How long are AA meetings?
Learn what you might expect
What can you expect when you attend a 12-step orAlcoholics Anonymous meeting?
If you’ve never attended one, you likely have fears and reservations.
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Often, your only exposure is through what you’ve seen depicted in movies or television shows.
What is the reality?
You might wonder how long AA meetings are.
At a Glance
Feeling a little nervous about going to your first AA meeting is normal!
Learning more about how meetings work and what happens during a meeting can help you feel more comfortable.
Click below to listen now.
What Is an AA Meeting?
An AA meeting refers to an Alcoholics Anonymous support group meeting.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who have experienced problems with drinking.
Anyone who has a desire to do something about their drinking can join.
AA utilizes a 12-step recovery model that focuses on applying specific principles as people work toward sobriety.
Research suggests that attending meetings can lead to positive outcomes for many AA participants.
Some might be sober; some might be struggling.
Some may want to mentor others, while others want to observe and participate less.
What Happens During Your First AA Meeting?
What is the reality for most meetings?
The meeting might be held in a building connected with a church or a community center.
You arrive to find most of the people you see are there for theAlcoholics Anonymousmeeting.
Outside of the room are a few folks making coffee and talking.
Inside the room, there are people sitting here and there; some talking together, some sitting alone.
After about 10 minutes, there are 50 people who are seated in a semi-circle of chairs.
One person sits in the middle of the circle.
They are the meeting chairperson for that particular day.
How Long Are AA Meetings?
Some meetings may be as short as thirty minutes, while others may be as long as two hours.
you’re able to often find a posted schedule that includes the expected duration of the meeting.
A few raise their hands.
You may or may not be one of them as this is an option and not mandatory.
Do I Have to Talk at My First AA Meeting?
Open meetings are available to anyone interested in AA.
Closed meetings, however, are restricted to people who are members of AA.
Meetings may also take different formats:
Sharing
During the meeting, people simply begin talking.
Just as in the movies, everyone responds with, “Hello (first name)!”
After they complete their “story” everyone in the room thanks them.
Then the next person can speak up.
After everyone completes sharing, the chairperson asks if there are any AA-related announcements.
You do not have to participate in the prayer.
Once the prayer is over, the meeting ends.
Some may introduce themselves to you and may ask questions.
You are free to leave if you don’t want to socialize.
No two meetings are alike.
You may indeed run into someone you recognize or who recognizes you.
Many non-alcoholics may attend these and no one assumes because you are there that you are alcoholic.
People who put their number in this book do so because they really do want to help.
In larger cities, “where and when” booklets that list AA meetings throughout the week often exist.
During the COVID-19 crisis, AA began offering virtual meetings, phone calls, and emails.
you’re free to still find many of these options today.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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Niebuhr R. The Serenity Prayer.
