Tonight I’m going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
…but not for me.
It’s truthfully for a good friend of mine whose drinking has been affecting her family lately. Things sort of came to a head this weekend and she made the decision to go to a meeting. She told me this morning so I offered to go with her.
I want to support her and help her get better for her sake, and for her family’s sake.
So I wanted to know if anyone out in the ether has been to an AA meeting for whatever purpose? What’s it like? How should I present myself?
I don’t know if friends are welcome to these meetings? What is the proper etiquette at these places? What should I be prepared for?
I would look it up myself but I’m at work and don’t want AA to show up across IT’s screen.
5 responses to “Supporting a Friend”
I think that's a great thing you are doing for your friend!
I wouldn't worry too much about it beforehand, I can imagine they'd be pretty understanding and welcoming considering the nature of their business. I also believe there is a family support group as well if your friend's family wants to go and learn more about how they can help her and cope themselves. It may be the same meeting, I'm not sure. She's lucky to have such a great friend. 🙂
Hey Ginger! I have been meaning to e-mail you! Saw this post and strangely, I have been to lots of AA meetings (don't ask!). Just remember the key part of the title is anonymous – so whatever you see or hear, keep to yourself. I would just sit there and say nothing – otherwise you will have to intoduce yourself as "Hi, my name is Ginger and I'm NOT an alcoholic" people will just look at you wierd then! 😉
Best, Lisamarie
Been to a few for the husband of my childhood piano teacher who both turned good friends of my parents. Er…hope you followed. Anyway, whatever. Hehe.
It's basically a group of people sitting in a room (typically a church or classroom – my church holds meetings every Tuesday). There's coffee, sometimes a snack. The majority is usually male and in my side of the country you'd see a more rough and tumble crowd – biker jackets, boots, men that look like they work at laboring jobs.
The procedure is pretty accurate on TV – you go around the room, everyone introduces themselves (but I agree with Lisamarie, just kind of hang back for this part). There's occasionally a guest speaker or one of the attendees will be telling their story, there's usually some kind of 'open mic' type conversation where whomever can get up and talk.
There are usually some leader-ish type people I always think of as mentors: they sort of recognize people that might need assistance if their journey is just starting. I
Good on your for supporting your friend. I can't wait till she cuts her 1 year cake – I know she can do it!!! *hugs* to you.
Honestly Ginger, are you sure that you're not going because you have a problem?
LOL Good question, James!
I've got lots of problems, but drinking ain't one of them!
I thought I would learn something from the meeting but I found myself unable to relate to the discussion at all, it really is for people with drinking problems :S
My friend was also somewhat disappointed by all the talk of "god" and giving up and handing yourself over to a greater power… neither of us felt it was the right way to approach something, particularly for someone like her who isn't that far gone yet.
We're going to try and find her a different type of group that isn't so sad and powerless. One that is secular.