12 step meetings

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There are no 12 step meetings within 60 miles of my town. Can i start a new group in my town?

Yeah I truthfully don't care about my anonymity either but I don't consider myself a member of a group that has anonymous as half its name.

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I live in a small town. We have one AA meeting and it is terrible - the worst. I asked my probation contact what my options were. I just have to go to "meetings" per quarter - no specification on frequency or how many. (My program doesn't require me to have a sponsor.) I drive to the closest large town that has meetings every hour and I go to 4 in a day. The meetings are big so I don't get pressured to talk and I get it all over in one day. I also don't have to deal with the small-town meeting drama that was happening in my town. Do you have a frequency or quantity set on your meetings? Have you asked your probation contact for possible solutions? I just go to get my paper signed. If you're looking to get something out of AA, I wouldn't suggest how I do this. But, again, I have discussed all this with my probation contact. Best of luck!

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Specializes in OR.

I hear you on the small town drama. My cesspool contract says 3 per week of "mutual support meetings." I can't figure out what is mutually supportive about AA because I don't drink, no go on NA because Substance abuse ain't the problem. Doesn't leave much. I am mental health. Plus I am not about to say "hi i'm Cats, I'm an alcoholic, when the last drink I had was 25 years ago in college and it was gross. I know enough about AA that it says "be honest" and that's not so...... I could go into how I wound up with a meeting requirement but I'd have to type my fingers to nubs.

Either way, mine is 3 per week, honor system so no paper. I go because I don't like to lie (unlike my program who appears to have no problem with lying) one is a depression/bipolar group that actually is mutually supportive. The other 2 are AA and I go to one of those all AA, all day clubhouse affairs where I can get in and get out. The stuff also drives me batty enough that if it turns into a Big book thumping lecture or cry fest, I make for the door. I just can't take that. I have to go no one says I have to listen or participate. I do think it's insulting to the people that get something out of it. I personally don't think much of the whole 12 step woo/philosophy but I'm not looking down on someone who does. If it keeps ya from drinking or what ever, than go for it.

I also do not have to have a sponsor and I think even my stupid program would be hard pressed to force me to. Like many of us, I'm a just doing my time, chalking my lines on the wall and waiting for my parole date.

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Yep!!! I gotta do three a week but my nurse support torture session counts as one. I attend. Get my slip signed. Leave. I have a sponsor & God Bless his soul. He's a great guy. We talk Steelers, Weather and work. That's it. I get nothing from it but what do you expect when forced compliance and no desire to participate brings you to such affairs

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Anyone can sign the sheets, there is no way of verifying.... just saying.

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Yeah that thought resides in my mind. I loathe them

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