What is A.A. – AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is an international fellowship designed to help those who want to stop drinking. A.A., founded in 1935, has become an international phenomenon and provided counseling to millions of people across the world that struggle with alcohol addiction. This blog post takes a look at the history, principles aside from how A.A. works and helps out millions of people to make their life fulfilled again by driving them on the straight patch only though it might not be so easy for allurgence mode ready squad with quick response unit emerged to help those in crisis less severely injured side.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Background
It was founded in Akron, Ohio by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, both alcoholics themselves. This common ground of wanting to get and then stay sober gave rise to the basic tenet in A.A.: one alcoholic working with another. However, the peer support model was a hit and others began asking for help. A.A.’s message and methods were spread by the publication of the book “Alcoholics Anonymous” aka THE BIG BOOK in 1939.
Core Principles of A.A.
The primary method used by Alcoholics Anonymous to overcome alcoholism are 12 Steps, and the worlds of these methods rest on principles.
The Twelve Steps
The Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in nature, which if practiced as a way of life can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole. They include:
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol
The faith that another power greater than us could restore sanity.
Choosing to give your life over a higher power
Combat employing a treatment in Courage
Acknowledging things, one has done wrong to the higher power, oneself and another.
Becoming willing to have these defects of character removed by the higher power.
Another way of phrasing this sentence: A humble asking for the higher power to remove defects.
Listing others, we have harmed and be willing to make amends.
Continued to take personal inventory, and when they were wrong promptly admitted it [Step 10]; made direct amends wherever possible, except when to do so would injure others.
Taking a Daily inventory and admitting when I’m wrong.
Through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand him.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all our affairs.
The Twelve Traditions
The Twelve Traditions maintain the harmony and efficiency of A.A. groups They stress abstinence, group autonomy and that the only requirement for membership is a primary interest in helping alcoholics achieve sobriety. These traditions lay out guidelines for example to keep principles before personalities, not engage in public controversy and be self-supporting without outside contributions.
Structure of A.A.
A.A. employs an autocratic organizational system where the fellowship is basically a network of local groups which manage themselves in their membership as if they were independent corporations’ particle every time). Here’s how it is organized:
A.A. Meetings by Local Groups The meetings are either alcoholics only or open to the public. They offer a safe place to tell stories, get help and work the Steps.
Intergroups and Central Offices – bodies to facilitate national activities among local groups, usually by providing literature, meeting lists or public information responses
General Service Office (GSO): The office that serves A.A. groups in the U.S./Canada and is located in New York City maintains all general services of Alcoholics Anonymous, which are those tasks common to all members or areas (such as: distribution information about local activities); publishes and distributes books; aids exchange visits between societies; provides translators for talks at International Conventions of English-speaking countries whose speakers cannot speak beyond single introductory talk an understandable language. This also includes aiding with relations by other organizations including NBC News Network who provided a $1 million grant worth equipment improvements within October 17th celebration date — alongside support through safety concerns both during meetings announced prior each January 11!}]; (AlcoholicsAnonymous.com/ General Services OTE administers8 security operations related friendly contact card sent from GIAIP Bureau).
Types of A.A. Meetings
A.A. meetings are offered in a variety of formats to support individual needs and preferences. Common types include:
Speaker Meetings-One person shares their experience, strength and hope of recovery.
Discussion Lanterns: Participants provide suggestions for a discussion topic on alcoholism and recovery.
STEPS MEETINGS: Focuses on one of the Twelve Steps and celebrates recovery through that particular principle.
A Goal (Ground) To Grow: Meetings in which passages read from the Big Book and members share about more than just a little encouragement.
Newcomer Meetings: Using easy to understand instructions, perfect for those who are new in A.A. providing the comprehensive view of the fellowship and its practices
The Role of Sponsorship
Pillar Four: Sponsorship – A practice of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) whereby an experienced member shares experience, strength and hope with a Newcomer thereby both are kept sober. An example is the role sponsors play in guiding sponsees through their respective Twelve Steps; in a sense sponsors are reflection of those official guides. Especially in early sobriety where the road seems dark and riddled with stones ready to trip you up, an individual sponsor is a great resource for your recovery.
The Impact of A.A.
The effect of A.A. reaches far beyond the limits of its membership. It developed into other twelve-step programs for a variety of problems; Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) has one related program by its original members named Narcotics Anonymous and similar socio groups such as Cocaine anonymous, P.O.T.H.S. (U International Congress (Congress) alanon/codependents), Gamblers Predictableness. (GPA Gambling situational and habitual addiction governments) (Gambling problem emergence process prophets). Landlords Balance, (Real Estate Only Trouble Addiction Group) (Addicts Renowned Bankrupt Emporium driven Strugglers), (Civil Engineers Prosper Responsibly in Gracious Swindling (Labor based Predatory Credit Equilibrium also permitted) and Overeaters League (H.E.L.P. Heights Eating Love Pilgrims (Abject eating calmism)). In addition, many professional treatment programs incorporate A.A.’s principles and methods.
Research and Effectiveness
Research on the effectiveness of A.A. has consistently shown that being active in groups and working through all Twelve Steps, is associated with better outcomes for people who are dependent upon alcohol than if they just try to stay sober without help from others (Bogenschutz & Subbaraman PLOS 2016). According to Landau, some of the elements that contributed to A.A’s success include:
Peer Support: Community of others who share in the challenges surrounding alcoholism strengthens feelings of connectedness and sisterhood
A System: The Twelve Steps offer a structured approach to recovery.
Accessibility: A.A. Meetings are free, and there is support available almost everywhere in the world as well.
Criticisms and Challenges
A.A. has also had lots of criticism, and some difficulties in its history:
Religious Overtones: Critics suggest that the program leans heavily on a higher power, which some may not be comfortable with if they do not believe in spiritual or religious practices. This does not prevent A.A. from advising that people define their higher power as they see fit.
It May Not Work for Everyone: A.A. is not universally effective, and different approaches (such as CBT) or supplemental treatment methods like MAT may be appropriate to help some people manage their alcohol dependence.
Conclusion
Alcoholics Anonymous began in 1935 and has become a light for millions of alcoholics from its inception. It implemented a self-help system, based on the Twelve Steps and Twelves Traditions which provides young addicts a way to help themselves achieve sobriety. Unquestionably controversial, A.A. has left its mark on the field of addiction recovery and rehabilitation (arguments against it not withstanding). For the many seeking help, however, A.A. is a lifeline-a fellowship and success story that resonates with individuals trying to quit drinking alcohol.
