No we don’t. I always replied to them that they got the telephone list of the group, and were invited and welcomed to call anytime when they felt they needed.
On the other hand, if you feel a relapse coming up and you don’t call - well excuse me, but then it wás your own choice wasn’t it ?
But then, as always, I will tell them there is nothing to be ashamed of. Learn from mistakes, get on your feet again and start over.
Exactly - that’s what the telephone list is for.
Neither did I three years ago. So I listened to those who seemed to have found one that worked for them.
I remember that as well. But I also remember the people that reached out afterward to me, by phone, app, mail…
Oh, I definately know that feeling ! Nevertheless I was there yesterday. And shared. Why ? Because shame and fear are only overcome with being prepared and willing to be vulnerable again. Why would I do that if they don’t care ? Because it’s mý recovery. Mý growth.
Again, I find it hard to believe in all those meetings this was all you experienced. If you did, you missed the thousands of people like me reaching out. Why is that ?
It sure as hell isn’t because we were never there…
Again, investigate your own biases…
On a sidenote, I never have been much of an AA person. I preferred NA for reasons often mentioned here. But AA, NA, CA, Minnesota, whatever 12 steps program - they are all alike. Find the one that suits you best and in my case that was NA eventually.
Nevertheless I allready had almost 18 months cleantime before I really started joing meetings regularly. Had been working the steps on my own untill then which, looking back at it, was my own required way to get to where I am today. Having no sponsor, I just shared my entire 4th step over here.
By now I’m closing in on 3 years and about 18 months going to meetings regularly.
Had some shitty meetings and some beautiful meetings (again, I find it unlikely that someone only has a 1000 shitty meetings… then that person is the problem him/her/theirselves).
By now, I consider them my family. They know everything about me. And of course some are not to fond of me, that’s fine. I’m not to keen on them either. Others on the other hand, I would reach out for even if I would have to walk into hell to drag them out. Just like they sometimes do for me.