Dr Barbara Nawrot Update: November 21, 2025, 11:38 Table of Contents
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a community of people united by the desire to maintain sobriety and support others in fighting alcohol addiction. AA meetings allow addicts to share experience, strength, and hope, thanks to which many patients find motivation for lasting abstinence. Although Alcoholics Anonymous does not replace addiction therapy, it is often an important complement, providing a sense of community, understanding, and support at every stage of sobriety. Learn what the AA group does and how to join it.What is AA and what is the community about?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international community of people whose goal is to maintain sobriety and help other alcoholics achieve it. Each group functions as a self-help meeting of people struggling with addiction. AA is not a medical institution – it does not employ doctors or therapists. It is a community created by alcoholics themselves, who support each other, exchange experiences, and learn new ways to cope with the disease. It is also a good place for dry drunks who have enormous problems maintaining sobriety. Groups operate independently – there is no central control, but almost all use the same proven program.The 12-Step Program – the foundation of AA
The 12-Step Program is the foundation of the Alcoholics Anonymous community and one of the most well-known models for working on sobriety. Its goal is not only to stop drinking alcohol, but above all to deeply change the way of thinking, emotions, and relationships with other people. What the AA 12-Step Program looks like:- Having experienced this change, we tried to support others on the road to sobriety and apply these principles in daily life.
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that we had lost control over our own lives.
- We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves (community, nature, God, or inner strength) could help us regain balance.
- We decided to trust this power and open ourselves to change, guided by honesty and willingness to recover.
- We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our own actions, emotions, and attitudes.
- We shared the truth about ourselves with another person, acknowledging our mistakes and their consequences.
- We became willing to let go of behaviors and traits that destroy us.
- With humility and awareness, we asked for the strength to make these changes.
- We made a list of people we had harmed and became willing to make amends for the damage done.
- We made amends to those people whenever possible, without causing further suffering.
- We continued self-examination and admitted our mistakes when we made them.
- We sought inner peace and balance through reflection, meditation, or other forms of mindfulness.
Alcoholics Anonymous and religion – does the group have anything to do with faith?
Although references to "higher powers" appear in the content of the 12 steps, the Alcoholics Anonymous program is not religious in nature. Its creators used spiritual language to express the idea of humility, openness, and trust in a power greater than the individual. Each participant can interpret this in their own way – as faith, community, nature, energy, the universe, their own conscience, or simply the desire for change. What matters is not the profession of faith, but the willingness to work on oneself and accept support. Therefore, the 12-step program is open to everyone – believers and non-believers. Read also: Why is an alcoholic aggressive?How to join the Alcoholics Anonymous group?
Joining the AA community is completely free, anonymous, and open to anyone who wants to stop drinking. There are no formalities, registrations, or medical referrals – you just need to show up at a meeting. AA groups operate in most cities in Poland. Meetings are held regularly, usually once or several times a week, in community centers, parishes, therapy centers, or online. Information about local groups can be found on the official Alcoholics Anonymous website in Poland (aa.org.pl) or in local support centers. At the first meeting, you don't have to introduce yourself or say anything – you can just listen. The AA community operates on the principle of mutual support, and every participant is equal, regardless of what stage of sobriety they are at.Codependency – a problem in alcoholic families
Codependency is a complex emotional and behavioral state that affects people living with someone addicted. Most often these are partners, parents, or children. In such relationships, all energy and attention is focused on the drinking person – on their moods, needs, and problems – at the expense of one's own feelings and boundaries. A codependent person does not drink, but suffers in their own way. They often feel anxiety, shame, anger, and helplessness, yet try to "save" the addicted person, justify their behavior, or take responsibility for them. Over time, they lose their sense of identity and control. Codependency is not a sign of weakness, but a natural reaction to living in constant tension and emotional chaos. However, it requires help just like alcohol addiction. Therapy for codependent people helps:- regain emotional balance
- learn to set boundaries
- stop taking responsibility for a loved one's drinking
- understand one's own needs and rebuild self-worth.
Professional help alongside AA
The Alcoholics Anonymous community provides enormous emotional support and the feeling that no one is alone in the fight against addiction. However, it is worth remembering that the AA program does not replace professional treatment, but can complement it perfectly. Addicted people often also need medical, psychotherapeutic, or pharmacological help – especially at the beginning of the road to sobriety. The Nasz Gabinet Clinic offers comprehensive addiction treatment – from detox, through alcohol implants, to psychological therapy and long-term support. Combining the power of the AA community with professional care from specialists gives the greatest chances for lasting change and a return to healthy, conscious living. Sources: Hędzelek M., Wnuk M., Marcinkowski j., T., Choroba współuzależnienia od alkoholu – diagnoza, konsekwencje, leczenie, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/MarcinWnuk/publication/303844232Chorobawspoluzaleznieniaodalkoholu-diagnozakonsekwencjeleczenieAlcoholco-addictiondisease-diagnosisconsequencestreatment/links/5757ff2408ae04a1b6b9a2e7.pdf. Morgan J.P., Journal of clinical psychology, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1097-4679(199109)47:5%3C720::AID-JCLP2270470515%3E3.0.CO;2-547:5%3C720::AID-JCLP2270470515%3E3.0.CO;2-5).:::cta Need help fighting addiction? Our specialists are ready to help you. Call or schedule an online appointment. Call: 880 808 880 | Schedule appointment :::
