12-Step Lingo and Types of Meetings FHE Health

First, they will pass around a collection basket where people may donate money to help pay for the rent, group materials, fees, and miscellaneous items like coffee or breakfast. Secondly, they will ask if anyone has a “burning desire” to share. Lastly, the group will collectively bow their heads and have a moment of silence for the alcoholic or addict that is suffering most and say the serenity prayer together. The one thing that is certain is that if Bill W. And Dr. Bob hadn’t shared their faith, passion, and practices with the world, addiction and recovery would look very different today. AA meetings are gatherings where individuals struggling with alcohol addiction come together to shareexperiences, strength, and hope.

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• Examples include meetings for young adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, or professionals.
• During the start of the meeting, members and those attending for the first time welcome each other without judgment or condemnation, as there is an understanding that they are all going through the same thing.
• Participate, listen,and share in a judgment-free zone.
• People from all walks of life attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, which are informal gatherings held worldwide.
• AA is self-supporting, with donations from members covering expenses, and it operates through an “inverted pyramid” structure, where individual groups function autonomously.

Ultimately, AA’s effectiveness is subjective and varies from person to person. Many find it a valuable resource in their journey to sobriety, while others may seek alternative approaches or a combination of methods to address their alcohol abuse and addiction. This principle ensures a safe and non-judgmental environment for sharing. AA members use only their first names, and the personal stories and discussions in AA meetings are meant to remain within the group. The Twelve Traditions were introduced in 1946, guiding AA’s structure and unity. They emphasize anonymity, humility, and group cohesion, ensuring AA’s continued effectiveness and longevity in helping individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Struggling with Alcohol Addiction? Discover Strength with AA Meetings!

That way, if you feel triggered, you can pick up a phone rather than a drink. If no one approaches you, see the chairperson at the end of meeting and mention you are new. Combining your AA experience with the structured and supportive environment of Design for Recovery can enhance your path to sustained sobriety. AA groups are self-supporting 5 types of alcoholics and rely on voluntary donations from members to cover expenses for literature, meeting spaces, and administrative costs at various levels of the organization. AA membership is open to anyone with a drinking problem and a genuine desire to stop drinking. There are no age or education requirements needed to participate.

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• Bysimply inputting your sobriety start date, our Sobriety Calculator will reveal your exact time of beingalcohol-free up to the present day.
• Open meetings can be an excellent starting point for people who want to learn about AA.
• We are here for you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
• Central to its operation are the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, which provide a structured path to recovery.

Its primary mission is to help those suffering from alcohol addiction achieve and maintain sobriety. Today, though, the original twelve steps have been modified to reflect changing circumstances and societal expectations. And now, some version of the twelve steps can be found in nearly every model of rehab and recovery – an important component of a broader treatment model that can include medication, counseling and rehab. “Closed” meetings are for AA members or people who are new to AA who want to stop drinking. In cities, a typical meeting might have ten to twenty members.

• The meeting will consist of members telling their stories but if anyone isn’t in the mood to talk, it’s fine to decline.
• These same formats may be applied to group meetings on the Big Book or the Twelve Traditions.
• Depending upon the group conscience for general guidelines, some groups prefer that members who speak have a minimum period of continuous sobriety.

I’m so grateful to OTR for the second chance I now have at living a happy sober life. Demographic-specific AA meetings include men’s and women’s AA meetings. LGBTQ AA meetings are also available for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and other members of the queer community. We do not impose our experience with problem drinking on others, but we do share it when we are asked to do so. We know our own sobriety depends on connecting with other alcoholics.

Listen to stories of people going to their first AA meeting

While AA operates independently, the treatment industry sometimes incorporates AA’s Twelve Steps and principles into its programs. This synergy between AA and professional treatment facilities aims to provide comprehensive support for individuals seeking recovery. Welcome to AA Meetings Directory, your comprehensive resource and support hub for overcoming alcoholaddiction. Embracing the ethos of Alcoholics Anonymous, our website is a beacon of hope and guidance.We’re dedicated to providing insightful information and fostering a strong social network for our AAcommunity members. Our mission resonates with the AA Traditions, aiming to be a pivotal part of yourjourney to sobriety. AA Meetings Directory is more than a guide; it’s a pathfinder for those grapplingwith the challenges of alcohol dependency.

If you or someone you know has had a problem with substance abuse like alcohol or drugs, you have likely heard of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It has been around since 1935 and was started by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith (known as Bill W. and Dr. Bob). Since its creation in Akron Ohio, AA has amassed over 2 million members worldwide and consists of different types of 12 step meetings. Other organizations have been created using similar principles and programs to not only help alcoholics and addicts but also the people who love and support them.

You’ll never be met with a demand to come back to any meeting or indeed to AA. You can go to different meetings as often or as little as you wish. All AA meetings are over in an hour-and-a-half. You should arrive early to give yourself time to find a seat and settle in before the meeting starts to avoid disrupting the meeting.

Usually a collection is taken at the end of each meeting to cover the costs of renting the hall and providing refreshments. There’s no obligation but most people put in a dollar or two. All meetings open with a short prayer; frequently a common abbreviated version of the The Serenity Prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr.