AA Meetings in Maricopa County

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences and strength and hope that they may solve their common problems and help others recover from alcoholism.

The only real requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. According to their core literature: “There are no dues or fees for AA membership; it is self-supporting through its own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. The organization’s primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.”

Alcoholics Anonymous has been described as one of the most successful self-help groups in history, but it is more than just a group. It is a way of life that can help people who want to stop drinking alcohol find their way back to sanity and happiness after their addiction has ruined their lives.

What are the benefits of AA attendance?

The principal value of Alcoholics Anonymous is that it provides a support system for those who want to recover from alcohol addiction. By attending meetings, sharing experiences, and listening to the stories of others struggling with addiction, recovering alcoholics can find hope for their own recovery. Some of the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous include:

• A sense of community and belonging: Many people who join Alcoholics Anonymous feel isolated from friends and family because of their alcohol addiction. Attending meetings helps them feel connected to others who understand what they’ve been through and can offer advice on how to get through difficult times.
• An understanding of the disease model of addiction: The disease model explains why people become addicted and why they have trouble stopping once they start drinking or using drugs. It also gives hope that recovery is possible if you’re willing to work hard at it.
• Support during relapse prevention: If a person relapses after being sober for some time, he may feel discouraged and think he’s doomed to drink again forever — but this isn’t true! Alcoholics Anonymous offers support during relapse prevention so that members don’t give up on themselves when life gets tough again.
• A sense of spirituality or faith in something greater than yourself: Spirituality and a belief in God is a deeply interwoven components of the 12-step program that AA is famous for. This can be invaluable to some. However, conversely, atheists or persons who are perhaps spiritually jaded may find the degree to which this aspect of the program is deeply threaded into the entire experience to chafe a bit. This particular component can and does impact people in different ways.

What to expect from an AA meeting

AA’s Twelve Steps provide a blueprint for recovery, but the group you attend may have different policies and tools for their meeting.  Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are where community members come together to share their experiences with alcohol and other drugs.

You can expect a range of emotions, but most people feel at ease and accepted at AA meetings. Some people choose not to talk at all during the meeting; some will share only if asked questions by others. Others choose to share every time they go to an AA meeting; they talk about their lives, challenges, and successes in sobriety and ask questions of other attendees.

When someone shares at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, they’re doing so with the understanding that what they say will be kept confidential among those present at the time. Because of this principle, it’s essential that only those who need to know about a person’s drinking status do so — there shouldn’t be any gossip about what was said during the meeting outside of the room itself.

People often bring a Big Book copy to AA meetings, but the truth is that there is no formal requirement that you carry anything but yourself and a willingness to be open and vulnerable to these meetings.

Finding AA meetings in Maricopa county.

Finding AA meetings in Maricopa county is a relatively simple task. Google is a fantastic point to start looking for options. A rudimentary search will usually give you precisely what you need to find an active group and their schedule. From there, it’s merely a matter of calling out to them for more information or simply attending at the soonest option.

Choosing an AA meeting in Maricopa county would generally be a matter of personal taste. Factors like scheduling, group size, proximity, and meeting format, to name a few, could all potentially impact which group is the best fit for you or your loved one.

Finding an AA-friendly rehab in Maricopa county.

The first thing to know is that there are no official standards for making a rehab “AA friendly.” This means that no organization or endorsement body certifies or approves drug and alcohol treatment centers as being “AA friendly.”

However, there are some things to look for when trying to find a rehab center that is compatible with the individuals’ needs and lining up with the core ethos and intention of what the AA program seeks to strive towards. Some of the more important factors to consider when looking for a rehab center are:

• Does the facility offer 12-step meetings onsite? Does it have a separate meeting room for these meetings? Do they have programs for family members? Do they offer group therapy sessions where you can talk about your recovery issues?
• Does the facility offer alternative therapies like yoga and meditation? Or would you prefer something more traditional, like art therapy or equine therapy? Do they provide opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking and fishing? Is there an opportunity to volunteer at local charities?
• Is there an opportunity for vocational training such as computer skills or resume building classes? Does the facility have an alumni association where former patients can connect with each other after treatment has ended to support each other through their recovery process?

At its core, Alcoholics Anonymous understands that skill-building and support are core to ensuring sobriety continues and endures. To that end, any treatment center that takes that approach to rehabilitation could feasibly be said to be “AA-friendly.”

Get sober with a holistic rehab and AA in Maricopa County.

Holistic rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous are two of the most popular recovery programs individuals use to get sober. If you’re looking for a new way to quit drinking and stay sober, using these options simultaneously can be helpful.

Holistic rehabs provide patients with holistic treatment plans that include both psychological therapy and physical therapy. As a treatment option, they aim to help people stop drinking by addressing the underlying causes of addiction.  These programs are often more cost-effective than other types of rehabs because they allow you to receive care from multiple areas in one facility at once.

Combining this with the support network found in Alcoholics Anonymous can be pretty effective in helping persons achieve and maintain long-lasting sobriety. Emerald Isle Recovery is pleased to have our own Alcoholics Anonymous meeting as well as support for anyone looking to leave the substance behind. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!