AA helped me online

[StandardIssue]

I had been having a pretty bad drinking problem. It was suggested that I attend some online meetings of AA on this forum. I used this link to find a couple groups online in Thailand.

I really like the online Zoom meetings. I didn't need to turn on my video and I just listened for the first few times. No need to even leave my condo. Just turn on the computer and use the Zoom video chat app.

 

https://aa-intergroup.org/meetings/

 

I have an AA sponsor and have been doing the AA 12 steps. It appears to be working. I've been sober awhile now.

 

Anybody with a drinking problem who might think they are alcoholic I would urge to check out an AA online meeting.

 

best, SI

[Neeranam]

I don't go to Zoom meetings for a few reasons.

 

Try a real face to face meeting, much better!

[StandardIssue]

2 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I don't go to Zoom meetings for a few reasons.

 

Try a real face to face meeting, much better!

What's the difference? My sponsor showed me in the AA Book that know where does it say you have to go to meetings at all! If somebody wants AA recovery they do have to do all the 12 steps and sponsor people eventually, so at some point they need to go out and find a drunk to help in order to do the 12th step. I will go online to a Zoom meeting and offer my help.

 

My sponsor said in the early days of AA when there were only 3 groups on the entire face of the earth many early AA used to sponsor other alcoholics through the mail.

 

You can't tell me that an alcoholic cannot stay sober and get recovered if they don't go to in person meetings. One is no better than the other. That is only your opinion and opinions do not give recovery ... God does.

[Neeranam]

14 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

What's the difference? My sponsor showed me in the AA Book that know where does it say you have to go to meetings at all! If somebody wants AA recovery they do have to do all the 12 steps and sponsor people eventually, so at some point they need to go out and find a drunk to help in order to do the 12th step. I will go online to a Zoom meeting and offer my help.

 

My sponsor said in the early days of AA when there were only 3 groups on the entire face of the earth many early AA used to sponsor other alcoholics through the mail.

 

Zoom meetings are fine. There is really no difference. My sponsor says a lot of people are misguided and think it's all about meetings and in person meetings will help you stay sober better blah blah blah. He lives in Alaska. He says that is not the case. Doing all the 12 steps is the most important so an alcoholic can get a spiritual awakening, have a relationship with God and get recovered. I go to a few really good literature and solution based Zoom meetings.

 

You can't tell me that an alcoholic cannot stay sober and get recovered if they don't go to in person meetings. One is no better than the other. That is only your opinion and opinions do not give recovery ... God does.

Maybe I am a Luddite, maybe the new way will be through the Metaverse. In my experience, working with other alcoholics is what it is all about.

I agree that meetings are not essential, working with others is, IMHO.

Also, nothing in BB about needing a sponsor.

 

https://anonpress.org/bb/Page_89.htm

 

 

Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.

 

 

Difference is, IMHO, isolating is not good for the average alkie.

[StandardIssue]

42 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Maybe I am a Luddite, maybe the new way will be through the Metaverse. In my experience, working with other alcoholics is what it is all about.

I agree that meetings are not essential, working with others is, IMHO.

Also, nothing in BB about needing a sponsor.

 

https://anonpress.org/bb/Page_89.htm

 

 

Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.

 

 

Difference is, IMHO, isolating is not good for the average alkie.

 

Not going to an in person meeting is "isolating"?? Who's says I'm "isolating"?? I've got lot's of people I associate with every day. Friends, people I work with. Again, what are you going on about? Nobody is arguing that 12th step work is not important.  As you so correctly pointed out in the above excerpt.

 

Also I do not see that what is happening is a "new way". It's the same program as it's always been .. the 12 steps. By what means they are communicated has changed.. thats all. used to be face to face, phone and regular mail. now in addition it's Zoom, Skype etc etc.

 

I'll tell you this. Doing the program as it's described in the Big Book appears to not get talked about enough in a lot of AA meetings. I've been to some really bad Zoom meetings. Nobody is talking about how to recover from alcoholism by doing the 12 step program .. a lot of other stuff get's talked about, much of which doesn't make sense to me. There is also this guy that posts what he calls "agnostic" AA material.. really confusing.

I have been really fortunate to have a very smart and well read AA sponsor. He's the guy that makes sense in meetings where a lot of other people just go on about a lot of stuff that in many cases is not helpful IMHO.

[StandardIssue]

I found another AA group that is based out of Thailand. They are solution based and use the literature at most of the meetings. Good AA group.

https://aathailand.info

[StandardIssue]

A good resource for AA meetings online is https://aa-intergroup.org/