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      • How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health?
      • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
      • Spotting Types of Depression in Children
      • Teen Suicide
      • Top Tips For Parents
      • Video Game Therapy for ADHD
      • What is a Residential Mental Health Facility for Teenagers Like
      • Why Is Mental Health on the Rise Amongst Teenagers?
    • Is Social Media Ruining Our Self-Esteem? 
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      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Guide to Anxiety Medication
      • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
      • High Functioning Depression | Signs | Symptoms
      • How Can We Prevent Mental Illness in Youth?
      • How Do You Help Someone with Avoidant Personality?
      • How Does Online Counseling Work for Mental Health?
      • How Can a Mental Health Counselor Help
      • Mental Breakdown
      • Schizoid Personality Disorder
      • Postpartum Depression
      • Types of Mood Disorders
      • The Toll of Grief and How to Cope with It
      • What are The Major Affective Disorders?
      • What Cognitive Psychology Teaches Us About How We Think
      • What Is Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      • What are mental health symptoms you should never ignore?
      • What is Bipolar II Disorder? Symptoms and Treatment
      • What is the Difference Between Manic and Hypomanic?
      • What is schizoaffective disorder?
      • Is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) a mental illness?
      • What is substance induced mood disorder?
      • Is Depression a Permanent Mental Disorder?
      • What is the prognosis for Major Depressive Disorder?
    • Marriage Counseling | Benefits
    • Pandemic Related Issues
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Work Stress Post-Pandemic
      • Shocking Growth of Anxiety During the Pandemic
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      • How to deal with toxic relationship?
      • How does a toxic relationship affect your mental health?
      • What is gaslighting in a relationship?
      • What is the best way to help a partner who has trust issues?
      • What’s the best way to work out relationship problems?
      • 10 ways to improve communication in relationships
    • Spirituality in Addiction Treatment  
    • Therapy
      • Can I See a Psychiatrist Without a Referral?
      • DBT Therapy for Adolescents
      • DCBT- Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      • Deep Brain Stimulation to Treat OCD
      • Do I Need a Referral to See a Therapist?
      • Family Therapy: Definition, Types, Techniques, and Efficacy
      • How Can Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Help Mental Disorders?
      • EMDR Therapy for Mental Health Conditions
      • Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist
      • Is Therapy Covered by Health Insurance?
      • Psychodynamic Therapy vs CBT
      • Psychotherapy
      • SMART Recovery
      • What Can Psychologists Treat
      • What is Group Therapy
      • What is Internal Family Systems Therapy
      • What Is the Role of the Counselor in Family Therapy
      • What Is Psychoanalysis
    • Trauma Bonding With Intimate Partner Violence
    • Teen Mental Health
      • Can a Minor Go to Therapy Without Parents Permission?
      • Teen Co-Occurring Disorders
      • What are the signs of depression in adolescents?
      • warning signs of suicide in adolescents
      • Mental Health Benefits of Exercise in Teens
      • How is the pandemic affecting mental health in teenagers?
    • Types of Disorder
      • Anti-Social Personality Disorder
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Avoidant Personality Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder Symptoms | Causes | Diagnosis
      • Diagnosing and Treating an Adjustment Disorder
      • Histrionic Personality Disorder
      • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
      • Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Veterans Guide
      • Functional Medicine for Military
      • Service Dogs Help Veterans with PTSD
    • Process Addiction
      • Gambling addiction
      • How do you know if you have an addictive personality?
      • What is Impulse-Control Disorder?
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online Alcoholics Anonymous

With the prevalence of the internet, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are more accessible than ever. Are online AA meetings as effective at promoting sobriety?

While the pandemic has been difficult for everyone, it has been especially trying for those with mental health conditions. One of the biggest problems has come in the form of not being able to attend events, gatherings, or most importantly, group therapy sessions.

This lack of support can be difficult for those in the middle of recovery from a substance use disorder, particularly when the state of the world may push them to cope with substances.

Throughout the past year, Alcoholics Anonymous has made the effort to push online AA meetings and ensure that its members are receiving the support that they need. The question remains, are online Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as effective as in-person AA meetings for supporting those in recovery?  

What are AA Meetings?

Alcoholics Anonymous is an international organization dedicated to providing support and fellowship to those with a history of alcohol dependency. Their primary focus is to help people get sober and to promote ongoing sobriety in its members.1  

History of AA

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio by two men; a New York stockbroker and a surgeon, both of whom had struggled with alcohol dependency.2 Upon meeting each other, they discovered that it was significantly easier to avoid relapsing when they had an understanding individual to talk to and lean on.

Before their meeting, the two had separately sought help from the Oxford Group, an Episcopalian fellowship, which helped lay the foundation for their recovery. Taking what they learned from the Oxford Group and applying it to their own experiences, they achieved lasting sobriety.

From that point on, they began working with Akron City Hospital to help others that struggled with alcohol addiction, and the basis of the original Alcoholics Anonymous was founded. 

12 Steps

The 12 steps of recovery were created by Alcoholics Anonymous, but these steps have since been adapted to many other support groups that have members who struggle with substance use disorder.3

The 12 steps of recovery are a series of tasks to help a person come to terms with their condition, acknowledge that it is a problem, and take steps to overcome it. Although the steps have their root in Christianity, they can be adapted to apply to any religion or spiritual belief system.

At any time, a person may return to a previous step if they need additional support or believe that they may benefit from repeating a step. The steps are an aid and a guide to help provide a clear path to recovery and sobriety for those who need support.  

Why AA Meetings Switched to Online: Online Alcoholics Anonymous

Due to the pandemic, the majority of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings now take place online, although they are slowly transitioning back to in-person meetings.4 For some, this change has been beneficial as it allows those who did not have access to transportation to now attend meetings.

Additionally, there is wider availability of meetings now that a designated space does not need to be reserved, and more people can attend at one time. This factor may help those who wanted to attend a meeting but felt that they didn’t have enough time before.

On the other hand, some people may feel more isolated without the availability of in-person meetings, and many do not have access to online meetings. This sense of isolation may also be increased for those that are required to work from home or for those who have lost their jobs during the past year.  

How do Online AA Meetings Operate?

AA online meetings follow a similar format as in-person meetings do. Some may have a designated speaker while others may be an open forum where anyone that wishes to talk may do so. Because online meetings may be more accessible for people, there may be more attendees than usual.

It can be difficult for everyone to talk as there may not be enough time if the attendance is not limited to a certain number of people. However, for many, simply the sense of community that an online meeting provides may be enough to prevent relapse and encourage sobriety.   

How Effective are Online AA Meetings?

On average, Alcoholics Anonymous has proven to be up to 60% more effective in achieving sobriety than other forms of treatment such as psychotherapy.5 However, there are no studies currently that show the effectiveness of online AA meetings as opposed to in-person meetings. 

The Pros and Cons of Online Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

The Pros of AA Online

There are both benefits and negatives to AA online meetings. Whether the benefits outweigh the negatives completely depends on each individual and their respective needs. Some of the benefits include:
  • Members without transportation can attend
  • Members in remote areas can attend
  • Can be more flexible for schedules
  • Can aid those with social anxiety
For those without transportation or spare time to attend strictly scheduled in-person meetings, AA online meetings can be the perfect solution. Being able to attend any type of meeting is often better for members, particularly those who have just started their recovery, than not attending one at all.

The Cons of AA Online

On the other hand, there are significant negatives that may impact some individuals more than others. This aspect is especially true for those who have other co-existing mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Here are some of the negatives that can be associated with AA online meetings:

  • Members may feel they are not held as accountable
  • Concerns about security and anonymity
  • Lack of emotional connection
  • Easier to hide substance abuse behind a screen  

How to Find Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Near You

Alcoholics Anonymous offers meetings in most major cities across the world. Visit their website and select your location to find your nearest meeting. If you prefer to participate in an online AA meeting instead, you’ll be able to find options on their website as well.6  

Resources

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2978172/
  2. https://www.aa.org/pages/en_us/historical-data-the-birth-of-aa-and-its-growth-in-the-uscanada
  3. https://www.alcohol.org/alcoholics-anonymous/
  4. https://www.aa.org/press-releases/en_US/no_page/physically-distanced-but-digitally-connected-the-alcoholics-anonymous-message-carries-on-amid-coronavirus-covid-19
  5. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/03/alcoholics-anonymous-most-effective-path-to-alcohol-abstinence.html
  6. https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/find-aa-resources   

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