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Alcoholics Anonymous Group Assignment Kendra S. Jackson Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing March 9, 2016
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Alcoholics Anonymous Group Assignment On Thursday, January 28, 2016, I attended the Women’s Big Book Study Group at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. The group is an open, women-only meeting held every Thursday to provide help to church members and the public in the treatment of alcoholism and other substance addictions and the maintenance of sobriety. There were about 12-15 women in attendance ranging in ages from the early 20’s to the late 60’s. Most of the women in attendance were in recovery from alcohol, but there was a young woman who was a recovering heroin addict. The meeting was led by one woman, but it seemed everyone in the group had a role during the progression of the meeting. Yalom’s Curative Factors are “components of group therapy which emerge during the group process” (Tomasulo, 2011). Each of the specific components benefit a member's condition in an individualized way. The therapeutic factors evolve as a result of the actions of the group leader and each individual member. In general, the more therapeutic factors present in a group the more therapeutic the group is. This group exhibited many of Yalom’s Curative Factors, however I think universality and altruism dominated the group dynamics. Universality is when “individuals come to realize that they are not alone in the problems, thoughts, and feelings they are experiencing” (Townsend, 2014, p.169). I recall one group member mentioning that no one understands alcoholics like other alcoholics. I completely agree with this statement. I could empathize with these women, but I have never had to the experience of being an alcoholic. They were all there for a common purpose-- to stop drinking and to maintain their sobriety—which caused them to bond. “Altruism is assimilated by group members through mutual sharing and concern for each other” (Townsend, 2014, p.169). There was a recovering alcoholic who was there for her first
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meeting. I noticed how the other group members rallied around her and shared their experiences about their first meetings. These more seasoned members were able to feel useful by telling their stories. They were able to provide assistance and support to the newcomer by reflecting on their personal journeys to sobriety. Each month the Women’s Big Book Study Group concentrates on a new step. Since it was the beginning of a new year, the group was focused on Step 1 from The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book. Step 1 states “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives have become unmanageable” (Townsend, 2014, p. 321). Many of the group members described this as the most important yet most difficult step. Many also recalled the moment when they identified their powerlessness to alcohol. I believe this step is essential to an alcoholic’s recovery because it is an admission of alcoholism. All the other steps would not be possible without this foundational step. Alcoholics Anonymous is an excellent recovery tool. Patients who are recovering from substance abuse would benefit from this type of group because it is led by peers who are also recovering alcoholics. “The only requirement for memberships is a desire on the part of the alcoholic person to stop drinking” (Townsend, 2014, p.320). This commonality between peers may be a preferred form of treatment for some patients. AA understands alcoholism as an illness which I believe most patients can identify with (Townsend, 2014, p.320). One member said that she had been an alcoholic since her first drink. She mentioned a possible underlying genetic predisposition to explain her alcoholism. I found it insightful that these patients could so easily identify their triggers. I honestly came to the meeting expecting to experience what I had viewed on television as a typical AA meeting. I thought we would introduce ourselves, talk about alcohol and sobriety,
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and share personal stories. We did do those things during the meeting. However, I gained much more than I expected. After experiencing the dynamics between the women that attend the Women’s Big Book Study Group I realized these people were connected by more than just their alcoholism. Their alcoholism bought them to the meeting, but I believe their openness and acceptance of each other kept them coming back. I realized these women had formed bonds that could be likened to family members. The fact that the women had this bond and supported each other in their sobriety was very emotionally inspiring. I am very appreciative for the opportunity to experience the recovery of these women.
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References Tomasulo, D. J. (2011, January 19). Acceptance: An Introduction to Therapeutic Factors. Retrieved March 08, 2016, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healingcrowd/201101/acceptance-introduction-therapeutic-factors Townsend, M. C. (2014). Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice (6th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Twelve steps and twelve traditions. (1981). New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.
