Getting Started FAQ
Getting Started
When drinking is a problem, it can be difficult to attend your first meeting. Many people have a lot of questions and feel they have no one to ask. We’ve listed some below, but we also encourage you to attend any meeting to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I think my drinking is a problem?
If drinking is affecting your life negatively, you should seek help. One way to seek help is to attend an AA meeting.
Is AA for me?
Only you can decide whether you want to give AA a try — whether you think it can help you.
We who are in A.A. came because we finally gave up trying to control our drinking. We still hated to admit that we could never drink safely. Then we heard from other A.A. members that we were sick. (We thought so for years!) We found out that many people suffered from the same feelings of guilt and loneliness and hopelessness that we did. We found out that we had these feelings because we had the disease of alcoholism.
We decided to try and face up to what alcohol had done to us. Here are some of the questions we tried to answer honestly. If we answered YES to four or more questions, we were in deep trouble with our drinking. See how you do. Remember, there is no disgrace in facing up to the fact that you have a problem.
If I attend a meeting, will I be asked to join?
Although the West Suburban Fellowship Club, a 12 step recovery club, has ‘members’ you will not be asked to provide any details about yourself and no records are kept at meetings.
What happens if I see people I know?
They will be there for the same reason you are. We do not disclose your identity to outsiders or even others inside our fellowship. You retain as much anonymity as you wish. That is one of the reasons AA is called Alcoholics Anonymous.
What can I expect at a meeting?
What to expect at meetings:
Alcoholics will share their experiences with alcoholism and recovery along with their strength and hope.
Meetings are free. Meeting attendees may make small donations to keep our groups self-supporting.
What not to expect at meetings:
AA is not affiliated with any religious organization.
You are NOT required to introduce yourself as an alcoholic.