Please help me. I'm an alcoholic

[Marryoneorbecomeone]

Just that really.

I know I have a problem, I'm behaving very badly, and I need to stop.

I drink because I'm bored and lonely in the evenings when the kids are in bed. My marriage is stale but he's a good man and I'm letting him down.

Do I just turn up at an AA meeting?

Just popping in to say, am still sober!

Life has improved immeasurably since I posted this first post, and I'm very regular to AA.

Thankyou for your support, I wouldn't have got started without you.

Marry how totally lovely to hear from you! And how completely well done staying sober, so glad your life is transformed.

I am still on weekends only, still losing the weight. Have started Couch25K and am loving running for the first time in my life. It's amazing what you can do when you choose to make the change.

Long may it continue.

Marry you are amazing. Well done. One day at a time and it really does get easier. I have so much to be thankful for these days but I always get that extra glow when I hear that someone is getting some peace and recovery in their life. And enjoying life not enduring it.

Great update! Lovely to see. Well done op

8 months completely sober. Not a drop.

AA has been life changing, but I wouldn't have gone without this thread.

I'm ok, sobriety is waaaay better than where I was, but I'm still working my way through. I've also realised that putting a lid on one addiction can blow the top of another!

But overall, life is good. Thankyou Mumsnet peeps.

Hi Marry - how lovely to hear from you and you've done and are doing so well!!! Seriously - when I was first in AA I had relapse after relapse and would listen to all the stories about "not a drop since my first meeting" and feel an abject failure - as they say, all stories are different, look for the similarities etc.

Funnily enough, after a recent meeting I was talking to a few other people and they were suggesting setting up a meeting for "users" - when alcohol isn't an issue any more but something else is (often food, shopping, sex etc - I think that mine is control in general ...) so I really relate to what you say about cross addiction - very common indeed.

I've often thought of you and am so happy for you.

You are amazing!

Well done Marry, I haven't read your thread before but it caught my eye today as I know I need to stop drinking myself. I did attend AA a few times last year but stopped, I need to go back.

Thanks to all the other posters who have shared their experiences too, it has given me a lot of food for thought.

Yay for you! I've been in AA a couple of years now and you're right - it is life changing.

"Keep coming back!"

Fantastic-well done!

Well done Marry. You're amazing

One year since my last drink.

I never, ever thought I'd write that. My skin is clearer, my hair is nicer, I'm calmer, happier, have more energy, my marriage is much improved, life is much much better.

That's all really.

Congratulations

Does AA work if you are agnostic/atheist? I haven't read full thread but have seen multiple refs to readings/finding solace in god.

Yes absolutely. It's explained as something like "God as you understand the word to mean" which I guess can be any sort of spiritual thing.

It works because of the sponsorship and fellowship. "It works if you work it."

Good woman yerself

Well done, I'm so pleased to hear you are doing so well. I started reading the the thread and was shocked to see an earlier post from me. I didn't realise it was my post at first and found myself amazed that someone had the same experience as me. Then I clocked the date and my name. . Well done again.

That is brilliant! Well done! I'm at the beginning of the journey so it was great to see your post tonight...

I'm on here too under different name! Have just got my three years sober 😁

And fantastic news marry 😘

Thats all really Understated but brilliant Marry. ODAAT.

DP 7 years sober. AA 'A God of your understanding' the collective power of the fellowship.

So happy for you. It does work

Just read this whole thread, I was really routing for you as I read it and I'm so happy to read that you're still sober.
Really well done, such a positive thread!

Thankyou! My husband has bought me a lovely new teapot to celebrate!

A year sober has changed me. I've had to sit with the things that made me drink but the demons are absolutely smaller.

Thankyou for all your lovely messages. I wouldn't have gone to AA without the encouragement.

Hepzibar that's great news about your DP. He will have worked so hard on himself to have stayed sober all this time. Good for him, and you.

What an achievement Marryone. Good for you

Fantastic news