Author: John Carter
Alcoholics Anonymous
Being around other individuals who are in recovery is beneficial to recovery. Seeing others who have been in your situation succeed in recovery and abstinence can be motivating to continue your own sobriety. Further, having a sponsor in AA seems to deepen that sense of belonging.⁵ A sponsor not only provides a personalized guide for the AA process but also shows you success is possible by engaging with someone who has completed the 12 Steps and maintained significant sobriety.
These components may allow individuals to feel safe sharing their alcohol-related challenges. Though the fellowship has been around for more than eight decades, researchers have only recently developed good methods to measure its effectiveness, Humphreys said. The review was published March 11 in Cochrane Database of Systematic Review.
Cochrane requires its authors to undertake a rigorous process that ensures the studies represented in its summaries are high-quality and the review of evidence is unbiased. AA works because it’s based on social interaction, Humphreys said, noting that members give one another emotional support as well as practical tips to refrain from drinking. “If you want to change your behavior, find some other people who are trying to make the same change,” he said.
It also contains stories written by the co-founders and stories from a wide range of members who have found recovery in A.A.
This pamphlet describes who A.A.s are and what we have learned about alcoholism. We are people who have discovered and admitted that we cannot control alcohol. We have learned that we must live without it to live normal, happy lives. The book Alcoholics Anonymous describes the A.A.
Topics That Should Be Discussed with a Therapist
Although AA is well-known and used by millions around the world, mental health professionals are sometimes skeptical of its effectiveness, Humphreys said. Psychologists and psychiatrists, trained to provide cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy to treat patients with alcohol-use disorder, can have a hard time admitting that the lay people who run AA groups do a better job of keeping people on the wagon. Peer-led groups, like AA, provide individuals with the opportunity to learn from others’ coping skills and receive support from others who know what you are experiencing. The 12 Steps are a structured view of the recovery process and offer the space to discuss and process current step work.⁴ In AA, discussions can vary, including discussing feelings about recovery, 12-step work, and more. The authors found high certainty evidence that clinically delivered and manualized TSF programs designed to increase AA participation can lead to higher rates of continuous abstinence over months and years, when compared to other active treatment approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
They are aimed at engaging people within AA during and after treatment for alcohol use disorder. Some of these programs follow a manual, so that the same treatment can be delivered at different times and places. While AA is an opportunity to hear others with similar struggles tell their story, receive feedback, and listen to others’ self-examination, time is limited to share and reflect.
Alcoholics Anonymous remains the single most popular method for treating addiction, and thousands of people who have experienced an addiction to alcohol have successfully used the program. However, some addiction specialists have argued that the recovery rate offered by Alcoholics Anonymous is no better than that of spontaneous recovery, which frequently occurs among those addicted to alcohol. Alcoholics Anonymous provides no treatment or counseling outside of peer support, although AA groups do frequently encourage members with underlying mental health problems to seek mental health treatment before returning to AA. Many inpatient mental health facilities use 12-step groups to supplement the programs they offer to those seeking treatment for addiction. AA uses the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and the Big Book to guide and support the mission of AA and the individuals participating.² Because AA is peer-led, it is nonclinical in its process and uses a community reinforcement approach. Rehab facilities offer a more intensive recovery experience.
The AA model — open to all and free — has spread around the globe, and AA now boasts over 2 million members in 180 nations and more than 118,000 groups. Is free and so widely available is also good news. Has been helping alcoholics recover for more than 80 years.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Other Approaches: The Evidence Is Now In
In the intervening years, researchers answered the call. The newer review also applied standards that weeded out some weaker studies that drove earlier findings. An updated review shows it performs better than some other common treatments and is less expensive. In AA, there are the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions of AA. Some groups may be on a specific step, or an individual may want feedback from other members regarding a particular step.
- Psychologists and psychiatrists, trained to provide cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy to treat patients with alcohol-use disorder, can have a hard time admitting that the lay people who run AA groups do a better job of keeping people on the wagon.
- For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.
- Often members who have completed the program sponsor others who are just beginning the 12 steps.
- This pamphlet answers many of the common questions people have about alcoholism and A.A.
- Many inpatient mental health facilities use 12-step groups to supplement the programs they offer to those seeking treatment for addiction.
The best place to start getting involved is through an A.A. Participating in a group helps ensure that when a person reaches out for help, A.A. This pamphlet answers many of the common questions people have about alcoholism and A.A. A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Benefits of Therapy
Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous or any other mutual support groups, which are peer-led, therapy is facilitated by a mental health or substance abuse professional, such as a psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a marriage and family therapist (MFT), or licensed professional counselor (LPC). A participant in the program works through the 12 steps in order with a goal of integrating each step into his or her life. Alcoholics Anonymous places a strong emphasis on fixing fractured relationships and returning to health in all areas of life, so participants are encouraged to fully work through each step. For example, a participant may have a relapse necessitating his or her return to Step 1. Members of 12-step groups frequently select a sponsor who will help them work through the program and upon whom they can rely in times of stress.
Over time, exercises like these can help you remain in recovery because they help you identify and avoid triggering emotions, locations, or even individuals. Substance use and addiction can take a toll over time on relationships both personally and professionally. Some individuals may have lost loved ones or jobs due to their drinking or misuse. There can be significant grief related to these losses, and having group support to get through those losses can be vital in the recovery process.
AA and Therapy: When Should I Talk to a Therapist while in AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem. There are no age or education requirements to participate. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem. The 2006 Cochrane Collaboration review was based on just eight studies, and ended with a call for more research to assess the program’s efficacy.
The authors of the review also examined whether AA and TSF programs reduce healthcare costs compared to other treatments. Oftentimes, addiction occurs because of various life events and factors. Others in AA meetings may have had similar experiences, thoughts, or feelings surrounding their substance use.