My current girlfriend dragged me to an AA meeting tonight. To be honest, I've never heard so much BS in my entire life. Alcoholism a disease? *Scoff* In my opinion, it's very simple - don't drink and you won't become a drunken ***h***e. More specifically, ever heard of the "steering wheel" concept? Keep your hands on the wheel and don't turn into those convenience store parking lots. It's that simple.
Furthermore, these people (cult members - from my perspective) say that if you don't work the 12 steps, you will either die, go to jail or a mental institution. Guess what? I left AA in a huff over 20 years ago and still am alive, happy and free. Furthermore, all my old AA "friends" are either dead (most of them are dead - young or old at the time I knew them), in prison or in mental hospitals. I have News: AA does not work and is nothing more than a cult! And I'm living proof of that, being that I'm still around :lol: - if my niece or another family member ever has any problems with alcohol/drugs, the last thing I'm doing is sending them to AA.
AA - what a waste of time. I spent two or three years going to them stupid meetings, working the steps, serving on committees, sponsoring others - I found AA at 19 and left at 23 in disgust (haven't been back since until tonight).
I couldn't take it any longer: When it came my turn to share in the meeting, I said just about everything I just posted. You should have seen the looks on their faces. :lol::lol::lol:
AA - A Big thumbs down and screw those people.
My current girlfriend dragged me to an AA meeting tonight. To be honest, I've never heard so much BS in my entire life. Alcoholism a disease? *Scoff* In my opinion, it's very simple - don't drink and you won't become a drunken ***h***e. More specifically, ever heard of the "steering wheel" concept? Keep your hands on the wheel and don't turn into those convenience store parking lots. It's that simple.
Furthermore, these people (cult members - from my perspective) say that if you don't work the 12 steps, you will either die, go to jail or a mental institution. Guess what? I left AA in a huff over 20 years ago and still am alive, happy and free. Furthermore, all my old AA "friends" are either dead (most of them are dead - young or old at the time I knew them), in prison or in mental hospitals. I have News: AA does not work and is nothing more than a cult! And I'm living proof of that, being that I'm still around :lol: - if my niece or another family member ever has any problems with alcohol/drugs, the last thing I'm doing is sending them to AA.
AA - what a waste of time. I spent two or three years going to them stupid meetings, working the steps, serving on committees, sponsoring others - I found AA at 19 and left at 23 in disgust (haven't been back since until tonight).
I couldn't take it any longer: When it came my turn to share in the meeting, I said just about everything I just posted. You should have seen the looks on their faces. :lol::lol::lol:
AA - A Big thumbs down and screw those people.
Funny thing about alcoholism. It's one of the few diseases that tell's you that you don't have it. Good luck to you.
Lol where do you get that from? Most guys that drink after awhile know they shouldn't be doing it, but do it anyways. Like they say "Well after last night I'm never doing that again!" Then about an hour before quitting time they start to think about it, they flip a coin, they say just one more time, etc, etc..
Funny thing about alcoholism. It's one of the few diseases that tell's you that you don't have it. Good luck to you.
Sorry, but because of the hold they have on government via court ordered AA meetings, they are at the top of my list, where they will remain. People are not all the same and should not be forced into a cookie cutter system.
Funny thing about alcoholism. It's one of the few diseases that tell's you that you don't have it. Good luck to you.
Well just like AA, I guess some are more self aware than others. I never got to the point where I was so desperate for a drink I was drinking rubbing alcohol or mouth wash (something I've heard of people doing) but I would buy was to much and it became a financial pitfall.
And I wasn't an under the bridge drunk like my dad when he drank himself to death either. He was a street person for the last 8 years of his drunken life. He didn't start out as a street person.
There's no way to predict where your life will end up...at least by me. I'm not judging anybody in this forum. I don't want to live everybody's life for them. I had hell trying to get through my 25 years of self-destructive drinking and drugging.
I wish all good luck...
Did I mention that the Sith were my heroes in Star Wars?
If not, Will reveal myself now:
I am Darth Vader (formerly known as Anakin Skywalker). Sith = ME and my master. AA = Jedi. Get it now?
Odd, AA/NA did wonders for my brother who is nearing his 1 year of sobriety thanks to AA/NA. Congrats on your own sobriety but can you not insult a system that's done a lot more harm than good over the years?
My current girlfriend dragged me to an AA meeting tonight. To be honest, I've never heard so much BS in my entire life. Alcoholism a disease? *Scoff* In my opinion, it's very simple - don't drink and you won't become a drunken ***h***e. More specifically, ever heard of the "steering wheel" concept? Keep your hands on the wheel and don't turn into those convenience store parking lots. It's that simple.
Furthermore, these people (cult members - from my perspective) say that if you don't work the 12 steps, you will either die, go to jail or a mental institution. Guess what? I left AA in a huff over 20 years ago and still am alive, happy and free. Furthermore, all my old AA "friends" are either dead (most of them are dead - young or old at the time I knew them), in prison or in mental hospitals. I have News: AA does not work and is nothing more than a cult! And I'm living proof of that, being that I'm still around :lol: - if my niece or another family member ever has any problems with alcohol/drugs, the last thing I'm doing is sending them to AA.
AA - what a waste of time. I spent two or three years going to them stupid meetings, working the steps, serving on committees, sponsoring others - I found AA at 19 and left at 23 in disgust (haven't been back since until tonight).
I couldn't take it any longer: When it came my turn to share in the meeting, I said just about everything I just posted. You should have seen the looks on their faces. :lol::lol::lol:
AA - A Big thumbs down and screw those people.
So I guess you broke up with your girlfriend then. People indeed get physiologically addicted to alcohol the same way people get addicted to nicotine and cocaine. I would suggest that you read up on that first. Secondly, AA is very helpful for people who need the support and camaraderie for not giving in to life's stresses and drinking again.
Yeah, you need to study up, you're ex-girl friend is miles ahead of you.
Try reading what I typed again, please.
I did not 'slam' anyone for taking methadone. I simply stated that they have not fully quit heroin if they are still using methadone.
And it is a crutch. If the only reason you do not use heroin is because of methadone, then methadone IS a crutch to you.
That does not mean the crutch is bad...but it IS a crutch. I simply called it what it is.
Hey, I am glad the 'crutch' exists.
Btw I have known people that quit heroin without methadone. It can be done. I am not saying it is easy...but it can be done.
This. AA won't work for every one, but they do help many, and any group that helps people beat addiction is ok in my book.
I have no reason to, I have the least addictive personality of anyone I know. I don't drink, I don't gamble, I don't do drugs,... I'm a control freak, addiction just doesn't fit with that personality trait.
Alcohol addiction is a pathophysiological state... whether or not you like the word "disease," neither is "just stop drinking, morans!" at all helpful for anyone who has an addiction.
I have seen increased criticism of AA in the past few years. I would say that if it helps some people, great. The ones who it doesn't, well, they can try something else.
court ordered AA will never work.
You would think at some point in 30 years they would become strong enough to live their lives without the crutch.
Just as it is not your place to judge whether those people you say were helped by AA could not have gotten better without it.
I was a drug addict (crack cocaine - quit in 2002) and I cleaned up on my own (I went to CA meetings - AA's sister organization - and they were worse then useless for me). It is the only way to truly quit.
If the only reason you quit something is because some group or organization helped you quit and you continue to use that organization...then does that mean that if that group ceases to exist that you will fall off the wagon? Then you have not truly quit.
Quitting means you do so AND maintain that sobriety ON YOUR OWN. If you need an outside entity (organization, methadone, etc.) to stay sober/clean...then you have not quit. You are just in remission. And you have replaced one addiction with a different one.
And that means that you have not come to grips with the underlying reasons for your addiction. Instead of learning to walk, you use a crutch.
So these people that you know that still go to AA meetings have not quit...they are just addicts in remission.
I looked at my life, looked at myself, realized what I was doing and why and decided to quit...on my own. It is the only way you can ever be close to certain that you are truly free.
Now, if those programs keep these people sober...fine. But I have been to those meetings. And I know that those organizations AA/CA ARE Christian recruitment groups...period. And that is my problem with AA/CA. That they prey on people's weaknesses to get people into the God-club.
There is no reason that an organization that does not have a Christian agenda could not do the same thing.
And to those that say they 'need' these organizations? I say that you have not looked at yourself hard enough if you say that. Because the reason you do these things is within you. And until you understand that reason, you will never truly be free of your addiction.
Unfortunately, addicts usually like the easy way out (no insult intended - I did/do it too), so doing something as long and hard as true self-analyzation is not something that comes easy to addicted people. Escaping is their thing, not self-reflecting.
Hi CC,
I respect what you do for a living and (being that you are arguably the most intelligent person here on the forum) I'm not going to try to dispute anything you post. I respect you too much for that - it's that simple.
I do (before signing off for the day) want to tell you how I'm doing and what I'm doing these days to get better:
1) My meds have been significantly reduced - I'm almost off them entirely. The more I tap into my inner "God," - instead of believing that God exists apart from my soul (hence, duality - please read what I posted about that in this thread) - the more I get better.
2) All of my doctors are on board with me and support my attitude of AA.
3) They *my doctors, that is* see no evidence of any form of psychosis or even neurosis - and haven't for a long time (years, that is).
4) I intend to write a book on my experiences and my a couple of my doctors have agreed to write the introduction.
Lastly, thanks for all you do to help others - I admire you and all your posts on this forum (sometimes - especially the posts I least agree with you on).
I wish you the best - may the wind be always at your back on fair and calm seas.
Out.
I have 29 plus years of sobriety, which would not have happened without AA.
Although I'm retired, I am a degreed, credentialed professional who has significant hours of study in the field of chemical dependency. I've spent some of my professional years working with kids who had significant problems associated with dependency issues - and many of them participated with one or more parent who also had alcohol/drug addictions.
Oddly enough, a lot of people who are plague with a dual diagnosis (mental disabilities/illnesses along with alcohol/drug dependencies) have substantially benefited by AA.
Thanks...
Thanks....
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