Hey bri from my experience I can say don’t be nervous because everyone in the meeting goes because it helps them just be yourself people will be there for you we all been in your shoes or worse an we all need help sometimes be honest an remember people who choose to talk with you choose to talk to help you through this 1 day at a time am be happy smile an live in the now
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Check out a women’s meeting for your first one, there is no judgement and lots of people from different walks of life! Plus you are guaranteed to get a bunch of people asking you to coffee.
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Oh, I should add if you don’t like it, just go to another meeting. There are tons, meditation meetings, moms meetings, outdoor meetings … also, you don’t have to believe in a specific God, you don’t have to say the lord’s prayer, you just have to be wiling to believe that you can be restored to who you were meant were to be.
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In my experience, everyone is extremely welcoming and are so happy you are there. If you aren’t comfortable saying you are an alcoholic, you don’t need to say that. You also don’t even need to share.
Look for the similarities not the differences in everyone’s story, you’ll start to hear your story in peoples shares and know you are NOT alone. 
You got this!
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There’s a lot of different flavors of AA - the god thing - is present for some members, and not for others - too religious? Not religious enough ? Try different meetings till you find your match,
It’s very powerful to hear the whole range of those “worse” than you , and those not as far along as you - there will likely be both - my experience has been a judgement free zone, and very helpful to have comrades in arms! I was terrified for first meeting, they ran a first step for me - it was gritty - but enlightening..
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The way we stay sober is by helping each other. As a newcomer, you are helping everyone else in the room just by showing up. I was always taught that the newcomer is the most important person in the room and to go out of my way to make a newcomer feel welcome. I'm sure you'll find something similar.
I was uncomfortable going to meetings at first too. My suggestion is to go, to speak up when asked if anyone is here for the first time, and grab a white chip at the end. You can sit there and just listen if you like, but if you can answer, honestly, these questions
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Did you ever drink more than you intended to?
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Did you ever spend more money on alcohol than you intended?
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Did you ever try to stop for any period of time and found you couldn't?
If you answer yes to any or all of those questions, going to a meeting is a good idea.
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Bri, I went to an AA meeting last night that was absolutely fantastic. People caring about people people have been there long long time it was just a good group and it's one that I'm going to stick with and I suggest that you try them all but you're going to love AA at least I love it I don't I don't know what your chapter is like
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My advice is this:
Go to an meeting. Be prepared for people to love you, get some coffee and just sit and listen. It’s amazing what happens when you hear people speak your language.
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