E-mail Groups
All of the LifeRing e-mail groups are private, meaning that joining requires an approval by the group convenor (largely a formality), and the members’ names and messages are not accessible through the general Internet, or to search engines. Joining an e-mail group can seem a bit daunting, but it’s very easy. To insure privacy, membership has to be approved by the group Convenor. That’s accomplished just by either clicking on the group name, which takes you to the group website where you can click the “Join this Group” button, or writing an e-mail to the group’s convenor asking to be signed up. It’s almost automatic if you’re an actual human and not a spammer.
Before you sign up, please review the Terms of Use – these terms apply to all the LifeRing email groups.
General Recovery
–LSRmail: The original, and largest, LifeRing e-mail group. In its seventeenth year of providing online sober support. The membership includes both those new to sobriety and folks with many years clean and sober. Originally created to bring together those without access to face-to-face groups, it has grown to include many who use it as an adjunct to their in-person meetings. Support is freely given and received from members around the world at almost any hour of the day or night. Overseen by founder and continuing listmeister Tom Shelley, LSRmail offers a friendly, comfortable, unmoderated atmosphere. All list
communication is confidential to members only. Subscribe.
–LSRsafe: An email list for those seeking Support, Affirmation, Friendship and Encouragement (S.A.F.E.). It’s a strong, secure place where we seek to nurture the ‘sober self’ that exists inside us all. This list is lightly moderated in an attempt to discourage disruptive or abusive postings, and personal attacks on members are not tolerated. Craig W., moderator. Subscribe, mentioning “LSRsafe” in the subject line.
–LifeRing E-Pals: New to sobriety or LifeRing? Not sure about joining a group? There are LifeRing members who can lend a private ear and answer questions via email. If the chats and forum are a bit too intimidating right now, this might be a way of getting the information you need. Write to Craig W. mentioning “E-pals” in the subject line.
–LifeRing Sober Living: Have you been sober for a year or more? Are you comfortable with sobriety as a way of life, but still desiring interaction with a sobriety support group? Sober Living was formed for sober people who no longer struggle with cravings or the day-to-day effort of staying sober. If you’ve been asking yourself “what now?” maybe this group is for you. Subscribe, mentioning “Sober Living” in the subject line.
Specialty Groups:
LifeRing Secular Dual Recovery: Sometimes those seeking sobriety also suffer from emotional and mental challenges that can make recovery more difficult. LifeRing SDR is a safe place to discuss those highly personal issues among people who may not share the particular problem, but who understand what it’s like to deal with life-limiting issues in addition to addiction. Whether the difficulty is depression, or anxiety, or some other emotional/psychological challenge, the members of this group will listen and respond with positive and supportive messages. To subscribe, contact Heather W. and mention “Dual Recovery” in the subject line.
LSR-Scandanavia: Lifering Secular Recovery email list for networking and support in Scandinavia and for Scandinavians living abroad. LSR has meetings in Sweden and there is interest in starting up in Denmark as well. This list may bring us together in creating a strong Nordic LSR. Subscribe
LSRbody: For people in recovery who wish to share joys and concerns with weight loss, exercise, and overall body image. The purpose is to provide support in achieving individual goals with regard to one’s body, whatever they may be. CA Edington, moderator. Subscribe.
LGBTQ Portal. The mission of this platform is to provide a supportive environment for people in recovery who identify as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) and their supporters, to meet, network, voice concerns, empower the sober self, and to advocate on issues of significance within the LifeRing community. Subscribe.
LSR-LO LifeRing Loved One. LSR-LO is a secular support group for people who love people who are addicted. We are concerned mothers, fathers, partners, husbands, wives, children, siblings, girlfriends and boyfriends of people whose drinking or substance use is out of control. We have one thing in common: Our lives are affected by addiction, just as surely as the lives of the people who are addicted. Denise B., list owner. Unmoderated, unrestricted. Subscribe.
SOBER COFFEEHOUSE. For intellectual-political-cultural-economic discussion too remote from sobriety topics to run comfortably on other lists. Subscribe.
LSR-UK. A list for anyone in and around the UK who is interested in secular sobriety. Subscribe.
LifeRing Ireland. A list for LifeRing participants and friends in Ireland. Dennis S., host. Subscribe.
LifeRing-SFBay email list. Online community for San Francisco Bay Area LifeRing participants. Stay in touch with your sober friends after you graduate from your treatment program. Catch announcements of local meeting changes and bulletins from the Service Center. Subscribe.
LifeRing Internal
LifeRing convenor’s list. For people worldwide starting or leading meetings or doing other service work with LifeRing. Do you want to start a new meeting, but the idea is too scary? Already have a meeting, but want advice? This is the place to get support! Subscribe, mentioning liferingconvenors.
LifeRing Online Convenors group. For people who sustain LifeRing’s online presence: chat hosts, forum hosts, listmeisters, webmasters and the like.
Currently inactive e-mail groups.
(These are groups that have recently been inactive, but may revive — especially if YOU join! If you try to join but get no response, please let us know by sending a note to us)
WOList. An e-mail list that permits women to discuss how relationship, family, work, and personal growth issues impact their sobriety. All women are welcome to join. Jacquelyn Jones, moderator. Subscribe.
Workbook Study. Online group that works the Recovery by Choice workbook. A forum for people using the book as an aid to recovery so that we can compare notes, go through exercises together and share the journey to a sober, more content and happier life through and by choice within a secular framework. Subscribe.
LifeRing in Texas. For Texas folks interested in meeting online and in building face-to-face meetings in the state. Subscribe.
Tess,
We’re not competent to give medical advice. Some people have minor withdrawal symptoms; some die from them — it’s not something to roll the dice with. Consult a doc or go to an ER and ask them.
Craig W. for LifeRing
I’ve been drinking a fifth of vodka a day for about six months. Is it safe for me to “cold turkey” off of it?
Norma,
You describe a mental process that many of our members have gone through. I’ll be in touch by email with some thoughts and information.
– Craig Whalley
I’ve been AA meeting faithful for 11 years or so… even thruout a 1-1/2 year relapse – but I would dearly love to find a secular alternative. I do a lot of service work, but have yet to figure out how to guide a sponsee thru the 12 Steps (being an agnostic)… and therefore haven’t tried. I love AA (if the meeting doesn’t turn too preach-y), but bottom line: “my people” aren’t there and I need more. (Perhaps I should say: I need less!) I’d like to find alternatives to explore – even if it’s only on-line – and would appreciate if you could hook me up. Thanks!!
David,
I sent you an email with an invitation!
– Craig W.
hi i would also like to join this group can email me with details , thanks
Anne,
I’ll be in touch by email.
– Craig
Hi everyone=is there anyone trying to get off drugs like vicodin? my doctor wants me off of it as she feels it is a terrible medication. i have chronic back pain, so i need something. she would rather have me on morphine than vicodin. go figure-any advice?
thanks!!
Vance,
I’ll be in touch by email!
–Craig
Hi,
I live in Burnaby, Canada and I’m in a treament centre thats not providing any treament. And they want me out in 6 weeks. I’m scared, I’m not ready to leave. But nobody seems to care. I feel like I’m leaving the same guy, I was when I walked in. I’m a heavy binge drinker, I can drink a 40pounder of vodka in 1 day and night. I drink it straight. And I don’t think my liver can take much more.
I’m living in Burnaby and I’ve been sober for about a month now. I try and reach out for help, but no one understands or cares. I’m slowly losing hope, that I will never be able to stay sober. I’ve been an alcoholic now for 18yrs. I have brain damage and liver damage and I’m only 31yrs old.
Hi,
I would like to join this group.
A am a dane looking for in Alternative or Supplement to AA. I have Been sober for allmost Five years. I am not tired of AA because i eliminate the funamental groups.
Here in denmark there is no prejudice against atheists, homosexuals, racisism etc.
The literature is a guidance not obligatory and the majority of the groups are functioning well.
Naturally there are fundamentalists here I Denmark, but you can reject these groups und find unother one. No problem.
Notwithstanding my good feelings for AA I am open for other possibilities to remain sober.
Andrew,
I’ll be in touch to explain the ways we can help.
– Craig
Hi,
My name is Andrew i’m from ireland but i live in new york at the minute. I found life ring last year maybe around the end of summer everything was going good so of course i stopped logging in and now im as bad as ever. i know i can acheive anything if i get free from drink but as long im drinking nothing is. im 25 years old living in new york it should be the best days of my life instead everyday is a struggle.
Thanks
Andrew
Hi, Mary,
I’ll be touch by email to offer what we can.
Craig
My name is Mary, I am killing myself drinking a bottle of vodka every night at home alone. I have a good life, a relatively good job, a beautiful home, lovely children who are fed up of my behaviour and a loving partner. I have hobbies which I love to do …. but none of this keeps me away from the supermarket and buying vodka. Can anyone help me?
Hi there everyone. My name is Ann I have in the past few days discovered Lifering. I have been in touch with Craig. I live in Ireland have contacted the group in Dublin no response just wondering if anyone out there is from Ireland. I have been sober just for 3 days and nights now I really feel very posative at the moment. Craving in the evenings can be horrible, however, I make myself busy. I really have to start reading again or take out the old knitting. Anyway thanks everyone for this page it’s a great idea. Ann
Hola manuel. Bienvenidos. Me llamo Chris y yo tambien tengo un problema grave con el alcohol. Puedes encontrar ayuda aqui. Esribiste que esta asistiendo a Alcoholicos Anoimos? Si desea hay mucho mas ayuda con otras organizacioned come Life Ring, SMART y SOS. SMART Recovery tambien tiene informacion en espanol en su “website”.
Chris B
Shelley,
You bet we’re interested! I’ll contact you by email.
– Craig
Hi,
I am interested in a LifeRing group in the Monterey, California area. I am willing to help getting one started. Please let me know if you’re interested. Email me at scgmanteca@aol.com.
Shelley
Manuel,
I have sent your note to a LifeRing member who speaks Spanish. He will be in touch.
–Craig
hola meyamo manuel isoi arcolico soi español estoi iendo acorlicos anonimos pues mivida esundesastre pues qiero enderesarla poreso nececito ayuda muhas gracias
Great, Phil! We’ll be in touch!
–Craig
Want to start group in St Pete Fl Help
I celebrated three years back in May and I feel so good about it! I support everyones right to find their own path to recovery but AA was not for me and I feel so much better since leaving it.
I guess different things work for different people. I too didn’t feel comfortable at AA meetings or 12 step programs. I have been sober for 11 months and my life has really turned completely around! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t completely bored out of my mind at times. Nice to have found a spot where others can relate to one another.
Thanks for mentioning that, Troy. It’s on our list of LifeRing sites as of two minutes ago!
– Craig
Could a link be posted to our Modesto website?
http://modestolifering.org
Thanks.
Deb, if you’re following the conversation:
1. I can’t tell you about whether your company monitors your work computer use or anything else.
2. As for general issues of “safeness,” from viruses and such, Lifering’s email grou8ps have no worries there.
Steve
I gonna kill myself drinking if I don’t quit… for good. I found you guys and worry my e-mail will be hacker into at work… I could lose my job. Don’t have regular access to e-mail and sometimes use it at nite. Don’t know enough about computers to know if my messages are “SAFE” Can I use this website safely ? Please get back to me. Today’s date is 5/19/2011.
I have been sober for a month. Started my first day with a AA meeting. Good people , good sponsor , but after a couple weeks I couldn’t take all the Big Book stuff and didn’t believe in GOD. Still sober, still don’t believe in GOD just really happy to find this site and group! Not to knock AA. Works for a lot of people , just not my cut of tea. Onward and upward.
I feel the same way, Darrel. I have been in and around 12 step programs for years and have been offered them as the only ‘viable option’ for recovery. I am sick of it. Here in Northern New York, there are NOTHING but 12 step meetings. Ugh. I have tried to be a good little 12 stepper, but quite simply, IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME. I am so happy to have found LifeRing and I hope I can get the support I need to continue staying clean and sober. Thanks!
Great blog! I really like the way it? s uncomplicated on my eyes too as the data are properly written. I’m questioning how i might be notified every time a brand new post continues to be made. I’ve subscribed for your rss feed which require to accomplish the trick! Possess a great day!
I agree about the AA meetings-even though I went for years. But after 8 years I started drinking again-I think from boredom and falling for the wrong guy. Didn’t drink much after my illnesses started (fibromialgia, arthritis and several others). Then I started again, now married to someone who I don’t think will quit. I don’t drive, go anywhere, really have no good friends here. I’m 64 and want the energy I had when I didn’t drink and lose weight. I can go to CDRP at Kaiser, even get medication to help the urges. Getting panic attacks again-didn’t have them when I didn’t drink. My medication for that doesn’t work so well now because I drink so much
I’m sure you are not a doctor. I just emailed my doctor about this-something we have discussed a lot. But it is REALLY up to me. I’m not stupid-just scared. I should leave the marriage. Can’t afford to-and I would worry about him. A lot of the love is gone. I live in Sacramento now. Are there email groups here? Maybe I could do that and go to CDRP sometimes. I don’t really know to talk to anymore.
Once I started a phobics and panic attack group-after I felt so much better. Problem is too many people were too nervous to come. But I sure got a lot of phone calls, and i think I was a big help. Anyway, what do you think? THANK YOU!
Darrel,
There once was a time when there were no alternatives where I live in Victoria Canada. I wanted a support group to go to that encapsulated my beliefs and philosophies on live clean and sober and it wasn’t here, so I created the first LifeRing meeting in Victoria on January 30, 2008. Tomorrow night we are about to start the seventh group in this area. The response has been nothing short of fantastic!
Starting a group is not for everyone and I had no idea my life would turn into what it has. With the help of several people who volunteer with LifeRing here in Victoria, we have created a fresh new dynamic to the recovery community here and it is widely supported by addiction professionals. Part of our goal is to build Victoria into a model for other cities in Canada and my vision is to see LifeRing meetings in every major city across this country. I can tell you that it will happen.
If you have it in you to create history within your own community, but more importantly, creating something where you and many other people can achieve meaningful sobriety – start a LifeRing meeting. It is actually quite easy and you will be well supported by the LifeRing Service Centre in Oakland. Grab someone else you know that thinks along your lines of thought on sobriety and start a group.
Take care,
Michael
Don’t let them trouble you a second longer. There must be fifty ways to leave an unsympathetic addiction support group
. Trick is (and I haven’t fully mastered it myself yet) to stay sober and ‘don’t drink or use not matter what’ 
I have been sober for over two years but I am totally sick of AA. It is controlled by Big Book fundamentalists and is a 12-step religious cult. I am free from the obsession to drink and I am very happy to be sober. But they push this dangerous myth that one must have god and faith to be sober. And they are prejudice against atheists and skeptics. I wish there were secular alternatives to AA here in Greenville,SC.
Darrel Welden
Greenville,SC
317-439-6209