Sep 6, 2013 | By Tim Stoddart

Online Support Groups For Alcoholism

Alcoholism

There are numerous websites dedicated to helping individuals battling alcoholism, as alcohol is one of the nation’s most abused substances. Drinking is a hallmark of American society and social drinking which develops into alcohol addiction is as challenging as the hardest illegal street drug to kick, once the cycle of alcohol abuse sets in. Because alcohol consumption is legal, some may not look at its addiction propensity, due to the tolerance which progressively develops with regular alcohol consumption.

Binge drinking and underage drinking go hand-in-hand, and incidences of increased alcohol abuse in each category is on the rise, according to recent statistics furnished by the Center for Disease Control.  Alcoholism combined with illegal drug addiction can become a death sentence for those who are unaware of the potentially deadly effects that ensue from abusing the two substances. Many people who currently drink alcohol while using narcotics are too young to remember the story of Karen Ann Quinlan, who, according to Time Magazine, in 1975 consumed alcohol while taking sedatives one night, fell asleep and never awoke from a coma that kept her out of commission for the remaining 10 years of her “life”, even after she had “won the right to die”.

However, death from alcoholism can take a number of ugly directions, being that one of the most common of the leading causes of accidental death comes from drunk driving accidents, which claim untold innocent lives each year. Diseases including cirrhosis of the liver, various forms of cancer including pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer have correlations to alcoholism or heavy alcohol abuse.

Yet, as bad as the physical damage done to the alcoholic’s body, mind and spirit is, the resulting negative social impact of the disease upon every family member is incalculable. Children’s lives become unraveled when alcoholism is a factor, often leading to homelessness, physical abuse, violence, mental illness and early death for the alcoholic. Negative emotions including guilt and shame predominate in the alcoholic’s mental self-imagery, often serving the effect of intensified alcohol consumption, as denial is a large component of the alcoholic’s psychological mindset.

Due to the above scenario, it is critical that individuals suffering from alcoholism be guided toward self help groups in their attempt to recover from the disease.  The “12 step program” designed by Alcoholics Anonymous has proven to be a tangible tool for recovery from alcohol addiction and can now be accessed and followed online with feedback from members of the online support group community. Online alcoholism rehab may not ever completely replace face-to-face counseling, including group therapy, as encountered in A.A. meetings.  However, to those who are taking an initial step toward their recovery, the flow of support and strength to be gained from coming in touch with real people at online support groups for alcoholism can be enough of a stimulus to help one make it through one more day.

Following are a few websites which have online support groups devoted to helping people with alcoholism recovery:

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS / www.aa.org

ALCOHOLISM RECOVERY ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS / www.12stepforums.net

ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION / www.smartrecovery.org

SUPPORT GROUPS ONLINE FOR ALCOHOLISM / www.cyberrecovery.net

ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS ADDICTION AND RECOVERY / www.sobrietyengine.com

Sources:
“Top 10 Comas”, Time Magazine,www.time.com/time/…/0,28804,1864940_1864939_1864909,00.html

– Center for Disease Control, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

40 responses to “Online Support Groups For Alcoholism

  • Dr Jacquie Damgaard

    10 years ago

    For those who want to seek help, or additional help online – there are also some online recovery tools like an app called iRecovery (http://www.recoveryapp.com/) that helps you manage your daily recovery activities and track your progress week by week. Another app, found at http://www.recovery.com/, makes it easy to track your mood and experiences, allows you to share stories, make friends that are on the same journey, and build an online support network to help you enjoy a successful recovery. All of this can help in your larger recovery program

  • Joan Donahue

    10 years ago

    Are there any support groups in Northern IL? I’d also be interested in ‘meetings’ or links online. You’re right – AA is not for me!

  • osman ali

    10 years ago

    Negative emotions including guilt and shame predominate in the alcoholic’s mental self-imagery, often serving the effect of intensified alcohol consumption, as denial is a large component of the alcoholic’s

  • My adult family member lives alone and is self supporting. There is no physical or verbal abuse. The member is well loved. We need a group to help us deal with our lives together as a family unit. What to say…..what not to say….do we serve alcohol at a family gathering??? How do we help? Is there a group who can answer some of our questions. AlAnon did not help us.

    • I am not a group but I as an alcoholic have been in this position. I have found it helpful to have no alcohol at my families house, this was a choice. Maybe giving this family member a choice if you think they can handle it. It sounds very much like you are doing all the right things, your family member first has to want to change. Then a discussion about where to go from there, get a List of AA meetings in your area. You could even offer the support of going too. It isn’t necessary to be fearful of what to say unless this member of your family gets angry. Ask what you can do to be supportive, you clearly love and care for this person. Let them guide you as to what would be helpful to them. You can’t “fix” them, you can be there and help them through which is not an easy job. I think what you are doing is amazing!

  • I’m a binge drinker when I get overwhelmed, well maybe any emotion that’s not happy. I have tried AA, I have a list of reasons to stay sober and I can’t seem to quite get there. The guilt I feel is well deserved and paralyzingly strong, so I isolate myself from from everyone. Now that the cats out of the bag I drink in secret. I need advice, I blamed my abusive ex, I blamed my rapist. The truth is they are not responsible for my choices. Please give me some advice, why is this so hard?

    • I can identify with most of what you are going through. I self medicate happy or not. I too, isolate myself from everyone and everything and drink in secret. Although I have a husband and one adult son at home and they are suffering from choice. They know I am hurting myself and want me to get help to stop. I blame all kinds of past mistakes ,my abusive childhood and my bad relationship with my mother, among other things; but really there is no reason, good or bad to get drunk and pass out over. I need to have a support system and that is what I am looking for because it is not good to try to use family members as a sponsor. I believe that my self medicating has lead to addiction and I need help. People like us need to admit to it , just like you did and then find support to stop.

      • I’m feeling the same way. I’m causing problems that are unnecessary and my drinking is the cause. I flip out get arguementive and even hot my boyfriend

  • Hi Megan,

    First let me say how strong I think you are already to be reaching out for help. That is a huge step in the right direction!
    That being said, it is very hard to make the decision to stop drinking.
    I was a binge drinker as well, my emotions were high on every bad thing my parents, my abusive ex and so on. The blaming had to stop. Those are all valid reasons we drink and end up where we are. One thing that I decided to do was not let the people that hurt me win. They took so much already and I was NOT giving them anymore.
    Support system is crucial for your recovery, you are doing that now. No matter where you get help, as long as you are getting it, can be from any source in today’s world. Your doing well.

    It’s a lonely ride at times but if you could only see and know what is ahead of you. So many great things will start to happen for you. You have to be patient and strong.

    I describe the feelings and emotions we go through in the beginning of our sobriety is like dearth. That part of you is slowly, slowly dying. You go through all the cycles of grief the same as you would if someone very close to you died. It’s torture.
    You NEED to find it deep inside you to carry on and NOT take that sip. No Matter what! Remember your rock bottom…Remember the shame….Remember what is looking back at you in the mirror….
    I have been sober since May of 2009 and I have a wonderful husband who stuck by me at my worst times because he knew that when I didn’t drink I was a great person, but, he and our kids had enough one day and said, us or the drink. Of course my world was turning upside down and I hated every one of them. Even my kids but I hated myself really, not the ones I love the most. I had to fight the biggest fight of my life to save ME. If I can’t love myself enough or care enough of myself to get better than I don’t deserve them or rather they don’t deserve that behaviour around them. What would I do and be saying to my children?
    Do this for Megan, do this for YOU! The real you is in there you just have to wait for her to surface.
    I hope you continue to reach out and ask for help or advice!
    You can find me on here anytime if you want to chat!

    Kelly

    • Hi Kelly,
      I read your advice and found it very helpful, I too am an alcoholic, I do not go a day without a bottle or 2 of wine, and then I dont sip it, I drink it down. What resonated with me among other things is that you said dont let those that hurt you win. I know that I am using the wine to numb the pain, I need help,

  • Helen Henson

    7 years ago

    Hi my name is Helen
    I hate myself my life us a mess. Ive been to rehab twice Ive just separated from my abusive BPD husband selling house my kids dont live with me at their dads as was too toxic with the x and now I nèed to stop drinking help Helen

    • Doucette Pamplemousse

      6 years ago

      Hi Helen, I’m very sorry for all you are going through and identify with you as my life is also a mes at the moment. I’m struggling with alcohol addiction and though I have custody of my children at the present time, my ex has recently been threatening to go to court to pursue custody. It is a living nightmare as he is an irresponsible and immoral person so the idea of leaving my young children in his care withou me being present is scary. Til now I have always been present but my ex has tried tempting me to drink several times all to serve his own agenda. And, shamefully, I have fallen for his temptations at times. Be strong and remember that even though you have an alcohol addiction you are still a loving mother who your chidlren need. Do not give up the fight and do not let anyone bring you down. You have a disease. Some may disagree but I believe
      that alcoholism is a disease. It is beyon willpower. I strongly advise you to seek out a local AA
      group. AA recognizes that it is necessary for divine intervention to overcome alcoholism not
      willpower. God bless you dear!

  • Hi. I am a problem drinker. I can go days and weeks without drinking but when I do I usually end up binge drinking and can’t stop or blackout. I have a good life and people who care about me and I feel like I am self sabotaging because when I drink I don’t even recognize myself with things I do or say. Then I wake up hating myself. I also have severe anxiety and some depression. I recently went 5 weeks without drinking and have never felt better then I had an already planned girls trip and drank and I felt ok and that I was fine and could maybe “control” my drinking and it’s starting to get worse again when I do drink, and I think I knew deep down this would happen. It’s so hard because my circle of friends it’s normal to socially drink and that’s what the weekends mostly consist of and I’ve expressed my concern about my drinking before and everyone says I’m ok I can control it I don’t have a problem but I just don’t think they get it or they just don’t want to lose their drinking buddy. My closest friends I think will be supportive and my fiancé understands how I feel and he’s trying to stay home more and do other things besides the whole party scene I’m just finding it really hard and my friends don’t understand or don’t want to and I feel like I’m losing my mind with self hatred and loss of control. I’ve wanted to try AA before because I thought having people going through the same thing would help but my social anxiety is so bad I’m terrified of talking in front of people and having the focus on me. I don’t know how to get past this part of my life.

    • Doucette Pamplemousse

      6 years ago

      Hello dear, It’s a shame no one has replied sooner but I’d strongly advise you to join an AA group. Do not be shy or afraid to go in any way. The amazing thing about AA is that there are people just like you who understand completely the evil control that alcohol has over certain people (myself included). They are not judgmental but want to help the newcomers to attain sobriety. You are many steps ahead of the game as you already recognize that alcohol is a problem in your life and that you have lost control. Willpower is not enough. Rather it is necessary to surrender your will to a higher power (God) and to ask Him to take over. This is not self-defeat. We are dealing with a disease that only divine intervention can help. So please try
      to find the inner courage to go to an AA meeting. I promise you that you will not regret it! God bless you dear!

  • If you are an alcoholic or recovering alcoholic, please help me understand how to move on. I’ve been in an on again off again relationship for two years with a recovering alcoholic. He is in a dry drunk phase where he refuses to look at his emotional self and the harm he is causing in the lives of the people that care about him. He is emotionally exploitative. He only takes emotionally and doesn’t give anything in return. He’d only want to have emotional conversations that revolved around him and his problems. He would play the victim whenever I would bring up how his words and actions (or lack of) would affect me. He admitted to having problems with insecurity and I admired this in him. I see it as great strength to be vulnerable like this, but I mistook his vulnerability for a willingness to change. He has a very negative view of both the world and himself. He would constantly be down on himself. He would constantly play the victim to extract sympathy from me. He would constantly talk negatively about himself in order to extract compliments from me. I am exhausted. I have HAPPILY given him my time and attention. I have FREELY given him my affections, but it was never enough for him. I have to suffer to prove how much I love him no matter how much I tell him I love him or show him I love him. I reached my limit and I’ve blown up on him which this time I do not regret. He is so insecure that he can not believe that someone loves him just because of who he is. He is so self absorbed and grandiose that he does not consider how his words and actions affect others. He has emotionally exploited his 5 year old daughter by asking her what she would do if her daddy jumped off a cliff while they were watching a cartoon about a daddy dinosaur being thrown off a cliff. The poor girl started crying and it was only then he realized how much she loved him. He is exhausting and he doesn’t care how fucking exhausting he is. He refuses to seek counseling for his behavior, even though he knows his flaws. He refuses to look inside himself and learn how to handle the unpleasant emotions he feels when he is not viewed favorably. He has pushed me away and in turn caused me to push him away. I can not take anymore. I given so much of me and still didn’t feel good enough. I have blamed myself for his dysfunction. But it’s not me. I have offered counseling. I have done everything I could. I want to walk away and walk away for good, so please help me someone.

    • Doucette Pamplemousse

      6 years ago

      Hello dear, I’m sorry that you are having to deal with so much because you love someone who does not want to help himself. I’d strongly advise for you to join an Al-Anon group – which is for those who have a loved one struggling with alcoholism. There you will meet others who are feeling the same frustrations and helplessness that you must be feeling. I am actually one of the people struggling with alcoholism so AA is the group for me. But Al-Anon is for those with loved ones who are alcoholics. Alcoholism is a terrible disease. You are not alone. If you love this young man, perhaps you could try going to a few meetings before you decide to cut ties with him. But that, of course, is your choice completely. You must do what is best and most healthy for yourself. You are too young to settle for less. God bless you!

    • Albert Martin

      5 years ago

      HI,

      Thanks for your post and i’m sorry to hear. Addiction certainly is cunning and baffling and is the only illness i know which will sometime force family to have to turn there back on there own family. There is a solution though.

      I’m in recovery myself and battled endlessly until i was finally beaten enough to A) ask for help and B) put in the work required to overcome the illness. I was expelled from school, messed up exams and stole from family and friends constantly to drink. I was diagnosed with alcoholism at the age of 18, i attended my first in patient treatment program at the age of 19 suffice to say i was not ready or willing to change. I played and manipulated my loved ones constantly in order to obtain the funds and means to continue my using with little to no regard of what i was doing to them or putting them through. when i was 22 i thought i had enough, lost the girl i though i was in love with and after another drinking spree which involved yet another hospital visit i thought i was ready so i rocked up at the doors of AA in London ready to give it a go and i did, i went through the 12 steps and worked the program on a daily basis, i wish i could leave it there but Alcohol and drugs are subtle foes… I stopped the meetings and stopped working the program, finished university still sober and the girl had come back into my life. I was offered a job in New York and decided i could drink again, the brakes came off and very quickly the insanity returned, i was posted to Dubai and the binges came closer and closer together needless to say the girl left again and the family started to push me away. After i was fired i returned to London and tried AA again, i went in and out multiple times in a 3 year period managing to obtain 3-6 weeks of sobriety each time, i had multiple sponsors who tried to help me but in my mind they were the fault and the reason i kept going in and out, My father ever loyal ensured i wasnt homeless and supported me in many ways which i used with efficiency. I WAS incapable of taking responsibility and being honest with anyone including myself, the usual things happened Homelessness, Destitution, Bankruptcy, multiple hospital visits and countless relationships. I moved to Asia for work and again the drinking continued destined for 6 feet under i continued and give up on AA and sobriety. What happened for me the in was divine intervention and love from my father. As i sat in my flat (now in Marocco) i was sitting drinking alone as usual, having just been fired from job number 25, something happened, a real gift. I saw my life go before me, (it didn’t look good) then i had a flash that i could change and the sudden urge to do so over took me.

      I opted and was fortunate enough for my father to give me the opportunity to attend a in treatment rehab in South Africa (6th treatment centre), which i jumped at with all haste, the game was up for me and i could feel it in my heart the drinking was done. Furthermore alcohol was not doing what i wanted it do, felt miserable with and with out it, if i was to continue the doctors would have been rite and i would be dead by 30. I went down to SA attended treatment in a facility which prides itself on being the final treatment center you will ever need. A lot of foreigners go there due to the costs and environments being much nicer than other places. I got involved in the program and picked up a new sponsor, My father supported me and now my family are back in my life, my friends are back, i have a piece and serenity which is more wonderful as time passes and have a career in a industry i never thought i would be in.

      I’m now 28 and life is opening up, what i’m trying to say is, i had to beat myself into the ground many times before i was willing to help myself, what people told me went over my head and i wasn’t interested int here help. I got ready to listen and opened up. Went through the steps which changed my whole outlook and attitude. I did it for me and so i didn’t have to be that person again. This is a illness that centers in the mind and tells the carrier they don’t have it. I help others now and give back, when i look back on who i was i cringe and cant believe who that guy is. Most importantly i give back and im there for my family who now trust me. Dont give up, there is a way out and there are people willing to help. i’m more than willing.

  • Hello, this is my first time here and i really need to get this off my chest …. Here it goes: where do i start?? My mother has a problem with alchohol . since i was a little kid i can remember her drinking. long story short , my mother and i have been threw a lot and i love my mother and i always try to help her but it just seems to be that she picks wrong people to be with.. money is very important to her .. and every decision is based on money .. she is a smart woman.. went to college , had a good job but brought her a lot of stress.. my father and mother separated at 2003 and it was an awful and violent brake up .. my mother suffered from domestic from my father for a long time and to be honest with you i don’t blame her for drinking cause my father was an asshole but i blame her for the actions she took as a mother , because i was only 12 years old and she stopped being a mother . i became the mother and she was the child and has not stopped till this day.. my father lives in Greece and my mother lives here . all my family is in Greece and i only have my mother….. she has been in a relationship with a guy for 7 years, he is an electrician so he makes good money.. so i guess thats why.. they r mean to each other and i do know her drinking has a lot to do with it … but i am not in their relationship. but he can be an asshole as well. because we r greek.. people would make fun of my mother and i have always tried to defend her .. not to long ago she took the role as a care taker of her mother a year ago. her and her mother have a bad past. she became very overwhelmed and started drinking a lot and mixing meds with it which i told her its no good.. one day my mothers bf comes to my house to tell me i have to do something so i can control my mothers drinking.. .. i go up to my mothers her to find her past out and my grandmother neglected.. so i called 911 for the ambulance and for my mother and grandmother.. so now my mother is in trouble for neglet and facing jail time.. she blames everyone but her self.. they drove me mad and the only thing i had was drinking.. i should of not called 911 ..blah blah. she never asks of how i am doing , how i am coping. not only that she has to sell her condo which i live in. i have multiple sclerosis . i am on disability and i have a 1 year old.. i can really use some advice.. i feel an enormous amount of guilt because i am so angry with her that we end up having fights and me basically telling her off. she has an attitude like shes a victim and i should not look her addiction as an adiction but a disease . its not a choice she says its a disease . well its a disease because u chose to drink for so long a never got hep… shes says, would you blame someone with cancer they had cancer.. dont blame me for my disease. ummmm people that have cancer didnt go to the store to get cancer . they go to chemo to beat this disease … so now i have to be super careful what i say?? where was my sympathy when i first got diagnosed.. she still drank and i asked her not too.. she has helped me in my life with my school and clothes and money.. and i am grateful but come on .!enough is enough … she is in a program because i told her u better go into a treament because u will be facing more jail time.. it took the law to make her go and get help?? not her family? not me saying i wont accept this behavior and i wont let you around my daughter ..? so now i am trying to help her but it just gets to much , she wants to vent and i am here but she also goes on and on and on… and i cant .. my bf now doesnt like my mother because of all the stress she puts me threw but it doesnt help me because i am in between . this is just a little of whats going on… but i can use some good advice or something that will stop me from my head exploding lol. thank you for your time

    • Doucette Pamplemousse

      6 years ago

      Hello dear, do not be so hard on yourself! You are carrying so much on your shoulders that you should not have to. You cannot control anyone else but yourself. This includes your mother. She is not your child and has failed to be the mother that you deserve. But recognize also that she has a disease: alcoholism. I’d strongly advise for you to join an Al-Anon group. You are harboring guilt that is not yours and you deserve to free yourself of this. God bless you!

  • Asia Garcia

    6 years ago

    Hi guys , I’m Asia and I have a huge drinking problem , I crave it everyday and every second and want to take a shot every morning but, I know it’s not good for me and It’s taken a toll on my life for a whole year I am only 21 I lost my job, car and a place to live all due to drinking I know I need help and I don’t really have much people to talk to about this problem. I know alcholism runs on my dads side of the family and been really hard to stop. When I drink I can’t stop to where I blackout and can’t remember anything and feel regrets the next morning. I also feel embarrassed . I need help and I don’t know what to do

      • Katherine Weed-Thornton

        6 years ago

        I completely understand. I have the same feelings when I know I shouldn’t… but just want to runs on both sides of my family. I’m still having struggles… even when it’s made me very sick…. so PLEASE don’t let it get that far with you. ❤️

    • Doucette Pamplemousse

      6 years ago

      Hello Asia, I’m sorry for all you are going through and completely identify because I too am struggling with alcoholism addiction. Have you considered joining an AA group? The thing that makes AA far superior to other rehab programs is the presence of God and acknowledging that it is necessary for a higher power to take over because we have lost control of our will. Do not be afraid to do this and to admit that you have a problem. Rather be humble and ask for help. Our Father will hear your prayers and help you dear.

  • How come nobody replies to people who have left comments asking for help?

  • Katherine Weed-Thornton

    6 years ago

    Hi, I’m Kate. I’m having a HUGE problem with alchol abuse… when it’s EXTREMELY important to my health. Not only does it cause me to have seizures, but I have acute pancritis as well!

    But even as much I scare myself… & tell myself I’m done, I always seem to want that caption. I don’t know why or understand. When I’m literally killing myself…. and I’m only 28…

    I’m broken. ?

    • Your not broken but in the clutches of a very powerful addictive substance called alcohol and caught up in a cycle. Look up sober school online founder Kate Bee. This lady helped me .

    • Im in the same shoes. im so worried about specific pain in my side. I know u say your done and are good for a week or two then the cycle starts again. I hate myself.

  • Gahalia Love

    5 years ago

    Hello I have a husband who drank alot when he was a cop and now that he is retired he is drunk EVERY single day. I get home from work and he is drunk watching our 12 year old son. He is n ow passing out everywhere and does absolutely nothing but get drunk daily and it is disrupting the entire house. How can I get a court order for him to go into rehab? If i call the paramedics when he falls or passes out on the floor will that help? I am just at my end and financially have nowhere to go. Help!

  • Looking for some help but it seems as if these are all old posts?

  • Uhmm this is really old stuff printed is there someone there now??

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