AA Meetings Online: Staying At Home Clean And Sober

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings have been a source of help and assistance for millions of people across the globe as part of their substance abuse treatment. However, in the current global pandemic scenario (COVID-19), where social distancing is advocated, the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous meetups can no longer be carried out. However, one should not lose hope in this regard. This is where online AA meetings can be beneficial.

Read along further to find out about various AA gatherings online, their specifications and duration, their benefits, and information about AA meetings near me online.

Supporting Sobriety During A Global Pandemic

Based on the study about the impact of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) programs, they are proven to serve as a resource where individuals are offered peer support and fellowship in a step-by-step program to become and stay sober. Most individuals who attend drug rehab for their addiction treatment later attend NA or Alcoholics Anonymous meetups after they complete and stop their treatment. Through weekly in-person support and gatherings, individuals are taught to manage their stress regarding addiction and stay on the road to sobriety.

Are AA Meetings Online A Solution?

People in recovery need this constant connection with their peers and support groups, especially in the time of forced isolation caused by a global pandemic. In the absence of such a connection, the chances of negative emotions rising once again and people falling prey to the temptation of addiction can become relatively high. In addition, those individuals can relapse easily in such a depressive, stressful, and isolated environment.

Therefore, a support connection must be maintained for all such individuals, even in isolation. This is where online AA gatherings come in. According to a 5-year follow-up study conducted about the effectiveness of attendance at NA and alcoholic anonymous groups after residential drug treatment, the results showed that the efficacy of existing treatment was improved for individuals who attended these interactions. Another research suggests that attending Alcoholics Anonymous gatherings is even more effective than psychotherapy.

In the pandemic era where face-to-face gatherings of alcoholics anonymous cannot be possible, a study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of face-to-face interactions and contact with virtual 12-step meetups. The study showed that videoconferencing offered a more accessible medium for all the attendees and can be an adequate substitute for face-to-face meetups. Another research concluded that virtual recovery support meetups might help mitigate a critical public health problem during an ongoing public health pandemic.

AA Online Meetings: What Are They?

AA meetings online are the new way through which a strong network of peer support, fellowship, and human connection is established while practicing social distancing at the same time. Individuals join virtual support gatherings from their own homes through various mobile and web-based applications. This helps them stay connected with their peers and friends in a time of stress and panic instead of adopting unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Individuals are urged to join online AA meetings now to continue their addiction treatment during COVID-19 and to remain sober even when they cannot physically be present at one location.

AA Meetings Online Resources

There are several online AA meetings USA that individuals can join to continue on their paths to recovery and sobriety. These virtual groups can be categorized based on whether they are 12-step based or not, gender-specific, or of some other type.

Most rehab hotlines can also specify various AA meetings online so people can join them according to their preferences. One simply needs to search for AA meetings near me online and get all the relevant information.

Some of These Different Types of Online AA Meetings Near Me Are Discussed Below:

12-Step Alcoholics Anonymous Virtual Meetings

These include 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous groups, where some of them offer virtual support for everyone. At the same time, some of them are closed groups providing the attendees to share their feelings and experiences in a safe environment. These AA intergroup online meetings are based on the 12 steps and the Big Book principles and offer a spiritual approach to healing.

Atheistic Alcoholics Anonymous Virtual Meetings

Atheistic Alcoholics Anonymous meetups include all those online AA meetings zoom based on a secular approach and offer the group members to share their feelings and emotions. Some of these calls are open to anyone who wants to join, whereas the others are closed groups.

Men-Only Alcoholics Anonymous Virtual Gatherings

As the name suggests, these AA online meetings are gender-specific, where only men are allowed to join in closed group calls. Some of these meetups are based on the principles of the Big Book and 12 steps, whereas others are generalized groups.

Women-Only Virtual Gatherings of Alcoholics Anonymous

These women-only online AA gatherings offer women a safe and conducive environment to share their experiences and journeys. Some of these groups provide 12-step and Big Book guidance, whereas some offer fun and easy support groups where women from all walks of life can join.

LGBTQ Virtual Gatherings of Alcoholics Anonymous

These AA intergroup online meetings offer a safe place for members of the LGBTQ community to share their emotions and experiences without any fear of being judged. When they are surrounded by individuals similar to themselves, who understand them and with whom they can relate, they are better positioned to continue their sobriety journey.

What Do Online AA Meetings Look Like?

Alcoholics Anonymous meetups are held over the internet through various forums and applications. Individuals who want to attend live AA meetings online are given specific times to come on the internet and join the meeting in that format.

The video conferencing format is the one that resembles the traditional setup of Alcoholics Anonymous meetups the most since every member can see all the other Alcoholics Anonymous speakers in virtual meetups. This helps them maintain the personal touch while ensuring social distancing simultaneously.

Some of the Ways Through Alcoholics Anonymous Meetups Can Be Held Virtually Are:

• Email recovery meetups
• Chat Meetups or chat rooms
• Discussion Forums
• Alcoholics Anonymous Telephone Calls Or audio Calls
• Social Media community groups
• Alcoholics Anonymous groups through video conferencing such as Skype and Zoom

Duration Of AA Meetings Online

The duration of various closed and open AA meetings online on any particular day varies with each specific group. Usually, online AA meetings, video calls, audio calls, and other discussion groups can last from 1-2 hours in a day. Sometimes, a 30-minute slot is allotted for the speaker, followed by a question and answer session for 30 minutes. Each meeting has its own agenda and specific details of how it is carried out. Members are passed on all the required information before the meeting time to be prepared.

How to Stay Anonymous in AA Zoom Meetings Online?

The main advantage of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is its anonymity to its members. However, now during the pandemic, when the shift has been made to virtual meetups, the safety and anonymity of the members needs to be assured. Fortunately, this is possible with this service.

The Following Steps Can Be Taken to Remain Anonymous in Online AA Meetings Zoom:

•  The first step in remaining anonymous in online AA meetings zoom is that the member needs to enter a name for the meeting, at which point they can choose whatever name they want.
• If one is uncomfortable with showing their face, they can turn off their video and turn on the camera only when they feel comfortable during AA zoom meetings online.
• If a person wants to turn on the video for better communication but is skeptical about the home conditions, he can sit while facing a wall so that only a solid background is visible.
• If one does not feel comfortable while communicating in front of his family members, he can choose to use headphones while attending AA meetings online Zoom.

Benefits Of Online AA Meetings

Due to the study about the benefits of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction, the importance and advantages of Alcoholics Anonymous meetups cannot be undermined.

Some of the Most Common Benefits of Online AA Meetings Are Listed Below:

• The most significant advantage of AA online meetings is during the COVID-19 global pandemic, as individuals can continue their AA meetings online while still practicing social distancing through a video conferencing service.
• Individuals do not have to worry about the problem of reaching the meeting venue; they can simply attend the AA Zoom meetings online from the comfort of their homes.
• Individuals can choose the type and time of their desired online meeting and attend it based on their availability.
• With a diverse group of individuals attending the meeting, individuals can feel better connected with others who are on similar paths of recovery after detox and addiction treatment.
• Individuals have the option to remain as anonymous as possible during the calls. If they are not comfortable with a video call, they can choose a chat meeting and express themselves in the way they want.
• When individuals are not face-to-face with each other during an online meeting, they are less likely to feel embarrassed or self-conscious, which helps them benefit more from such gatherings.

Get Help Today By Attending Virtual Calls of Alcoholics Anonymous

In this era of information and technology, online AA meetings offer a number of advantages that are not possible in face-to-face contact and interactions. The most significant benefit of them is their accessibility and anonymity. A person just has to sit in his home and attend a meeting without even showing his face to others or only divulging the information he wishes to do so.

Whether someone is searching for Alcoholics Anonymous meets to attend as part of an aftercare program after they stop residential treatment or just want to accompany them to prevent relapse and hope for a sober future, AA meetings online Zoom offer an effective and efficient way in this regard. If one is looking for online AA meetings near me, there are several resources available in this regard which have been discussed above.

Page Sources

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3. Bergman, B. G., Kelly, J. F., Fava, M., & Evins, A. E. (2020). Online recovery support meetings can help mitigate the public health consequences of COVID-19 for individuals with substance use disorder. Addictive behaviors, 106661. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7493730/
4. Barrett, A. K., & Murphy, M. M. (2021). Feeling supported in addiction recovery: comparing face-to-face and videoconferencing 12-step meetings. Western Journal of Communication, 85(1), 123-146. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10570314.2020.1786598
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