AA Indian Style –

June 11, 2018 – “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” Every AA meeting starts with the group chanting this Serenity Prayer, originally by Reinhold Neibuhr. Alcoholics Anonymous, popularly known as AA, is an international mutual-aid fellowship of, and for, men and women battling alcoholism. This fellowship, which celebrated its 83rd anniversary on June 10, was founded in 1935, by Americans Dr Bob Smith and William Griffith Wilson. Today, it enjoys worldwide recognition for their 12-Steps and 12-Traditions that “helps in achieving sobriety”.

“First of all, people should understand that alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder is a disease and when someone says that he/she is unable to stop drinking, it is not out of laziness or lack of desire to change, but because of this mental disease. Understanding that alcoholism is a disease in itself is vital to helping others achieve sobriety,” remarks Shaji, who has been involved with AA for close to a decade. AA operates across the world with hundreds of groups in Kerala alone. They hold frequent meetings where members share their experience of having been an alcoholic and their journey to sobriety. “We are not affiliated to any religious body or association and we don’t pray to any one god. However, we do believe in the existence of a higher power. While we are powerless to change our realities, this higher power is what guides us,” shares John.

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