Why is it called alcoholics anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say "Hi my name is Bob & I'm!
Why is it called alcoholics anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say "Hi my name is Bob & I'm
an alcoholic"?
Answers:
It is called Alcoholics Anonymous because outside of the meetings the members and their illness / disease is as with all medical conditions kept private - faceless - nameless - but within the safety of the group, they can let down the walls and share with other members that suffer from the same illness. Together they can lean on and support each other without judgment, without using their full name - they can be anyone that they need to be - the goal is to be, get and stay sober.
Following is the definition of A.A. appearing in the Fellowship's basic literature and cited frequently at meetings of A.A. groups:
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
My father was an alcoholic until the day he died, even though he had stopped drinking....the disease was still an every day battle that he won - we lost him to cancer June 29, 2004. I'm very proud of him still today. It takes a lot of courage to stand up each and every time and I'm proud of all of you.