http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Staying Cyber Forums : Last 10 Posts Thu, 17 May 2012 10:32:41 +0000 Thu, 17 May 2012 10:01:14 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.08 30 www.stayingcyber.org/forum/RSS_topic_feed.asp http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_images/sclogo3.gif http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/ http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187256#187256 Author: Mamadukes
Subject: May 13-19, 2012. Finding your own way.
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 10:01am

Hi Annie, my name is Laura and I too am Alcoholic. When I ready your post it took me back. When alcohol really took a hold on me I had a wonderful husband and two small children. There were no "life circumstances" that would make say I can't take it I need a drink. My life was good. I was not....in more ways than one. I was depressed, angry, lonely. I was a kinder-kicker soccor coach, junior achievement in my kids classes, did field trips, Brownie Leader and 90% of the time I was under the influence. I hid it well for a while, a couple years even, but even the best of alcoholics can not pull it off forever. Cunning, baffling, powerful...progressive, chronic. The end of the story is alcohol had such a powerful hold on me I chose it over everything. My safety and others, jobs, homes, family, the law, my health. I justified my behavior by convincing myself I was not worthy of such an incredible family and life and although it will hard for all in the beginning, in the end they will be spared my insanity. This may have been a good plan if I left and never looked back but I kept cycling through sobriety, dry periods, blackouts, being “just normal” to depression…..total insanity…and I took everyone that existed in my world on the terrifying ride. I went back out in 2004 and hit it hard until 2/28/12. I now have two incredible grow children and a 10 month grandson, Colton who has never experienced the wrath of my alcoholism. I compared myself to others in the beginning... never had a DUI, never arrested, etc. and compared myself right to bar and bottle. My drinking has taken me places that I felt like the most disgusting, pathetic being on earth. Eventually I lost EVERYTHING, wrecked cars, got DUI's, went to mental institutions, jails.. you name it. I am willing to stand on my head and spit nickles if it keeps me from drinking. Embrace AA. "You will know a new freedom and happiness" beyond your wildest dreams. You deserve it. I like the saying, "Lord I'm not what I could be, and Lord I not what I should be, but thank you God, I'm not what I use to be" Hang in there    :)]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 10:01:14 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187256#187256 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187255#187255 Author: Keith P.
Subject: May 13-19, 2012. Finding your own way.
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 7:51am

..'suffering that wretches the bones..' & '..hope that makes the heart sing'

Before and after my sobriety date right there. I've yet to endure, yet, anything close to the loneliness, emptyness, or remorse I felt the first negative one day sober. I instead have experianced hope, joy and comfort well beyond all that in surpassing the daily crude I've gone through since sober and actively pursuing the steps in the daily affairs.

I went to a face to face AA meeting that night before my sobriety date. The only thing besides cigarettes and a few sleeping pills that night that gave me any kinda hope was prayer. I felt doomed and got hooked up with a sponsor that night at that Friday Big Book AA meeting after further asking of God for guidance as what to do. I really felt doomed thow - except for that hope in God and AA.

Got up through the steps in 6 weeks to step 12 (still making amends) as my sponsor explained to me I was in what's known as a grace period in that I did not have the real obsession to drink, nor any cravings for it as it was out of my system. So one good thing, one bad thing about being in that "Grace Period": good thing was that I was in it, bad thing was that neither he nor I knew when it was going to end so we had to get me through the steps as quickly as possible to ensure the best odds of staying obsession free and with enough sanity to recall the horrors of what I have been going through up to that point with enough umph behind them to allow sobriety.

I just thanked my power greater than myself; my higher power as I understand Him for his awesome deal. This sencond life so-to-speak.. time for bed now. Goodnight fellow alci's and thows who aren't sure.

ps. I stayed in the doctors opinion chapter (or story we can call it) for that 1st week of sobriety.

This allowed me to see just how simple being an alcoholic really can be stated: phenomenon of craving for more alcohol EVER occur once I drank alcohol? "Yes" - well I realized how simple Dr. Silkworth helped allow us to see how easily it is to check weather or not I'm an alcoholic.



Edited by Keith P. - Today at 8:01am]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 07:51:14 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187255#187255 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187254#187254 Author: Bill M.
Subject: May 13-19, 2012. Finding your own way.
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 7:39am

"Finding your own way." For me that started with using what I could at the moment and putting the rest on a shelf, for later use if needed. I think our membership is much more diverse now than at the start. Many of us find AA much earlier in our drinking than those first 100. I am not smart enough to know if everything I see, read or hear is right or not, so I do not know if it is right for me or not. While the "Big Book" is my B.S. sifter, I use time to see if stories/advise hold water or not. I know that my sober experience is different from a lot but similar to a few. With everyone sharing I get to know that I am not alone on my path and yet I still have a personality. Above all I place my hope and strenth in the hands of my higher power. Thanks all for sharing.]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 07:39:30 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187254#187254 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187253#187253 Author: paul mc
Subject: May 13-19, 2012. Finding your own way.
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 5:49am

Gordon i keep it to AA that's not in AA book .that's just how some one see,s something .it's a pit like look what that one is doing .it's not my cup of Tea .

if you ask someone to talk on the first step.thay will talk all about them selfs and not on the first step.

i have been in AA for about 23years and i ham only coming up for 21years sober a day at a time .so have seen a lot did a lot not all good most off the time i need to get it rong to get it right .]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 05:49:26 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187253#187253 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187252#187252 Author: paul mc
Subject: The Coffee Pot
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 5:29am

Good morning all from Bonnie Scotland it's another new day
off work today .but need to go in this morning to pick my new work times for the next some months .thay to that three times a year i just have to work round the times that is there .the times that's there this time round do not like .but that's life just need to pick the best that i can with what's there

Hello sanders 36

Edited by paul mc - Today at 5:31am]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 05:29:23 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187252#187252 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187251#187251 Author: Sanders36
Subject: The Coffee Pot
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 4:58am


Hi all Y'all, I am very a REAL alcolholic, and my name is Sanders. I had a long post both on tonight and last night, but it is flotting around someplace. Hi Cec, hi Ruthey, hi Bill, hi Andrew, hi Chris, hi Steve, hi Norm, hi Yvonne, hi Gabby, hi all Y'all.]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 04:58:29 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187251#187251 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187250#187250 Author: KayM
Subject: May 13-19, 2012. Finding your own way.
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 3:01am

Hi, my name is Kay and I am an alcoholic.
Welcome to Annie, Michelle, and Joy. I have never met the person who ran into AA meeting room and yelled, Thank God I am here. most of us wanted to find an easier, softer way anywhere but in AA.
The basic tools for sobriety, for us, is
1.go to meetings, on-line or face to face as often as you can and keep busy the times you would normally drink.
2. get a sponsor. Listen until you hear someone who makes sense to you
3 get the literature so you can start reading. The Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. They are about 10.00 a piece and are available from everywhere books are sold including most AA meetings
most AA literature is available on line including the pamphlet, Am I an Alcoholic--might want to start there.
4 finally, work the steps. The sponsor will guide you.
    Welcome. Join us, it was work for me and it is a daily effort every day from now on for each of us and I never want to go back to the pain and sickness I lived in with alcohol.]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 03:01:53 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187250#187250 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187249#187249 Author: GordonM357
Subject: May 13-19, 2012. Finding your own way.
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 2:49am

Paul mc I don't quite understand what you mean? This comes from one of the most recognized recovery publications in the US I send these emails out everyday. I only get one meaning I get to decide what applies to me. I will listen to everyone but I will not follow all advise. I use to hear from a guy that had 50 years Herb K. here in Los Angeles, "What keeps you sober might get me drunk."]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 02:49:41 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1943&PID=187249#187249 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187248#187248 Author: Barney H.
Subject: The Coffee Pot
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 1:25am

Gonna head up to my room in a bit with the desk clerk informed to send me a wake-up call at 4:30 AM as I'm going back to work tomorrow.
After spending the last 4 days at the house, today I woke up feeling a bit better in my head emotionally but physically, I felt like shit. I slept half-way decent last night but was lethargic and it was just hard to move my body.
I think my body was on auto-pilot during the initial days of our crisis compensating for my mental anguish and today, mind and body switched roles.
I spent very little time there today as the restorers continue thier inventory and packing and moving everything out of the house. I just couldn't do it.
I thought about going fishing just to escape everything for awhile but I just didn't feel even up to that.

Tomorrow, I'm going back to work and I think it is just what I need to do. Force both mind and body to get it together~~~~together.

I've got about 12-15 cigarettes left so by tomorrow bedtime, the patch will be adhered to my body and one minute at a time, I will not smoke. Them suckers came real close to killing me and I agree, nothing good ever comes from smoking.

Thanks again ((ALL'Y'ALL)) for your thoughts and prayers as I go thru this displaced status in my life.

Have a great Thursday and I'm even gonna try to have one myself.

((NATALIE))


see ya



]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 01:25:19 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187248#187248 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187247#187247 Author: Tim V
Subject: The Coffee Pot
Posted: 17 May 2012 at 12:46am

LOL, I was at least that adorable... not close to that talented. "... but that was yesterday, and yesterday's gone."

Blessings to you all today, especially ((Jan)).

TFHMSST]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 00:46:40 +0000 http://www.stayingcyber.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1176&PID=187247#187247