Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATSย
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offers fellowship and support to people with alcohol use disorder. The group is international, apolitical, and non-professional.ย
AA meetings are available almost anywhere every day of the year, including online. There are no requirements for AA other than having a desire to no longer consume alcohol.
Members also have access to literature and resources that encourage strength and clarity in the pursuit of recovery and sobriety.ย
One simple and effective resource available to members is quotes that acknowledge the challenge of battling alcoholism.
Many of the quotes used by people in AA are not attributed to anyone in particular. Alcoholics Anonymous, as the name suggests, is an anonymous group. Participants use only their first names in meetings.ย
Participants also do not acknowledge attendance when away from meetings. This means that many of the most profound statements made by participants are anonymous. But this doesnโt make them any less powerful.
Some of the most notable AA recovery quotes include:
โI have found that the process of discovering who I really am begins with knowing who I really donโt want to be.โ
If thereโs one thing people with alcohol use disorder discover when they are drinking, itโs who they donโt want to be in life. Unfortunately, evolving into someone different is difficult.
People with alcohol use disorder struggle with both physical and psychological addiction. Even if they want to stop drinking, doing so feels impossible.ย
Alcoholics experience severe, potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, including significant cravings. It creates a cycle of wanting to recover but struggling to do so and acting in ways theyโd rather not.
Theyโre familiar with their faults and are acutely aware of what they donโt like about themselves. This doesnโt make it easy to change, but it does give them a blueprint for what they want to change.
โItโs simple, not necessarily easy but the rewards are endless.โ
Similar to the previous quote, this quote acknowledges how challenging it is to overcome alcoholism. But it also provides hope to those struggling with recovery because it reminds them that itโs worth the effort.
โMay I always remember that the power within me is far greater than any fear before me. May I always have patience, for I am on the right road.โ
Committing to recovery is scary. This is especially true for people who have relied on alcohol for a long time.ย
Giving yourself grace helps you to understand that the strength within you can help you overcome anything.
โThe greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear.โ
This quote acknowledges that the substance of alcohol is only part of the problem for someone with AUD.
Anyone trying to recover from alcoholism who feels as if they are battling themselves already understands this. Itโs the negative emotions inside of them driving their desire to drink.ย
A physical alcohol dependence is part of AUD. However, fear, envy, resentment, and other negative emotions also play a significant role.
Learning to manage these negative emotions is one of the most powerful things you can do to overcome AUD.
โGod grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done.โ
The Serenity Prayer is an important tool people with AUD use to help them with sobriety. It offers peace and guidance in any difficult, uncontrollable situation. It is something alcoholics are encouraged to remind themselves of when times are tough.
โOne day at a time.โ
This quote seems simple and it is, but itโs also powerful. Battling alcohol use disorder is a daily endeavor. Focusing on getting through the day is your most important task when in recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous encourages participants to focus on the current moment instead of obsessing about the past or worrying about the future.ย
Dealing with each moment, alcohol-free, helps you build a strong foundation for a future over which you have very little control.
Itโs important to remember, you donโt need to commit to a life free of drinking alcohol. All you need is to get through the day without a drink.
Acronyms make challenging concepts easier to remember. Itโs important to keep the things youโre learning in recovery simple. And you should be able to bring them to mind quickly when you need a reminder about your desire to stay alcohol-free.ย
Acronyms also make it easier to communicate with other AA participants without revealing your struggle to everyone around you.
Some of the most common acronyms used within the AA community include:
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