what is aa

We are not allied with any group, cause or religious denomination. We welcome new members, but we do not recruit them. We are people who have discovered and admitted that we cannot control alcohol. We have learned that we must live without it to live normal, happy lives.

Who Started Alcoholics Anonymous?

  • Meetings labeled “closed” are for people who consider (or are considering) themselves alcoholics.
  • They offer the same help to anyone who has a drinking problem and wants to do something about it.
  • If you want to keep drinking, that’s your business.If you want to stop, that’s our business.

It was called the AA prayer in the 1940s.74 Often recited at meetings, it emphasizes the concepts of acceptance, courage, and wisdom, which align with Alcohol Use Disorder the principles of the AA program. The prayer encourages individuals to accept things they cannot change, to find the courage to make changes where possible, and to seek the wisdom to distinguish between the two. Our Primary Purpose is the official podcast from the General Service Office (GSO) of Alcoholics Anonymous for the U.S. and Canada. Through interviews with GSO staff and voices from A.A.

History of the 12 Steps of Recovery.

what is aa

These meetings are often characterized by sharing personal stories, discussing challenges, and offering mutual support. Welcome to Our Primary Purpose, the official podcast of the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. This podcast takes you behind the scenes of how GSO helps A.A. Groups and members across the U.S. and Canada carry the life-saving message of hope and recovery. Discover the people, history, and stories that shape A.A., including sharing from visiting members and archival gems from A.A.’s 90-year history.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Meetings aren’t based on a specific religion, they do include spiritual aspects. For some, these aspects of the program can be a stumbling block. Membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no other requirements to join this fellowship and attend a meeting. The Serenity Prayer is commonly used in AA meetings as a tool for reflection and guidance.

  • Its operations follow an « inverted pyramid » structure, allowing local groups significant autonomy.
  • You’re a member of a group if you choose to be.
  • We are not reformers, and we are not allied with any group, cause, or religion.
  • When you attend your first meeting, it is not expected that you will contribute.

We know exactly how you feel, and we had the help of people who were already A.A. The consequences of our alcoholic drinking have varied. what is aa A few of us had become indigent before turning to A.A.

what is aa

what is aa

For example, an intercity group of A.A. Members who are mostly homeless may not https://ecosoberhouse.com/ be as beneficial for other demographics. Anyone with a desire to stop drinking is welcome, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income or profession. This pamphlet describes who A.A.s are and what we have learned about alcoholism. We are not anti-alcohol and we have no wish to reform the world.

  • The Big Book in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a foundational text outlining the principles of recovery for individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
  • We are not anti-alcohol and we have no wish to reform the world.
  • Recovery works through one alcoholic sharing their experience with another.
  • While certain meetings may cater to specific demographic groups, attendance is generally open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking.