The author of this paper will discuss her attendance at two self-help meetings Alcoholics Anonymous as well as a Narcotics Anonymous. Comparing the meetings, as well as discussing the author’s misperceptions of the members of mutual self-help groups. Additionally, the author will discuss how the group within the meeting were diverse, supportive, non-judgemental and accepting, or not. In addition, the misperceptions of mutual self-help groups will be addressed. “Involvement in such groups is meant to provide participants with support for remaining substance free, a social network (the “fellowship”) with which to affiliate, and a set of 12 guiding principles (the “steps”) to be followed in the recovery process” (Donovan, Ingalsbe, Benbow, Daley, 2013). …show more content…
MUTUAL SELF-HELP GROUPS 5 I attended two meetings located in Queens New York. The AA meeting, Sobriety on 111th is held on Tuesday’ at 7:30 p.m. located in the basement of 128-04 111th Ave of the Christian fellowship church. The NA meeting Recover and Live, is held twice a week Monday’s and Thursday’s at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are held in the Father Freely Hall, located at 85-18 61st Rd Woodhaven, New York. It was also in held in the basement. I went to the Tuesday and Thursday evening meetings, for no other reason than that they were near my home as well as being convenient to my schedule. Believing to be true what I saw in the media regarding, those in self-help meetings were either forlorn, angry or still using. Expecting those in attendance to have some visible signs of use. I also expected not to be welcomed or shunned, believing I would judge them. I was very much
Depending on their conditions, many people resort to substances to help them cope. These substances are widely abused and are unhealthy. The British Journal of Social Work surveyed three different rehabilitation centers. They came to the conclusion that “There is a very large international body of research on substance use and abuse, ranging from problem etiology to treatment (Valtonen 59)”. This suggests that because of what people are dealing with, they often resort to substance abuse. However, there are many better ways to cope. People use substances to try and figure out their diagnoses. During the surveys of the rehabilitation centers, they found out some other coping mechanisms. Some of these coping mechanisms are sleeping, eating, smoking, and drinking. These mechanisms are not a healthy way to deal with the situation at hand. This study shows that people who avoid substances to cope and instead talk to a therapist have better outcomes. This is also true with people who go to focus groups and verbally discuss their problems rather than resorting to
...ences have thankfully sheltered me from witnessing a person suffering from a serious drug or alcohol addiction. Prior to this experience my knowledge was limited as to how one would successfully regain sobriety. I left the center feeling blessed, thankful that these men allowed me to witness a transformation in progress. Although I have been given the knowledge; I gained awareness that addiction truly is an illness. My thoughts and feelings will definitely be more tolerant and caring all while showing concern to those that I may blessed to be a part of their care in the future.
Dr. Hart argues that social support systems shape how a person deals with their addiction. He brings in the story
Coming into the substance abuse meeting the student nurse was scared and nervous. She was scared of the reaction of the consumers and feared all the stereotypes she heard about typical alcoholics. Innervison gave the student nurse a new outlook on these types of consumers. She no longer looked at them as people who were just drunks and wanted to use AA as an excuse to make it seem like they are getting help. She never really looked at alcoholism as a true addiction; it seemed like more of an excuse to escape life’s problems. Sitting in and listening to these consumers gave the student nurse a dose of reality. The student nurse now understands alcoholism better and AA helped her realize recovery is truly a process that takes one day and one step at a time.
...e or social group for being an addict if it is not fully understood that they are trying to recover from their addiction (Methadone Cons).
Alcoholism is as prevalent in my family, as blood is in our veins. When previously asked to observe 12-step groups, I ritualistically flocked to Alcoholics Anonymous, without consideration of the possibility that other groups had any potential to make an impact on me. I always pride myself in my ability to identify as an individual that is not ensnared in alcoholism, but unfortunately am an individual that was highly tormented by alcoholism. Through observation of the group and how it processed, as well as identifying how I felt as a new attendee, I was able to understand why self-help, support groups are so vital for individuals in recovery. I finally realized, I too am in recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been around for more than 75 years. The biggest controversy about AA is if it is effective or not. Some people find AA to be an effective aid to sobriety; others find AA to be damaging and can lead to increased drinking. AA meetings are groups of people with the desire to quit drinking that help one another achieve and maintain sobriety. These meetings may include readings from the Big Book, sharing stories, discussing the traditions and 12 steps, and celebrating members’ sobriety. Because AA is anonymous, many people feel that participating in a study would be a breach
A major question that has been asked ever since the creation of AA, people have questioned Bill Wilson’s theory on Alcoholism; whether it’s a disease or a spiritual problem. In addition to the question of the origins of alcoholism another question is if the “Big Book” and 12 step program about alcohol or about finding God. This paper is about Alcoholics Anonymous and how the organization treats alcoholism as a disease that it impossible to cure unless the individual finds God. I believe that AA operates in a fashion similar to that of a cult because of what the book teaches and the message that AA members are instructed to carry out.
On February 27, 2014, I visited an Alcohol Anonymous (A.A) therapeutic group meeting called Another Chance. Another Chance is an intergroup meeting located inside the Concord Baptist Church of Christ, at 833 Gardner C. Taylor Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11216. Another Chance has been in operation for over thirty years, and holds open discussion meetings on alcohol use and prevention, every Thursday from six in the evening until seven o’clock. This group interaction with alcohol substance use and abuse focuses on helping all members regardless of race, ethnicity or culture, to abstain from drinking one day at a time; and encourages them to maintain healthy thoughts and emotions through the use of the “Twelve Steps and Traditions” of recovery and intervention approaches.
I do not regret it because it was an experience that taught me something. After attending the A.A meeting I realized/learned that everyone was there for the same reason. Everyone was on a road to recovery, everyone had a desire to stop drinking and everyone was trying to stay sober. I learned the stories of those who had an alcohol dependence problems. Some stories where sadder than others. I learned the stories of why the people chose to get sober. Some stories consisted of trauma that occurred, some stories consisted of children and some stories simply consisted of change. I learned that it is important to share and express your feelings at A.A meetings. Most importantly, I learned that the people at the A.A meeting were not judgmental and they are very accepting to others. Attending an A.A meeting gave me an inside feel of how an alcoholic or recovering addict may feel when attending their first meeting.
My assignment was to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting and write my observations and thoughts on the meeting, its structure and philosophical beliefs. I was extremely uncomfortable about attending such a personal meeting. Would individuals welcome me or feel as if I would judge? Even though I was uncomfortable, I am glad I attended the meeting as it was a very enlightening experience for me.
The following meeting takes place at South Dade group on October 9, 2015 at 8:30 PM. When I was asked to participate at the community experience alcoholics anonymous (AA), I was really worried because I did not have a clue of what it is all about. “Alcoholics Anonymous is an international organization of individuals who have struggled with drinking problems at some point in their lives” (recovery.org). As I steeped in the meeting, I observed in the wall the Non-12-Step Addiction Recovery Programs, and I asked the leader to explain to me about those steps; he was saying that is an approach serving as a model as they are going to each step at the time to help alcoholics with their addiction process
My experience with the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that I went to was an interesting one. I felt a couple different feelings while I was attending the meeting. The first thing that I felt was that I didn’t belong there, because I’ve never been in the situation that these other individuals had been in. The second thing that I felt was awkwardness. I felt awkward because nobody really socialized with me, other than the occasional hello. The third feeling that I felt was of empathy for these people because recovering from alcoholism isn’t easy. I didn’t feel that I belonged in the group of recovering alcoholics at the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting.
Support groups can provide someone who is determined to put an end to stimulant addiction with strength and encouragement. This can help them through the hardest parts of their recovery in the real world. Not receiving such encouragement and support could cause recovering addicts to relapse. Sympathy Since everyone in a support group is going through some version of the same struggles, support group members often express sympathy for the challenges of other members grappling with stimulant addiction. This is a key component of the group therapy. They all understand the almost irresistible cravings they experience, as well as the difficulty of living without stimulants. They can discuss these things with one another in an environment in which everyone understands the issues. Such groups are also generally led by people who have already gone through this part of their recovery and who can thus give newer recovering addicts sound advice about staying clean. Responsibility For the person recovering from stimulant addiction, joining a support group can instill a sense of responsibility for the well-being of the group. Staying clean becomes something that does not just impact the individual, but the group as
As mentioned, “people come here faithfully, watch and observe how people behave with each other generously, and after that, you just change as a decent human being.” Some even mentioned how they needed directions in life when they were deliberately taking harmful actions, such as continuous nonstop drinking. There’s an actual message that I also picked up from this meeting and that was that, most of the people in the AA meeting role model was, in fact, God itself. Recovery was made accessible when most of them meditated or prayed during the day. It gave them satisfaction, relief, relaxation, tranquility, sense of well-being and positive mood. As one of the members mentioned, “addictive behavior lead to fear, distrust, what is happening to my life, with fucked up people, but those were learning through perspectives of life.” Rehab literature of the true wisdom of life, gave that certain individual intelligence of inner vision; which, he mentioned that the God granted himself through great literature books. Praying and meditation gave him inner peace, which allowed his conscientious to have full freedom. Health benefits that can result from this meeting is that you have a useful resource to communicate your feelings with members that are already