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Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting I attended the Alcohol Anonymous (AA) twelve step meeting on Friday December fourth at 8:00 p.m. at the community center at Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills. The people were middle aged men and women of different ethnic backgrounds. The meeting started in an arranged fashion. I sat in the back and was addressed by an elderly man who wanted to know who I was to and I replied that I was a student writing a paper for school. He was fine with my answer and departed. The meeting started with people presenting themselves. First, there was an open conversation that started was with the storytelling of one member’s endeavors with alcoholism. After this heartwarming account, other people in the group provided how the …show more content…
story related to their own struggles or by speaking about their personal stories about fighting alcoholism. The person who guided the meeting was an older man by the name of John who juristridicted the course of discussion and payed attention to everyone’s personal accounts. There was no “featured” orator per say but there was a speaker who talked more than the other people in the group. Mainly, the conversation in the group was about how people would use alcohol to squelch negative sensations even if the occurrences caused the said sensations were as small as a bill in the mail, an argument with a odd stranger on the street or a dispute with a parent. Another member spoke about how he turns to alcohol when he breaks up with a girlfriend. He said that starting from college; he would treat his sensations by going out with his companions rather than turning to alcohol to feel better. Another member shared an account of how alcohol runs in his family and that his brother who is also an alcoholic is now jobless. He spoke about how he cannot help his brother and get his brother to come to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with him and that he cannot force sobriety on someone who declines the help. We then spoke about how the first step to resolving a difficult situation is admitting that there is a problem. People cannot get help if they do not seek help themselves or refuse help when it is provided. I have to accept that my assumptions of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and my real life occurrence of going to one do not really equal. I thought that an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting would look like people who are all broken down and have lost their mind and that they were forced to come to the meeting. The people I encountered at the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that I went to were all clean shaven and wore clean clothes and did not even smell like alcohol.
They were very nice people and opened up a lot. I also did not think that an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting would have so many smart people who would be so prepared to take part in by adding in very personal statements about their own lives and about the lives of people close to them. I always thought that alcoholics would be unsuccessful people who did not have occupations but in the meeting, a great deal of the people did have jobs and they went to work and they were kind of victorious. There are many emotional requirements faced by taking part in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or any twelve step program. First, unhappiness loves companionship so bringing together many miserable people makes each other feel better. People with the same dilemma can feel as if they are not lonely and that can give them power to make a modification in their lives maybe. Second, speaking about one’s difficulties is a great initial measure in resolving the issue. These twelve step meetings do a very good job of getting people talking about their sensations out loud to other people who comprehend. Third, these series of programs present some people a feeling of belonging. Having somewhere to go each night and to be a
part of a group gives power to people. Fourth, auditory perception of other people’s issues gives intuitive to one’s own issues and a new outlook that can outcome in better decision making. Twelve step programs are good for achieving and conserving abstinence because for one, it makes people feel guilty for misusing materials. It can make people feel like they are letting other people down if they go back to their old lives. Second, these programs supply emotional support to people when they feel as if they require it. If one is about to abuse a substance, one can phone another member for support and comfort. Third, these programs allow people to remember that they need to keep abstinent. By going every day or every week and being exposed to the program, people recall that they need to not allow themselves to get into his addictions. If my friends were abusing different substances I would refer them to a meeting that is part of the 12 Step Meeting to get them the help that they need. I observed that twelve step meetings are a very healthy and positive way to get over an addiction by being with people who are friendly and kind and open up about their problems and issues. I also observed that the people in the twelve step programs are nice people and supportive of their fellow addicts. I think that these meetings are a good idea and only help people and are beneficial to everyone.
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.
They were all conversing with each other seeming to already be a cohesive group outside of group settings. A few of the members greeted me politely, however, did not engage me in further conversation. As the meeting time came closer, we were all able to enter a room where the meeting would be held. My immediate thoughts on the room were that the room was cold and with simple settings. The room was not very well lit, had a bunch of benches and folding chairs to accommodate the members, and had a table with information and pamphlets about other support groups. Perhaps I had formed an idea of an AA meeting in my head based on movies and TV shows I had seen, but I was expecting to see a table for refreshments and snacks where the members could chat around as they waited for the meeting to begin. However, there was only a water fountain at the very corner of the room, somewhat hiding from all
Alcoholic Anonymous Subculture is characterized by a certain characteristic that all members share the same goal. In this subculture there are dedicated members who need to share their experience, strength and hope for each other, and need to free themselves from their drinking problem. Even though, these people are coming from different cultures, religions, and places, their goal are the same to stay away from an excessive drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous subculture was found the first time in 1935 by two Americans Robert Smith and Bill Wilson (Emily,2012, p.1). This subculture is based on the people who have had a drinking problem. However, in this group there are no age, gender, education, religion or race requirement, so any person who has
I attended an open Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in my neighborhood; officially called the Olive Branch Meeting. The meeting was offered as having a speaker and discussion, it lasted ninety minutes. The Big Book was referenced but it appeared that the speaker was the only one in possession of the Book. To my surprise a fellow Liberty University Student was there in the same capacity as I was, however she was enrolled in a different course. We sat together.
The mutual group attended was Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It consisted of about 15 to 20 people. There were teenager to older adults. Women and men attended. It was officiated by a female who is an alcoholic. Some of the group gave hugs and some gave handshakes. One female made sure that I had each one of the pamphlets that was offered to new beginners. Everybody respected each other during the meeting. One individual came in the meeting that had some drinks. The group members did not disrespect the individual, but took time after the meeting to meet to talk. They believed that each member should have a sponsor. Sponsor ship was important to the group, because it held them accountable for each other. Moos and Timko (2008) mention the significant of having individual have a sponsor in AA.
All evening I kept trying to put myself in the shoes of a potential client whom I have advised to attend one of these meetings. I was nervous enough to attend, and I am not an alcoholic. I was so nervous that I didn’t want to go alone. I asked my dad to go with me. I can only imagine what a terrifying experience that must be for an individual who has never been to a meeting and has no one to go with them. I also got nervous and sweaty just to announce to the group who I was. I’d be a wreck if I was attending the meeting as an alcoholic. I give those people a great deal of credit for coming to those meetings, especially the newcomers. It must take immense amounts of strength and courage to attend, let alone open up and share your experiences.
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
I introduced myself. I learned that the facilitator for the night is actually a member, a 30-year sober member. I was asked to enjoy refreshments and was greeted cordially by present members. The meeting was held in a church reception hall and the room was set up with 3 tables parallel from each other. I participated in this group as an observer, although, I did introduce myself at the beginning. The issue of this group was alcoholism and how to stay sober. The purpose of the group is to be a support system for those who are struggling with sobriety and those who have been successful in sobriety. The group focuses its healing around the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. This support group is open and provides no limit to the attendee
Moreover, there are six components that make up these supportive networks, including attending regular meeting, working the 12 steps, embracing the 12 step program, experiencing a spiritual awakening, using the Alcoholic Anonymous group resources, and getting fully involved in the program activities. Networking these elements outside of their meetings is necessary that serves as a protection for the alcoholic well-being explains Richard N. Cloud, Craig H. Ziegler, and Richard D. Blondell on his journal article called, "What Is Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation?. They also will determine that “working the 12-steps and attending meetings will be among the most significant factors predicting the percentage of days abstinent” (Cloud, Ziegler, and
All and all, in the early twenty century, alcoholism permeated society and become a problem. Despite the fact that Alcoholics Anonymous members were increasing alcoholism was still a mystery, and no one could fully understand its effect on people’s lives much less talked about it in a public forum. At this point, the Christian Evangelical movement, under the leadership of Frank ND Buchman, founded Alcoholic Anonymous. Another crucial person in the organization’s history was Bill Wilson who discover the power of anonymity as a key concept of the group expansion and growth of its memberships, and made its membership open for every one independently of what was their faith beliefs by referring to a supreme being as High Power or others might called God.
Al-Anon Groups are intended for family members and friends of alcoholics, who come together to share their experience, strength and hope, with the goal helping one another overcome their common problems. Anyone who has a loved one who suffers from alcoholism of another is welcome to join in prospect to find a road to recovery. The Al-Anon group that I visited took place on Sunday, February 6, 2015 and from this meeting I have gained tremendous insight regarding a wonderful group of people who share the common thread of dealing with a loved one’s addiction. This group was comprised of the most unassuming regular individuals who presented themselves appropriately and led normal lives with the ages ranging through the decades. Each person
I attended an Alcohol Anonymous meeting in Huntington at The Church of Christ. At the beginning of the meeting, I was feeling very nervous and uncomfortable. A lot of my classmates' were present and we all looked like government workers monitoring the meeting. We were all dressed in our school professional wear and seated in the back row of the group circle. I also believe that this may have created a slightly uncomfortable feeling for the people who attended the meeting. When the leader of the group asked if anyone wanted to share about their “fun week in sobriety”, very few members were willing to disclose personal issues. This increased my feeling of being a nuisance and a spy.
My partner’s uncle frequently discusses his experiences with alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous. One night, while I was flipping through the AA books brought out for me to look at, I asked him why there was such a difference between his recovery from alcoholism and other individuals’ recovery from bulimia. His reasoning for why people with eating disorders are able to learn to have a healthy relationship with food while he is never able to have a drop of alcohol again without spiraling out of control was that he was inherently different and more messed up than others. One thing that inspired compassion in me during this conversation was that he kept repeating that he wasn’t referring to all people with alcohol problems, just himself. He sees
The second AA meeting that I attended on July 5th, 2016, was for women only, located in Bridge House on Camp street. I saw the gatherings of women of different age in front of the building, they were chatting with each other, smoking cigarettes. I had a feeling that they knew each other quite well, so going to the meeting at this particular location was not new for them.
I attended an AA meeting held on a Tuesday at St Stephens Catholic Church. It was an open –discussion meeting and as I walked into the room I was greeted right away by an older gentleman who welcomed me in and offered me some coffee and a snack. I was handed a book and a coin as I sat down and explained that the book was called the big book. The coin had the serenity prayer and AA logo on it. I felt a little uncomfortable because there were only older men sitting around the table at the time I walked in. I soon began to feel better when two women joined the grouped. There were about fifteen people total and about five of them were women. The overall tone of the meeting was friendly and welcoming. The meeting was called to order by the