Get the Everything AA app and the Meeting Guide app.
Everything AA is a yellow background with a blue triangle and circle. Meeting guide is a white chair on a blue background. Both are free to get in any app store.
Everything AA has all the literature and connects you to 24 hour Zoom meetings. I like big city meetings because you get a diverse crowd.
Meeting Guide will help you locate meetings near you.
And I’ve seen people walk into meetings with less than one day sober.
Search ‘AA Intergroup [the name of the city]’ The website will list all the local meetings, live and online.
I go to a 6 am Zoom meeting that gets people from all over.
Also, the bigger places usually have a variety of meetings. Men only; women only; young people; LGBTQ+; etc.
Finally, don’t worry about the jargon. A lot of people like to talk about the Steps, The Program, The Big Book. It can be overwhelming, but it all comes down to one person sharing their own truth. Good luck
‘Closed’ means that only people with a drinking problem can come in.
“Open” means that you can bring a friend, or that anyone with an interest in the program can come in. Anniversary meetings are usually open so people’s families can come.
“Meditation” means that they dim the lights and silently meditate.
“Speaker” means someone shares their personal journey for 15 minutes or so.
“Literature” means they read from The Big Book, the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, or other AA books.
Another jargon you’ll hear is ‘sponsor.’ A sponsor is an AA who you feel comfortable with. Some people pick a temporary sponsor at their first meeting. Other people wait until they feel comfortable. It took me two years before I got one.
Most meetings take a minute at the start to ask if there is anyone new to the meeting. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. If you’re online you can usually send a private message to the host and ask for phone numbers or information.
My suggestion for you would be to find a seven day a week meeting you can get to every day. It can be early morning before work/school; or at noon on your meal break; or before you go to bed. I started out going to the same meeting every day after work and a couple of weekend meetings near me. Other people like to drop in whenever they feel the need. Some newcomers spend all day in meetings. Personally, I could only handle one a day at the start.
https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/b-7_livingsober_1-17_updated_10-2024.pdf
Not the AA Big Book, but a guide to tricks for not drinking.
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It’s easier to stay stopped when you hear other people’s stories and realize how much you have in common with them. Good luck!
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Get the Everything AA app and the Meeting Guide app.
Everything AA is a yellow background with a blue triangle and circle. Meeting guide is a white chair on a blue background. Both are free to get in any app store.
Everything AA has all the literature and connects you to 24 hour Zoom meetings. I like big city meetings because you get a diverse crowd.
Meeting Guide will help you locate meetings near you.
And I’ve seen people walk into meetings with less than one day sober.
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Search ‘AA Intergroup [the name of the city]’ The website will list all the local meetings, live and online.
I go to a 6 am Zoom meeting that gets people from all over.
Also, the bigger places usually have a variety of meetings. Men only; women only; young people; LGBTQ+; etc.
Finally, don’t worry about the jargon. A lot of people like to talk about the Steps, The Program, The Big Book. It can be overwhelming, but it all comes down to one person sharing their own truth. Good luck
deleted by creator
‘Closed’ means that only people with a drinking problem can come in.
“Open” means that you can bring a friend, or that anyone with an interest in the program can come in. Anniversary meetings are usually open so people’s families can come.
“Meditation” means that they dim the lights and silently meditate.
“Speaker” means someone shares their personal journey for 15 minutes or so.
“Literature” means they read from The Big Book, the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, or other AA books.
Another jargon you’ll hear is ‘sponsor.’ A sponsor is an AA who you feel comfortable with. Some people pick a temporary sponsor at their first meeting. Other people wait until they feel comfortable. It took me two years before I got one.
Most meetings take a minute at the start to ask if there is anyone new to the meeting. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. If you’re online you can usually send a private message to the host and ask for phone numbers or information.
My suggestion for you would be to find a seven day a week meeting you can get to every day. It can be early morning before work/school; or at noon on your meal break; or before you go to bed. I started out going to the same meeting every day after work and a couple of weekend meetings near me. Other people like to drop in whenever they feel the need. Some newcomers spend all day in meetings. Personally, I could only handle one a day at the start.