Ashland, OH – AA Meetings

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization that was originally founded in 1935. They offer peer support for people who have made the decision to stop drinking. It is a dedicated group of people that help alcoholics use peer-to-peer in sobriety through the use of the spiritually inclined Twelve Step program.

AA memberships are open to anyone who has a drinking problem and who is looking to get sober. There is no charge to be a member, and there are no fees to attend the meetings.

AA meetings are run by others who have recovered from alcoholism so that they can relate and possibly advise the members. The meetings receive no professional oversight and do not have a therapist available.

AA has meetings scheduled all over the world, and there are several taking place each week in the Ashland, Ohio area.

AA meetings are places where people can come and know that they will not be pre-judged for attending or judged for their past. People will be encouraged and praised for their decision to get sober and attend a meeting. The only requirement is to have a desire to stop drinking.

There are several different types of AA meetings, including:

• Open meetings – These are meetings that anyone can attend, even people who are just there to provide support to a loved one. This type of meeting can be used to observe a meeting, specifically a first-time person. Only members are allowed to speak.
• Closed meetings – These meetings are more focused on those participants who acknowledge that they have a problem with addiction. These meetings are designed to provide a supportive and understanding surrounding.
• 12-Step meetings – These meetings walk participants through the 12 Steps of AA.
• Big Book Study meetings – During these meetings, participants work together going through the Big Book of AA.
• Specific Group meetings – These meetings are restricted to certain group characteristics. For example, there are women-only meetings, newcomers meetings, members of the LGBT community and various religions.
• Question and meeting – This type of meeting allows members to ask the coordinator of the group any question.
• Online meetings – It is possible to also find AA meetings online. Online meetings provide an opportunity for those who can not get away from home or live in a rural area that does not have a meeting nearby.

What to Expect During AA Meetings

Every AA meeting type has a different format that members will follow.

New people are often nervous about what to expect when attending an AA meeting for the first time. They may be nervous that they will be put on the spot or embarrassed in some way.

There is no need to be nervous because new people are always welcome to sit and listen and then participate when they are ready to do so.  New people will be warmly welcomed and asked to introduce themselves by their first name.

During AA meetings, any of the following may happen:

• Usually, one person will lead the meeting and welcome everybody.
• Sometimes members may be asked to share on specific topics.
• Crosstalk is discouraged during a meeting so that there is attention given in the meeting.
• There may be a special speaker to go over a certain topic about alcohol abuse.
• There may be a potluck dinner and/or a time for socialization.
• Members may be assigned sponsors, and it is their job to provide one-on-one support outside of group meeting times.
• Meetings can last from 60 to 90 minutes.

Attending AA can be very encouraging, and many people around the world have gotten the support they need. AA meetings have helped many get sober.

Why is Attending Addiction Recovery Meetings Important?

Attending addiction recovery meetings allow people with similar addictions to come together and share the roadblocks that they have in life with the addiction. This is helpful because the person can often give or receive advice to help manage the problem and they might not feel isolated with their addiction. Some of the benefits of attending recovery meetings are:

• Understanding the implications of your addiction and how to handle barriers on the road to recovery.
• Receiving help on how to handle the anxiety and depression as one manages the addiction and road to sobriety.
• Being able to share feelings without being judged by others.
• Learning how to manage the addiction through working with peers or sponsors.
• Having the opportunity of not being alone and being around others to share personal experiences.

Organizations like AA make it possible for people to get the help they need and also to feel heard by others who have been in a similar place/situation like themselves.

According to the Ashland County Community Health Assessment:

• 10% of adults talked to someone they trusted about alcohol abuse
• 1% of adults received assistance for alcohol addiction
• <1%  of adults looked for programs on alcohol abuse.

Traveling to SpringBoard Recovery in Arizona for Drug and Alcohol Rehab

People often choose to travel from Ashland, Ohio to SpringBoard Recovery for drug and alcohol rehab. Sometimes getting out of one’s comfort zone is the best way for a person to change.  There are numerous reasons why someone might make that decision, including:

• An individual might be looking for an addiction treatment program that accepts their health insurance plans.
• Sometimes, there is a desire to get away from the environment that surrounds them so they can focus on themselves during recovering from addiction.
• Being in a private area if one is a public figure and needs seclusion during the recovery process.
• There might be a desire to find a recovery option that one wants to participate in that is not given at a nearby recovery center that the person lives near.
• Recovering in a different area will allow them to get away from triggers that might hinder the recovery process.

We at SpringBoard Recovery, offer recovery housing as well as our addiction treatment program. We are here to help. Please contact us today to learn more.

Attending AA can be very helpful, and numerous people around the world have gotten the support they need to get clean. Many have been able to stop their addiction to substance abuse.