How many 12-steppers/clean here?

[Jel]

Purely out of interest, and obviously some who are won't be keen to say so, but I'm just wondering how many people here are either in a program, or have managed to get & stay clean and/or sober?

While I don't exactly advertise it (aside from this thread), I'm very open about being in AA and indeed it's actually led to some approaches on facebook where I've been able to maybe 'help' other alcoholics, so while anonymity at the level etc is suggested, I guess I kinda don't take that particular tradition too well. Anyway, at the risk of offending people on both sides of the addiction 'fence', there it is. Anyone else?

[Vapid - BANNED FOR LIFE]

I like eau.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Jel

Purely out of interest, and obviously some who are won't be keen to say so, but I'm just wondering how many people here are either in a program, or have managed to get & stay clean and/or sober?

While I don't exactly advertise it (aside from this thread), I'm very open about being in AA and indeed it's actually led to some approaches on facebook where I've been able to maybe 'help' other alcoholics, so while anonymity at the level etc is suggested, I guess I kinda don't take that particular tradition too well. Anyway, at the risk of offending people on both sides of the addiction 'fence', there it is. Anyone else?

23 years NA

[OldJeff]

No 12 step, but 16 years for me

[anexsia]

Well I'm not an alcholic...I had a heroin problem and would go to AA meetings around here because the NA meetings always sucked...but I stopped going because eventually I guess I just outgrew my addiction and stayed away from friends who were using.

There's some good AA/NA meetings with some great people...but a lot of meetings can really suck too and some meetings had people relapsing every other day and so it becomes a joke.

[Joshua G]

i had a HUGE objection to the 3rd step, turning over your life to the will of a higher power. That alone kept me from even considering any meetings for 5 years.

But things got so bad that i decided to give it a try. i went to meetings, but it didnt work, because i did not really try their suggestions to stay clean. I kept my user friends in my life, kept the secret of my using from my family, & did not try to connect with people at the meetings. so as soon as something went south, i went back to using.

As this year began, i decided to make every effort i can to stop using. i have followed all the suggestions, got a lot of phone #s, called them, have gone to every meeting, got rid of my user friends, changed my number, told my family about my using.

I am 36 days clean after being totally unable to go 2 hours without another hit. Its all because i have new friends, who have been through the withdrawals & burning desires & provide support when i need it, & believe me i need it. I am grateful for this program because i have found it impossible to stop by myself. i simply have no willpower without the support of other recovering addicts.

i found the higher power objections were a mirage. the spiritual side of the program is not religious dogma. it allows one to develop their own views about our spiritual nature. i still have issues with steps 2 & 3, but hope to work through them in time.

great program, & if anyone is using & feels hopeless about stopping, i suggest you give it a try. it works if you work it & die if you dont.

[anexsia]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

i had a HUGE objection to the 3rd step, turning over your life to the will of a higher power. That alone kept me from even considering any meetings for 5 years.

But things got so bad that i decided to give it a try. i went to meetings, but it didnt work, because i did not really try their suggestions to stay clean. I kept my user friends in my life, kept the secret of my using from my family, & did not try to connect with people at the meetings. so as soon as something went south, i went back to using.

As this year began, i decided to make every effort i can to stop using. i have followed all the suggestions, got a lot of phone #s, called them, have gone to every meeting, got rid of my user friends, changed my number, told my family about my using.

I am 36 days clean after being totally unable to go 2 hours without another hit. Its all because i have new friends, who have been through the withdrawals & burning desires & provide support when i need it, & believe me i need it. I am grateful for this program because i have found it impossible to stop by myself. i simply have no willpower without the support of other recovering addicts.

i found the higher power objections were a mirage. the spiritual side of the program is not religious dogma. it allows one to develop their own views about our spiritual nature. i still have issues with steps 2 & 3, but hope to work through them in time.

great program, & if anyone is using & feels hopeless about stopping, i suggest you give it a try. it works if you work it & die if you dont.

Good to hear you're 36 days clean man!

[Phoenix]

What kind of hit were you after josh

[Joshua G]

Originally Posted by anexsia

Good to hear you're 36 days clean man!

thanks! & i hear ya about some meetings sucking. not all recovering addicts are really trying. gotta seek out meetings with people that are really working the program.

Originally Posted by Phoenix

What kind of hit were you after josh

I am a champion stoner. & it will kill me soon if i keep using. My spirit & my website has suffered enough.

[Forest]

3690 days NA

[Forest]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

i had a HUGE objection to the 3rd step, turning over your life to the will of a higher power. That alone kept me from even considering any meetings for 5 years.

But things got so bad that i decided to give it a try. i went to meetings, but it didnt work, because i did not really try their suggestions to stay clean. I kept my user friends in my life, kept the secret of my using from my family, & did not try to connect with people at the meetings. so as soon as something went south, i went back to using.

As this year began, i decided to make every effort i can to stop using. i have followed all the suggestions, got a lot of phone #s, called them, have gone to every meeting, got rid of my user friends, changed my number, told my family about my using.

I am 36 days clean after being totally unable to go 2 hours without another hit. Its all because i have new friends, who have been through the withdrawals & burning desires & provide support when i need it, & believe me i need it. I am grateful for this program because i have found it impossible to stop by myself. i simply have no willpower without the support of other recovering addicts.

i found the higher power objections were a mirage. the spiritual side of the program is not religious dogma. it allows one to develop their own views about our spiritual nature. i still have issues with steps 2 & 3, but hope to work through them in time.

great program, & if anyone is using & feels hopeless about stopping, i suggest you give it a try. it works if you work it & die if you dont.

i struggled with this for a long time as well. I made the meetings my higher power for a long time. I knew they could help me stay clean.

Higher power does not have to be "god" related IMHO

[Forest]

FYI for you guys in recovery check out this website

www.intherooms.com

largest social network for people in all forms of 12 step. Owner is my grand sponsor

[Rochard]

I'm not a 12 stepper or anything, but I quit drinking about four years ago. I was the one who used to carry a Jager machine to shows. I quit after a trip to Vegas for Xbiz. I had a few beers out at the pool that first night and was dehydrated for the rest of my trip. It was horrible.

Since then I haven't had a drop to drink and I'm okay with it.

I also quit smoking too.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I'm not a 12 stepper or anything, but I quit drinking about four years ago. I was the one who used to carry a Jager machine to shows. I quit after a trip to Vegas for Xbiz. I had a few beers out at the pool that first night and was dehydrated for the rest of my trip. It was horrible.

Since then I haven't had a drop to drink and I'm okay with it.

I also quit smoking too.

good deal

[CaptainHowdy]

[Jel]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

i had a HUGE objection to the 3rd step, turning over your life to the will of a higher power. That alone kept me from even considering any meetings for 5 years.

But things got so bad that i decided to give it a try. i went to meetings, but it didnt work, because i did not really try their suggestions to stay clean. I kept my user friends in my life, kept the secret of my using from my family, & did not try to connect with people at the meetings. so as soon as something went south, i went back to using.

As this year began, i decided to make every effort i can to stop using. i have followed all the suggestions, got a lot of phone #s, called them, have gone to every meeting, got rid of my user friends, changed my number, told my family about my using.

I am 36 days clean after being totally unable to go 2 hours without another hit. Its all because i have new friends, who have been through the withdrawals & burning desires & provide support when i need it, & believe me i need it. I am grateful for this program because i have found it impossible to stop by myself. i simply have no willpower without the support of other recovering addicts.

i found the higher power objections were a mirage. the spiritual side of the program is not religious dogma. it allows one to develop their own views about our spiritual nature. i still have issues with steps 2 & 3, but hope to work through them in time.

great program, & if anyone is using & feels hopeless about stopping, i suggest you give it a try. it works if you work it & die if you dont.

Some nice amounts of time here, huge well done/kudos

Yeah step 3 I struggled with big time, for years my (ok one of them) mantra has been 'to see results you must take action', so all this handing over blah blah just went totally against my belief system. I kinda got around that by taking the view that 'what will be will be as long as I continue to take action to see results, and that in itself is the action of handing shit over'. Rightly or wrongly, it enabled me to get through that particular step.

And yeah, the religious connotations - it stopped me from going to my 2nd meeting around 15 years ago - this time I had what they call for want of a better phrase that gift of desperation, and I've obviously realised religion truly has zero to do with the program, and the word god is merely a catch-all phrase for whatever higher power you believe in, whether that's mother nature, fate, karma, the force, or a religious god if people are that way inclined.

Huge well done on your 36 (37/38 now?) days clean, it's my own personal belief that a month or so is about the length of time to develop a new habit, so you're on the right track for sure (even if my habit forming belief is a pile of shit lol). Keep it up mate, it turns into a totally different thing that the daily gripping-the-seat-trying-not-to-succumb experience I *thought* it was always going to be for me back when I started out with sobriety.

[rhon23]

no AA for me but I am just over 26 years. A lot of that has to do with medical reasons but it kept me clean

[Joshua G]

Originally Posted by Jel

Some nice amounts of time here, huge well done/kudos

thanks man. i dont focus on days, just get through today & build on my new friends & goals. i am halfway to knowing photoshop like a pro, last year didnt know shit, never even tried. crazy i am a webmaster but never bothered to learn how to be one. Hoping i keep things up & finally build my marketing network. I got some good ideas waiting to get done.

[Joshua G]

Originally Posted by Forest

i struggled with this for a long time as well. I made the meetings my higher power for a long time. I knew they could help me stay clean.

Higher power does not have to be "god" related IMHO

yeah i just wish there was more clarity on the website regarding the definition of God. Since they chose that word, i tuned out from even considering NA until i was thinking about fading to black.

good work on your time.

Originally Posted by Rochard

I'm not a 12 stepper or anything, but I quit drinking about four years ago. I was the one who used to carry a Jager machine to shows. I quit after a trip to Vegas for Xbiz. I had a few beers out at the pool that first night and was dehydrated for the rest of my trip. It was horrible.

Since then I haven't had a drop to drink and I'm okay with it.

I also quit smoking too.

everyone has a heyday, when using was amazing, your friends were in it, all seemed right with the world. then the party ends but you can't let go. i still struggle with memories of college, hearing songs, or thinking about old friends. makes me want to get high.

[Jel]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

thanks man. i dont focus on days, just get through today & build on my new friends & goals.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by Forest

3690 days NA

my book ain't big, it's basic

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

i had a HUGE objection to the 3rd step, turning over your life to the will of a higher power. That alone kept me from even considering any meetings for 5 years.

maybe you're a dumb ass? ... hey it could happen?

[LeRoy]

Tried AA for a few years. Met some good friends there too

Stayed sober longer than than the councilors trying to help me lol

That was 25 years ago.... No regrets

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

I am a champion stoner. & it will kill me soon if i keep using. My spirit & my website has suffered enough.

And yet here are plenty of pot junkies claiming its not addictive and/or not harmful.
Thanks for exposing them and good luck staying away from that shit

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

And yet here are plenty of pot junkies claiming its not addictive and/or not harmful.
Thanks for exposing them and good luck staying away from that shit

give me a fucking break, you take someone who has a "disease" according to professionals and project their problem onto everybody else?

fuck you.

[rebel.latte]

Originally Posted by CaptainHowdy

lol thats mean.

[_Richard_]

Originally Posted by JoshGirls Josh

thanks! & i hear ya about some meetings sucking. not all recovering addicts are really trying. gotta seek out meetings with people that are really working the program.



I am a champion stoner. & it will kill me soon if i keep using. My spirit & my website has suffered enough.

what is a champion stoner?

i swear you're referring to weed, but you're using phrases like 'user friends'

[Minte]

Am I ever out of the loop...I read the thread title and immediately thought why are GFYer's talking about dancing?

[Joshua G]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

And yet here are plenty of pot junkies claiming its not addictive and/or not harmful.
Thanks for exposing them and good luck staying away from that shit

Originally Posted by dyna mo

give me a fucking break, you take someone who has a "disease" according to professionals and project their problem onto everybody else?

fuck you.

both of you are right. there are clueless stoners who act like its not addictive & its harmless. They just have their heads stuck in the sand. Its amazing some of the dumb things that come out of my friends mouths (& mine)

But not everyone is addicted, as i've had numerous friends who stopped when they wanted, friends who keep up jobs & families & use just a little at the end of the day. I was a degenerate, i outsmoked all my friends except for 1.

Originally Posted by _Richard_

what is a champion stoner?

i swear you're referring to weed, but you're using phrases like 'user friends'

user friends...stoner friends. 2 of my buddies did lines & god knows what else. i dont want to know. I love the bake.

[LeRoy]

Originally Posted by Minte

Am I ever out of the loop...I read the thread title and immediately thought why are GFYer's talking about dancing?

12 steps have been around for many years.

http://www.aa.org/aatimeline/

[WarChild]

The success rate of 12 step programs is no different than going at it alone. It's all about the same from a statistical point of view.

That being said, whatever works for you.

[onwebcam]

AA is for quiters.

[mineistaken]

By the way, are AA people really not able to be occasional drinkers? Like 1 or 3 times a month? It looks like its either no drinking for years or drinking non stop. Can AA people be turned into "normal" people who could have occasional drink?

[Tjeezers]

Some real good pointers made here, compliments to those who have decided to change life and get full in it again. Stoners are always saying it is not a hard drug, but if your will power is weak, everything that taste good is a drug in time.

keep on doing the good thing! Compliments for those who went sober, so much more new things for them to explore.

[Sarah_Jayne]

You are all inspiring.

[epitome]

Almost 11 years. No meetings though. I did do outpatient rehab that borrowed elements from the anonymous groups but not really. Can't explain it.

[epitome]

Originally Posted by Minte

Am I ever out of the loop...I read the thread title and immediately thought why are GFYer's talking about dancing?

Not two steppers, although many don't get past the second step.

I only know the first. Let me check google...

Ah, it's recognizing a higher power that can give strength... see I would have never made it past the second. Glad I didn't do that.