Thriving in Recovery: AA Meetings in Costa Mesa

What is AA? 

Have you ever tried to talk to a person about a topic that they knew absolutely nothing about? While at times this could be a great learning experience for that person. It can also be quite irritating at times. You may find that you need to answer several questions or that they interrupt you at different times for more clarification on what you’re trying to talk about. If you’re trying to explain to someone who has never experienced the disease of addiction, you may find a conversation like this extremely frustrating. While it’s true that a person that has never had an addiction can offer feelings of sympathy, it’s impossible for that person to understand the ins and outs of the stress associated with addiction on a personal level. This is just one of the reasons why Alcoholics Anonymous was developed. 

AA was formed in the 1930s out of recognition of the fact that alcoholics can benefit from the support and reassurance of other alcoholics. By coming together and talking about their experiences, alcoholics found it that much easier to maintain their sobriety and focus on what they need to do to do that for the rest of their lives. Although AA began with just a handful of meetings, this organization has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, there are countless meetings that take place at any given time all over the world. 

What are the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 

When you come to an AA meeting for the first time, the first few minutes of the meeting will go through the ethos of the organization. This will typically include a member of the group reading the mantra of AA as well as the 12 steps. The 12 steps are at the core of the AA organization. While it’s true that the only prerequisite for AA is a desire to maintain your sobriety, attendees are encouraged to work through the 12 steps of AA which are as follows: 

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Keep in mind that the premise of AA is to provide every member with a sense of community and support. This is one of the reasons why every member needs to partner with a sponsor as they work through the steps. You can decide that you are going to attend a few meetings before reaching out to someone and asking them to be your sponsor or you can decide that you would like to find a sponsor during the first meeting that you attend. 

Benefits of Attending AA Meetings During and After Addiction Treatment 

If you have never been to an AA meeting, then it’s possible that you may not realize the advantages associated with attending this type of meeting. The reality is that taking the time to go to an AA meeting both during the time that you’re in treatment as well as after is something that can help you in countless ways. Here are some examples: 

Structure 

One of the leading benefits associated with AA meetings is the fact that these meetings are offered at seemingly any day and any time throughout the week. Whether you need to attend a meeting at 7 o’clock in the morning or you feel more comfortable coming to a meeting at the end of your day, you can rest assured that you will be able to find one in and around the Costa Mesa area. The fact that AA meetings are so frequently offered can provide you with a structured schedule which is important during the time that you’re in recovery. You can easily fit in attending a meeting around your treatment and work schedule so that you can continue to develop in your recovery. 

A sense of community 

There is something that is incredibly welcoming about walking to an AA meeting knowing that you are surrounded by other people that understand exactly what you may be thinking or feeling. When you attend AA meetings and begin to share and communicate with other people that are working through their own recovery program. You have the peace of mind of knowing that you can speak freely without the fear of feeling judged or what you say getting out to a person that you don’t want knowing about this important aspect of your life. 

Stress relief 

Have you had a particularly terrible day? Perhaps you have an abundance of stress as a result of work or you’re struggling to communicate with a friend or family member? An AA meeting can provide you with a certain level of stress relief. Sometimes, by attending an AA meeting, you will come to find that the problem that you’re struggling with isn’t as bad as you have made it out to be. Even if you don’t want to share about the issue, simply listening to other people that may be having their own struggles can put anything that you’re experiencing in a perspective that you may not have thought of before. 

AA Meetings In and Around the Costa Mesa Area 

There are numerous meetings in the Costa Mesa area where you can attend 12 steps meetings. When you’re ready to attend an AA meeting, why not plan to attend one of these: 

12 and 12 Costa Mesa

The 12 and 12 Costa Mesa meeting is a meeting that takes place every Monday from 7 PM to 8 PM. It’s important to understand that this is an open meeting which means that anyone can attend it regardless of whether or not they are suffering from alcohol addiction. There are many friends and family members of a person struggling with alcohol that attend open meetings so that they can develop a better understanding of the disease so it’s important to be aware of their presence. 

609 Plumer St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

1st Step Winners Men’s Group

There are many people that feel more comfortable in a meeting format that is exclusive to men or women. The 1st Step Winners Men’s is an example of a meeting that provides men with the privacy that they may need as they work through their recovery. This meeting is specifically for men and it takes place every Thursday from 7 PM to 8 PM. This is a closed meeting which means that the meeting is specifically for men that are alcoholics. 

2015 Charle St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

60 Minute Beginners Discussion

If you’ve never been to an AA meeting before, then your best bet may be to start out by attending a beginners meeting. The 60 Minute Beginners Discussion meeting is specifically geared toward newcomers. During this type of meeting, you will have the opportunity to listen and share so that you learn more about every aspect of your addiction and what you can do to establish and maintain your sobriety. This meeting takes place every Sunday from 6 PM to 7 PM.

2144 Thurin St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Ark Costa Mesa Meeting

Do early morning meetings work better into your schedule? If so, then the Ark Costa Mesa meeting is for you. This meeting takes place every Saturday at 7 AM. This is an open meeting, however, it’s a meeting that can help you to begin your day with a sense of hope and peace. 

760 Victoria St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Regardless of whether you’re interested in learning more about drug rehab or alcohol rehab at Resurgence Behavioral Health, you can take comfort in the fact that our addiction treatment team is available around the clock to provide you with the care and the guidance that you need as you begin to make these important changes in your life. When you’re ready to make this commitment to being in recovery and working through a treatment plan, reach out to us at (855) 458-0050.

Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.

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