First things first, these guys drink like fucking pussies.
Think about it like this guys, for most of us who have a problem there is nothing anyone can really say or do that will make us stop.....like my whoodi TI said you gotta want it.
If anyone pressures you to talk in a meeting, get in their ear afterwards and tell them your new to this and you are not comfortable speaking on anything yet. Chances are that will lead to a conversation and before you know it you will get familiar with people and feel more comfortable. When they call on you all you have to say is, "No thanks, tonight I just came to listen." That should end it, if it doesn't say something because anyone pressuring a new comer is not working it right. I would also suggest that you talk to someone who has some time and you relate to.
Remember that AA isn't just meetings, those steps really help to get right. It took me 3 fucking years to get the balls to get a real sponsor and do the steps, that shit helped me to heal a lot of bad shit.
You dont need AA to get right, look at what POZ is saying....as time passes he is starting to understand himself and his problems. You don't need meetings to understand that, but it helps when you don't think you can do it on your own.
Look for the similarities not the differences. I was a drug addicted thieving scum fuck alcoholic graf writer, but when a drunken housewife says she would get trashed and chose alcohol over her own family....I can relate. 99% of us who are alcoholics/addicts manifest the same behaviors when we are using, thats the reason we can relate to people if we try to.
Props to all you guys just starting off, I took my last drink almost 5 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. It was the hardest thing until I realized it was the best thing and then it got easy.
Month and a half shy of 2 years CLEAN and sober....I wish I had stopped using drugs when I stopped drinking but I thought I knew it all and I could do things my way. I didn't and I couldn't....
Good to see the thread popping off a bit. Too bad I can't ever log in this motherfucker.....
If anyone ever needs any 411 on how the AA thing goes, get at me.
Keep it up fellas, its a hell of a lot easier then the alternative.