Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, or AA, is THE number one treatment and recovery option for alcoholics everywhere, going to the different types of AA meetings is how I got sober and stayed sober... in the beginning. For that I am eternally grateful. Now I have moved on.
A common misunderstanding is that AA meetings are only for alcoholics. The truth is that individuals who abuse alcohol would also benefit from meetings. Moderate drinking is recognized as 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women. Some individuals experience negative consequence from moderate drinking.
It is an incredibly useful tool, and brings hope and respite from alcohol to many. But it is not for everybody, so read on, but keep in mind that, if AA is not for you there are alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous, so do not despair. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a list of blogs and podcasts related to alcohol use that could be of benefit.
Research has shown several benefits from participating in Alcohol Anonymous meetings. Individuals who participate in AA are more likely to abstain from alcohol. Research has also shown that there is a positive relationship between AA participation and marriage satisfaction as well as work satisfaction.
For the newcomer, an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting can seem, strange and intimidating at times. It is only natural to feel apprehensive about your first AA meeting.
It takes time to get used to the language and ideas flying around an AA meeting, so my advice is to take it one step at a time. It will take a while to feel comfortable, do not expect to get into the flow after just a couple of meetings.
More importantly, don't dismiss AA out of hand after one session just because it's 'weird'. Everything seems weird the first time we do it. Give it a chance and then, if it still doesn't do anything for you, move onto a different method of quitting drink.
What can make the first meeting less strange is to know what to expect at a meeting, so at least you're not surprised by the format.
There are at least 4 different types of alcoholic anonymous meeting, each of which has a different format.
It is important to remember that each AA group decides on its way of doing things, so meetings vary in many ways, however, they roughly follow the structure outlined below.
The 4 types of meeting are:
Regardless on the type of meeting, there are certain elements that remain the same in most AA meetings:
The way that Alcoholic Anonymous meetings are able to work so effectively is because of a variety of different factors.
Below is a list of some of the most common key factors that make this particular group such a successful option for alcoholic individuals to choose when they have set their heart and their mind on removing alcohol from their lives.
The common elements that alcoholics in the AA 12 step program commit to are....
If you found this page of interest then you may find the following resources useful:
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Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl
Licensed Medical Health Professional
Hello!
I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More
Sources:
A published research article provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism regarding the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: Alcohol Health and Research World Volume 18 Number 4 1994 Advances in Alcoholism Treatment (nih.gov)
Facts and statistics provided by the Center for Disease Control: Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health. Learn the facts | CDC
List of alcohol related Blogs developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Blogs | Alcohol | CDC
List of alcohol related Podcasts developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Alcohol related podcasts | CDC
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