An alcoholic's resistance to receiving help can be frustrating.
Since denial of the problem is one of the symptoms of alcoholism, alcoholics tend to be evasive when asked about their drinking habits, and some healthcare professionals may not realize that alcoholism could be influencing their symptoms. Most alcoholics will object to the idea that they have a problem with alcohol, as well as to the suggestion of Alcoholics Anonymous as a last resort.
Some common objections to AA.
"It is very religious."
"I don't want to stand up and expose my soul in front of many people."
"I don't want to join a group of losers. It's too depressing."
"I can't go there. All those people are sober and I'm not. I would be too embarrassed."
"I don't want everyone to know about my drinking problem."
The knowledge that some healthcare professionals have acquired about Alcoholics Anonymous and how they apply it.
Many healthcare professionals have found effective ways to refer people to AA. One doctor suggests that healthcare professionals should attend open Alcoholics Anonymous meetings because it is extremely difficult to feel confident recommending an organization to someone they know little about. This healthcare professional finds it helpful to have a list of available AA contacts to bring people to their first meeting. She suggests asking her patient specific questions such as which meetings they have attended, how many times, and whether they have found an AA "sponsor" to help them integrate into the Community and work through the recovery program. Whether the alcoholic suffers from liver disease or emotional depression, achieving sobriety is the first step toward recovery.
AA and alcoholism.
From its inception, AA members have viewed alcoholism as a disease. Alcoholics are unable to control their drinking because they are physically and mentally (or emotionally) ill. Most AA members have realized that their disease is also characterized by a deficient spirituality.
AA members also understood that true recovery can only begin with a "self-diagnosis," that is, with the recognition of the First Step of AA: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable."
For the first time at an AA meeting.
When healthcare professionals recommend AA, they and the alcoholic should give AA a fair chance and not judge its effectiveness based on one or two meetings. In this process, it's important to find a sponsor, even a temporary one. It's desirable for the person to attend their first meeting accompanied by a member, but it's not essential. Most newcomers have many questions. A sponsor can clarify and reassure them by explaining that others have also felt the same fear and reluctance to take the first step toward recovery. Sharing experiences as equals is the only service Alcoholics Anonymous offers. Healthcare professionals will usually find AA members not only willing but eager to initiate newcomers into the AA program.
Healthcare professionals who work closely with Alcoholics Anonymous are in a privileged position to advise, teach, and assist in a very rewarding area of treatment quality and successful recovery for alcoholics. We invite healthcare professionals to attend an open meeting and see what AA offers to alcoholics.
How to contact AA.
A simple phone call is all it takes to get help. The AA phone number appears in most phone books, in some local newspapers, and is posted in some health centers and pharmacies. Some healthcare professionals ask patients to call the AA number while they are still in the office, thus offering an immediate opportunity to get help. Others simply include AA in their treatment plan.
Members of the nearest AA group can be a valuable asset to the healthcare professional's resources. AA members can also be a help when your patient is in a healthcare facility. Simply call the national helpline.
If you request it, we can conduct information sessions for your organization or institution. The sessions can be tailored to your needs. A typical program might include a short film screening, a life story shared by an AA member, and information on "What AA is and what it is not."
To contact us, simply call our national helpline:
217 162 969