In 1935, Dr. Bob Smith and Bill Wilson started a group therapy session to help alcoholics overcome their drinking problem. Because participants were only known by their first name, participants were considered ‘anonymous.’ Hence the name.
Alcoholics Anonymous encourages participants to admit that they are alcoholic and that they have a problem. They also have to admit that they do not have control over their addiction. For many people, this is a scary yet freeing feeling and activity.
People in AA have to recognize that there is a higher power. For people who are Christian, this means acknowledging God and that He can give them strength to overcome their alcoholism.
A member of the AA group who has belonged to AA for a while and is experienced in its method guides the new member in looking at the mistakes he has made – especially those mistakes that led him to his current situation.
This experienced member encourages the new member to make amends for the mistakes he has made. This may mean going to people and apologizing for the way the alcoholic person treated them, paying outstanding debts incurred due to alcoholism, or paying for property that was damaged while the person was under the influence of alcohol.
The new AA member then determines to change the way he is living. He will learn new ways to deal with problems. He will learn how to keep himself out of situations where he will be tempted to start drinking again. He will establish new ways of behaving.
Then, to finish his program, he has to help someone else who is suffering from alcoholism. Because he has ‘been there done that,’ he will have intimate knowledge what a new group member is going through. He will know when he may feel weak and vulnerable to start drinking again. He will know how to succor him in time of need.