What is an alcoholics anonymous meeting like?

Question

I'm looking for a thorough description of an alcoholics anonymous meeting. I'm also looking for some addresses for alcoholics anonymous meetings in Southern California

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

They welcome newcomers and celebrate different time lengths of sobriety. They read out of "The Big Book" of alcoholics anonymous. That takes about 15 minutes. Then the meeting is usually open for "sharing". Often there is a topic or theme to the discussion. That is what "sharing" means- people take turns talking, trying to keep it less than 5 minutes. People talk about their problems with alcohol and the process of recovery. There are some meetings which are step study, which means they will concentrate on a particular step. The first is admitting that you are an alcoholic and have a problem with alcohol. #2 is coming to believe a power greater than yourself can relieve you of alcoholism. The third step is making a decision to turn your will and life over to a higher power.
A short version of the steps is "trust god, clean house, help others." There are 12 steps and 12 traditions. The steps are the foundation of recovery.
Sometimes they have a speaker meeting, where the meeting is turned over to someone who shares what their life was like and what they have done about it. In that type of meeting, there is usually no sharing, and may be a good meeting for a first timer.
Usually people are friendly and will greet you and try to help you with your problem. It is often suggested that you get a sponsor, a person who will guide you through the 12 steps and also a person to call if you might need a drink or need some advice or help about problems that you may have with alcoholism.
By all means check it out- its free, they have coffee and they will always welcome you no matter how screwed up you are. the only requirement for membership is a desire to quit drinking, and even that is ?? Not that big of a deal. No biggy if you go and get drunk, they'll still be there when you come back.

www.step12.com will have meeting schedules for California

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

excellent help

Answer 2

YOu might have to call and get the address....
from what I hear they are pretty good because they all know what you are going thru and can help you if you get week and have a relapse....
good luck

Answer 3

It's like a bar that only serves coffee or tea.

Answer 4

Honestly............AA meetings won't be the brightest part of your day. Don't get me wrong they do help people because they are run by other recovering alcoholics so they know what people are going through. Now if you are going there to quit they can help. But , if you are going because a judge told you that you have to go than you probably will go in with an attitude.

You will sit down and they will start the meeting the same way they always do. They will read a bit, recite the serenity prayer, go around the room so everyone can say who they are "Hi, I'm John And I'm An Alcoholic". "Hi John".............Something like that. In the end they will pass around a basket and ask for a donation. You don't have to give. Put your probation card in the basket so they can sign it if that is why you are there.

Source(s):

That's about it.............I went to Narcotics Anonymous years ago for probation.

Answer 5

Sometimes they are boring because you get a whinner attending. But for the most part they are soothing to me.
Great answer T. H. III.
Good luck!
10yr, 4 mon, 12 days. Can't remember hours or seconds

Answer 6

AA is a thinly disguised RELIGIOUS program geared towards those who feel a bit guilty about stopping going to church. In several state and Federal District Courts have ruled that AA is at least "religious in nature":
http://www.angelfire.com/journal/forceda…

AA has a 5% success rate BY THEIR OWN FIGURES. (The same as quitting on your own.)
Here's a list of different recovery methods ranked by effectiveness:
http://www.behaviortherapy.com/whatworks…

People exposed to AA are five times as likely to end up binge drinking as those who attempt quitting on their own (Brandsma study) and SIX times as likely to die during their first year of AA (Vailliant study):
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effe…

Some practical tips on quitting or cutting back:
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrinkTo…

I spent 20 years bouncing in and out of the rooms, never managing more than a few years sobriety. Finally, I took responsibility for my addiction and my recovery, got a therapist to help with my depression, and now have over 5 years and work in the field.

Answer 7

Hi!
There are different types of meetings. If you go to an "open meeting" you will most likely listen to an alcoholic speak. Open meetings are for anyone to attend. "Closed meetings" are for people that believe they have a drinking problem. Generally at a closed meeting, the people will say a prayer like the serenity prayer ( Higher Power or God- u choose, Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change those we can and the wisdom to know the difference.) Then people will introduce themselves and " I am J...and I am an alcoholic" you don't have to call your self an alkie just say ur first name And then the meeting starts.
The people at meetings are some of the nicest people ever!
try one out

Answer 8

Yeah "Raysyn" is right about everything.

AA is bad news bears. Look if you are part of the bridge and tunnel crowd and you can't stop turning tricks or you have a Ferrari but you ride the city bus because you are just never sober enough to back it out of the garage. Ok maybe AA is for you.

But personally I would warn you that they are devout to this big book that was written about a hundred years ago. They don't like people who see shrinks or are on any form of medication.

Look if disneyland is the happiest place on earth, AA is the unhappiest.

I would recommend you see an shrink and tell him why you drink. eg friends, depression, etc

If it is really a habit you just can't break, and you have resolved to join a cult as a way of breaking free. I would aim you towards Scientology (don't laugh) because they are probably better equipped to deal with addiction & they are trying to get you to feel good about yourself & teaching you to be a happy sober person.

Answer 9

They get naked and have mad sex orgies, according to the Orange Papers (google Orange papers for their site). Actually, I have seen people that stayed sober through AA, but I saw more get drunk over and over again. The meetings are organized usually as discussion groups. You introduce your self by your first name only, and according to unwritten tradition, you identify yourself as an alcoholic. There are specific groups that cater to diverce types of people, and groups that include all diverse people.

google Alcoholics Anonymous or look in your phone book or call information.

Answer 10

Check out Alcoholics Anonymous in your local phone book. They will give you addresses.

Good for you for wanting to go.

For those who bash AA, please be aware that the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are being used SUCCESSFULLY by at least 30 organizations - probably many more than that.

Just go to a large AA Speaker meeting, with an open mind, and you will be amazed at the fun of the meetings and the genuine caring and help offered free of charge. Those who were once in the gutter have become upstanding successful human beings.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation" Herbert Spencer.

In other words, give it a good try - a wholehearted try.


AA is not for everyone. But it may be for YOU. Try it and see, and may you find recovery in all aspects of life.