Without getting into the technicalities of how the Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings work, let's just explain the basic interface or a virtual chat room so that you understand the format of these discussion groups. The majority of these online AA meetings are held in what is known as the IRC chat room setting. An IRC chat room, or Internet Relay Chat client, looks like the image above where there is a list of rooms and a list of users. Participants then use the live chat window to read and partake on the discussion in question. So, IRC is simply a visual tool which is used to communicate with other members in real time
Alcoholism is frequently labelled the ‘Lonely Disease’, and that loneliness is a feeling of isolation from ones fellows and especially like minded folks. So just imagine how it must feel for those active alcoholics who are isolated either in their own headspace or those recovering alcoholics cut off from meeting by their geographical location. It’s a sad and solitary state indeed, especially for those out there still suffering.
Even when living in a big town or city with all the help and support which that brings, getting a foot on the first rungs of sobriety is a real challenge for most. Well, a lot of that is now changing thanks to the explosion of Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings. A virtual world where real people in real time get to anonymously participate and share in the solutions to the problem.
Drinking Problem? Take a Look at Alcoholic Anonymous Online
Tapping away at the keyboard is not the only way to have a virtual AA meeting. Other popular ways for AA’s to share for free is to use live voice chat which means Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings can open a conference call and communicate vocally too.
Whether you want to participate in an AA online meeting by keyboard, by mic, or even audio visual, the idea that no alcoholic needs to miss out on AA fellowship is just fantastic for recovering alcoholics, and others who have a genuine desire to stop drinking but don’t quite know where to begin.
Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, & Addiction Recovery Online.
Without any question of doubt, Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings for 2010 and beyond (plus a plethora of other virtual meeting places such as narcotics anonymous, help with eating disorders, and a bunch of other virtual help sites for addiction recovery), are going to surely help spread the message of help, hope, and support, faster than at any time ever.
A message which talks of a life which is free from the crippling grip of alcohol and addiction for all who want it! The web is surely going to continue to be a powerful tool as it connects millions of drunks and addicts worldwide who are unable to stop on their own willpower. Remember, if you’re not comfortable participating, you can simply lurk in the chat rooms to see if they offer what you want. In other words, there is absolutely nothing to lose by anonymously taking a peek at how others are recovering and staying recovered as a direct result of the alcoholic anonymous meeting online.
A reader emailed me recently to say that not only are there the virtual only online AA meetings, but also some of the bricks and mortar fellowships are also going online too. One such group which has been operating for a while in Cambodia with Skype-In and Phone In options for its various meetings. You can find out more about this by visiting AA Cambodia.org If you know of any more services like this and would like to email us about them, I shall make a page here where we can list them all. Tks :)
The question, am I an alcoholic? is one in which only you can truly answer. This article was first published in 2008 and has since been reviewed and updated in 2010.
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