Inside Alcoholics Anonymous

like one other person said, do you really think you could get an overview through one meeting???? IF YOU'RE NOT AN ALCOHOLIC DON'T GO TO AN AA MEETING. COMMON SENSE. IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING AA IS ABOUT. PUBLISHING AN "OVERVIEW" OF ONE MEETING IS NOT HELPFUL AND MIGHT DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING. THE HIGHER POWER, IS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE. AA DOES NOT HAVE TO A RELIGOUS AT ALL, BUT I GUESS YOU WOULDN'T KNOW AFTER ONE MEETING.

My last few words got cut off, I was saying I'm glad you got to expeience it yourself from an outside perspective..... God Bless and Merry Christmas!!

Okay, so I use to work at the Salvation Army in the substance abuse department and one of the things that I had to do was to sit in on AA meetings. Now the one thing that I still strongly and passionately disagree with to this day is the fact that one of the first things they make people say is hello, my name is ...... and I'm an alcoholic. First of all, words are very powerful and if your recovering from something why would you have to continue speaking that very same bondage and captivity over yourself. The more you speak something, the more you believe it. So how would one believe they are free if they are still speaking the disease over themselves??? It seems like a double standard to me. They want you to recover, but stay in bondage at the same time. Now maybe things have changed a bit, but that's how it was last time I was there, and I think they need to have a positive affirmation for an opening statement. Nevertheless, your article was interesting and I'm glad you got to experi

I know I need some help re: drinking and am a bit suspicious of group therapy. So I was very interested to read Theresa's experience of the group and felt as if I really did get a better feel for it. It made me feel more positive and more ready to go for it. Thanks Theresa...its been months Ive been wanting to find a well written account of an AA groups' goings-abouts.

Theresa. I am glad you chose to attend a meeting. I am in recovery and it is wonderful to know that people want to know what goes on and have that basic knowlege for possible use in the future. Most everyone these days knows somebody in recovery and your knowlege may benefit someone who might need the help one day. KUDOS!!! Keep Coming Back! ;)

Um.... well, that's why it's called an overview and that's also why I make it a point to state that they are first impressions. Learn to read a little more carefully before you criticize.

Do you really think you can get an overview after attending just one meeting?