Alcoholics Anonymous & Alcohol Abuse

live_free_or_die's picture
Submitted by live_free_or_die on Fri, 08/03/2012 - 14:01

I found this comment posted by an AA'er today on the Sober Recovery forum. The post by eddie73 sums up some of the problems with AA.

The response from bloss also points out one of the many problems that AA exacerbates. Bloss is admitting that AA is not a treatment for alcohol abuse, or any type of support at all for the issues that come along for the ride of substance abuse.
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My Experience in AA has become poor
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/blogs/eddie73/13944-my-experience-aa...
Posted Today at 03:41 AM by eddie73
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I am at the crossroads to a stage in my recovery. I feel that I have to include this in my blog as part of my honesty. There is no point in trying to paper over the cracks of this issue, or I would be guilty of complicity in being part of the program.

I am at a crisis point in AA. I have gone to numerous meetings. I have met very many people. Unfortunately, the people I have met at a meeting that I have become sec at are mostly unwell. I try not to judge them. I try not to go against my better instincts of looking at them critically. But I cant. I cant trust many of them. I hear some of them talk a good show about how well they are and what the program has done for them etc etc.

But the elephant in the room is that their behavior is at odds with what they are saying.

There is a serious issue with 13th stepping new members. There is a serious issue with gossip. There is a serious issue with trying to stop members taking their anti depressant medication. There is a serious issue with responsibility in general.

I leave the meetings feeling that I have not done something productive and wondering who I can trust. I know that I need some solidarity with fellow alcoholics to maintain sobriety. This is a must. I need to see the person come in and share after a relapse. This is part of staying away from the alcohol.

I cant accept the baggage that is attached to the meetings thou. This is where I get off the bus.
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Response from bloss

Have you thought about or tried therapy (not in a group, just for yourself), helped me a little. I have struggled for years with drinking and relapsing. Tried AA and agree with your post, hard to overlook things. Still, it works for some. Guess we are all different. Take care

Posted Today at 11:45 AM by bloss
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The problems with AA are many. The 13 stepping that is allowed to continue to occur. It seems that AA condones 13 stepping, otherwise the problem would have been corrected. 13 stepping is not a new occurrence in AA-Billy w. invented it-in the 1930's for chrissakes.

The problem of trusting the AA'er sitting next to you-Mandated criminals.

The problem of the AA'ers stance on medications.

The problem of responsibility and accountability in AA.

The problem of "relapse" in AA. It is built-in to the AA/12 step program.

Read bloss' response closely-s/he has struggled for years with relapsing. Why?

Comments

YuppieMonkey's picture

YuppieMonkey

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 14:04

"I know that I need some solidarity with fellow alcoholics to maintain sobriety. This is a must".

Yep. That Bill and Bob brainwashing is a powerful thing.

"You'll pay to know what you really think". - J.R. Bob Dobbs

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 00:03

"Yep. That Bill and Bob brainwashing is a powerful thing."

Yep, that has got to be the biggest single factor contributing to the growth of the stepper cult.

"Practical Experinece show that nothing will so much insure immunity form drinking as intensive work with other Alcoholics BB 4th Ed Page 89

Bill certainly played a blinder with that one. That’s why many stepper truebelivers spend all their "between meetings" time trolling the internet looking for blogs to do their 12th step work on.....they think it ensures their sobriety. And if some people commit suicide as a result of stepper indoctrination, then its their fault as they were constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.....this really is satans cult.....you get to ruin and end peoples lives and you get to control people and have sex with some of them as a reward......satanism pure and simple

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 19:57

Alcohol Dependence? Is no one discussing it anymore?

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 23:21

Alcohol Dependence is NOT a permanent state. 10 days abstinence and you are no longer dependent. I’ve been alcohol dependant loads of times and I’ve been alcohol abusive loads of times. For many of us there is no pattern or downward progression our drinking patterns are erratic.

There is no recovery, there’s nothing to recover from......its just habit change, like watching too much TV you cut down or stop. You don't expect God to do it for you only brainwashed cult loonies think like that

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 06:41

What about those who do not quit or abstain? Who continue a bad habit?

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 03:13

Do you mean those who continue to drink to excess, because they have been indoctrinated by AA into believing they are powerless over Alcohol, or those that return to controlled drinking......like me and countless others?

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 06:41

What about those who relapse?

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 10:58

"What about those who relapse"

Just get back on the 'horse' and continue either Harm Reduction/Moderation or Total Abstinence....which ever option YOU have chosen

Pointless going to the stepper cult....Gods got more important things to do than sort your drinking problem out……..he’s got a universe to run

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 23:26

"I hear some of them talk a good show about how well they are and what the program has done for them etc etc. "

Thats all it is 'talk' AA is a woffle shop. I bet most of the Gurus spend all their time out of meetings rehearsing what BS they are going to spout at the next meeting , that is of course if they are not fornicating with any of the young newcomers

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 23:43

"There is a serious issue with 13th stepping new members."

Of course theres a serious issue with 13th stepping in AA. By many in AA, 13th stepping is seen as one of the perks of being in the cult. Everybody who has spent a few weeks in a stepper cult has seen 13th stepper at least attempted, if not successful and any " its doesn’t happen in my group” BS is just more stepper lies. It happens in every stepper cult group and everybody knows it does, Truebelivers or Anti AA alike........same as telling people not to take their meds, often referred to as "dry booze", happens in every stepper group

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 00:31

"Unfortunately, the people I have met at a meeting that I have become sec at are mostly unwell."

During my initial two years in the cult, I like many became immersed in it all and didn't really realise what was going on. I believe this is a standard feature of cults, the victims do not realise what they are being drawn into

But when you go back for a few meetings after very long periods of stepper meeting abstinence (like 10 years or so) you do see things far more clearly.

On thing that stood out at one of my last stepper meetings was the realisation that I was surrounded by the mentally unwell or to be more precise...the insane. It sprang to mind that all that was missing was the men in white coats like in "One flew over the Cuckoo's nest" It was what I would imagine a lunatic asylum was like. Everybody was crazy.

Surley other non steppers who attend open meeting just out of interest, must see it.

I was speaking to a Probation Officer, promoting an alternative group, when the quetion of AA came up, and she remarked "I was VERY uncomfortable with that" meaning AA.

Theres a atmosphere of totally mental unwellness at these meetings but I also feel a deeper more sinister evil feeling at these what I can only call "cult indocrtination sessions" know as AA meetings. Its like there really is some higher power behind them, but it is NOT a benevolent power, its something very bad and destructive

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

grampahaas's picture

grampahaas

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 01:24

That is.what I see also.

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 06:44

"Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful!"

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 11:05

"Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful!"

Alcohol is a dead plant that has gone past the rotting stage.......and like Orange has already correctly said, it hasn't got a brain.....it does not have the capacity to think....let alone be cunning baffling powerful.....you steppers really do believe in a lot of shit....come on....admit it LOL you really are the biggest bunch of idiots on the planet :-)

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

NoAAUK's picture

NoAAUK

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 11:07

Idiots.....LOL

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11