If uninterested after your first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, try finding the meeting where there's a lot of people. There's usually one somewhere. Don't go in with a judgmental mind, and if intimidated about talking during or after, get to know somebody who is willing to sponsor. They will get you known to the rest of the members, so they can trust you etc. Remember, many other members are probably just as scared to participate as well. After a certain amount of months or years, you are able to "chair" the meetings which means leading the group and choosing your own topics. This is also called service work. You can also sign up to be a speaker, which means you can go up front and take the whole hour talking about your journey to sobriety and also at the same time, helping another alcoholic (whether beginner or not). Don't go in thinking you're not good enough because there are doctors that attend to bartenders to all kinds of people.
If someone says something you don't like (which usually doesn't happen), don't let that stop you from being a part of AA or being sober. There's always somebody nice enough to be your sober friend.
Sharing isn’t required
All you have to do is show up and keep coming back. If you feel more comfortable, there are women only meetings also.
Most meetings do have a different vibe to them. Even a daily meeting often differs from one day to the next. I resisted at first but medical professionals kept suggesting them. Finally I resisted and took the professional advice. They were right about meetings.
Also, once you’re involved w AA you customize a program that suits you.
Yes!!!!
Hi Allie,
Remember you don’t have to open up until you’re ready. My first 3 months, I just went to listen. I found out I’m not alone, and neither are you!
Glad you are here!
I went to a lot of speaker meetings. Most of them are open and you can take someone who supports your journey. I always look for similarities not differences. I’ve been doing this for 29 yrs now
I need a meeting in my area unaffiliated with work. The last part, "sober friends", is where I struggle. I've got sober friends but they're all co-workers, it's kind of driving me nuts 
Thomas, you should be able to find meetings in your area through the meeting directory, which should be one of the pieces of recovery literature in your current/EAP work recovery meeting. Hope this helps. The recovery community is HUGE!!! Like world wide! Give your coworkers a break outside of work 
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Keep Coming Back!
The most important person in the rooms of AA is the newcomer. You are welcomed with open arms.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.
AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
For those who are interested, there are other program options out there as well such as Smart Recovery, Refuge Revovery and Life Ring. Whatever you choose, being in community can really help!
When I first started my recovery my subconscious mind was always telling me , don’t go , you don’t need it ur fine ! It wasn’t until I taken the first step and accepted and believed , that’s when my excuses and denials stopped ! Don’t give in to negative thoughts ! Meeting make it !
I didn’t share for over 6 months. It was a different feeling after participating and feeling like part of the group. There are people that plan out speeches and “try” to have amazing shares. Just share about your day or where you are in your recovery. It’s normal to be nervous.
The first time I opened up in a meeting, I could barely get a few words out, but I told myself I would go for two weeks straight. I don’t agree with all of AA, and people gain different things from it, but opening up to strangers was extraordinarily less stressful and terrifying than talking to friends and family initially.
Think of it that you could go to a meeting, spill your guts out, and choose never to go back to that meeting again, but what you’ve done is not told other people something they haven’t experienced or heard, but that you are saying this to yourself. You take your ownership back by owning it to the world.
You’re not alone there. Outside of rehab, I’ve never been to a meeting. 1 year strong and still going.
Did you mean
"Meeting makers make it?"
Yes it could be stated like that ! I like that cheers