I attended Al-Anon at 241 North Rodeo Drive on a Sunday. The meeting was an hour and a half long, starting at 9:00am. There were only about twenty or so people in attendance, which surprised me, because I assumed that all Twelve Step meetings would be automatically crowded with celebrities and such, especially because I live in Beverly Hills. I was under the impression that there are quite a few alcoholics in Beverly Hills and that those alcoholics most likely have family members who want support. However, it was almost comforting how empty the meeting was because it made the experience more intimate and less professional or intimidating. The majority of the members arrived about ten minutes or so late, which seemed fine. The man conducting the meeting would just smile at them and then continue talking. The entire meeting had a welcoming atmosphere.
John, the man conducting the meeting, asked one of the other members to recite the Twelve Steps of Al-Anon. She began by telling everyone her name, Lucy, and then she read off the paper with the Twelve Steps listed in order. When she was done reading, everyone thanked her.
John told us that this was a special meeting that would consist of two long shares; each share was about forty minutes. The first woman’s name was Alice. Alice took us through her childhood problems and ended her story with her decision to seek help. It was a long story, told comically at some points and shakily at others, but it was informative overall. The story helped me better understand how addictions really begin.
Alice herself was an alcoholic, but her story seemed to mostly be about the people around her and the experiences she had that made her want to drink. She ended up having a baby, and because she ...
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...g about. However, Twelve Step programs can help people glue their dominos to the floor to make sure they do not fall again; even though that is cheating. Sometimes people need a little help, and gluing a person’s dominos to the floor is not really cheating. It is just finding a creative way to prevent a disaster. That is all anyone can hope for in life.
The meeting I attended helped me understand more about life, people and the world we all exist in. It has not made me think any darker. It has, however, opened my mind to realistic expectations and led me to believe that even people who do face hardships and find themselves tumbling down the metaphorical staircase of life instead of climbing to the top, have a chance at achieving happiness. However, people whose minds are clouded by drugs can never achieve this until they are willing to take life in for what it is.
Raymond Carver's short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” leaves the reader feeling as if they have sat down at the table with a bottle of Gin and experienced first hand the effects of alcoholism and depression. In the original version of this story the “Beginners” Carver carefully crafts the many sides of an alcoholic personality developing strong knowable characters. The fundamental personalities are left fairly intact from the original version. It should be noted that the feelings that the reader are left with are due at least partially to the severe editing of the “Beginners” done by his editor and friend Gordon Lish. With this collaboration Carvers personal struggles still shine through but his intent of hope and recover from alcoholism were left mostly on the chopping block. Through many interviews and articles Raymond Carver make clear his personal struggles with alcoholism and how it has had an effect on his writing. INTERVIEWER: Where do your stories come from, then? I'm especially asking about the stories that have something to do with drinking. Carver: “At the very least it's referential. Stories long or short don't just come out of thin air.” (The Paris Review) The inner dialog and downward spiral of an alcoholic is experienced through the interaction between these personalities while discussing the topic of love. JA: I noticed recently you're using cliches in your characterizations, and I wonder if you're just observing, or recording the way a mind works. RC: It's there for a purpose; it's working for me, I think, not against me. Or at least I hope and assume this is the case!
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.
Drinking: A Love Story (1996) is a memoir by Caroline Knapp where she shares her experience of gradually becoming an alcoholic. She found drinking to be the most important relationship in her life; she loved how it made her feel, how it coped with her fears and worries. She chronicles some of the effort and self-realization required for recovery from this addiction, but her primary focus is on the charm, seductiveness, and destructiveness that she was able to find in two decades as an alcoholic, hopelessly in love with liquor. Her relationship with alcohol started in early teenage years and progressed through young adulthood, until she finally checked herself into a rehabilitation center at the age of thirty-four.
Something that stood out to me during the meeting was that some attendees lived in fear for years after being sober. They wouldn’t come outside of their homes for the reasons being that they would use again or run into old friends that used to drink with them. Also, I found it interesting that every year group members come together to celebrate their years in sobriety. The celebration consists of a speaker, food, and fun. Overall, I really enjoyed sitting in on an AA meeting. As an aspiring social worker, this meeting helped me to understand that it is not easy to get over an addiction. Also, if I decide to work with substance abusers, there may be times where they may relapse. I would have to learn how to be patient and keep in mind that excessive use of substances can alter your brain and control your life.
They were very nice people and opened up a lot. I also did not think that an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting would have so many smart people who would be so prepared to take part in by adding in very personal statements about their own lives and about the lives of people close to them. I always thought that alcoholics would be unsuccessful people who did not have occupations but in the meeting, a great deal of the people did have jobs and they went to work and they were kind of victorious. There are many emotional requirements faced by taking part in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting or any twelve step program. First, unhappiness loves companionship so bringing together many miserable people makes each other feel better. People with the same dilemma can feel as if they are not lonely and that can give them power to make a modification in their lives maybe. Second, speaking about one’s difficulties is a great initial measure in resolving the issue. These twelve step meetings do a very good job of getting people talking about their sensations out loud to other people who comprehend. Third, these series of programs present some people a feeling of belonging. Having somewhere to go each night and to be a
I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting I attended. The stories told by the members took courage and strength. Alcoholics Anonymous appears to be an effective form of treatment for alcohol addiction. This group, and I would image most groups, showed love, caring, and concern for each person. They all expressed their love for God and a determination to stay sober. Yoko reminded me that addiction is not subjective. It can affect any one at any age. One gentleman, James, is coming up on his three-month anniversary of sobriety after being an alcoholic for 45 years! God Bless him and all the members of the Olive Branch Alcoholic Anonymous Group. I learned a great deal.
After speaking with several individuals, the first time they attended a meeting, they felt scared, alone and confused. However, after leaving, they had hope. Hope that tomorrow would be better than today. Hope they can make it another 24 hours without taking a drink. Because the individuals attending the meeting, are encouraged to take it “one day at a time”. More importantly, they have hope because they now have a social network they can rely on, relate to and connect with personally.
The building where the meeting took place is located in an office park near The Colonnade. The meeting room is perfect for Alcoholics Anonymous. The room is surrounded by numerous oak trees with a small pond in the center of the complex. Having this view in front of the group could only help a person feel at ease with themselves. When "PB" and I arrived, he introduced me to all of the members w...
Addictions can be a hard thing to deal with it because you have no control over what you are doing, taking or using. I chose to read this particular book because the title grab me too. I was curiosity to know more about her story such as, how was their lives before the addiction? How did she deal with his addiction? And how did her son addiction affect her emotionally, mentally and physically?
Rachel is an alcoholic and there is no doubt about it although she is in all types of denial about it. “When I drink I hardly sleep at all. I pass out cold for an hour or two, then I wake, sick with fear, sick with myself. If I have a day when I don’t drink, that night I fall into the heaviest of slumbers, a deep unconsciousness and in the morning I cannot wake properly, I cannot shake sleep, it stays with me for hours, sometimes all day long. (Hawkins, 28)” Everyone in Rachel’s life is aware of her problem and suffering but not many people say much about it in fear of hurting her. Including her friend Cathy, Rachel moved in with Cathy after the divorce so she could land on her feet. Unfortunately Cathy finally had, had enough and asked Rachel to find a new place to stay within the next four weeks. Cathy sees that Rachel is in jeopardy and recommends therapy but Rachel refuses.
The first meeting was large with approximately 12 members, including the facilitator. My initial emotion internalized was amazement in the structure of the group. The structure of the group provides structure for the members which is crucial for those struggling with alcoholism. The initial sharing was from a young member of 26 who was struggling with sobriety and shared that he recently lost a child through miscarriage. I immediately became overwhelmed in the rawness of his visible emotions (crying). As I observed other members while he was sharing his story, they were intently listening to him. When the sharer finished, the group acknowledged him and another sharer started with his name and “I am an alcoholic”. I appreciated the structure of this transition. The emotion seemed to fill the room and it impacted how everyone addressed their next sharing. The following members shared in the direction of the first sharer and related to the difficulties and provided advise. During the exchange of emotion between members, I continued to be overwhelmed with the emotions internally. The second meeting that I attended was smaller but still provided that set structure and “family” feel of group members. Emotion and exchange of emotion was present as well. I chose to attend this meeting twice because I was impressed and overwhelmed by the first meeting, I had to attend again to gain more
I do not regret it because it was an experience that taught me something. After attending the A.A meeting I realized/learned that everyone was there for the same reason. Everyone was on a road to recovery, everyone had a desire to stop drinking and everyone was trying to stay sober. I learned the stories of those who had an alcohol dependence problems. Some stories where sadder than others. I learned the stories of why the people chose to get sober. Some stories consisted of trauma that occurred, some stories consisted of children and some stories simply consisted of change. I learned that it is important to share and express your feelings at A.A meetings. Most importantly, I learned that the people at the A.A meeting were not judgmental and they are very accepting to others. Attending an A.A meeting gave me an inside feel of how an alcoholic or recovering addict may feel when attending their first meeting.
I attended an AA meeting at the 5th street fellowship on October 6, 2015. I looked forward to attending this meeting since the beginning of the clinical rotation. The meeting exceeded my expectations. It was an eye-opener and a life changing experience. The meeting at the 5th Street Fellowship consisted of a leader and two members. Even though there was only a smaller group gather, I could see the positive impact AA has had on each of the members personally, regardless of years of sobriety. The chairman of the group discussed the influence his sponsor, AA, and the 12-step program has had on his life and how he lives a happier, healthier, and a spiritual life due to his sobriety. I learned that all three components - sponsor, AA, and the 12-steps – are important in aiding in the sobriety of an
This expirience has definitely enhance my learning in nursing. After visiting this NA meeting I feel I understand a lot more how they work and especially how they can be of a great help to some struggling with addiction. As Nurses we can work in substance abuse clinics where we will encounter many patients with this problem and in order for us to help any patient in their recovery; we need to be informed first of the different resources available to them in the community. With what I have learned from this experience I will most definitely encourage any of my patients to join any of these self-help groups in their journey to recovery. I will also recommend their relatives or friends to joint a group as well, such as Al-Anon, which is a similar
At the beginning of the story Alice is a little girl who is very curious, but also quite scared of being alone. First of all, she has an inquiring mind that brings her down the rabbit hole and, even if her way of thinking could remind the adult kind of thoughts, she still acts like a child. A clear example of this kind of behavior is when she finds a bottle with the words “DRINK ME” labeled on. Before drinking f...