I've never been to AA, but I have been to Al-Anon. I am a horribly introverte person, so it took a lot for me to go. In fact, the first time I went, it was being held at a church, so I get there, there's little paper arrow signs, so I get to this room, sit down (no one else was there but there was a sign that said "meeting here tonight"). Eventually a couple people came in and started talking about last week's meeting, introduced themselves then asked if I had come out to my family yet! Not only did I finally get the courage to go, but then I went to the wrong dang meeting. Wait, gets better. I was so flustered and embarassed that I couldn't even find the right meeting I went out to my car, put the key in and it wouldn't start. I keep trying, pound on the steering wheel, lay my head on the stearing wheel and notice a breifcase. I don't own a briefcase. Apparently I didn't own that car either because I got in the wrong one!! Sorry, way . Anyway, Al-Anon helped me deal with the alcoholic in my life. I didn't go every time, I don't ever remember speaking, I didn't drink coffee; I did cry and cry and cry and learned a lot. No one hugged me, no one called me. I was given a list of people if I chose to call someone, but it was very low pressure.