Alcoholics Anonymous When I saw the Alcoholics Anonymous assignment on our syllabus earlier this semester I thought, "Oh my god, I have to go to some stupid AA meeting." In the weeks prior to attending the meeting, I was very nervous about attending it because I did not know what to expect. Some of the questions going through my mind were: "Was everyone expected to talk at the meeting?" and "Was I going to be criticized as the outsider wanting to know what AA was all about?" Those were my
theory on Alcoholism; whether it’s a disease or a spiritual problem. In addition to the question of the origins of alcoholism another question is if the “Big Book” and 12 step program about alcohol or about finding God. This paper is about Alcoholics Anonymous and how the organization treats alcoholism as a disease that it impossible to cure unless the individual finds God. I believe that AA operates in a fashion similar to that of a cult because of what the book teaches and the message that AA
I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting on October 14. The group meets Saturdays at 10:00 AM in the SURF Alano Center. This was a Primary Purpose Group, and they have a strong focus on the Big Book, the basic text for Alcoholics Anonymous. Since the meeting is focused on the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Preamble, 12 Traditions, and Support Group Guidelines were read in the beginning. Many of the members had these texts memorized and would recite them together. Then, the chairperson
For my clinical experience I visited the Gratitude Alcoholic Anonymous group at Living Hope church. What I found to be most clinically and professionally meaningful in attending this meeting was the safe zone it created for individuals who are struggling with substance abuse. An Alcoholic Anonymous group is a meeting I could send my patients to get the social support and care they need to recover from substance abuse. The most assuring aspect of the meeting that I believe is the most beneficial
Alcoholics Anonymous: In Times of Need My assignment was to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting and write my observations and thoughts on the meeting, its structure and philosophical beliefs. I was extremely uncomfortable about attending such a personal meeting. Would individuals welcome me or feel as if I would judge? Even though I was uncomfortable, I am glad I attended the meeting as it was a very enlightening experience for me. Enlightening in the fact it changed the way I look
“early A.A.” refers to the early fellowships and meetings held in Akron, Ohio. These meetings took place between 1935 and 1939 when Alcoholics Anonymous was an integral part of “A First Century Christian Fellowship” (Pitman 56). A.A. was the outcome of a meeting between Bill W., a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon. Both had been hopeless alcoholics (Fingarette 14). Before this time, Bill and Dr. Bob had each been in contact with the Oxford Group, a mostly nonalcoholic fellowship
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
I have never experienced what it would be like to be a part of an AA meeting. The only time I have had seen or heard someone mention meetings for alcoholics has been TV shows and movies, which would portray these meeting as a circle of strangers just deliberating stories of their life and how this disease has changed them forever. Therefore, I had no idea what to expect. I felt intimidated and had a sense of nervousness, so I decided I would not go alone and brought a friend. My expectation upon
Alcoholics anonymous was first open in Akron Ohio in 1935 and has helped thousands of people around the world today. It was co- founded by Bill Wilson who also is an international mutual aid fellowship as well as Robert Holbrook Smith who went by the name “Dr. Bob Smith”. He was an American physician and surgeon who just like Bill Wilson helped co-found AA. AA stands for Alcoholics anonymous and its symbol is a “sobriety circle and triangle symbol”. The triangle represents three answers which are
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. Upon arriving at the meeting, Tom H., the
The author of this paper will discuss her attendance at two self-help meetings Alcoholics Anonymous as well as a Narcotics Anonymous. Comparing the meetings, as well as discussing the author’s misperceptions of the members of mutual self-help groups. Additionally, the author will discuss how the group within the meeting were diverse, supportive, non-judgemental and accepting, or not. In addition, the misperceptions of mutual self-help groups will be addressed. “Involvement in such groups is meant
Alcoholics Anonymous is a organization that is created to help alcoholics with their addiction. The organization creates meetings for alcoholics to go to. These meetings can vary from talking aloud, talking about a book, and listening to a speaker. Most of these meetings are are open to anyone but sometimes meetings are closed for those who really want to quit drinking. Most of these meetings are held in community buildings or in churches. For newcomers that attend the meetings, they would usually
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
Brief Overview of AA 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
I attended the “11th Step” meeting at the Newman Congregational Church. The 11th Step uses meditation as a form of recovery. This was an open Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that takes place every Tuesday night. It was very difficult to find a meeting that was convenient for my schedule. They frequently took place at night when I had class, or on weekend mornings when I had to work. I originally sought help from a previous professor in finding a support group, however, Courtney and I ended up finding
Vontae and I attended the alcoholic anonymous meeting at the YANA club at northeast Jackson on Wednesday at 8 o’clock. It was a big turn out to this meeting because the whole room was packed full of men and women. The meeting style was very administrated by one leader in the group. It was a book night which meant they had to read out of the AA handbook that was written by some doctors. I thought this was very interesting because I never knew this was a thing because this was my very first support
My experience with the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that I went to was an interesting one. I felt a couple different feelings while I was attending the meeting. The first thing that I felt was that I didn’t belong there, because I’ve never been in the situation that these other individuals had been in. The second thing that I felt was awkwardness. I felt awkward because nobody really socialized with me, other than the occasional hello. The third feeling that I felt was of empathy for these people
I’m an alcoholic and sober today thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous. Our Fellowship is called Alcoholics Anonymous that is who we are, we are alcoholics who help each other get and stay sober, one day at a time and we don’t tell anyone who we’ve met at meetings. If I tell someone outside AA that Maggie, who lives next door to them or Tam who’s in a TV programme come to meetings, I’m breaking their anonymity. That’s quite straight forward. What wasn’t clear to me for a while was that if I tell a fellow
Alcoholics Anonymous Field Visit Report Alcoholics Anonymous is a self-help organization made up of men and women, young and old, who come together to share their experiences with alcohol, and to express their hope and strength with one another so that they can overcome the illness of alcoholism and then help others to recover. A.A. was first started by two men in 1935. One man from New York, Bill W., who was a stockbroker and another man from Ohio, Dr. Bob who was a surgeon. At one point
providing a social center, which is used by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members to hold meetings and social gatherings. This club is operated by volunteers who offer their time and service to ensure each group meeting continues to be available to the public. The volunteers are ex-alcoholics who have been sober for many years and share their touching testimonies with individuals struggling with alcoholism. As told by Mina, a volunteer at the club, Alcoholics Anonymous Program was discovered in 1935 by Bill