To find AA meetings in West Virginia, you need to first find a reliable AA meeting locator. This will provide you with an exhaustive list of locations of AA meetings in the state. Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide organization to help people battling alcohol addiction. It is funded and supported by its members, all of whom have been past addicts.
An overview of AA meetings in West Virginia
AA meetings are meant for promoting sobriety, helping addicts stay off drinks or drugs. Members are encouraged to attend local AA meetings to get the encouragement and support they need to kick off this habit. The AA promotes the use of a sobriety calculator which keeps a tab on the number of days an addict has abstained from drinking. When members have been able to reach a milestone, they are rewarded for their commitment with tokens or chips. Each chip stands for a specific time-period for which he was able to stay away from alcohol.
Types of AA meetings
AA meetings in West Virginia can be of different types, closed or open. Open meetings will welcome everyone, even those who may not be AA members. You can search for an “AA meeting near me” to find out about venues close to your home. This gives you a great opportunity to see how an AA meeting in West Virginia works. You can find out about what the organization does, what it stands for, and whether an open or closed meeting is right for you. Discussion meetings and speaker meetings are also usually open in nature. Closed AA meetings will only be attended by AA members. Discussion meetings can be “closed” at times while the meetings for 12 steps of AA are always closed.
Speaker meetings are those in which AA members in West Virginia will share their own experiences with drinking and why they chose the program. This kind of meeting will focus more on sharing stories and listening to others than interactions. Discussion meetings are the opposite in which a member speaks of his own struggle. This opens up a discussion on alcohol addiction recovery where others can give their opinions. So, this meeting type is more about interactions. Step studies are where a committed, small AA group describes the 12 traditions of AA in-depth.
Rules of AA
There is no obligation to introduce yourself or share your story in a room full of strangers when you attend a local AA meeting. The idea is to help a new member feel comforted about sharing first, and then growing together with the others. Each addict has his own pace of recovery and none should feel rushed or forced.
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous focuses on implementing the steps that are needed to lead a fulfilling life without alcohol abuse. These are the guiding principles that build the spiritual foundation needed for leading a sober life.
AA is therefore open to West Virginians of all races, gender, and age. The only thing you need to start attending an AA meeting is your desire to quit drinking. So, find an AA meetings locator and sign yourself up for the next meeting near you. There is no better time than the present when it comes to quitting alcohol.