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Exploring Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous

Looking for Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous? Advaita Integrative Medicine is here to help. Learn more about alcoholics anonymous in the Raleigh area here.

What Is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)? How Can Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous Help?

Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous is no different from other AA programs. Alcoholics Anonymous is an inclusive support group that brings people together to tackle alcohol addiction. Membership is open to anyone wanting to heal from their alcohol addiction. These meetings are free and can meet you every step of the way on your recovery journey. AA is rooted in peer support, with more experienced members “sponsoring” or guiding newcomers.

Alcoholics Anonymous History

Alcoholics Anonymous officially began in 1935 in Akron, Ohio. It was developed by Bill Wilson and Robert Smith, two men that struggled with alcohol use. Shortly after the first AA group was created, more groups began popping up in Ohio and on the east coast. By 1950, AA had helped more than 100,000 people struggling with alcohol worldwide.1

Is Alcoholics Anonymous Effective?

AA is an effective program for treating alcohol addiction. However, because it is often used in combination with other approaches, and every meeting is different – it is difficult to say just how effective it is.2
AA is associated with reduced drinking and an increased ability to maintain sobriety.3

It is up to each individual to practice the 12 core principles of AA and hold themselves accountable. AA offers support, mentorship, and guidance, but cannot propel people to sustainable sobriety without a personal willingness to change.

What Are The Principles Of AA?

Alcoholics Anonymous is rooted in twelve steps and twelve unifying traditions. Through AA meetings, individuals work through the steps of AA to achieve sobriety. The twelve traditions keep members of AA unified and provide guidelines for how the group should operate.4

AA is often referred to as “The 12 Step” program as it has 12 steps for achieving sobriety. These steps include a spiritual component and belief in a higher power. While many steps reference God, it is important to remember that God can be any higher power you believe in. The 12 steps are as follows:

Step 1: We Admit We Were Powerless Over Alcohol And That Our Lives Have Become Unmanageable

The first step in recovery is admitting that there is a problem and that you need help. This step is also where we “hit bottom,” where we are at our lowest and most out of control with alcohol consumption. Hitting bottom is often the driving force that pushes people to seek AA.

Step 2: Come To Believe That A Power Greater Than Us Could Restore Us To Sanity.

In this step, AA members surrender to a higher power. For some, this can mean a spiritual power like God. But this isn’t necessary. The power of the group itself is higher as well. In this way, people who belong to or have no faith at all can stand together in this step.

Step 3: Decide To Turn Our Will And Our Lives Over To The Care Of God, As We Understand Him.

This step, first and foremost, calls for a willingness to change. It also requires a desire to remove the barriers from our lives that keep us disconnected from a higher power. It also asks us to begin to use our willpower in a way that aligns with our most authentic selves.

Step 4: Make A Searching And Fearless Moral Inventory Of Ourselves.

We can understand the why around drinking by taking an inventory of ourselves and our drinking patterns. From here, we can change ourselves to become more adaptable and less dependent on alcohol.

Step 5: Admit To God, To Us, And To Another Human Being The Exact Nature Of Our Wrongs.

This step is often one of the most challenging steps for participants. But there is great healing in this step. It takes us out of isolation and into a connection state. This is where the group is beneficial. Group AA meetings provide a safe space for those struggling with alcohol to connect and share their experiences.

Step 6: We Are Entirely Ready To Have God Remove All These Defects Of Character.

In this step, we ready ourselves for radical change. This step requires the belief that we can change our character through a higher power. This step also means putting character building ahead of what feels comfortable.

Step 7: Humbly Ask Him To Remove Our Shortcomings.

We can begin to ask for healing through a shift to humility and humility. Here we let go of defensiveness, blame, and excuses surrounding alcohol use.

Step 8: Make A List Of All Persons We Had Harmed And Became Willing To Make Amends To Them.

All alcohol use can devastate personal relationships. In this step, we take an honest look back at the people we hurt through our use. In addition, we also open ourselves up to making amends which comes in handy for the next step.

Step 9: Make Direct Amends To Such People Wherever Possible, Except When Doing So Would Injure Them Or Others.

By taking responsibility for our actions and the harm we have caused, we open ourselves up for authentic connection and more profound healing. In this step, we make amends to those we have hurt unless doing so would cause further damage.

Step 10: Continue To Take Personal Inventory And When We Were Wrong And Promptly Admit It.

This step asks for our continued awareness in recovery. This step asks us to pay attention to how we think, act, and feel- and make course corrections as needed.

Step 11: Seek Through Prayer And Meditation To Improve Our Conscious Contact With God As We Understand Him, Praying Only For Knowledge Of His Will For Us And The Power To Carry That Out.

This step asks us to take the time for reflection, prayer, and meditation to live in alignment with our highest truth.

Step 12: Having Had A Spiritual Awakening As The Result Of These Steps, We Try To Carry This Message To Alcoholics, And To Practice These Principles In All Our Affairs.

In this step, we act and use what we have learned to help others struggling with alcohol use. This can look like mentorship or sponsoring a newcomer. This step also asks us to apply what we learned from the AA experience to every aspect of our lives.

Finding Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Looking for Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous meetings near you? There are several different Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and various support groups to choose from.

Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are offered at multiple points during the day and in several locations. There are many virtual options for Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous as well. Finding a group that fits your schedule is important to staying on the right track for recovery. One option for both in-person and virtual Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous is through Advaita Integrated medicine. Reach out for additional information and support if you or a loved one is considering guidance during your wellness journey.

Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous At Advaita Integrated Medicine (Advaita Integrated Medicine)

Advaita Integrated Medicine is one option for North Carolina residents seeking Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition to in-person meetings and services, Advaita Integrated Medicine offers virtual treatment options. Our outpatient treatment programs can support you in getting sober for good and establishing healthy coping mechanisms. Don’t wait; contact Advaita Integrated Medicine and start your Raleigh Alcoholics Anonymous experience today.

Questions About Treatment?

Reach out to Advaita Integrated Medicine today and let us guide you toward a full and rewarding life uninhibited by mental health or substance use disorder challenges. We are here to support you every step of the way.

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