What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide support group designed for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. It provides a free program where members meet regularly to share their experiences, strength, and hope to help each other recover from alcoholism. AA offers numerous meetings across cities in aa meetings tennessee, USA, creating local communities focused on sobriety and mutual support.
These meetings are peer-led and confidential, allowing individuals to find encouragement and tools necessary to maintain sobriety and improve their lives. Tennessee hosts a variety of AA groups with different meeting types and times to accommodate diverse schedules and preferences.
Jackson, Tennessee
Location: REBOS Clubhouse, 2053 Hollywood Dr, Jackson, TN
Meeting Time: 6:00 PM daily
Meeting Details: This site hosts an “Open” meeting where anyone interested may participate, including those supporting someone with alcohol dependency. The format is discussion-based, encouraging members to share their personal recovery journeys in a confidential environment.
Nashville, Tennessee
Location: Cross Point Church Bellevue, 7675 Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN
Meeting Time: 6:30 PM on Tuesdays
Meeting Details: This location offers a Literature meeting focused on the study and discussion of AA’s foundational materials. The meeting fosters understanding of recovery tools through readings and group reflections that help members face sobriety challenges.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Location: Suburban Club, 2002 E Main St, Chattanooga, TN
Meeting Time: 8:00 PM on Tuesdays
Meeting Details: This “Speaker” meeting features invited members who share their recovery stories in detail. Members and guests can listen to diverse paths to sobriety and participate in Q&A sessions for deeper insight and encouragement.
The 12 Steps of AA
- Admitting Powerlessness: We admit we are powerless over alcohol — that our lives have become unmanageable. Acceptance of this fact is the foundation for recovery.
- Believing in a Higher Power: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. This step invites members to embrace a spiritual element as a source of strength.
- Decision to Turn Over Control: Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This step marks a commitment to let go of self-will and seek guidance.
- Self-Inventory: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. It involves honest reflection on personal behaviors and character defects.
- Admitting Wrongs: Admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This promotes accountability and reduces shame.
- Ready to Remove Defects: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. It is a willingness to change and grow.
- Asking for Removal: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. This step symbolizes surrender and the need for help.
- List of Amends: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Recognizes the impact addiction has on others.
- Making Amends: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others. Encourages healing broken relationships responsibly.
- Continued Self-Inventory: Continued to take personal inventory and when wrong promptly admitted it. A lifelong commitment to honesty and self-awareness.
- Improving Spiritual Connection: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him. This nourishes ongoing spiritual growth.
- Helping Others: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all affairs. Encourages service and outreach as parts of recovery.
The 12 Steps guide members throughout Tennessee to achieve lasting sobriety and positive life changes, nurturing both individual and community healing.
Getting Started with AA in Tennessee, USA
The best way to find a local AA meeting in Tennessee or anywhere else in the USA is by searching the official website wfmh.org. This platform offers a comprehensive, up-to-date directory of both in-person and online/virtual meetings. The availability of meeting types allows newcomers to choose ones that best suit their needs and comfort levels.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
In Tennessee, AA meetings are categorized by openness:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Anyone may attend, including non-alcoholics. These meetings provide an opportunity for family, friends, and newcomers to learn about AA and support members in recovery. |
| Closed Meetings | Restricted to individuals who identify as having a drinking problem and desire to stop drinking. These meetings offer a more private and intimate setting for recovery discussion. |
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early to introduce yourself as a new attendee.
- Feel free to share your experiences, but only when you feel comfortable.
- Receive a welcome keychain tag marking your milestones in the program.
Keychain Tag Milestones:
| Milestone | Description |
|---|---|
| 30 Days | Recognizes the completion of the first month of sobriety, marking an important initial step in recovery. |
| 60 Days | Celebrates two months of continuous sobriety and growing stability in lifestyle changes. |
| 1 Year | A significant achievement symbolizing dedicated commitment to long-term sobriety. |