After going to alcoholics anonymous is it normal for people to pull away?!
Question:
After going to alcoholics anonymous is it normal for people to pull away?
Additional Details
2 weeks ago
I have never been a proponent of drinking-I wasn't raised around it and I don't like it, therfore I am not familiar with it. My friend who is an alcoholic admitted he needed help and began to go to AA. It seems as if he has disappeared and I wondered if that is to be expected.
2 weeks ago
I have always been there for this person so the fact that now they practically ignore me makes me wonder why. After attending AA is it suggested to start fresh and abandon people from your current life?
Answers:
if you've just started to go to AA, your still drinking friends might be uncomfortable around you, they might pull away to not tempt you. you will also, at least in the beginning, hang out more with the non-drinking crowd, so you pull away also. Staying sober is not a quick fix, it is a lifestyle change. when you are the only sober one out partying with your drunk buddies, all those "really funny" situations that arise will mostly just embarrass you. all your true friends will accept and support your decision, if you let them know, what's going on. AA teaches you to live your life sober, not to abandon good friends. ask your friend to take you to an "open" meeting, so you can better support him/her. also, if your friend is just newly sober, he may be busy learning, and going through the steps for the first time. offer your friendship and patience. we can all use friends like you at a time like that.P.S. Danny"s answer hit it on the nose.