Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most popular and widely known alcohol abuse and addiction organisations around the world. Also known as the AA, Alcoholics Anonymous provides assistance and guidance to those who are addicted to alcohol and is based on the highly effective 12-step program, which is a type of self-help form of treatment. The organisation has helped thousands of alcoholics live clean and sober lifestyles and in this article, we’ll explain to you why Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are important.
One of the sad things about alcoholism is that while addicts may want to stop drinking and are aware of the damage it is doing to themselves and the people around them, they simply can’t or don’t know how to get treatment. In Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, people who were previously addicted to alcohol or those in treatment, will share their positive experiences of recovery and how they managed to achieve it. Listening to others in similar positions as themselves may motivate addicts to use the tips shared in these meetings to help sort out any recovery problems they might have.
Another benefit of AA meetings is that there’s no one to pass judgement and there are no recovery deadlines to achieve. Instead, members will focus on trying to remain clean and sober, day by day. Alcoholics Anonymous is entirely voluntary and is also self-funded, however, collection basket may be passed around in the duration of these meetings. There are two types of AA meetings, namely opened and closed. Open Alcoholics Anonymous meetings give everyone (addicts, family members, even researchers) to sit in on these meetings and see how it works, while closed meetings are strictly for people who want to stop drinking alcohol.
While AA meetings are based on a more holistic approach, atheists and non-believers are welcome to attend these meetings as there is no requirement to believe in any one single religion or God. Each session will start with a prayer followed by a period of quiet reflection. Once this has been completed, a reading from the Alcoholics Anonymous book will be done. New members and sobriety anniversaries will also be warmly welcomed and congratulated. Next, a speaker will share his or her positive experiences in treatment and recovery and how they were able to achieve it. Once finished, the meeting will end in another prayer. Many recovering addicts will make new friends in these meetings and some may even use their newly learned skills and stories as a beacon of hope and inspiration to move away from alcohol and to live a happy life.
For more information about Alcoholics Anonymous or alcoholism treatment, call us now. We provide access into the best private addiction rehabilitation centres all over South Africa, the United Kingdom and Thailand. Contact us and let one of our qualified addiction counsellors assist in finding the right help for you.
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