About Alcoholism

This includes recognizing one’s failings and taking the necessary steps to recover from them. Honesty also encourages individuals to be open and honest with others in the group, creating a safe environment where members can freely discuss issues related to addiction without fear or stigma. Anonymity is often referred to as the greatest single protection the Fellowship has to assure its continued existence and growth. Members — and unity in the common bond of their recovery from alcoholism — anonymity serves as the spiritual foundation of A.A. We are a Fellowship of people who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various kinds of trouble as a result of drinking.

• There are many different ideas about what alcoholism really is.
• AA provides a safe space for members to share their struggles, experiences, and successes with one another in order to acquire strength, understanding, and companionship.
• A sponsor is an AA member who serves as a mentor of sorts to a newcomer in the program.
• Program, individuals are taught that they do not have to feel like they are being deprived of anything.
• Through shared experience, understanding, and acceptance, AA creates a place of refuge where individuals can find lasting recovery from alcoholism.

Life can be good again and we’d like to show you how.

AA also offers online support communities so that current or former members can access help 24/7. A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics to achieve https://ecosoberhouse.com/ sobriety. We are self-supporting, meaning we exist and operate solely through the voluntary contributions of our members. You will see a collection basket passed around at meetings.

Three Legacies of AA

And in recent decades, a growing body of research has shown that it can be incredibly effective. This number will connect you with your local AA office or phone service. This information is both for people who may have a drinking problem and for those in contact with people who have, or are suspected of having, a problem. This page tells what to expect from Alcoholics Anonymous. Individuals living in North America can find a local A.A.

Young and Sober in AA: From Drinking to Recovery

The only alternative is to stop drinking completely and to abstain from even the smallest quantity of alcohol in any form. If they are willing to follow this course, and to take advantage of the help available to them, a whole new life can open up for the alcoholic. We understand now, that once a person has crossed the invisible line from heavy drinking to compulsive alcoholic drinking, they will always remain alcoholic.

• It’s an invaluable resource that can make recovery possible for anyone willing to commit themselves to sobriety.
• Meeting, and it would be nice if you would introduce yourself with your first name, but this is not a requirement.
• We are not allied with any group, cause or religious denomination.
• We try to keep these facts fresh in our thinking at all times because they seem to be the key to our sobriety.

Although general conventions meet periodically and Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., is headquartered in New York City, all AA groups are essentially local and autonomous. To counteract self-indulgence and promote the group’s welfare, members identify themselves only by first name and surname initial. Much of the program has a social and spiritual, but nonsectarian, basis. That being said, there is still much debate around the true effectiveness of the 12-step program offered through Alcoholics Anonymous. While some studies have suggested that it can be a useful tool in recovery, other research has failed to show evidence of its ability to promote abstinence or reduce relapse risk. For this reason, many believe that other forms of treatment, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are more effective in engaging individuals with recovery.

What we have learned about alcoholism

Although the strength of our program lies in the voluntary nature of membership in A.A., many of us first attended meetings because we were forced to, either by someone else or by inner discomfort. Educated us to the true nature of the illness… It is the problem drinker who is our concern… We cannot predict who will recover, nor have we the authority to decide how recovery should be sought by any other alcoholic. AA meetings differ in format, with variations including personal storytelling, readings from the Big Book, and open discussions.

At meetings, those involved gather to share their stories, offering emotional and practical support to those struggling with alcoholism. This includes providing useful information on how to deal with difficult situations, maintain sobriety, or even enjoy life without alcohol. Many meetings include both current and past alcohol addicts who are willing to help new members understand what they can do to achieve recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

• AA is an informal society of more than 2 million recovering alcoholics throughout the world.
• When bringing up AA, it’s important not to pressure the person into taking any specific action or attending a certain meeting.
• They are beginning to define the problem and study it in detail.
• Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship where individuals come together to share experiences, strength, and hope to recover from alcoholism.

A person’s alcoholism demands their honest admission that they have an incapability to handle their own drinking problem. They must then make a commitment to sobriety, honesty, and self-honesty in order for successful recovery to occur. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship of men and women who have experienced alcohol addiction and work together to support other individuals who suffer from alcoholics anonymous meaning the same disease. AA is characterized as a self-help group whose members meet regularly in order to share their personal experiences with alcohol and offer each other kindness, love, and care in a non-judgmental setting.

The focus is on helping alcoholism treatment each individual identify their own motivations in order to improve their life. But only those with a drinking problem may attend closed meetings or become AA members. People with problems other than alcoholism are eligible for AA membership only if they have a drinking problem. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international, non-profit fellowship of men and women dedicated to helping each other recover from alcoholism.