I spent an afternoon with a recovered alcoholic, one on one, finding out what alcholism is, whether I am an alcoholic, what AA is all about steps, sponsor etc, and at the end of that he took me to a meeting.
I went in the door with him, already knowing why I was there, what to expect and what to look for. So much better than turning up cold. The information I was armed with could have taken 50 meetings to gather.
The main thing I understood rigth from the start is that the work of getting and staying sober is done one on one away from the meetings. The meetings are not the solution, just a place to meet fellow travellers and get a bit of inspiration.
If I had not had the benefit of that kind man giving up his sunday afternoon, I am certain I would never have made it to a meeting. I suffered absolutely crippling fear. It took everything I had just to make the phone call.