The Right Number

I looked at my mobile phone again. What was I going to say? Would the caller be drunk or sober? How could I help them? These were the questions that flitted through my mind as I started my first shift as an AA telephone responder. Then I remembered that I had thirty years’ experience as an active alcoholic. I also had three years of recovery under my belt. My anxiety lessened - everything would be fine. My Higher Power must have been at work.

I did service once a week as a responder on a night shift. This ran from 10.30pm to 7am the following morning. I soon learnt to identify with different callers. They often reminded me of where I had come from. Their questions were varied. “How do I stop drinking and stay stopped?” “How did you stop drinking?” “Am I an alcoholic?”  “How will sitting in a room full of recovering alcoholics help me?” I answered such questions to the best of my ability. My own experience is my most valuable asset. I have learnt how to show more patience and empathy. I have learnt how to listen and when to talk. How to encourage, while being honest about recovery from alcoholism. This is especially useful when a caller is convinced that they cannot quit drinking. Or when somebody is wary of AA because they think it is a religious organisation.

After eighteen months I changed to a day shift. During this I sometimes get a call from a friend or relative, who is concerned about someone close to them. I try to establish if that person really wants to stop drinking. If they do, I ask to speak to them. I also ask the original caller if they would like the number for Al-Anon. Telephone calls also sometimes come through from other intergroup areas. If the caller wants a Twelve-Step call, I then contact a responder in their local area who arranges this. There are also enquiries from people in the Fellowship. These are usually about times and dates of meetings and other matters. Enquiries from outside organisations and professional bodies are referred to Public Information or another relevant Intergroup Liaison Officer. These calls are kept as brief as possible, to keep the line open for the still suffering alcoholic.

Passing the AA message on helps me to stay sober. This was especially true during the first Covid-19 lockdown. I was not able to get to a meeting for two months, so I temporarily took on an additional telephone shift. I first contacted AA by telephone more than seven years ago. I truly thank God that somebody was there to listen that day. That person started me on a wonderful road to recovery that saved my life. If you have a minimum of one year of sobriety and regularly attend meetings, perhaps you could do telephone service too? Believe me, you will not regret it if you do.

BRYAN W, Petersfield