If you wish to involve your loved ones in your journey of sobriety, then you are most welcome. AA lets you invite your family members, close friends, therapist, your doctor, or anybody you know who wants to get acquainted with the process.
An open AA meeting in New Hampshire is open for everybody, even for those who are not sure whether they have an alcohol use disorder. Such people, when they attend the meetings, realize their shortcomings and the need to De-addict.
Benefits of letting your family and friends participate in meetings
- Your loved ones can know how difficult it is to shift from alcoholism to sobriety and how you are putting in efforts. Many people fail to understand the emotional upheaval that an alcoholic undergoes. Listening to the stories of fellow members can make them empathize.
- When your loved ones are by your side in your sobriety journey you gain stronger support and a sense of security. You are better able to recover.
- Participating in Alcoholics Anonymous meetingsstrengthens the bond between you and your family and friends.
- Your loved ones get educated about alcohol addiction and how it affects the body, especially the brain. They will then understand why you behaved strangely and why it was difficult for you to stop drinking.
- Your loved ones will realize that addiction is a disease and brings compulsive behaviors. They might forgive you for the hurt and rude behavior you inflicted upon them and strengthen their support for you.
- Your loved ones may also come to know about enabling behaviors. This will make them realize their own mistakes of how they enabled you in alcohol use.
- Certain people have doubts about AA meetings. Attending one of them can clear their doubts. They will rest assured that you are in a safe and supportive place.
Being the observer and not the participant
Usually, loved ones and acquaintances of an alcoholic are in the meeting to observe how things go. Open speaker meetings are the best for them. This is also for alcoholics who do not wish to participate as of now, but only want to see what really happens in a meeting.
Open speaker meetings usually feature a leader who chairs the meeting and introduces everybody to each other.
You may learn about the 12 traditions of AA, how AA started, the 12-step program, and what AA is and what it is not.
Many times, such meetings feature the participation of doctors and psychologists who can help attendees with their emotional issues and how alcohol affects their minds. In this case, the meetings can be quite educational. Often, an alcoholic, himself/herself, is unaware of how alcohol is affecting their mind.
Being the participant
Open discussion meetings expect all attendees to participate. The meetings feature group discussions, sharing of stories and insights, and more.
Depending on what you want, you may search for a “meeting near me.” For an alcoholic who wants to quit drinking, doors are open. Now, it is upto you how far you go in your sobriety journey.
