Observation of a Support Group at Al-Anon Meetings

Programs that aid in the recovery of family members of addicts are also very different from those that help with domestic violence. The 12-step program worked by family members in Al-Anon is almost identical to those worked by alcoholics in AA, including acknowledging the fact that they are “powerless over alcohol,” placing a reliance on a higher power to “restore [them] to sanity,” (Al-Anon, 2008; p.44). This approach can make a person who has been abused feel even less in control of their life. This idea also serves to further reinforce the excuse of substance use that might be made by their abuser.

My grandfather was an alcoholic. He drank from the moment he rose out of bed until he passed out in the evening. He battled with this disease for many years. Drinking alcohol was like breathing air, it was his daily routine until the day he passed away.. Alcoholism took his life at the age of 65. I loved my grandfather; he was a very caring and loving man. In fact, at one point he was an electrical engineer, he lost his job when alcohol took command of his every waking moment. I chose to attend an Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meeting, because I wanted to gain an understanding of the program, in hopes to increase my understanding of the struggles my grandfather went through. This would be my first AA meeting. This particular AA group is called, The Spring Forest Recovery Group, they meet every Sunday at 7:00 pm. It is located at 4015 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. Every 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays they have their speaker meeting. Every 2nd & 4th Sunday they have their big book study. This past Sunday was their big book study. Everyone had his or her blue books, titled Alcoholics Anonymous. I walked in sat down and listened carefully as the 12-steps to recovery were being read out loud. The room was still except for the words that bounced and echoed throughout the room. The room is set cafeteria style, 8-foot tables and white chairs filled the room with rows of 4. Group is a mix of multicultural members, with a common problem or

In the United States, many Americans can argue that we are facing a drug epidemic whether it is alcohol or illicit drugs other than medicinal marijuana. In response to this drug epidemic, organizations were created that are supported by the government and law enforcement in an effort to give addicts a chance to get clean. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous are two organizations that focus on helping people who struggle from alcoholism or any addiction cope with the symptoms of withdrawal in efforts to stay clean with the support of their organization’s community. Although these two organization’s goals are similar, they attack these problems differently beginning with step one out of their twelve step program to help addicts get clean.

Most of these people had families, friends and a very successful career. They had what I eventually would like to have and yet their lives collapsed when they started using alcohol as their escape route for stress. These stresses were due to a loss of a family member, their jobs or just their everyday lives. Some of them were young women, who looked as what I would call normal and this made me think to myself many times during the meeting that I could easily be one of those people. I had felt stress before and know how difficult it can be handle without falling into a bad habit. Even though their addiction had no excuse in my eyes and I believed it was wrong, I now felt sympathetic towards them instead of judgmental. I was able to actually understand what they were going through and admire their strength for asking for

Going to the AA (alcohol anonymous) meeting, I was not sure what to expect for this is my first time attending such meeting. I did some research just to have an idea. Walked in saw a group composing of both men and women of different races and age sitting ready to be given the signal to talk about a something most of them don’t have control over. Most have been an alcoholic for over 20 years. The discussion leader introduces a topic with some brief comments and then throws the meeting open. A guy name Pete who is a recovered alcoholics started off by stating his name and began to explain the impact of being an alcoholic has had in his life and his loved ones, the daily struggles he would go through. He talked about times where he would feel like nobody. He went on to describe his first experience about coming to the AA meeting stating that he felt as if he was in the wrong place, with the wrong people, and taking the wrong approach to his drinking problem, but after attending a few meetings with the help of other members, hearing stories of other people he knew he was in the right place. Everyone else saw him as a human being who has an addiction and looking for help.

The meeting had a structure; they followed their agenda strictly. In the beginning of the meeting everyone went around and introduced them selves and said why there were there. I said that I was a student and was there to observe. After the introductions there was several readings that were handed out and asked to be read aloud, some of the reading were “Why are we Here”, “Who is an Addict?”, and “We do Recover”. After the readings they handed out key chains to anyone that has reached a specific time of sobriety. The leader of the group got his 9 mouths key chain. Then there were a few more readings, after the reading the floor was open to anyone who wanted to say anything. Then the meeting was over.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most well-known and widely available self-help group for alcoholics in treatment and recovery. AA uses fellowship and a set of guided principles—the 12 steps—to help members achieve and maintain sobriety. The goal is total abstinence from drinking. In the beginning stages, “clients can be emotionally fragile, ambivalent about relinquishing chemicals, and resistant to treatment. Thus, treatment strategies focus on immediate concerns: achieving abstinence, preventing relapse, and managing cravings. Also, to establish a stable working group, a relatively active leader emphasizes therapeutic factors like hope, group cohesion, and universality. In the middle, or action, stage of treatment, clients need the group’s assistance in recognizing that their substance abuse causes many of their problems and blocks them from getting things they want. As clients reluctantly sever their ties with substances, they need help managing their loss and finding healthy substitutes. Often, they need guidance in understanding and managing their emotional lives. Late‐stage treatment spends less time on substance abuse per se and turns toward identifying the treatment gains to be maintained and risks that remain. During this stage, members may focus on the issues of living, resolving guilt, reducing shame, and adopting a more introspective, relational view of

Having thought about which non-substance disorder support group meeting I would like to attend, I originally choose Sex Addicts Anonymous (SA) because I knew someone decades ago who became a member, and knowing the person well, I have been curious about the meetings for some time now. However, the SA meetings are closed, in retrospect this makes sense for a variety of reasons, and since I could not tell them that I considered myself to qualify as a sex addict, I had to make another choice. My next choice was an Overeaters Anonymous meeting because there was one at the Atonement Church, of which I am familiar. Once again plans changed, and I was destined to arrive at the Wyomissing Church of the Brethren at 2200 State Hill Road.

Deborah F. is a 53-year-old female who had been admitted to the Chemical Dependency Rehabilitation Program at Sharp Mesa Vista for the treatment of alcohol dependence and pain disorder. Her history includes several disorders that are a cause of her pain including lupus, fibromyalgia, spinal arthritis, interstitial cystitis, shoulder pain, and multiple foot surgeries. According to her chart, she had been drinking two bottles of wine daily for almost two weeks in attempt to forget about her increasing pain. She is currently on voluntary detoxification and is considered a high fall risk. Her plan of care includes a series of medications that are prescribed for her pain and medical problems. Along with her treatment, Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital implements a treatment plan for all patients in the CDRP, which is referred to the 12-step treatment. One of the main activities that are included in this treatment is regular participation at group meetings that are conducted each day. The concern with Deborah is that she has been continuously refusing to attend the groups during her three-day stay at the hospital. She believed that attendance would not help her with her drinking issues and believed that even groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous would not benefit her. Based on the nurses ' report, it seems that she will not be discharged in the near future. One way that she will be able to progress in her recovery

Before Al-Anon was placed into practice, Bill W. and Dr. Bob began meeting to build a foundation for individuals who were trying to recover from their alcohol addiction. Family groups were officially put into place in 1935 and that is when family members of alcoholics decided to accompany their loved ones to the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. As these family members participated in the AA meetings they found it helpful to be able to discuss their unique positions they were in and enjoyed living by the AA’s Twelve Steps program. They believed that the twelve steps offered them a better chance to repair the hurt caused to the families of AA members as well as help them cope with life while their

Now that I have explained the purpose, the requirements for membership and what to expect from the Al-Anon recovery process I hope you can see the benefits of this free, 100% guaranteed life changing program and how it can supply you with the tools to survive the effects of someone else’s drinking. For anyone that is interested I will be happy to talk to you further about the program and please feel free to take the complimentary brochures I have brought for you today.

This meeting was focused on finding a “support person”, a friend that can help keep you accountable and strong through an addiction recovery. For the past few months, I had been my friend’s support person (even though I didn’t really know what that meant until this meeting). We discussed the benefits and advantages of having someone to carry your burden, and how they can keep the individual accountable and progressing. They then went around the circle and introduced themselves, like in the movies, “Hi, my name is ____ (the group responds

One meeting (Al-Anon) dealt with family member’s addiction to alcohol and chemicals. Parents Anonymous program is based on helping parents gain skills in rising children.

For this paper I attended three Alcoholic Anonymous meetings held every Saturday at the University Presbyterian Church from 7:30-8:30 pm. As I walked into the Church for my first AA meeting I was already feeling a little nervous and intimated. I made my way to the back of the room and sat in the last row while I observed all of the members of AA hugging each other, talking to each other like family, and sitting really close to each other. It felt as if I was intruding upon a bond that is so intimate and close. These particular meetings had two speakers who were asked to tell their stories about substance use and how it all began. In all honesty, I felt very uncomfortable listening to someone else’s story of whom I did not know personally and being at an AA meeting for the first time, I felt as if I was not supposed to be listening to any of it.

The meeting began with the appointed leader asking if there were any new members in the group, and gave them a chance to introduce themselves. I also introduced myself at this time, and explained my role as a student. They then transitioned into reciting the serenity prayer and having a moment of silence, allowing them to give thanks to their higher power. The leader then had different individuals recite the week’s motivational phrase and reflect on the quote. The quote talked about forgiving yourself as an alcoholic, and the concept of letting go of the guilt that they have over hurting themselves and the people that they love when they were under the influence. This topic was very triggering for the members, and lead them into a very power discussion around the different people in their lives that were directly affected by their drinking. One woman spoke about losing the