How Alcoholics Anonymous Started
Continuously providing help and support to alcoholic addicted persons for 80 years is what Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) does best. Alcoholics Anonymous provides moral support to people that are trying to stop alcoholism and it started its operation in 1935. 12 steps were developed by the pair to go on the meetings of AA. They later also introduced the 12 traditions further to help define the purpose within the group. The original 12 steps are still intact; besides, many former alcohol addicts contribute to the group by helping the members make steps to recovery.
Today, Alcoholics Anonymous has more than 2,000,000 active members all over the world and more than 50 thousand of support groups countrywide.
What You Will Find At An AA Meeting
It is always quite challenging the first time you go for the meeting if you are not aware of what goes on there. Opening up about your condition to people that you have just met is always the hard part for the new members. This feeling is felt by most of the people you'll encounter in the meetings. The fact that the group was started by people that were former alcoholics shows that it can really help you. Sharing a common experience of being alcoholics is what makes AA successful in its objective and mission.
All attendees of the group will be welcomed with open arms during an AA meeting. New attendees are encouraged to join the discussion, but it is not required. Not everyone will be open to exposing their private experiences at first and everyone will understand this. As time passes by most attendees become comfortable with the great healing and therapy, they receive through the open and honest discussions which are provided by these meetings.
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Closed And Open Meetings
Attendance to a closed AA meeting is just available to recovering alcoholics or to individuals who are looking forward to learning more about how they can overcome their alcoholism.
Open meetings welcome also spouses, friends, and family members of the addicts. You have the option of deciding whether you want to attend a closed meeting or an open meeting depending on your comfort level within the organisation. A certain share of the people attending these meetings prefer to keep their therapy separated from the rest of their lives. However, some people recover faster when their families and friends are near them.
The 12 Steps Of AA
The 12 steps were first started in Alcoholics Anonymous but is used in addiction recovery groups for many other drugs nowadays. Despite the steps being presented in linear fashion participants are known to view them as an ongoing circle. Some of the steps mentioned could be revisited until the recovering alcoholic is comfortable during that stage of their recovery process.
Admitting that you have a problem and accepting that you need assistance is the first step. Subsequently, the steps include making decisions to quit, accepting yourselves and others the wrongs which may have been committed, making amends for the wrongdoings along with making a commitment to improve continually. To find out more about the 12 steps, go here.
Common Reasons For Not Attending AA
Withdrawal symptoms and other uncomfortable things one goes through as they try to quit alcohol abuse discourage many from attending the AA meetings. Some of their common objections are the following
- They doubt that attending the meeting will help
- They do not want to risk meeting someone they know
- They haven't seen their alcoholism as a problem yet
These arguments may seem meaningful to somebody who is already in doubt about attending a meeting; however, you should keep in mind why you were considering going there in the first place.
Accepting your condition and seeking help is the main objective. Attending a meeting may end up saving you a lifetime of pain and destruction brought about by the addiction to alcohol.
Identifying An Alcoholics Anonymous Group
No matter where you live, there certainly is an AA group nearby. There is usually a schedule of meetings for each group; it is best to join as soon as you can. You should make a decision about whether you want to attend an open or closed meeting and also choose the location you have in mind, and you will definitely find one online through our meeting finder. Let us provide you the help to find an AA group today please contact .