Anyone who has a desire to do something about their drinking can join. Welcome to Florida Recovery Center, a men’s halfway house that provides a safe and supportive environment for men in recovery. AA members receive sobriety chips when they continue to attend meetings and successfully abstain from alcohol for specific periods. Common milestones for sobriety chips are 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year.
AA has helped over 2 million alcoholics stop drinking
- Despite his final years of life, weakening strength, and every reason not to attend meetings, according to the book “Dr.
- Our team offers inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment services, including an inpatient detox program.
- The meeting begins with the chairperson reading the AA Preamble, then leading a group prayer, the Serenity Prayer (short version).
- This helps to build a strong foundation for sobriety and allows individuals to immerse themselves in a supportive network.
This accountability can be incredibly motivating, encouraging individuals to stay sober and committed to their recovery goals. Knowing that others are counting on them can be a powerful motivator, and it can help individuals stay on track even during challenging times. Regular attendance at AA meetings provides a robust support system, as members can relate to the complexities of addiction and offer unwavering support. Additionally, by attending meetings, alcoholics can maintain their sobriety while also having fun and connecting with others. For those who may find in-person meetings challenging due to scheduling or location, virtual meetings offer an accessible alternative.
Dr. Bob’s 4 Reasons to Attend Meetings (This Time from the AA Big Book):
A lady named Anne C, recalled someone asking him at this time, “Do you have to go to all these meetings? ” (Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1980, p. 334). After considering the above question for some time, Dr. Bob came up with an answer. Another part of the “keep coming back” mantra is to support others in the group. The sense of community in AA goes both ways, and while you benefit from the relationships you build with others, you can provide that support to someone else. According to Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., AA is more effective compared to other treatment methods because it’s based on building a sense of community.
Connect With Like-Minded Individuals
You can often find a posted schedule that includes the expected duration of the meeting. Each person who attends AA is unique, but they share a common goal of wanting to address their problem with drinking. Some may want to mentor others, while others want to observe and participate less.
The Experience Blog
- No matter where you are, you’ll find a community of people who share your goal of maintaining sobriety and living alcohol-free.
- Take time during meetings to really listen to your peers as they describe and share their stories.
- Dr. Bob’s dedication to attending meetings, even in his final years, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of consistent fellowship in recovery.
- Anyone who has a desire to do something about their drinking can join.
AA meetings are free to attend and voluntary contributions are encouraged. AA meetings are open to anyone who has a sincere desire to stop drinking, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income or profession. AA meetings are typically free of charge, but voluntary contributions are encouraged to cover expenses related to meeting facilities and materials.
Common Meeting Formats
Around 14.5 million people age 12+ have an alcohol use disorder of some sort in the United States. The prevalence of alcohol abuse emphasizes the need for effective treatment options. We cannot predict who will recover, nor have we the authority to decide how recovery should be sought by any other alcoholic. Member serving as “leader” or “chair” opens the meeting using that group’s format, and selects a topic for discussion.
He started attending meetings at the urging of a social worker, and he was surprised by how welcoming and supportive the community was. Attending meetings regularly helped Tom to build a new support system and learn valuable life skills that he had never had before. Today, Tom has been sober for five years, and he says that attending AA meetings was the turning point in his recovery journey.
It’s possible for reasons to attend aa meetings and how often to go people to change their behavior in this setting because they’re surrounded by others on the same path with the same goals. Therefore, coming back to AA meetings throughout your life is important to maintaining your mental health as an alcoholic. AA meetings are open to anyone with a sincere desire to stop drinking, regardless of whether they identify as an alcoholic.
Learn New Strategies for Overcoming Addiction
Outside of the room are a few folks making coffee and talking. An AA meeting refers to an Alcoholics Anonymous support group meeting. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who have experienced problems with drinking.
Understanding A.A. Meeting Attendance
You might meet someone or learn something that changes your life for the better. Yes, this is arguably the most critical time to “keep coming back,” even though it’s also the most challenging. Returning to AA meetings after relapsing can be difficult for several reasons; you may feel embarrassed or ashamed of your relapse and fear judgment from others. You may also not be in a place mentally where you feel like being sober again, depending on what events led to your relapse. Showing up for yourself and being honest about where you’re at is the first step toward earning that 1-month sobriety chip again. Your primary care physician or mental health professional can help you find a local 12-step meeting.
AA meetings are held in-person, online, or over the telephone, and members decide when, where, and how often they meet. AA meetings offer opportunities to learn and practice these skills, including stress management techniques, communication skills, and healthy coping mechanisms. These skills can be invaluable, not just in overcoming addiction, but also in other areas of life. Sometimes, you may have to try different AA groups before you find the group that works best for you. AA meetings are the ultimate setting in which to learn new strategies and insights for overcoming alcohol addiction.
Proof of attendance at meetings is not part of A.A.’s procedure. Each group is autonomous and has the right to choose whether or not to provide proof of attendance at their meeting. Some call for a moment of silence and/or recite the Serenity Prayer. The chair will often ask if there are any people new to A.A. Attending the meeting who would like to introduce themselves.