AA meetings in the NEK?

Submitted by Internal_Income_678 t3_10ul1qv in vermont

I have been alcohol sober for awhile now (448 days) but my therapist recommended AA to help me meet other sober people. Of course I'm nervous about going in general, but also worried because my therapist mentioned that some meetings are run well and organized and others are not. Does anyone go to/have been to a meeting in the NEK (Caledonia County) that they felt was good enough to recommend? I'd consider Washington County as well.

Edit: Thank you for the warm words everyone!

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varadins t1_j7cr7pb wrote

Hey! You're not alone - congrats!

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j7chfi9 wrote

Don’t have an answer but good on you. Not easy, I’m thinking. Huge accomplishment. Much better in so many ways.

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Tothestreets90 t1_j7cxhak wrote

NEK recovery center in St J. has meetings. I’ve heard there’s a good one in Burke somewhere. But just go to a few and find a couple you like. Let people know you’re new to it and they’re usually very welcoming.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_j7cjxnr wrote

https://aavt.org/meetings/

Dr. Bob group in barre is Good.

There were some meeting in Hardwick precovid that were good as well.

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dwkeith t1_j7eosgs wrote

Dr Bob is from St J; so lots of great local groups in Vermont.

As an atheist I found the Sinclair Method to be more helpful. But everyone is different, so l would encourage shopping around until the right fit is found. Absolutely worth it to find what works.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_j7fa2yn wrote

I’m went from an atheist to agnostic but that had more to do with age than anything else. I decided the denial of something with absolute certainty as as arrogant as the insistence of it. I will say, I have come to realize the universe is stranger and more amazing than I can ever imagine or comprehend.

I don’t think any religion has is right but who knows.

Live your best life, do your best to not add pain and suffering into the world, help others less fortunate than you and treat people how they want to be treated and it doesn’t really matter what you believe.

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dwkeith t1_j7fdguu wrote

Right, but treating addiction is about meeting people where they are. AA is the Christian method of addiction therapy with a 14% long-term success rate, the therapy I went with was science backed with a 78% long-term success rate.

As the child of a seminary graduate who moved the family to Vermont in order to get away from the sins of the city, I only considered methods that were backed by science, but everyone is different. Hence my recommendation to shop around for the best fit and not to blindly go with the Christian method of addiction recovery that courts and therapists often recommend by default, especially if OP is not Christian or even religious. The important part of my point was AA is not the only option.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_j7ffmk8 wrote

You are comparing two completely different things. You are comparing a total abstinence program to a MAT (medical assisted therapy) program.

A better comparison would be the 60% success bupropion sees in opiate addicts.

I do agree AA is not the only method though. Whatever way you use to stay clean and sober is the right way to stay clean and sober.

Do you think your childhood association with directly associating god and religion has some bearing on your attitudes towards spiritual based recovery programs? I was lucky, I was not raised with any preconceived notions of god so when people say the word I don’t get defensive and associate it with Christianity.

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dwkeith t1_j7fj4nq wrote

Oh absolutely my religious upbringing came into play. The more I learned about religion and Christianity the less I wanted my mental health care to be linked to it and the more I wanted evidence based solutions for everything in my life. Learning about science, especially the cosmos, has replaced Sunday services for me. I now read science papers like I used to read biblical scholars.

I frequent an online group who use exercise to abstain, which is ideal for me and my schedule. Having a group that reduces or abstains for similar reasons and with similar beliefs is the key to long term success in my opinion. Naltrexone was just the start, I don’t need that anymore, but it was far easier than going cold turkey as Dr. Bob advocated.

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hebreakslate t1_j7ctzui wrote

If you're having trouble finding an IRL sober community, r/stopdrinking is a phenomenal, supportive community.

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cpujockey t1_j7fp5ai wrote

I second this notion. Great community. I have learned a lot hanging out with those folks.

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drewpy36 t1_j7clgva wrote

Just wanted to say congratulations and I hope you keep up the good work.

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elobis t1_j7d7khe wrote

Get the app called Meeting Guide (icon is a chair). It will help immensely, it's super easy to use and it's how I find any meeting in any location on any given day or time.

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Careful_Square1742 t1_j7d62nd wrote

there's a crap load of zoom meetings too, if you can't find in person. burlingtonaa.org

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OkWatermelonlesson19 t1_j7dhq65 wrote

No suggestions, just jumping in to say congrats on your sobriety!!

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PassionsBite t1_j7dl6rg wrote

There are a bunch, and some nice ones just over the border in NH too. The one in woodsville Friday night is nice and fairly well attended. My Bf recommends meeting guide app, it will use your location to find meetings close to you.

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sluttymcfuckstick t1_j7f9o1i wrote

Congratulations on the 449 days sober. One day at a time

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thomcchester t1_j7fjr0q wrote

I don’t know about nek, but any AA meeting should treat you right, just let me know you are new and you are likely to be the favorite there.

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Icy_Intention6584 t1_j7gx1y6 wrote

Wednesday night beginners meeting in Cabot is the best one. Not in the NEK technically but it’s my all time fave.

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