As part of a class in my Mental Health Counseling program, I visited an open AA group which met in the basement of the Methodist Church. The basement was hot and crowded. I was startled by how little interaction people had with one another. They seemed tired and bored. I sat in the front (it was the only seat available) and listened as they began the meeting. The people’s enthusiasm was startling. These did not look like active participants, and yet, they vigorously replied to all the prompts including welcoming speakers and responding when appropriate. It was a bit confusing to connect these people with this response.
A group of visitors from another AA group took turns sharing their stories and their experiences with AA. They all talked about the importance of the “fellowship” and the need to become actively engaged in the program. When they talked about their families, I was interested to hear that some credited their families response for helping them find their way out of drugs and alcohol and some did not. One man shared that his wife threw him out on the back deck because of his drinking and he recognized that as a point at which he needed to make a change. Another man shared that when he decided to quit drinking his wife said he had to leave, and he credited her ultimatum as being a very positive thing in his own recovery.
As an woman who grew up in the din of an alcoholic family, my own emotional response was mixed, confusing. When I explained to my friend Tom that my step-father had begun attending AA meetings last fall. He asked how he was doing. I responded as a family member... we'll see.
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