Welcome to Pause When Agitated!

Hello and welcome! I’m Jim S., and I found sobriety through AA in the South Bay of Los Angeles over 35 years ago. AA transformed my life in countless wonderful ways that continue to this day. I remain active in the fellowship here in the Gold Country foothill communities of Sacramento, where I have a sobriety date, home group, and sponsor!

In gratitude for my sober journey, I created this Pause When Agitated website 15 years ago. My goal is to encourage those new to sobriety to persevere, as I know it’s not easy to obtain and maintain sobriety. Additionally, I’ve seen some people struggle with AA. Whether the difficulty is with the meetings, the people in the meetings, or “all the God talk” having any or all of these is quite normal and would encourage you to “keep coming back.”

In my experience, the benefits of obtaining abstinence far outweigh the costs of obtaining it, and most critical entanglements typically unwind over time. Often, a new idea or a nudge administered with empathy is all we need to keep going.

PWA tries to provide that kind and encouraging nudge by sharing experiences and information on many popular topics discussed in meetings. And while recovery can be social, at least for me when I was new, the toughest part of the day when I was all by myself with my thoughts. I wish I knew of a blog like this back then. Without the internet, it wouldn’t have done me much good. I think you get the point.

Here are few tips for your sober journey and this website’s mission and purpose.

Is This Site for You?

Pause When Agitated is here to support you if:

• You sincerely want to achieve abstinence from alcohol and unprescribed drugs but feel unsteady and vulnerable.
• You’re attending AA meetings and feel a bit confused about what’s happening.
• You have questions about the basics of 12-step programs and want to understand key concepts like sponsorship, higher power, and spirituality.
• You’re supporting a loved one who’s trying to get sober and want to learn how to best support them.

Our Site Offers:

• Clear explanations of AA concepts and practices
• Practical tips for navigating early sobriety
• Resources for family and friends of those in recovery
• A supportive community of individuals on similar journeys
• A modern perspective honed from the latest recovery research data on topics such as relapse, poly addiction, and marijuana use.

How to Get Started

• Subscribe – PWA publishes new content typically once a week. No spam or ads. If you subscribe, one email per month. Unsubscribe anytime.
• Use the Search Bar on Header to uncover articles for ideas to help you in your sober journey.
• Ask Questions – The best place to ask questions is at AA meetings. That is the crux of “the program” – one person helping another. If you think I can help send your questions to [email protected] and I will do my best to provide an answer. I read every note and reply within a couple days.
• Most important – Don’t Drink, Go to Meetings, Get a Sponsor, Work the Steps, and Keep Coming Back.

If you’re interested in learning more about me and my journey, you can read it here. If you want to learn more about this website, you can find that here.