Has anyone here been to Alcoholics Anonymous?!
Question:
Has anyone here been to Alcoholics Anonymous?
I was thinking of going to a meeting but Im not sure of what to expect. I have been to meetings in inpatient psych wards but I know its not the same on the outside. I just want to know what to expect. Im not hard core alcohol because I use benadryl too to feel better. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Answers:
I have, many times! They generally last for 1 or 1.5 hours, depending on the location. You go in, sometimes someone will greet you at the door with a handshake, they may also introduce themselves if you appear to be newcomer. There are different kinds of meetings, so I'd suggest an Open (O) or Open Discussion (OD) meeting to start with. That would be either a group from a surrounding town coming in to take the podium and each member will spend about 10 - 20 mintues (or or less) telling thier story of how it was, how they got there (to AA) and how it's been (now). Another type of meeting is people sitting in circle taking turns talking and listening.
12 Step Meetings would include people reading out of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions book, then relating the chaper to his or her life. Big Book meetings are the same deal, but you talk about the well...Big Book.
Random: At any given time, they also include:
- Secretary report
- Plastic chips and/or medallions given out for certain lengths of sobriety. 9, 6,3,1 months, 24 hours, 1 - 100 years, etc.
- Smoking break
- Coffee (sometimes cookies, etc)
- Pass the hat
- Raffle for a book, bumper sticker, etc.
So go and check it out, just leave the cell phone at home.
Good luck!
Dave