Katie, this statement is so simple yet powerful and cuts to the heart of something that is so often missed when we talk about recovery: "My addiction was to alcohol, and as long as I am sober from alcohol, I consider myself sober." I'm a recovering prescription opiate addict and pills are the only substance I ever had trouble with. I've been clean for over 10 years but never really felt right in the rooms since I'm not 100 percent abstinent from "all mind- and mood-altering substances." All of this to say, thanks for putting words to something I've thought about for a long time. That one simple statement has set me free. <3
Great chat with Jowita - I loved Drunk Mom and am about to start Unshaming.
Stellar as always! I'll repeat what was said above: the really riveting statement was yours... "That’s when the culture of the meeting really starts to matter "
I really appreciate what AA did and is doing for me, but damn, I just don't have clear-thinking patience for some meetings!
Thank you for this great interview. The conversation about AA was especially intriguing for me. Let's just say, I have a "complicated" relationship with AA, but the people I met there helped me to get sober and stay sober. I'm particularly grateful for the women who have become very special friends:) I haven't read JB's books, but I'd like to!
Oh how I love this interview! What grabbed me is, "...that's when the culture of the meetings starts to matter". I've seen militant, over the top judging push people out of the rooms. I look back on my early recovery and I'm a little embarrassed about my own judging. I like to think as I stayed clean, worked steps, grew, and evolved that I stopped with all the "shoulds". Love and support or shut up lol I watched a small group of women who judged EVERYONE who put ANYTHING in their body besides that bad coffee. SSRI's were verboten. C'mon?!?!?!? Then one of them lost a son to addiction. A son she convinced not to take anti-depressants. Who's to say... I've sponsored women who use medical marijuana. So be it. I have seriously thought about starting a meeting for people on suboxone because it's shamed in my area. People are asked not to share if they use suboxone. Human nature just makes me laugh. It's like, "I was down there, then I lifted myself up a bit, now I'm better than you, shame on you...".
I am now alcohol sober facilitated with meds and never went to a formal support group. But at least from my perspective, AA seems to appeal to and help a very small proportion of people, yet it is viewed as the go to option for everyone. I think that perception gives it more credit than it deserves. I just don't see concluding that you are powerless and that God is in charge as very constructive.
Katie, this statement is so simple yet powerful and cuts to the heart of something that is so often missed when we talk about recovery: "My addiction was to alcohol, and as long as I am sober from alcohol, I consider myself sober." I'm a recovering prescription opiate addict and pills are the only substance I ever had trouble with. I've been clean for over 10 years but never really felt right in the rooms since I'm not 100 percent abstinent from "all mind- and mood-altering substances." All of this to say, thanks for putting words to something I've thought about for a long time. That one simple statement has set me free. <3
Great chat with Jowita - I loved Drunk Mom and am about to start Unshaming.
Excellent conversation. There needs to be so much more openness about the shame issue.
Stellar as always! I'll repeat what was said above: the really riveting statement was yours... "That’s when the culture of the meeting really starts to matter "
I really appreciate what AA did and is doing for me, but damn, I just don't have clear-thinking patience for some meetings!
Thank you for this great interview. The conversation about AA was especially intriguing for me. Let's just say, I have a "complicated" relationship with AA, but the people I met there helped me to get sober and stay sober. I'm particularly grateful for the women who have become very special friends:) I haven't read JB's books, but I'd like to!
She’s a brilliant writer!
I want to read her books and yours too one day!
Oh how I love this interview! What grabbed me is, "...that's when the culture of the meetings starts to matter". I've seen militant, over the top judging push people out of the rooms. I look back on my early recovery and I'm a little embarrassed about my own judging. I like to think as I stayed clean, worked steps, grew, and evolved that I stopped with all the "shoulds". Love and support or shut up lol I watched a small group of women who judged EVERYONE who put ANYTHING in their body besides that bad coffee. SSRI's were verboten. C'mon?!?!?!? Then one of them lost a son to addiction. A son she convinced not to take anti-depressants. Who's to say... I've sponsored women who use medical marijuana. So be it. I have seriously thought about starting a meeting for people on suboxone because it's shamed in my area. People are asked not to share if they use suboxone. Human nature just makes me laugh. It's like, "I was down there, then I lifted myself up a bit, now I'm better than you, shame on you...".
I am now alcohol sober facilitated with meds and never went to a formal support group. But at least from my perspective, AA seems to appeal to and help a very small proportion of people, yet it is viewed as the go to option for everyone. I think that perception gives it more credit than it deserves. I just don't see concluding that you are powerless and that God is in charge as very constructive.