Question for AA members only?!
Question: Question for AA members only!?
I'm an alcholic and I was sober for six months but I've slipped, gone backwards - and badly!.
I'm going to go to my first ever AA meeting Friday but I need your help!. Can you tell me about the meetings!? How long do they last on average!? Do I have to speak out or can I just watch!?
This is a huge step for me, so I need serious answers only, and only from people who go to or have been to AA!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm going to go to my first ever AA meeting Friday but I need your help!. Can you tell me about the meetings!? How long do they last on average!? Do I have to speak out or can I just watch!?
This is a huge step for me, so I need serious answers only, and only from people who go to or have been to AA!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The meetings last about an hour!. Depending on the kind of meeting you go to!. Some are reading from a book, but you can see on a schedule for AA what type of meeting you are attending!. There will be a Secretary and guest speaker!. They will ask if there are and new comers in the room!. Just raise your hand and then say your name that's all!. You can do it!.
The guest speaker will tell his story, and choose a topic of discussion!. People will talk, they will pass around a can or something for money!. Donate only if you can!. There's coffee and cookies for all!. Then you'll close out how ever the guest speaker chooses!. Everyone get in a circle and holds hands as the guest speaker does his thing!.People are very friendly to new comers!. They will probably give you some literature, and people will leave there phone numbers for you!.
It might be good to go a little bit early, that way you can meet some people and sit with them!.
It's been a long time since I've attended a meeting, I went to NA most of the time!. But they are just the same!.
Good job to you! As they say, keep going back it works!
Feel free to email me anytime!.
Take care and don't give up!Www@Answer-Health@Com
The guest speaker will tell his story, and choose a topic of discussion!. People will talk, they will pass around a can or something for money!. Donate only if you can!. There's coffee and cookies for all!. Then you'll close out how ever the guest speaker chooses!. Everyone get in a circle and holds hands as the guest speaker does his thing!.People are very friendly to new comers!. They will probably give you some literature, and people will leave there phone numbers for you!.
It might be good to go a little bit early, that way you can meet some people and sit with them!.
It's been a long time since I've attended a meeting, I went to NA most of the time!. But they are just the same!.
Good job to you! As they say, keep going back it works!
Feel free to email me anytime!.
Take care and don't give up!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Congratulations on trying to face your addiction!.
The meetings are 1 hour usually!.
At the beginning of the meeting the chairperson will ask the group if anyone is there for their first meeting or if anyone is there visiting from out of state!.
At that point, you could raise your hand and identify yourself by your first name only!. You could say, "This is my first meeting and my name is _____" !.
Then, everyone will say, "Hi _____"!.
If it's a healthy meeting, then the chairperson may suggest that the topic be the first step (there are 12 steps) and then the people will share their thoughts about it!. Hopefully, they will talk about how it is for them and NOT direct any of their comments to any other individuals in the room!. If you decide to speak on the topic, make sure you use "I" statements like, "I feel this" etc!. instead of looking at someone else and saying, "YOU should do this"!. Advice giving is frowned upon also!. It's better to say what has worked for you, then to TELL others what THEY SHOULD DO!.
If someone asks you to speak and you do not want to, just tell them that you do not feel comfortable sharing at this point!.
Most people at the meetings are really good people who come for the support to face their issues!.
I also suggest you try some Al-anon meetings as well!.
Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
The meetings are 1 hour usually!.
At the beginning of the meeting the chairperson will ask the group if anyone is there for their first meeting or if anyone is there visiting from out of state!.
At that point, you could raise your hand and identify yourself by your first name only!. You could say, "This is my first meeting and my name is _____" !.
Then, everyone will say, "Hi _____"!.
If it's a healthy meeting, then the chairperson may suggest that the topic be the first step (there are 12 steps) and then the people will share their thoughts about it!. Hopefully, they will talk about how it is for them and NOT direct any of their comments to any other individuals in the room!. If you decide to speak on the topic, make sure you use "I" statements like, "I feel this" etc!. instead of looking at someone else and saying, "YOU should do this"!. Advice giving is frowned upon also!. It's better to say what has worked for you, then to TELL others what THEY SHOULD DO!.
If someone asks you to speak and you do not want to, just tell them that you do not feel comfortable sharing at this point!.
Most people at the meetings are really good people who come for the support to face their issues!.
I also suggest you try some Al-anon meetings as well!.
Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
All I can say is don't be brainwashed by everything they say!. AA is sort of like a cult, there is is much too much religion in it and often their beliefs are dogmatic!. Addiction is more complex than what they make it out to be in there!. Study the human brain and how addictions works!. You can attend meetings but don't let yourself be fooled into believing everything they say!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
i attend NA but its basicly the same!. Just relax no one will judge!. you do not have to speak at all other than standing up saying hi my name is _ im an alcoholic when asked is there any new comers or visitors tonight!. Im only 19 and have been going since i was 16!. Trust me it can be soooo hard!. For about the first year and a half i never talked during the meetings only after but i got over the shyness and opened up!. Its a great learning experience you make great friends and just make sure you chose a sponser who is right for you!. (its okay to switch if you need too) But take your time to get to know everyone before you pick someone!. After your first couple of meetings start asking people to go have coffee with you!. its a great time for one on one!. Good luck!. May god be with you!
Januari JadeWww@Answer-Health@Com
Januari JadeWww@Answer-Health@Com
Like the previous poster stated, meetings last for an hour!. There can be individual sharing time afterwards (basically sitting around "socializing")!. You are never expected to speak if you don't want to!.!.!.when it comes to your turn, just say hi my name is______ and I am an alcoholic, I would just like to sit and listen today!. That is all! Be kind to yourself, don't beat yourself up for a relapse!. You are seeking sobriety again, and that is a great first step there!. Good luck to you!.!.remember One day at a time!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Meetings usually last for about 1 hour!. I haven't been to one that's been longer!. No, you don't have to speak unless you want to!. Relax and remember to take it one day at a time!. I'm a pretty shy person and it took some time before I felt comfortable speaking in front of people!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
anyone can go to an AA meeting
they last about an hour usually with informal groupings of people/friends that might hover around afterward, the ones I've been to, alot like going to church - there's the 'meeting'/sermon part, then you can hang around, mingle, if you want to, afterwards
you don't have to say anything at meetings if you don't want to
often, AA groups will have "open" and "closed" type meetings - it sounds like you should be sure to go to an "open" meeting, which would be the typical AA meeting!.!.!.
sometimes people will arrange special "closed" types of meetings to discuss certain things, certain steps, or whatever, and in those mtgs you'd be expected to interact more
the only interaction you might be assumed to be a part of is the typical end of the meeting where everyone joins in a circle, joins hands, arms crossed, and is led by the group leader through the serenity prayer
("God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference!.")
and then do end-zone dances and give high-fives to each other, ok kidding
but still you could just stand in the circle and say nothing if you want, just close your eyes or whatever
if you don't want to be in that hub-bub at all, after the guest speaker is done they'll have some announcements, pass the plate, yadda yadda yadda, you'll know when it's winding down, at that point I'd bail out around that time if you don't want to do the 'circle'/serenity prayer bit - it will be completely understood if you just make an exit, no one expects anything of anyone there
you're making way too big of a deal out of going to a meeting - the reason you're freaking out is maybe because it sounds like you've re-ingested some of what is a powerful psychoactive toxin to your genetic makeup - in my experience, alcohol can throw my sensibilities waaaaaaaaaay out of skew, waaaaaaaywaaaay, a few more 'aaaaaaaa's way out of skew
here's a link to an informative pamphlet in !.PDF format
http://www!.alcoholics-anonymous!.org/en_p!.!.!.
most AA meeting locations that I've come across have had their own websites that post "open"/"closed" meeting times, and some other info yadda yadda yadda so some Googling couldn't hurtWww@Answer-Health@Com
they last about an hour usually with informal groupings of people/friends that might hover around afterward, the ones I've been to, alot like going to church - there's the 'meeting'/sermon part, then you can hang around, mingle, if you want to, afterwards
you don't have to say anything at meetings if you don't want to
often, AA groups will have "open" and "closed" type meetings - it sounds like you should be sure to go to an "open" meeting, which would be the typical AA meeting!.!.!.
sometimes people will arrange special "closed" types of meetings to discuss certain things, certain steps, or whatever, and in those mtgs you'd be expected to interact more
the only interaction you might be assumed to be a part of is the typical end of the meeting where everyone joins in a circle, joins hands, arms crossed, and is led by the group leader through the serenity prayer
("God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference!.")
and then do end-zone dances and give high-fives to each other, ok kidding
but still you could just stand in the circle and say nothing if you want, just close your eyes or whatever
if you don't want to be in that hub-bub at all, after the guest speaker is done they'll have some announcements, pass the plate, yadda yadda yadda, you'll know when it's winding down, at that point I'd bail out around that time if you don't want to do the 'circle'/serenity prayer bit - it will be completely understood if you just make an exit, no one expects anything of anyone there
you're making way too big of a deal out of going to a meeting - the reason you're freaking out is maybe because it sounds like you've re-ingested some of what is a powerful psychoactive toxin to your genetic makeup - in my experience, alcohol can throw my sensibilities waaaaaaaaaay out of skew, waaaaaaaywaaaay, a few more 'aaaaaaaa's way out of skew
here's a link to an informative pamphlet in !.PDF format
http://www!.alcoholics-anonymous!.org/en_p!.!.!.
most AA meeting locations that I've come across have had their own websites that post "open"/"closed" meeting times, and some other info yadda yadda yadda so some Googling couldn't hurtWww@Answer-Health@Com
This sort of thing is not discussed online!Www@Answer-Health@Com