What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide support group dedicated to helping individuals struggling with alcohol addiction achieve and maintain sobriety. Operated as a free program, AA offers regular group meetings where members share experiences, provide mutual support, and work together toward recovery. According to information from https://www.wfmh.org/aa/tennessee/shelby/memphis, these meetings are available across the United States, including several locations in Tennessee, Shelby County, and Memphis.
Christ United Methodist Church
Address: 5545 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38117
- Monday at 12 PM (Open Discussion): This meeting welcomes anyone interested in learning about or supporting AA principles, allowing open sharing and group discussion lasting 60 to 90 minutes.
- Tuesday at 7:30 PM (Closed Discussion): Exclusive to individuals with a desire to stop drinking, this meeting provides a confidential, sober-focused space for discussing challenges and progress.
- Thursday at 7 PM (Open Speaker Meeting): A meeting featuring a guest speaker sharing their recovery story to inspire and motivate attendees, followed by group discussion.
- Saturday at 10 AM (Open Discussion): Offers an open forum for AA members and interested parties to discuss recovery topics and share personal experiences.
Shady Grove Presbyterian Church
Address: 5530 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38120
- Sunday at 7 PM (Closed Young People’s Meeting): A focused gathering for younger alcoholics, providing a supportive environment tailored to their specific recovery needs.
- Wednesday at 12 PM (Open Discussion): An inclusive session welcoming both members and newcomers interested in the AA program, encouraging open conversation.
- Friday at 8 PM (Open Speaker Meeting): Features speakers who share their journey through recovery, emphasizing hope and resilience.
Unity of Memphis Spiritual Center
Address: 1922 Overton Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
- Monday at 12 PM (Open Literature Discussion): This meeting involves studying AA literature to deepen understanding of AA principles and the 12 Steps, fostering collective learning over approximately 60 minutes.
- Tuesday at 6 PM (Closed Step Study Meeting): Exclusively for alcoholics, members engage in detailed study and discussion of individual AA steps to support long-term recovery.
- Thursday at 6 PM (Open Discussion): Offers an open platform for attendees to share personal recovery experiences and challenges in a supportive setting.
- Saturday at 7:30 AM (Men’s Closed Discussion): A men-only meeting that provides a confidential environment focused on sharing and support among male members.
The 12 Steps of AA
- Admit powerlessness: Members acknowledge their inability to control their alcohol use and the unmanageability it causes in life.
- Believe in a higher power: Cultivate faith that a force greater than themselves can restore sanity and aid in recovery.
- Decide to turn will to this power: Commit to entrusting their recovery and life to the care of this higher power.
- Conduct a moral inventory: Honestly assess personal flaws and past behaviors contributing to addiction.
- Admit wrongs: Confess shortcomings to themselves, their higher power, and another person to release shame and guilt.
- Prepare for change: Become ready to have their higher power remove character defects and unhealthy patterns.
- Humbly ask for removal of defects: Seek spiritual assistance to eliminate these shortcomings.
- Make a list of amends: Identify where they have harmed others and are willing to make reparations.
- Make amends: Directly repair harm where possible, except where it would cause further injury.
- Continue self-assessment: Maintain ongoing personal inventory and promptly admit new wrongs.
- Seek spiritual connection: Through prayer and meditation, deepen their connection with their higher power for guidance.
- Carry the message: Share recovery experiences to help others struggling with alcoholism while practicing these principles daily.
This structured approach aims to motivate members toward positive change and sustained sobriety throughout Tennessee, Shelby, and Memphis.
Getting Started with AA in Tennessee, Shelby, Memphis, USA
The best way to find local AA meetings in Tennessee, Shelby, and Memphis is to use the official meeting search tool available at wfmh.org. This platform provides up-to-date information about both in-person and online/virtual AA meetings.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
When attending your first AA meeting in Memphis or surrounding areas, remember to arrive 10-15 minutes early to introduce yourself as a new member. It’s perfectly fine to listen initially and share only when you feel comfortable. Meetings are categorized as either open or closed, with differences in attendance rules and atmosphere.
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Open to anyone interested in AA principles, including alcoholics, family, friends, and observers. These encourage sharing and understanding of the program. |
| Closed Meetings | Restricted to individuals who have a desire to stop drinking. This setting fosters a confidential and supportive environment focused solely on recovery. |
Many meetings provide welcome keychain tags to recognize sobriety milestones. These tokens represent encouragement and community support as members progress.
- 30 Days: Celebrates completing one month of continuous sobriety, encouraging commitment and early success.
- 60 Days: Marks the achievement of two months sober, reinforcing resilience and self-belief.
- 1 Year: Symbolizes a significant recovery milestone, reflecting sustained sobriety and personal growth.
- Other Milestones: Additional tags may be awarded at 6 months, 18 months, 2 years, and beyond to celebrate ongoing sobriety achievements.
