Summary Community Experience about the Meeting
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
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and make them feel that they are not alone. For those people, participating in this type of activity (Alcohol Anonymous) is a way of focusing to find a solution from all the sufferings they go through and the struggle they have to endure everyday against their addiction. The Speaker Overview at the AA meeting At the beginning of the meeting, they were all recited “The Lord Prayer”. There is “A study found an association between an increase in attendance to AA meetings with increased spirituality and a decrease in the frequency and intensity of alcohol use. The authors concluded that though spirituality was an important mechanism of behavioral change for some alcoholics” (Akron Ohio, 2015). As the meeting proceed, there was a young girl named Angeline came around and share her stories. She was 16 years old living in Mississippi where there was a natural catastrophe and all the homes were destroyed and from there, she came to Miami. She started drinking and tried to sober so many times, but failed. She said that she finally understands the reason why she couldn’t stay sober; it is just because she has never been found a relationship to a higher power, and also she did not listen to a sponsor to help her make some progress for the total recovery process. For her, it was only about focus on what best for her which is her drinking. She said she was very selfish and thought that she knows all. Now she came to South Dade Group since three months ago, coming there, it was a new experience that she has never imagined. A lady who sobers for so many years was offering help to be her sponsor, calls her everyday to check upon her. Now, she states with that positive energy, she can face all the temptations and stay sober for the rest of her life. Angeline is a well educated person, she even states that she does not know the psychological reason that makes one be an alcoholic abuser because there are lots of factors to consider, such as early drinking, peer drinking, stress, low esteem, depression, etc., for her whatever the reason might be, a person to be fully recovery has to focus on the treatment based on the holistic approach (mind, body, and spirit). Learning Experience and my perspective about the Meeting I did not know that alcoholics patients were going through a lot until I stepped in that place listening to their stories.
There is a saying “never judge a book by its cover” As I observed most of them look fine to me, they are pleasant and have logical thoughts. I learned that alcoholic patients are needed help like any other sick people seeking for treatments to help them cope with their everyday’s ailments.
As I am observing in the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting it is not an easy thing for addicted people to just wake up and say “I am going to quit “because the more addicted there are, the more difficult it is to stay away from alcohol due to the fact that the brain is empowered them in an extreme temptation and giving them the desire to go ahead and drink; it is like they are not in possession on their own body. It is amazing to see how powerful a group leading by only alcoholic people to have a such impact to one another to stop using that substance.
To end, it was a pleasure to participate in that community experience because it helps me understand how hard it is for alcoholics to stay sober. Even though those alcoholics are craving alcohol mostly everyday, with the help of their peers they can conquer to eliminate the need for alcohol consumption. At the end of the meeting, they formed a chain and recited the same prayer. After the meeting, I stayed a little bit asking some more questions to explore that new journey. This is the prayer they were delivered at the beginning
and at the end of the meeting.
“The harmful use of alcohol is a global problem which compromises both individual and social development. It results in 2.5 million deaths each year. An intoxicated person can harm others or put them at risk of traffic accidents or violent behavior, or negatively affect co-workers, relatives, friends or strangers. Thus, the impact of the harmful use of alcohol reaches deep into society.” This is a scary statistic which figuratively states that every thirteen seconds someone dies in a death related to alcohol. CBS news reported that more than 30 percent of American adults have abused alcohol or suffered from alcoholism at some point in their lives. This is a staggering number which is widely overlooked because alcohol is legal. Those who suffer feel helpless and trapped by their addiction being unable to stop and quit on their own. Thankfully a man named, Bill Wilson, lead a group of men to write how to become set free from the slavery of addiction.
The center combines a safe housing environment with structured educational programs that incorporate the philosophies of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous is the original self help group founded on principles that provide support and encouragement for recovering alcoholics. New members are encouraged to work with a spon...
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.
Before I attended an AA meeting, I did not realize the significance of AA and the twelve-step program. Now I understand how these group meetings were designed to influence an individual to remain sober, but also it was meant to use your voice and ask for help when needed. I was glad that I had the opportunity to attend an AA meeting because I was able to see first hand an alcoholic’s point of view. It helped me understand that the negative stereotype of an alcoholic is not true and that because of their disease, they are living in a world that they cannot mentally comprehend because of their inability to refrain from drinking.
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
AA’s founder Bill Wilson asserted that alcoholism is a spiritual disease with only one cure., AA believes that the one and only cure is by following, and living by the 12 step program. Alcohol Anonymous 12-step program derived from this type of thinking and from the very beginning, new members are taught that they are absolutely powerless to alcohol, and that the only way for you to be cured is for “a power greater than yourself could restore you to sanity”. AA members separate themselves from the rest of society, and attribute their drinking problems to every other aspect of their lives. There is a list of contributing factors to an individual’s disease, published by Bill Wilson. The list is roughly 25 aspects of every alcoholic’s life but Alcohol is never listed because in Mr. Wilson’s eyes it’s not the alcohol that is the problem. Instead it is the individual that has become a victim to the alcohol.
In the fall of 1935, a second group of alcoholics slowly took shape in New York. A third appeared at Cleveland in 1939. It had taken over four years to produce 100 sober alcoholics in the three founding groups. That same year, the Fellowship published it’s basic textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous. The text, written by Bill, explained A.A.’s philosophy and methods, the core of which was the now well-known Twelve Steps to Recovery (Pitman 75 & 76).
Alcohol Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship worldwide consisting of over one hundred thousand men and women who are alcoholics, banded together in solving a common problem and in helping fellow alcohol users in their recovery from alcoholism. A.A.'s twelve steps are considered a list of principles which are spiritual in their nature, and if practiced as a way of life by members, can help significantly in expelling a member’s obsession to drink, and enable a holistic awareness. Step one is when the member admits they are powerless over the use of alcohol, resulting in an unmanageable life. No one wants to admit defeat, but admitting powerlessness over alcohol is the first step in becoming liberated. Step two is having a belief that the almighty power can restore their sanity. Step three is making the decision to turn their will and life over in the protection of the almighty God, which is the key to willingness of change as noted by the Twelve Steps of recovery. Step four is...
...meeting was one of awe and some relief. This meeting made me realize that I should really appreciate the things that I have in life because there are others out there who are way off worse. What I learned from the meeting is that the problem is not how much you drink; it’s what happens when you drink. Getting clean and sober is for those who want it, not those who need it. The key step for addicts is to maintain a motivated way of thinking once you start feeling good about yourself from making amends. I believe 12-step sober support groups can be extremely beneficial to the person attempting abstinence. The premise is that one addict can best help another and that by helping another you actually help yourself. AA is a fundamental example of how groups support sobriety in individuals as long as they are willing to follow a program and commit to changing their habits.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering
Connecting is part of this wonderful Fellowship of men and women who share experiences, strengths and hope of a better, sober life. The philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous is that alcoholism is a disease and no one is “cured” even if they stop drinking. The members of this informal group focus on staying sober “one day at a time”. And, anyone who desires to stop drinking is welcomed into the
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, alcoholism is defined as "the compulsive consumption of and psychophysiological dependence on alcoholic beverages." It is a problem that can tear apart marriages and families, cause someone to lose his job, and many more negative results. In order to recover from this dependency a person must lose his desire for and dependence upon alcohol, continue to remain sober, and resolve all conflicts caused by the alcohol abuse. There are several alternatives an alcoholic has to rehabilitate himself. The best solution is a combination of individual therapy and a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.
During my time in the ward, I recently had a patient with alcohol dependency in my care. My patient, Mr Grey was a 51 year old male patient who was admitted with a fractured neck of femur and consistent hypertension. Mr Grey required a vast amount of medical treatment for his injuries. As well as Mr Grey’s physiological problems he also had poor mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. We later discovered my patient had some social issues and that he was homeless.
Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects.