attending my first aa meeting tonight.any advice please?

Question

attending my first aa meeting tonight.bit scared any advice please

Answer 1

Advice? Oh yes.



People in AA tend to be extremely friendly to the newcomer, and this can feel really good. But remember that AA members are not all healthy individuals, not all of them mean well, and not everyone finds the program to their liking. Make sure, absolutely sure, that before you trust someone, you get to know them really well.



There are also several things you will hear in AA that I think are very important to take to heart, and some that you should ignore:



The ones to pay attention to are:



1. Take what you like, and leave the rest.

2. There are no "musts" in this program.

3. Keep an open mind (they mean "to AA" but REALLY keep an open mind...it's also ok NOT to like AA)

4. Just don't drink, no matter what



The ones to ignore are:



1. If you don't get this program, your only alternatives are death, jail and institutions.

2. "Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth."

3. You can't get sober unless you believe in a "higher power."

4. AA works for most people (it's got about a 5% success rate).

5. You can trust the oldtimers (sometimes, although not always, they are the most dangerous people in the room).

Answer 2

Go with and open mind, and be prepared to be honest as most of the people you will meet have had similar problems they have deal with and will understand, not an AA member but have a very good friend that is a sponsor and runs the local AA session, have watched him go from a wreck to some one others rely on.



PS having read some of the replays, its true that the AA doesn't suit everyone and you may have to find a way that does, but you have made the single biggest step by accepting you have something to deal with.



Good luck and don't give up.

Answer 3

I have been to many different AA, NA, and CA meeting over the past year or so and I will tell you that the common thread is that everyone is very friendly to the new comer.



There are two sayings in AA that can help you understand why: 1) We keep what we have only by giving it away (meaning, other people find their sobriety is helped by helping others achieve sobriety) and 2) the new comer is the most important person in the room because it reminds even the old timers that they are always only one drink or drug away from where that person is.



Good luck. I hope you stick with it.

Answer 4

Give it a wide birth. A A is nothing but a but a religious cult. I have had problems with drink in the past and thought i would give it a go. I was quite horrified what I discovered. You will be asked to follow the twelve step programme . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program

It promotes the disease model of addiction and tries to convince you that you have an incurable life long illness that only their dogma can help. This is not true. Self empowerment is the key you are not "Powerless" as they claim. I recommend reading this book



http://www.amazon.com/Addiction-Choice-Ph-D-Jeffrey-Schaler/dp/081269404X



I could go on for ever with my criticism for such a destructive industry of mind control but this has saved me the job.



http://www.orange-papers.org/



I stopped drinking because I chose to do so and don't let anyone try to convince you that you are powerless.



Good Luck

Answer 5

I am alcoholic so I'm wondering why you are going to an AA meeting. I think that if I were invited to give advice it would be, listen and have fun. I have an entire site dedicated to addiction, people and understanding life. It's new and you can find it in my profile...I think. Feel free to start talking with me. Let me know how it goes.

Answer 6

aaww dont be scared, im sure everyone there has heared it all before and know exactly what you are going through as they will probably have felt the same

main thing to do is just be yourself and be honest and open, the more honest you are the more they can halp

good luck!! take care x

Answer 7

Hey you are making a big stride, the worse thing was admitting you drank too much. You will be with people who are all in the same situation, so deep breath, go in and make it happen.



Good Luck

Answer 8

GO its your first step towards your future you will be surprised the people you will meet from all walks of life that share your problem and fears . GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

Good luck!



The first thing is to know you have a problem; the next is to ask for help. It takes courage to do that.

Answer 10

you have already been given very good advice i would just like to say well done and good luck x

Answer 11

just be yourself be open and honest and take your time you will be in very good company as there are other people who are there for the same reason.

Answer 12

no, but as a heavy drinker myself good luck to you you are braver than me.

Answer 13

have a drink before you go ( water of course )