Does anyone else find it strange that the first thing that everyone does upon attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is introduce themselves to the group?
2007-08-09 14:38:44 · 12 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I dont dispute all of the good work tht the organisation has done and just to make it clear, i think it is a very worthwhile cause. Only the irony of the name that strikes me..
2007-08-09 14:46:33 · update #1
AA helped my dad so much,so I have only good feelings about the organization.
He has been sober now 43 years.
He would have been dead long ago...
2007-08-09 14:41:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Group therapy has confidentiality but you still tell your group members who you are.
It is really very practical. Introducing yourself to the group by your first name isn't a very big deal. You don't sign in anywhere or anything. Occasionally if you go for awhile you might find that a group has an optional phone list. Some members will place their last names on the list but that is purely at their discretion. There are also open and closed meetings. Open meetings can be attended by anyone regardless of wether or not they have a drinking problem. Family members often will accompany their loved ones to these. If this is not low enough profile, closed meetings are also available and more discretion is expected at these meetings. Anyway.......although I don't think it is necessary, you could introduce yourself as an anonymous alcoholic and I am sure you would be permitted to share in an AA meeting.
I read a story about a man in Michigan who was a long time member (over 10 years) of an AA group. He was one of many who valued anonymity to such a degree that he never shared his last name with anyone in the meeting. He shared many many personal stories but never his last name. interestingly enough, he died of a heart attack in the meeting one night and it took over a month to identify his body since not a single group member knew his last name.
Like I said, it is very practical and extremely non-intrusive. If you have a great deal of anxiety about your anonymity I suggest attending closed meetings or even an outpatient treatment program where you actually have some legal recourse if your alcoholism is revealed to anyone.
I am actually an AA member who places his last name on many phone lists, etc but uses an alias as a first name. Of course my alias is in use everywhere I go, but it is not a legal name for me. I guess I have the attitude that AA shouldn't be so anonymous that we can't help someone out who really needs a hand. Many, many of my friends are sober today because someone wasn't TOO anonymous.
2007-08-11 00:27:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think it is strange at all. The purpose of the introduction is to enable the group to bond and become more personable. Years ago my family and I supported my father when he checked himself into AA and it was a wonderful experience. When the meetings began we were just a bunch of strangers meeting as individuals but when it ended we were a group of friends trying to overcome a common problem. The introduction is important because it helps the alcoholic admit they have a problem and it also enables them to see that they are not alone. Alcoholism doesn't care about race, color, creed, religion, profession, education, sex or sexual orientation. It is an equal opportunity destroyer. The purpose of AA is for everyone to join forces collectively as a group to conquer the problem. In order to accomplish this objective it is important everyone is familiar with each other. Peace and God bless.
2007-08-09 14:51:55 · answer #3 · answered by cave man 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It doesnt really matter does it? Of course it's anonymous, if you introduce yourself as "debbie" for example.... well.... how many debbie's are there in the world!!! I'd say that makes you pretty anonymous!!
2007-08-13 02:46:15 · answer #4 · answered by loveyou 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
which could matter on your perspective after vacationing a gathering. if a guy or woman needs to believe a mountain is their bigger ability, it is approved. the concentration, is bigger ability, to the God of one's understanding. it is non secular. no longer non secular for my section. it facilitates many a lot of human beings. I even have drug addicts and alcoholics as kinfolk. some have died. i understand a lot of human beings and acquaintances in it. they have some thing called narcotic anoymous additionally. they're loose to specific as they experience, with language as they %, in contrast to a non secular group could be. it is a help group. they help one yet another in staying sparkling. with reference to the needed questiion. In AA human beings can believe as they please. No specific faith is imposed. in the event that they do no longer believe in God, then that guy or woman's bigger ability could be some thing, purely no longer God. faith is by no ability pronounced. Say it have been an atheist, he could evaluate his or her bigger ability to be some thing interior of him or herself, or some thing concrete like a statue. which could completely be allowed. it is designed to settle for all and sundry regardless of non secular or non non secular decision. God is pronounced in the serenity prayer. yet, it is the God on one's understanding, and a few do no longer believe in God. yet they could believe in an stronger ability. To believe in some thing extra advantageous than one's ego, is clever. thousands and thousands are helped via this methodology. If a collection is behaving religiously, then they do no longer look to be following the regulations. The point out of Jesus, or the different being of such, is forbidden. needless to say if somebody is an alcholic to the element they're in court docket, there's a issue. I even have the destruction of habit ailment. i'm grateful there is a few thing accessible it somewhat is loose, devoid of value to help. I even have been to alanon, it somewhat is for kinfolk of alchollics. EDIT: you're giving word to what's carried out in the judicial gadget. do you already know the different decision is detention center? confident, it is loose, regardless of the undeniable fact that it is likewise an analogous technique they use in all the very high priced rehab centers. in my state no person is utilising a thirteenth sexual step. it is coed, and a few could occasion and date, or maybe marry. it is no longer required or pronounced. it is suggested in the 1st year of sobriety to no longer date all and sundry.
2016-10-02 00:33:05 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What else are you supposed to call the person Alcoholic #1, 2, 3 etc.etc?
2007-08-09 14:41:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
yes but these people around them are complete strangers and it is good to know peoples names...its only anonymous to other people who are not attending the course
2007-08-09 15:01:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not compulsory and only first names are given.
2007-08-09 15:47:11 · answer #8 · answered by Pixxxie 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. Admitting that you have a problem. step 1
2007-08-09 14:46:11 · answer #9 · answered by tim b 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You don't introduce yourself with your full name , at least not in Britain .
2007-08-09 15:16:26 · answer #10 · answered by Hippie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋