Alcoholism is a trend that has affected several people globally because of addiction and other issues that are related to it. The need to be sober has made individuals look for organizations that can help them. Sobriety enables people to achieve their dreams without any limitations to do with their physical or mental state. The road to recovery might be tough for some people, but it is worth the fight at the end of the day. Additionally, society begins to notice that reforming alcohol addicts is a possible venture. Hence, there is no justification for alienating people who might be going through this horrible phase of their lives. This discourse entails my verdict after attending some of the AA sessions as the program was in progress. It will include the details of the organization, its operations, personal observations, and my conclusion based on my experience during my time there.
The conspiracies that follow alcoholism faces people to do some things that they had not imagined. Every person has his or her story about using alcohol. Notably, the journey of addiction is a process and not an instantaneous happening as others would think. Therefore, it is an issue that needs to be handled with some subtle sense of precaution to avoid hurting the individuals who could have been affected by the condition (“The 12 Steps of AA Explained,” 2018). Sobriety happens when a person keeps off any alcoholic drink that could impair judgment. Hence, it might be necessary to avoid liquor if possible.
Brief History of the Organization
Alcoholic Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson. Bob Smith was the other person who was involved in the founding of the organization in Ohio. Over the years, the entity has continued to attract people from different places as they strive to solve their alcoholism problems. The success rate of its policies can judge the relevance of such a body as it seeks to help individuals who are going through tough phases in their lives. Addiction can be traumatizing because it involves the entire family. The society is also affected in the long run since it will lack able-bodied young men who can contribute to the development of the community. Hence, several justifications can be used to honor the existence of Alcoholics Anonymous. Therefore, as it seems the organization has been in existence for several years and it has also contributed to the transformation of several lives that could have been lost because of alcohol-related cases in the respective places. Human life is valuable and deliberate efforts should be made to preserve it. The inception of AA marked the beginning point of change stories from people who had become disillusioned about life. Acknowledging its contribution to modern day society is necessary.
At the time of AA's founding, it had not captured any traction among people who are affected by alcohol. However, over time, the entity has become among the sort organizations because of its reputation as it strives to ascertain that alcoholics achieve sobriety. Some facts cannot be assumed regarding alcoholism in society since people have become enlightened through various ways. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the people who attend such AA meetings are not stigmatized. They should be allowed to go through the healing phase without any difficulties.
AA has helped several people towards their journey of recovery from alcoholism. Professionals and people from different backgrounds are not immune to the condition. Therefore, over the years, the organization has been essential in transforming the lives of several people. Dick (2007) state that AA has made significant strides towards achieving its initial goals. AA wants to focus on holistic recovery of alcoholic in the future. Hence, it shows that the close family members of the affected people may be involved in the recovery process. Jensen (2000) talk about an improved format for ensuring that the effectiveness of AA is enhanced accordingly.
How Meetings are Organized
AA comprises individuals who want to stay from alcohol. Hence, the people who are involved could have been going through different phases of their alcoholism journey. Therefore, they tend to organize meetings where they encourage each other and share a lot of information on how to stay free from alcohol. These individuals are mostly on the road to recovery. Therefore, they need a high level of encouragement so that they can go through AA successfully. AA has an elaborate plan that ensures that the participants keep away from alcohol through all means. Its strategy is always inclusive, and the participants are always encouraged to take part in wholeheartedly.
At the meetings that I attended, there was a leader who seemed to be in control of the whole group. He was in charge of controlling the events that were taking place and giving every person a chance accordingly. Sharing of stories is one of the critical components of AA. Some of the experiences that people have had might encourage an individual who is about to give up on the program. AA meetings are mostly characterized by positive connotations that are supposed to be motivational. Inspirational stories are common. These types of narratives are essential because they inform the participants that they can achieve anything that they wish provided they remain faithful to the course of recovery. Dodes & Dodes (2014) states that several recovery stories are associated with AA. In most cases, success stories are appreciated by the members of the fellowship. Such individuals are also encouraged to look for the best ways that help them steer clear from any alcoholic drinks.
Not all AA stories end positively. There are situations where a member of an AA group might relapse into drinking. However, they are not left to continue with the behavior. Instead, deliberate efforts are made to ensure that they are brought back into the circle and proper follow-up is made. This approach ensures that their situation does not worsen. The company that an alcoholic keeps is also one of the precursors of a relapse into alcoholism. Consequently, it is appropriate to motivate such individuals to avoid their drinking partners by keeping themselves busy. This strategy would aid in keeping the AA adherents busy during their meetings. The fellowship leader can take personal responsibility of ensuring that there is total compliance to the rules. The strategies that have been mentioned above show that AA groups are focused on their objectives. I attended meetings whereby I witnessed some of the points that have been mentioned above.
Personal Observations of the Meetings
Attending the AA gatherings provided me with an eye-opening opportunity into the world of alcoholism. In most cases, people tend to ignore the cries of alcoholics, but they might not know that the same people have tried to quit the habit with little success. AA gives them an opportunity to redeem themselves through the inspirational stories that other participants share. Everyone has his or her story to tell. Hence, a person needs to be optimistic and work on the avenues that might help in quitting addictive behavior.
I saw a group of people that were willing to change for the better. The organization of the group intrigued me. The leader made everything look easy by coordinating all the activities. Although most of the participants were recovering addicts, there was minimal shouting and no violence during the sessions. This point proves that the level of commitment of the alcoholics was commendable considering their physical and mental disposition at the moment. The sessions seemed therapeutic as the group would burst in laughter once in a while as different people shared their stories and experiences of alcoholism. I was keen enough to grasp most of the details because I had never attended such events before. Everything was new to me. However, I was attentive all through so that I could not miss out on any information that could have helped in getting a better understanding of the operations of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The cooperativeness of the entire group caught my attention. They were allowing each other time to talks without any form of interruption in between the conversation. As a gathering of both recovering and continuing alcoholics, someone would expect some rowdiness. However, I saw none of such behavior. Additionally, the politeness and sympathetic nature of the participants was also cognizable. There were some emotional moments, but everything was in control because the individuals are aware of their objectives. Another noticeable aspect involved the level of discipline within the team. Everyone was always seated before the meeting began. This affirms the level of commitment and dedication that every member has in the AA fellowship. This trend can help alcoholics recover fast so that they can continue with their normal lifestyles — further, such stories aid in confirming the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous groups within the society.
Conclusion
My AA experience was marvelous because I came to learn about several crucial issues. This model of treatment is essential because it covers human psychology. Comprehending bits our psychological well-being is essential because it aids in making key determinations in life. Alcoholism is a habit that needs interventions to be solved. Therefore, any alcoholic who is willing to drop the habit can visit a rehabilitation center for further consultations. However, AA provides a unique format where the participants get to share their stories and the approaches that they are using towards quitting drinking. This technique is exceedingly therapeutic because it is interactive and the individuals get to learn the steps that have been applied by other people who are going through the same problem. The success rate of this model is commendable based on the fact that it is not capital intensive as other approaches. The AA concept would be a crucial part of my work in the future because I have already learned how the fellowship operates. In case I have a colleague who might be struggling with alcoholism, I would encourage him or her to join the nearest AA group. The information that I have would help me in convincing such a person about the gains of joining such an outfit.
References
The 12 Steps of AA Explained. (2018, August 28). Retrieved from
http://www.ashwoodrecovery.com/blog/12-steps-explained/
Dick, B. (2007). Introduction to the Sources and Founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Good
Book Publishing Company.
Dodes, L. M., & Dodes, Z. (2014). The sober truth: Debunking the bad science behind 12-
step programs and the rehab industry. Beacon Press.
Jensen, G. H. (2000). Storytelling in Alcoholics Anonymous: A rhetorical analysis. Southern
Illinois University Press.