In the rooms, I have met CEOs and hobos, nurses, and university students. It makes no difference, we share a common disease, and the meetings bring us together to let us know we are not alone. We each need peer support in both AA and other 12-step meetings.
Is Alcoholics Anonymous for You?
Members discuss how to get back on track after a relapse and the importance of not giving up. You do not have to participate in the prayer. Once the prayer is over, the meeting ends. Just as in the movies, everyone responds with, “Hello (first name)!” After they complete their “story” everyone in the room thanks them. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine.
Why Attend AA or NA?
When we go there, we are free to talk without fear of condemnation. Online and telephone meetings are also available. Various platforms are used depending on what the group members prefer. Some are video meetings where you see each other’s faces. At other online meetings, everyone’s video is off.
When you enter an AA or NA meeting, you’ll be greeted warmly, often by someone at the door who is there to make newcomers feel comfortable. The atmosphere is usually relaxed and supportive, with an emphasis on mutual respect and confidentiality. The Central office, intergroup, or answering service numbers throughout the world are available on the AA World Services website. In larger cities, “where and when” booklets that list AA meetings throughout the week often exist.
Many meetings begin with a reading from the Big Book — frequently a portion of Chapter 5 (“How It Works”) or Chapter 3 (“More About Alcoholism”). As a valuable privacy principle for new and longtime members might be read. Many meetings close with members joining in a moment of silence followed by a prayer, or perhaps by reciting the Responsibility Statement or other A.A.
How often do A.A. members have to attend meetings?
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment. Imagine going through this process while being surrounded by those who are depressed or unmotivated. Their apathetic feelings toward recovery could be dangerously can you drink alcohol while taking levaquin contagious.
- The power of attending an AA meeting is in finding we are not alone.
- There are also many online AA meetings that you can conveniently attend from the comfort of your own home.
- Meetings typically close with a prayer, moment of silence, recitation of the Responsibility Statement, or by reading a section of another A.A.
- In the rooms, I have met CEOs and hobos, nurses, and university students.
Some people feel they need to attend an AA meeting every day. Some people prefer to go once a week. Some alcohol and crime statistics people only go occasionally, when they feel they need extra help in staying sober. These same formats may be applied to group meetings on the Big Book or the Twelve Traditions.
The chairperson asks if any newcomers or first-timers are attending the meeting who would like to introduce themselves by their first is ambien better than xanax for sleep name. You may or may not be one of them as this is an option and not mandatory. The meeting begins with the chairperson reading the AA Preamble, then leading a group prayer, the Serenity Prayer (short version). Other studies have analyzed the effectiveness of peer support, in general, during substance use recovery and found that it contributed to a variety of improved outcomes.
What to Expect at an A.A. Meeting
To learn more about how AA or NA can support you, or to find a meeting near you, reach out to us at Discovery Place. We’re here to help you navigate the path to recovery with compassion and support. Discussions often focus on practical ways to handle cravings, manage stress, and navigate the challenges of daily life without relying on alcohol or drugs. Members share what has worked for them, offering new ideas and support to others.
Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. To meet others who have shared the battle and have overcome their alcohol addiction is empowering. We all need support groups and the meeting is the main way we interact with those in that group.
