them.

Just pick one and give it a go.