Posted by Marie1 on July 27, 2001, at 8:11:58
In reply to Re: Strange bunch, I think not ..., posted by AKC on July 26, 2001, at 14:35:39
AKC,
Mind sharing some of your thoughts on AA? My shrink has been nudging me to go because I've recently stopped drinking (~6 weeks or so). Most of my friends (and husband) are veritable fish, and he thinks I need to cultivate a peer group of non-drinkers. But I don't feel comfortable about going to AA. For one thing - will I have to say I'm an alcoholic? Jury's out on that. I don't think I'll fit in either. Why did you keep going?
I don't "crave" alcohol, but I do miss the social life. And I can't go out and not drink.> Let me digress for a moment. I have been in AA for close to three years now. And have never really fit in. And I think it has a lot to do with my mental illness (and with my childhood). Most of those there are just a bunch of drunks who are able to work those 12 steps (and rely on a pretty traditional concept of a higher power). It ain't been working for me.
I have a problem with the "higher power" thing too. How do you get around that?
> Two years ago, when I was so suicidal, I had AA people tell me that I was in the wrong, that I wasn't working my program because I was taking "mood altering" drugs. Obviously, they did not have a clue.My sister, who has attended NA faithfully for about 20 yrs. used to tell me to give up those mind altering drugs I take like PROZAC, until she saw me once in the midst of a major depression. You know- where your speech is abnormally slow, your IQ drops about 50 points, etc. She hasn't suggested I "get clean" since then!!
> I'm not sure of the point I am trying to make. I'm kinda rambling. I guess I am just trying to emphasize that we are all in this together - that this board is very important to me. Am I addicted to it? I don't think so - it is helping me, not harming me.
It's very clear to me why I post to and read this board - there's no one else in my life (except maybe my shrink) who really knows what it's like to have a mental illness. I know someone here can relate to anything that I post. Like Kid A said- it helps to sleep at night.
Marie
poster:Marie1
thread:8045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010726/msgs/8107.html