It offers a community of sobriety. A support group. A place to go when your life is recked. I am grateful for it. It’s helped heal a lot of me and become a better person
Going on a year sober tommorow. Cutting off the people/friends that drink helped me. My full time job helped me too. Work, sleep, eat, relax, repeat helps. Working out and other hobbies help. Found a friend/Girlfriend thar doesn't drink either so this is a plus as well. I just do my best not to be around alcohol. I stay away from the night life as well.
You don’t have to miss out on life . Have you looked into naltrexone pills ? You take one before going out , alcohol will not work in brain : it also takes cravings away . Also look into cognitive behavioral therapy and nutrition.
I did 3 steps after that I quit the steps I just go to meetings and a la cart (take what I need) I have over 6 years. I also did not do meetings for 3 years whatever works for you.
@@justdaddrums2704 It's a fact that a lot of people stop drinking etc without ever stepping foot in an AA or NA meeting though! I left many years ago and haven't had a drink or any other drugs for about 28 years now. I don't want to either, as I've been dealing with the reasons why I drank in the first place. It was traumatic going over my story regularly and hearing others all the time, so it's no wonder I started drinking again after attending meetings for two years and eight months, yet haven't done so since leaving. 🙂
33 years sober and i don't go to dark dingy rooms,i listen and help others freely, no charge, as it has been for me. Total support is given freely. That's how it works and why the program has been used by many on a rosd to sobriety and normal living.. No chanting, nothing like that.
Yeah 👍 James keep it up brother it’s an educational variety language of heart ❤️ wonderful way to live god bless ya brother… I went to the aa convention at tower bridge hotel at Tower Hill that’s not got dark, dingy rooms, and is right there’s no charge. We have no support from the government no outside issues no controversy, no judgemental, and is freely given the support is freely given you will never achieve ever what AA has achieved in 89 years alone is not just about meetings it’s got history he’s got the traditions, you never ever know
@Shan-ny5bn and a group of people who is God right? I mean higher power. A groups of selfs cannot act as God. Then End. People do need people to get outside theirselves nonetheless. Every human being is naturally evil at.
@@ryanr5893 it's easy, don't pick up a drink a day at a time, go to AA with an open mind and not am old fashioned looking for the differences attitude. You can crack it before it takes you. Good luck.
AA didn't fail me for 26 years so far. It's free, you don't have to go, it's a plan for living if you want it. Your choice. I don't go to meetings, but I do read the Big Book and work the 12 steps in some way, shape, or form daily. It makes sense.
Exactly. AA sober since 1985 here. Best thing I ever did. 12 steps and God more than meetings. Seen a lot of people drift way from the fellowship over the years.
Youre one of the 10% the program works for. The man speaks truth. Im one of the majority (although I havent had a drink since 2011). Thankfully there are other ways besides AA to get sober. Working the 12 steps which Ive done (except steps 2 and 3 which I cant as an atheist, therefore no spiritual experience) does not necessarily result in the emotional sobriety that most recovered alcoholics in AA experience.
@@boxelder9147 There actually a section in the Blue Book called "We Atheists" It addresses the God question. That said sober since 2011 that great and I will you well. Whatever works for you.
Dear sir, you spoke the words I have been thinking for years in AA but was too afraid to voice it. Thank you for removing some of my shame. The good news is I am still sober. 😃☮️
Me too. I sat there week after week being blamed and gaslighted and seething but thinking the problem must be me. My name is Sister Mary Loquacious and I'm not an alcoholic 😊
Well done being still sober … have you got a program … it never gets better its call alcoholism I first one does the damage it’s not our I shouldn’t have had that second bottle of wine or that brandy. The first drink does damage as you pick up that first drink. If you’re an alcoholic Matata that’s got alcoholism which is an illness of the head once you put the drink in the drug stand your left with you, so you cannot drink I’m still be sober what we call a dry drunk is not got a program still being insane sometimes that can be worse than actually out there drinking… it never gets better only worse… we never shoot our wounded the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking… remember it’s like a train 🚊 it’s the first carriage that’s kills ya when it hits you… so feel free to come back
@@Miss-Placed.1 mam i glad you went to aa at least you was willing and open minded that’s all you need… as you said sat there week after week heard exactly that you heard not listened we hear sometimes really we should listen instead of just hearing hearing what you want to hear … another aa nugget learn to listen and listen to learn… when we hear and don’t listen sometimes it’s because we don’t really want to look at ourselves and who we really are.. it’s called denial AA anit going nowhere and as I said we don’t shoot our wounded everybody deserves a chance in life what ever works for you… I just don’t understand why people have to put things down as a whole.. properly they have to do that to make their self worth feel better ❤️🩹 🙏
Chronic Alcoholic for over twenty years ended up in a coma due to drinking. Tryed AA for multiple year with no success (its the god problem) I was sick and tired of them telling me i had no power and hand it over to God. Well i didnt and now im nearly 6 year sober after realising that i indeed had the power all along. I still support AA and if it helps some people then its only a good thing.
I was in AA from 2005 til about 2018 but by 2014 I was getting tired and bored of it. During my time in it, I did hear that the success rate was pretty low, some say as low as 2% while others say somewhere between 5-10%. I don't know for sure and I don't really think anyone really does. I do know one thing, it can actually be a very unhealthy place as well. There are people in there and they are seriously disturbed and dangerous, bordering on the sociopathic or psychopathic. For the sake of my sanity and long term peace of mind, I had to walk away from it and cut all ties with it. For me, it was a good place to start and I was glad it was there as there was no other alternative where I am. I also found out that I wasn't really an alcoholic in the strictest sense and didn't really fit their model. But it was a voyage of self discovery and piecing things back together. Take what you want and leave the rest is what they say in meetings. My advice is just keep an open mind about anything that will help and I do mean anything. If you've a problem with booze, fire everything you can at it.
Thank you for sharing. I do acknowledge you for trying different methods to reduce or quit alcohol. Based on research, and doing it on your own, AA and rehab have less than 10% success rates. My way has an 85% SUCCESS rate. DM me if you need support: m.me/AlcoholFreeLifestyle
I’m 50 and got sober at 25 and going to meetings was great for a few years . I stopped going 10 years ago . The bottom line is you don’t need help forever and if you stick around for too long you regress in life . I could talk all day about this subject but nothing is forever if you want to grow. People don’t go to university for their whole lives , they learn and move forward . Years and years off going to meetings is the same you stop growing and never get to think for yourself
i was at my 6th or so meeting and had to leave because i was crying and a girl ran out after me asking me if i wanted to go to a bar where she slept with the owner for free drinks. really disturbing
"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." There's a guy at the men's meeting who used to say: "Rarely have we seen a person thoroughly follow our path."
I absolutely love this post. I’m coming up on a year and a half sober from alcohol in two days. There is not a single negative thing I have to say about AA but it’s refreshing to hear your perspective. Thank you for sharing.
AA and NA dragged me down and kept me from staying clean. For me using actual modern treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and SMART recovery are far more effective. Because you're not powerless you're powerful and you have the power to change.
yes! THAT IS THE POINT. Stop living in Victim mode, we can change anything we put our minds to. AA is disturbing putting the thought of "you're powerless". No you are not! Bizare.
I always hated the idea of you're powerless. That to me landed into the "pity party" world very fast. I ask for no pity. I never pity myself. If I feel bad for myself I take a week and then move on and take bag my life. I can't do the pity me, I have no control, I'm powerless mindset, waiting for a miracle that never comes.
I'm just going to say that if you in your core do not understand the powerless feeling that alcohol or drugs can bring you to then maybe you're not the alcoholic or addict that the program is made fore....maybe you just abused the substance. The big book talks about this and the real alcoholic. IMHO the people that need AA realize they need AA and stick around. The others choose to either die in their misery or hopefully seek other outside help. vut the the majority of the people that say AA didn't work for them....to be 1000% honest didn't do the work that AA requires. I always find it funny when someone says oh AA didn't work for me, But with a little investigation, you find out, they never got with another alcoholic to read the book, never got another alcoholic to guide them thru the steps, and failed to enlarge their spiritual life....thusly they didn't even give AA the chance. The very Last paragraph in the book states: "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation." --HERBERT SPENCER People write off AA without fully investigating AA.
Alcoholic "powerlessness" is a paradox. AA is not saying that we don't have the capacity to not drink. But what makes a "real alcoholic" powerless is it they cannot stop, at least in the long term, once they do take a drink, and they cannot not drink, or seek some other dissociative substitute, because of their baseline unmanageability. That's why we must connect with a Power greater than ourselves, which is the Great Reality found deep down within. Living life on a spiritual basis through the practice of the twelve steps, avails us of that Power, who some of us choose to call God.
Yes absolutely it made me feel like a pathetic weak person who wasn’t allowed to have emotions and they would tell u if u get resentful u will drink. That is ridiculous that is sending the message if u get upset with someone u will drink. Well how the heck can u go through the whole of a persons life and not get resentful. It is Normal to get resentful at people from time to time it is human. It is ridiculous to think otherwise
Went to my first AA meeting yesterday. I hated that we all had to sit in a circle facing each other. I have really bad social anxiety so I stared at the ground throughout the whole meeting. Anytime the organiser asked "would anyone like to share their story" Everyone looked at me expecting me to share my story which I wasn't comfortable doing on the first night. He asked this 3 times. I was the only newcomer that evening and near the end he asked "would any new members like to share?". I've always heard that you can sit in on meetings and not share, but I felt so much anxiety and pressure to speak. I ended up leaving the meeting and drinking alcohol to calm my anxiety down. I also didn't like when he asked "would any new member like to collect a badge if they've sober for 1 week/1 month/1 day etc. I couldn't collect a badge as I had drank alcohol before attending. I felt embarrassed that the whole room knew this without me technically telling them. It's definitely not for everyone
lol! Who cares just try your best to stay sober. I'm following some people who got out of the AA cult if you're interested they are pretty cool. But I got out of those meetings like a week ago I'm over it. I'm a binge drinker I'm thinking about going to get one beer lol. I would have drank over that guy to he was so rude and shouldn't have made you try and share pathetic. I didn't mean to be rude or dismissive but honestly you can do it on your own don't give up though. Or your body will just get worse and you'll be forced to quit if you want to of course.
Everybody goes through that. They are just trying to help you. You politely say" not today just listening " which is fine. The trick is to keep going to a different meeting every day for one hour and you will get used to it. Let me ask you this? How's your anxiety after you went out and got drunk...again..and spent all your money..Can't remember what you did? Now your hearing from others all kinds of crazy embarrassing stuff. Recovery isn't easy..your going to have anxiety either way. Might as well get into the meetings and ask for help.
I quit 10 years and 3 months+ ago at 42 for good, the first and last time I tried. I called AA one day about 2 years before my attempt to end my life, they sent 2 horribly judgemental women to meet with me at a Starbucks who grilled me for an hour and decided I wasn't bad off enough for AA. After I quit I probably went to 10-12 meetings in a month (one last one at 90 days, for the coin 😅) where I listened to people who loved a podium complain, never could figure out the point. I desperately needed to quit drinking but I never needed AA. Screw them. 10 years free of miserable meetings. Community would have been appreciated but I didn't find it there.
I was there for 11 years and haven’t gone since 2018. I truly never felt like I should be there but blamed myself for that and thought there was something wrong with me and not the group.
Even as someone who believes in God, AA and most of the crowd have left me feeling more like relapsing then staying sober. So I haven’t been to a meeting in weeks, and I feel amazing.
Meetings kept me using and drinking. I told myself I was done, and that was that. It's been 14 yrs since I did anything and it was my brain power and will to change my life. Not a sponsor or group
If you’re trying to quit or get you’re drinking under control, you’re an alcoholic. Other people don’t try to control their drinking. They drink and can feel getting drunk, and can stop or nurse their drinks Alcoholics don’t feel drunk, no matter how much we drink. We don’t get a buzz on from alcohol. We think we’re sober. We’re flunking breathalyzer tests left and right. Our body chemistry is incompatible with alcohol. What you drink is ethyl alcohol, which effects the nervous system and is habitual to a small percentage, who use it. It’s like being addicted to Librium, Valium, nicotine etc.. If you’re counting your drinks, switching to other drinks, laying off the booze for awhile, trying to cut down on your drinking, you’re an alcoholic The way addictions work is once you have the first drink, cigarette, pill etc, that sets off a craving for more, that grows and grows. You know you’re drinking too much and try every trick in the book, to control your drinking. You count them, switch to other drinks, lay off the booze for awhile. Nothing works because it’s the first drink that’s the problem, not the last 2 or 3. Quit trying to control your drinking. You can.’t do it. Like I said other people don’t try and control their drinking, they know when they’re drunk. We don’t feel drunk.. We wake up in the morning hungover, can’t remember driving home the night before and say “I had too much to drink last night, but I wasn’t drunk. I had a couple of drinks too many. I cut back next time”. If you’re doing the above, you’re an alcoholic and have to quit cold turkey. Takes one to know one, so if you can relate to what I said. Quit cold turkey. It’s the only way to solve your drinking problem
I disagree with your statement of "If you’re trying to quit or get you’re drinking under control, you’re an alcoholic"...But I thank you for your feedback.
34 years sober my friend.Proud member of AA.The dirty little secret you refer to was one of the first things I was told about at my second or third meeting.The % has climbed by the way.
@@gorillagodzilla8138 Sad??? whats sad about being happy for the most part daily.Whats sad about making like minded friends world wide.Whats sad about having a formula of living that keeps me relatively stress and anxiety free.Whats wrong with living a life style that gives me the gift of helping others.I could go on and on.What I find sad is your lack of open-mindedness.I wish you well in your journey .I shall continue to be happy joyous and free.
Some reports seem to suggest AA has a 6-8% success rate. If that’s true, simple math would mean it therefore has a 92-94% failure rate. There is no question AA has been effective for millions of people. However, if these statistics are accepted, AA appears to have been ineffective for tens of millions of people.
What about the millions upon millions of people they do not help. They need to stop telling people that their program works as long as the person is willing. It causes people that are already broken to not seek other paths. It’s ok if it doesn’t work for everyone.
I attend Smart Recovery and one-third of the attendees are also in AA. I have asked them many questions about this and have discovered that they do not believe in the Higher Power concept, do not follow the steps, and have never had or been a sponsor. They attend because they have friends there and after the meeting every week they go out to lunch. It is a social experience. Attending probably reinforces sobriety but Smart Recovery actually has specific tools to use that are based on research and emphasizes your role in your own recovery.
I’ve been to 8 meetings now and I feel worst after I discuss things, I was actually doing better by myself throughout lockdown and am also developing my own method as it has helped me so far. Hence why I am now looking at your video! The last straw was being at a meeting last night where everyone just were not what I wanted. Dude thanks for this vid and the courage to speak up.
Thanks for sharing Ida. Great that you've taken action and trying different ways to quit. Just to share, based on research, and doing it on your own, AA and rehab have less than 10% success rates. My way has an 85% SUCCESS rate. If you are willing to try my method then let's talk: m.me/JamesSwanwickOfficial
Hey friend, I was raised by an AA extremist and also ended up actually getting sober when I did it in quarantine *my way*. In fact, I’m still de-programming some of the brainwashing. The main one being “you’ll always be an alcoholic, you’ll always need us” I have PTSD, and I have an absolutely neurotic fear that my case is severe enough to be incurable. I’ve talked that over with so many people, both mental health professionals and people I know in my personal life, and everyone has assured me otherwise, but I always had this idea in my head that I’ll always be sick. It was… astoundingly recently that I realized that fear came from AA. Anyway, I’m proud of you. Quitting on your own is valid. I did it by starting antidepressants again and taking up yoga, meditation and exercise every single day (again, it was quarantine, so I had the gift of time), and now I’m 17 months and have, like, no desire whatsoever to drink lol. (It may be worth mentioning that I am “California sober”, which I was also shamed for in AA, even though I have my med card) And I just really hope they weren’t too shitty. I have seen some really nasty things at AA meetings, and I’m sorry that you had that experience in a space that you were told would be safe. I was raised in that mindset and told it was the ONLY WAY to be safe, and it really shook me up in ways that persist now in my mid 20s; I’m glad you realized and got out before it got that bad.
Hi Nita, I've also found that I feel worse discussing my feelings, that and addiction are 2 signs of CPTSD (there are many others). I've been diagnosed with major and clinical depression, and anxiety disorder, but those never seemed right. I finally realized it's definitely CPTSD. You might want to look into it. Best wishes to you, keep on keeping on 🤗
Thank you, I just watched your video. I was in AA for 5 years and remained sober. After 2 in AA my intuition was telling me that I was stuck and although I was sober I was becoming miserable. I relapsed after 5 and a half years and drank for a year - feeling confused. I am now sober and see AA with a new perspective. It helped me when I was Rock bottom and vunerable , I identified with the suffering that brings people to the rooms and of course I identified with the horrible suffering that addiction brings. I don’t go to AA anymore but I feel quite balanced and happy. For a long time I kept going back to the meetings ‘thinking’ I should ; but they made me worse. They were great initially because I would go ti a meeting and not drink. I just had to stop getting drunk. Now I don’t get drunk my spiritual path is what my gut tells me. Personally - I believe AA does serve a purpose but it has become outdated as human consciousness has evolved naturally. It is more like a ‘club’ now rather than a spiritual programme. That is my opinion anyway, everyone has their own path.🙂
AA only works when the principles are accepted, unfortunately for 99% of all people getting truly honest with ourselves is the root of the problem its not a shortcoming of the 12 step program, alcohol and drugs aren't the problem they only appear like a salutation to some that sedate themselves from themselves, if everyone was brought up with the principles of the 12 step program, this world would be a much more functional and peaceful than it is now AA dont fail people,, people fail AA truth, morality and realities haven't changed since the 1930s but society sure has been devolving. If one refused to learn the rules of driving and keep having accidents dont mean the rules are flawed, just like AA if you dont practice the principles you won't change and your still think sedation, or projecting your issues onto someone else is the answer just like the rest of our broken society has been doing. ( Time to get real )
I'm in AA and I'm questioning my membership and my alcoholism. I don't even think about drinking now that's it's been almost two years since I had a drink. I was clean for 15 years all on my own and I wasn't in AA and I was fine. When I relapsed I went to AA on my own. In the past it was court ordered and I use to say that them meetings and people make me want to drink even more and I'm just now starting to remember that. The last meeting I went to I squirmed in my chair the whole time and couldn't get our of there fast enough. I'm convinced that I can't drink alcohol at all. Once I start I can't stop but if I just go about life and not think about it I'm fine but after a meeting all I want is a beer or 12 😂
I'm reminded of the words of a comedian. If alcoholism is a disease, it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Dammit Jim, you're an alcoholic. Dammit Jim, you have lupus. One of these sentences don't make sense.
I know a few things that AA gets right. It's free, there is no profit motive, it doesn't try to sell you false hope, and it's public policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.
The fact that AA is free is one of the many reasons it has just a reported 7% success rate. That's a 93% failure rate. :( I've studied AA and in my opinion, it's not based on attraction at all. It's based around surrendering to a higher power, having to admit you're powerless over alcohol, and is very much steeped in darkness and shame. The only thing AA gets right, IMO, is that it encourages people to rethink the drink. I just don't think it does this in an effective manner.
@@JamesSwanwick wrong again. You actually have no clue what the 6-8% is based on. I know you're telling people that basically 1 out of 10 people get it but that's where it's clear you are completely lost with no facts. Do you honestly believe that every person who attends AA is written down in an attendance book? Hahaha! I haven't read one comment from one person who talked about your program yet you're gonna show us all the way Lol. This is some funny shit! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It’s not free because of the literature and profits from literature sales still go to Bill W family and he left 10% of royalties in his will to his mistress - all evidence available online
It works for chronic alcoholics, with good sponsorship. The rooms are filled with acute alcoholics or "heavy drinkers". For acute drinkers alcohol is the problem, but with chronic alcoholics it's much bigger than alcohol. Life is just as hard sober as lit. And for these types a spiritual connection to something greater than themselves, a honest and brutal self examination followed by a simple guide to living is what is needed. It gets us out of the way of ourselves so we can be at peace and be of service to others and not to the bottle. A chronic alcoholic, especially at the later stages would give anything for a 10% chance. Any true chronic alcoholics struggling with A.A. Ask the universe for guidance, Don't give up, keep taking action. Much love xo
I’ve been in & out of A.A for several hrs& have a dived sobriety.. but I truly .. felt it was not due to this program.. but I knew I was defiant drinking too much& wanted to quit.. for myself‼️.. I’ve been sober for over 61/2 yes& feel that I don’t NEEd this any longer $ truly feel that zi Never WAS an Alcoholic ‼️I just knew .. Alcohol was not suppose to be apart of my life any longer & I just over time.. love the benefits of being Alcohol free….
Diane if you haven't tried it I encourage you to. Quitting drinking is hard but don't let that stop you. I believe AA is the best program out there and the reason why it's been around for so long is because it works. At least give it a shot for yourself and decide for yourself. Some of the best things in life were hard but well worth it. My best to you.
I have been sober for 10 years, I know the AA program, I know its shortcomings and its sect aspect that bores intelligent and independent people, but it is the best solution so far invented for truly sick people. and I no longer attend meetings and I don't have sponsors. But one thing I will tell you, if you really have a problem with alcohol, go to AA, it can save your life.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't hold a monopoly over recovery. If it doesn't work for you our hats are off to you try something else that does. My personal experience with AA has been that it worked for me beyond the drinking, the drugging the acting out. It's a new way of living. It is true that not many recover but for me I kept coming back and the seed was planted and as with anything else in life I had to have the willingness. With that being said it is a personal journey I tried every house on the block and found the last house worked for me. So I hope you find something that works for you.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness)
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
It made my addictions far far worse.It wasnt until i completely went against everything i learned there that i was finally able to stop.l am truely cured now,something they always told me was not even possible.l have lost all desire for alcohol, its like i never did care for it after 45 years of drinking .
If AA helps you, great. I was in and out of AA for a few years. Found other things that work for me and also fit in my sound sane ideal for my life. There is no room in my life for a program like AA. Its completely ridiculous to share over and over year after year that I am a alcoholic or that I have a problem. If your car has a problem you fix it and keep driving it. You don't fix it and keep saying your car has a problem. The logic in talking over and over about alcohol is in it self insane. AA becomes in it self a addiction. There book is just a book. There is more to life then hearing people complain or flex there ego because there are sober.
Fucking nailed it ! People get atticted to substances and some will defeat it , some wont, but there is no way that labeling yourself alcoholic and AA is the only way and getting addicted to it
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I use to go to AA. Those people are not friwndly..They wanted me to get rid of my friends that Drink or smoke weed. Im more closer to those friends than AA People.😊
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
@markhenry7768 that's why I used the word "like". Find a dictionary. If that doesn't help find a grown up to explain it to you. It is the fault of an entire industry and infrastructure built around it knowing full well that it doesn't work any better than doing nothing.
@markhenry7768 okay I was going with my original analogy but I guess that's just too complex for you. I'll dumb it down as much as humanly possible for you. It is the fault of the person who recommends AA or the person who court orders it.
The program does not fail. People who STAY in meetings and connect with recovery stay clean. The ones that don't continue with the program may fail. What this dude say is tricky.
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
No they don’t. People in 12 step programs relapse over and over and over and over and over and over again hold on I’ll wait while you get your own 1 day chip for the umpteeth time. And over and over and over again
@@erinwilson3369 It’s true that relapse is a challenge for many in 12-step programs, and it’s a reminder that recovery looks different for everyone. Some people find success through those programs, while others need a different approach to achieve lasting sobriety. The key is finding what works for you-whether that’s a structured program, a personal path, or alternative support systems. The journey isn’t about how many times you fall; it’s about your commitment to getting back up and continuing forward. Everyone’s path to recovery deserves respect, even if it’s not perfect or linear.
People who fail in AA are often people who drop out or people who don’t stay plugged in with it. People who cannot or will not give themselves to this simple program. There are such unfortunates, they are not at fault. Theres a lot of truth behind that. I believe the people who fail at AA are people who aren’t ready to fully surrender and let go “absolutely” as we say.
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
Ty for sharing the truth you prevented me from taking a decision that probably would’ve end up driving me To the last thing to end me…. I will find a viable solution to keep fighting, ty
This is just this guy's opinion. AA is very effective. If you haven't tried it I encourage you to do so. Don't solely make a decision to not go because of this guy. It works for millions and that's why it's been around for as long as it has because it works. My best to you.
Just be careful they allow anyone at these meetings with criminal offenses rapist,killers,pedophiles because the courts send them there with court cards to be signed. Another thing watch out for 13th steppers could be male or female who prey upon newcomers. Just be safe 🙏
@@JamesSwanwick I feel like you missed my point all together lol. The person fails at AA, AA doesn't fail the person, they have to have the will and integrity to adhere to the principals. People in general are week willed. If someone fails a test the test isn't wrong the person just didn't do their best. How can AA be effective if its the person going through it that fails because of their own lack of will and ability to go all in.
@@mikemontgomery1163 I want to let you know that AA and NA meetings failed for me, because my issues are related to extreme childhood trauma and other trauma, which is the usually case with people who drink a lot and/or partake in other drugs! I wasn't even allowed to mention it though, as it's only meant to be about alcoholism, yet it's often the underlying issue, hence why my recovery has been about healing from the trauma, including what happened with people at meetings. I left many years ago and haven't had a drink or any other drugs for about 28 years now. They say that members won't make it if they leave though, which isn't appropriate at all. 🙁
@@cyndigooch1162 I'm glad to hear you found your own path but AA didn't fail you, we are responsible for ourselves AA is just a stepping stone to help get you on track through expirance strength and hope but you ultimately choose what path you walk! It's not our parents other men or God YOU have to want it bad enough to take yourself through the gate. When people blame other things It's just weak will.
@@cyndigooch1162 I also agree they shouldn't say you won't make it my group dosnt do that we are there for eachother it's a true brother hood of strangers each one of us has somthing the other want and that helps form the bond! If people use or abuse drugs and alcohol due to trauma then they arnt alcoholic per say they probably need therapy and a healthier "coping" mechanism they just chose the latter because it's easy.
The comments are the true help here - today, for me. I’m just going home from an AA meeting and for the 100000th time I have these thoughts what Swanwick talks about. And here, below, I see how many people have the same doubt as me. ❤
@@jkat8376 when I need to get through a strong wave of emotions, I take a few deep breaths: 3 sec in, 4 sec hold, 7 sec exhale. Plus I get a little fresh air, move around a bit. All cravings go away soon if you don’t ruminate on it
@@JamesSwanwick very kind of you to ask. I had 1 year sober, then I quit AA and done a little experimenting with moderate consumption (some good and some very bad experiences) and now I'm sober again, enjoying it and expecting my first baby. So there's a lot to process.
AA is sort of like taking millions and millions of people who are out of shape and demanding that they train and run marathons in order to get in shape. And, of course if they don't succeed in running said marathon...they are "not in shape". Some will succeed in running the marathon...and most won't. AA can make it harder than it has to be. Maybe you can just train for a 5K and "be in shape" ?....
How I became the stop drinking expert was firstly I went to rehab and whilst in there getting a bit of time up without using any drugs or alcohol I realised I can actually live life without this crap and a dam good life also. No more hang overs feeling like shit having to apologize to everyone for my behaviour the night before no having to be around people that use abuse lie steal and cheat of you.. Thank God.. I don't even do meetings because there is too many dickheads in the rooms.. You can do this also don't give up.. Peace Freedom Love..
The biggest problem with AA (besides the fact that it's a faith based, pseudoscientific program from the 1930s) is that it completely dominates the "recovery" industry in the United States. 12 Step programs have a terrible success rate for alcoholics but they are downright DEADLY for opioid addicts like myself. I've been to two of the "best," most well respected rehabs in the southern US and none of the people I was in treatment with had positive outcomes. Many of them are dead and nearly all of them became more addicted than ever after their inevitable relapses. Can you imagine if you went to a doctor for cancer or diabetes and the doctor told you to start believing in god and pray about it? That's the basic state of addiction treatment in America and it's no wonder the patients "keep coming back."
Actually, going to god to heal your cancer is called Christian Science! And, that church is just about dead, being accused of letting people die, nearly murdering them with neglect, and killing children. AA - having done both C.S. and AA - is not that far away from me with its pseudo christianity, paranoid founder (Bob drank till the day he died), odd theology, and more. Ironically, one group is dead, the other is the cornerstone of modern rehab.
aa doesn’t fail anyone, if you don’t work the steps as out of the big book and have a spiritual awakening and continue disciplines of 10, 11 and 12 including sponsoring, then you don’t “do” AA.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
Hi James, I have been at AA meetings the last month ( after coming out of rehab ) it does not work for me at all. It is like some medieval organistan to me.. it is brilliant for those it has helped and more power to you I wish you the best. However something developed in 1939 has little bearing on today,s world. That is just my opinion..! Please do not destroy me with angry attacks people! I wish all in AA all the very best! :)
I reject AA but retain membership. I draw from several abstinence based sobriety programs. 95% failure rate is common in all give or take. AA never failed anybody. It works if you work it. We fail ourselves when sobriety is lost. Don't blame AA but that man in the mirror.
Some reports seem to suggest AA has a 6-8% success rate. If that’s true, simple math would mean it therefore has a 92-94% failure rate. There is no question AA has been effective for millions of people. However, if these statistics are accepted, AA appears to have been ineffective for tens of millions of people.
I was in alcohol recovery program, and everyone was tested every morning. If you test positive for alcohol, they kicked you out!!!! Wtf?? After years of addiction, they expect to change overnight.
I was in another program recently. It ended. I really miss the daily van pick up, the activities, the friendships I've made, the daily schedule of activities. Now I'm home alone and bored. No car, no tv, no daily activities. 😢😢😢 But no craving, no desire to go back to that life again. A very nice person I met in rehab, before I left said he was going to jail soon after a mugging he did. Sad. What alcohol , need for it does to people. Anyway, moving forward.....
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I'm going back to a meeting tonight. I hurt my family so bad. I'm desperate. i dropped out because i could not understand or get through step 3. I hated the pressure to go to events and get a sponsor but at the same time it did help me a lot when I was there. I did 4 months sober. I saw people who had quit for years and still say "I'm an alcoholic."
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
Wow, 44 years sober-that’s an incredible accomplishment! It’s amazing how the journey of sobriety can continue to unfold, no matter how much time has passed. The "One Day at a Time" (ODAT) approach is such a valuable mindset, allowing you to focus on the present moment and not get overwhelmed by the long-term journey. Even after all these years, it’s clear that you’re still committed to understanding the deeper layers of sobriety and its impact on your life. Each day sober brings more self-awareness and growth, and it sounds like you’re still embracing that process. How has your perspective on sobriety evolved over the years?
i'm one of those people who quit AA ..... I just miss the friends i made very much but i feel i got too burned to go back. I dont feel very close to the program i feel pulled away from it. i'm a single mother with a young kid nobody gets that. nobody understands that resonsibility. i cant explain it and thats always a problem in AA!
How wonderful to hear of someone who has found a way to stop drinking. The first nine steps will get you sober and the last three steps will keep you sober.
I think people leave because they know it works. People don’t let people drink in my groups. People hold each-other accountable. People give unbiased, objective advice. I left AA and I drank again. I’m in again and I’m still sober. It does work but most people don’t wanna put the work in.
It's part of AA's tradition that it should always remain non-professional. The 12 steps are mostly lifted from 17th century spiritual exercises of the jesuits. There are innumerable ways of holding meetings, it doesn't have to be in a dark and dingy room somewhere. Most groups make the mistake of being overly negative. But I agree, there is a flaw in this sort of unscientific therapy. You leave an AA meeting... thinking about alcohol. I also agree, alot of people have problems and think that stopping drinking will solve it all. Not always the case.
@splinterbyrd: Stop drinking alone will not solve it at all - I´ve started in Jan. 99 became sober pretty fast - but felt always uneasy around those many many gossip girls and nasty and often drunk people around me - they did not want me to see a therapist bc of my Trauma from abuse in a dysfunctional family - and I could not talk inside of AA about my abuse - my sponsor talked about her sexual problems with her husband and I felt ashamed about that - could not trust her at all and left AA after a couple of month - they were trying to mix up into my private life to much - and many of those so called AA-friends were abused themselves in their life but they did not want to see a therapist and denied their own trauma - it was not the right thing and the right place for me at all . I am sober until today but it was not bc of being in those strange kind of meetings - I was never ever a real alcoholic - alcohol was just a symptom - one of many others - it was a experience but again a real traumatic one for me. I am from Germany so please excuse my grammar it´s not my first languages.
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
@@claudiaschneider5744 AA is solely about alcohol. In the Big Book it does not claim to take the place of psychotherapy for trauma, or of other mental health interventions. Unfortunately, alot of people in AA think that it cures absolutely everything.
Perseverance,perseverance , perseverance . Sober since 2008 proud for being an alcoholic without this I would of never entered the program. The program works if you work it. The rooms where I go are packed. Especially if one has a one year celebration the room will have 100 people attending. I have never wasted my time going to meetings. But for the Grace of God I have been arrested from my afflictions.
Your message about perseverance is incredibly powerful! Congratulations on your sobriety since 2008-that’s an impressive achievement. It’s clear that you’ve found strength in the program and the community it provides. The support from a packed room during celebrations is a testament to the connections and encouragement that come from shared experiences in recovery. It’s inspiring to see how your journey has brought you closer to grace and healing. Keep spreading that message of hope and determination-you're making a difference! 🙌✨
Aa never worked for me im 4 years sober and I stepped away from aa way of life it kept me stuck in Trauma and labels opinions isolated self hating it was scary to leave but the only way I cud break free and find my truth
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
There are many other ways. How dare you. Seriously. What is so broken in you that you feel the need to not only criticize much more successful ways of breaking addiction, but to demean those people that discovered those ways. 12 step programs do not work for most. If it works for you that’s great but why do you feel the need to criticize already fragile and healing addicts. And there are much softer ways. You don’t have to sit in dingy, punitive, puritanical rooms eating cheap shitty cake, drinking stale coffee, and white knuckling it with a bunch of bikers and relapsing over and over. Good luck to you sir. Your program is thankfully dying.
I quit by myself four years ago. I see booze as my enemy and don’t let it around. Easy. Whine me a cry river. Have a little self reliance and backbone. Nobody at AA is gonna be with you in the end.
I was forced to go to AA meetings in the halfway house I was living at. Despite not being an alcoholic. They told me I was in denial. They called me a liar. They told me if I didn't go, they would kick me out of the sober living house. I went to the meetings just to appease them. It was cultish from the moment I walked in there. There was chanting. There was shaming. There was tearing down of people's character. You had to submit to the Christian God, then if you question their religious motives, you were told the lie that "AA doesn't align itself with any religious or political organization." Despite in one meeting alone, there was direct references to God made 48 times in one 60 minute meeting. Which God are they referring to?? Vishnu?? No. Isis?? No. Buddha?? No. They're referring to the CHRISTIAN GOD! Because they're organization is masquerading as a treatment program, when in fact, their REAL MISSION is to peddle CHRISTIAN beliefs upon sick and vulnerable people. I think this is evil. What if an Islamic organization did the same thing?? Or the satanic temple?? Oh yeah, THEN it would be a problem. THEN AND ONLY THEN would people be in an uproar about this. However, we abide double standards in this country. And since Christianity is the opiate of the masses in America, somehow.... That makes every evil act these predatory 12 steps groups are doing somehow excusable. I am openly and vehemently against AA and all it evil practices. Shut it down and start using science based programs to treat addiction. Not a fantasy cult.
Im a Christian but I do get what your saying. My problem is first they talk about the past to much. And second is it is amazing how much negative self talk they have. Ect. We’re powerless, we have to surrender, and the most ironic part they call the people that do drink normies. Ive met some flat out shady and bad people in AA that don’t drink or drug but there terrible human beings.
See Bill and Dr. Bob began to present their idea as the “Twenty-Four Hour Program”, the “Day at a Time Program.” Taken from the book Not-God a history of Alcoholics Anonymous by Ernest Kurtz.
30 yr heroin (5 yr fentanyl) addict. Went to an anti 12 steps rehab for 8 months and am now 1 yr and a half off. I have my life restored. Just wish I wasn’t so damn lonely.
Congratulations on 1.5 years of freedom from addiction-that is an incredible achievement, and it shows your immense strength and resilience. Rebuilding life after addiction can feel isolating at times, especially when stepping into a new, sober world. Loneliness is tough, but it’s also an opportunity to explore new connections and rediscover yourself. You’ve overcome so much already, and I truly believe you can find meaningful relationships and a community that resonates with you. You’re never alone in this journey. 💙
I was going to AA meetings. I stop going but also leave alcohol alone. I stop going cause they got too involved in my life. They would talk behind my back about ways to manipulate my behavior. It was disturbing. I just quit going...
I know so much about the AA process and history, it's a wild story! I have had some success using the steps and the meetings, but I have released as well. I have so much shame when I relapse, and I find it so hard to go back into the rooms after a relapse. I am trying to find something different from AA, or something to add to it so I can move on with a happy healthy life. I had 2 years sober at one point, 6 months a few other times. I am in the process now of trying to get off of Kratom and get through the withdrawal. I think I will be able to stay sober once I get through this. I mostly drink now because of hhe withdrawal from kratom. I am considering starting to smoke a little bit of marijuana instead of the kratom and alcohol, but still working at some kind of spiritual, emotional, and psychological program or therapy. I do have some trauma from a few issues over the course of my life. I have done some work in these areas, but I feel like there is something blocking me deep in my mind or my heart.
Dear Lance. I am not from AA, but have read and listened to many stories of success. Nothing is guaranteed. I would love to tell you that the one thing you can count on is that any group you come to, anytime, will embrace you. But the groups are full of hurt humans. And hurt people hurt. Am convinced that for most people, a little positivity will help. For some, I've heard and read, shrooms will do the trick. I have heard youtube testimonies of people taking an Amazons' herbal preparation and quitting drinking. There is an old prescription I just can't remember right now, that is believed to be helpful. Again for some people. Am convinced most people suffer from addictions because of childhood trauma. But that is my opnion. Am nobody. Should you choose to heal any trouma you may have, nobody will be able to garanty you will give up alcohol. I wish you the best in your search for a better life.
I quit drinking thru AA, no longer goto meetings... I had problems with people and their BS....coming up on 24 years on Sept 25th...No meetings are needed
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
Mad love and respect. I have to agree with the comment down below me. You literally expressed how I feel about AA. There is just something about introducing your self and saying I'm an alcoholic that is off putting. Not drinking and doing some soul searching mean while living a healthy life style shouldn't feel like it isn't good enough to others like in AA. AA is not for everyone and it isn't the way for everyone. People in recovery take life way to serious and sometimes sound deep down miserable. Really you're proud to be an alcoholic is what I said in an online meeting the other day but I know what he meant and meant well but back to those AA places it's just not for everyone. There are other outlets to living a healthy life style while being sober 🙌🏼
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
Well all I can say really is I thought I could do it in my own and tackle my addiction but 14 years of relapse and relapse I finally gave CA a go Fuck me wasn’t I still relapsing but someone took time out of there life to go through this book with me and be there on the battlefield of my active addiction To go through how I have been to my friends and family and the destruction I caused To make amends with those people and live a more honest life. The big book has delivered me freedom and my life back 😊
I respect people who AA saved their life. For me, I always had no choice or free thinking. It was not good for my emotional and maturity level. But I knew this was a strange thing. My mom in 1936 was born and was so open-minded. It struck me as so wrong.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
AA has been a lifeline for me. My particular group is the best. We laugh, joke, play around and have a great time in a clubhouse overlooking the sea. I'm 33 and this is the only thing that has seemed to work for me. I'm definitely an alcoholic. Walk in with an open mind. We got like 40 different HPs. 3/4ths of em people just call God. So God is used loosely.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I go to NA when I want to be told how wrong I am all the time and that any misfortune is my fault. Include the sexual guilt, the classism and the general north-London snottishness that one finds and meetings have got everything I don't want.
Its certainly does say 5-10% on many websites, usually those self same sites are trying to sell you something. "I am not knocking AA", yet the title does suggest otherwise IMO. However at the end of the day whatever works for the individual, we all want freedom and serenity. Personally AA has changed my life. I wish you well James because what AA has done is remove my resentments and taught me how to try to judge objectively, it works for me. AA has also been around since 1939. If you can stay that course then I've clearly misjudged your approach. If your method does indeed stop a greater percentage (what is your % success rate it doesn't say) then it'll get my vote. Good luck.
Some reports seem to suggest AA has a 6-8% success rate. If that’s true, simple math would mean it therefore has a 92-94% failure rate. There is no question AA has been effective for millions of people. However, if these statistics are accepted, AA appears to have been ineffective for tens of millions of people.
Its difficult at best to assess where the AA program fails and an individual fails to honestly do what is asked by the program. Also I would like to add its not about quitting its about never starting again for those who have trouble when they drink. Also, this is a very subjective subject. First we need to understand what an alcoholic is.. the definition of one can vary greatly upon opinion. I think its good to try other approaches or even mix in other approaches with A.A. The purpose of A.A. is to let you live alcohol free and focus on having a full life. If you can honestly achieve this by any means than you've nailed it.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
Here's an interesting factoid, AA was founded in Ohio in 1935, that's 88 years ago and it's so out of date it's laughable. Literally everything from that era regarding the topic of addiction and mental illness has been replaced by better science. Going to AA is like visiting a modern doctor for a surgical procedure and asking them to knock you out with ether and slice you open with 1930's surgical tools instead of doing keyhole surgery.
AA talks to much about the past. All there verb-age is negative self talk ect. Surrender , we’re helpless, they call people that do drink normies. Ive met a number of people in AA that dont drink but there not good people. I believe alcohol is bad for you but AA can make one over emotional and weak.
AA doesn’t care if you relapse over and over as long as you stay in the program. They are not interested in helping anyone achieve permanent sobriety that doesn’t involve permanent membership in their program.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
It offers a community of sobriety. A support group. A place to go when your life is recked. I am grateful for it. It’s helped heal a lot of me and become a better person
Thats cool, if it works for you, stick with it
Keep chipping away 🙏🫶🏻👊❤️
The god thing imo is what drives out so many. God imo is a man made and is make believe nonsense.
If it works for you, then keep it up! :)
Going on a year sober tommorow. Cutting off the people/friends that drink helped me. My full time job helped me too. Work, sleep, eat, relax, repeat helps. Working out and other hobbies help. Found a friend/Girlfriend thar doesn't drink either so this is a plus as well. I just do my best not to be around alcohol. I stay away from the night life as well.
You don’t have to miss out on life . Have you looked into naltrexone pills ? You take one before going out , alcohol will not work in brain : it also takes cravings away . Also look into cognitive behavioral therapy and nutrition.
Yes 👍🏻 add postive things to your life that replace alcohol and drugs
I am so proud of how far you've come! :)
I haven’t followed the steps since I got out of rehab ive stayed sober even through the pandemic I’m hitting on 2 years next month :)
Still sober?
And I bet you're just a joy to be around lol.... we call that dry drunk syndrome my friend.
I did 3 steps after that I quit the steps I just go to meetings and a la cart (take what I need) I have over 6 years. I also did not do meetings for 3 years whatever works for you.
@@justdaddrums2704 It's a fact that a lot of people stop drinking etc without ever stepping foot in an AA or NA meeting though!
I left many years ago and haven't had a drink or any other drugs for about 28 years now. I don't want to either, as I've been dealing with the reasons why I drank in the first place.
It was traumatic going over my story regularly and hearing others all the time, so it's no wonder I started drinking again after attending meetings for two years and eight months, yet haven't done so since leaving. 🙂
@@cyndigooch1162 awesome.
33 years sober and i don't go to dark dingy rooms,i listen and help others freely, no charge, as it has been for me. Total support is given freely. That's how it works and why the program has been used by many on a rosd to sobriety and normal living.. No chanting, nothing like that.
Great to hear that! Keep it up
Yeah 👍 James keep it up brother it’s an educational variety language of heart ❤️ wonderful way to live god bless ya brother…
I went to the aa convention at tower bridge hotel at Tower Hill that’s not got dark, dingy rooms, and is right there’s no charge. We have no support from the government no outside issues no controversy, no judgemental, and is freely given the support is freely given you will never achieve ever what AA has achieved in 89 years alone is not just about meetings it’s got history he’s got the traditions, you never ever know
@Shan-ny5bn and a group of people who is God right? I mean higher power. A groups of selfs cannot act as God. Then End.
People do need people to get outside theirselves nonetheless.
Every human being is naturally evil at.
Wow I'm drunk drunk right now and I wish I was you
@@ryanr5893 it's easy, don't pick up a drink a day at a time, go to AA with an open mind and not am old fashioned looking for the differences attitude. You can crack it before it takes you. Good luck.
AA didn't fail me for 26 years so far. It's free, you don't have to go, it's a plan for living if you want it. Your choice. I don't go to meetings, but I do read the Big Book and work the 12 steps in some way, shape, or form daily. It makes sense.
Exactly. AA sober since 1985 here. Best thing I ever did. 12 steps and God more than meetings. Seen a lot of people drift way from the fellowship over the years.
It unfortunately viewed as a cult because active members and speakers try to make it that way. What do you think of this
Youre one of the 10% the program works for. The man speaks truth. Im one of the majority (although I havent had a drink since 2011). Thankfully there are other ways besides AA to get sober. Working the 12 steps which Ive done (except steps 2 and 3 which I cant as an atheist, therefore no spiritual experience) does not necessarily result in the emotional sobriety that most recovered alcoholics in AA experience.
@@boxelder9147 There actually a section in the Blue Book called "We Atheists" It addresses the God question. That said sober since 2011 that great and I will you well. Whatever works for you.
@@boxelder9147 How can you do steps 5,7,11 if you have skipped steps 2&3? Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life.
Dear sir, you spoke the words I have been thinking for years in AA but was too afraid to voice it. Thank you for removing some of my shame. The good news is I am still sober. 😃☮️
you're welcome, please feel free to message me if you need more support
Me too. I sat there week after week being blamed and gaslighted and seething but thinking the problem must be me. My name is Sister Mary Loquacious and I'm not an alcoholic 😊
Your amazing. Keep walking the path that works for you no matter what anyone thinks
Well done being still sober … have you got a program … it never gets better its call alcoholism I first one does the damage it’s not our I shouldn’t have had that second bottle of wine or that brandy. The first drink does damage as you pick up that first drink. If you’re an alcoholic Matata that’s got alcoholism which is an illness of the head once you put the drink in the drug stand your left with you, so you cannot drink I’m still be sober what we call a dry drunk is not got a program still being insane sometimes that can be worse than actually out there drinking… it never gets better only worse… we never shoot our wounded the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking… remember it’s like a train 🚊 it’s the first carriage that’s kills ya when it hits you… so feel free to come back
@@Miss-Placed.1 mam i glad you went to aa at least you was willing and open minded that’s all you need… as you said sat there week after week heard exactly that you heard not listened we hear sometimes really we should listen instead of just hearing hearing what you want to hear … another aa nugget learn to listen and listen to learn… when we hear and don’t listen sometimes it’s because we don’t really want to look at ourselves and who we really are.. it’s called denial AA anit going nowhere and as I said we don’t shoot our wounded everybody deserves a chance in life what ever works for you… I just don’t understand why people have to put things down as a whole.. properly they have to do that to make their self worth feel better ❤️🩹 🙏
Chronic Alcoholic for over twenty years ended up in a coma due to drinking. Tryed AA for multiple year with no success (its the god problem) I was sick and tired of them telling me i had no power and hand it over to God. Well i didnt and now im nearly 6 year sober after realising that i indeed had the power all along. I still support AA and if it helps some people then its only a good thing.
I am proud of how long you've come! :)
Beautiful ❤️ welldone for believing in self😊
I was in AA from 2005 til about 2018 but by 2014 I was getting tired and bored of it. During my time in it, I did hear that the success rate was pretty low, some say as low as 2% while others say somewhere between 5-10%. I don't know for sure and I don't really think anyone really does. I do know one thing, it can actually be a very unhealthy place as well. There are people in there and they are seriously disturbed and dangerous, bordering on the sociopathic or psychopathic. For the sake of my sanity and long term peace of mind, I had to walk away from it and cut all ties with it. For me, it was a good place to start and I was glad it was there as there was no other alternative where I am. I also found out that I wasn't really an alcoholic in the strictest sense and didn't really fit their model. But it was a voyage of self discovery and piecing things back together. Take what you want and leave the rest is what they say in meetings. My advice is just keep an open mind about anything that will help and I do mean anything. If you've a problem with booze, fire everything you can at it.
Thank you for sharing. I do acknowledge you for trying different methods to reduce or quit alcohol. Based on research, and doing it on your own, AA and rehab have less than 10% success rates. My way has an 85% SUCCESS rate.
DM me if you need support: m.me/AlcoholFreeLifestyle
Love this
That was a fair minded, intelligent response.
I’m 50 and got sober at 25 and going to meetings was great for a few years . I stopped going 10 years ago . The bottom line is you don’t need help forever and if you stick around for too long you regress in life . I could talk all day about this subject but nothing is forever if you want to grow. People don’t go to university for their whole lives , they learn and move forward . Years and years off going to meetings is the same you stop growing and never get to think for yourself
i was at my 6th or so meeting and had to leave because i was crying and a girl ran out after me asking me if i wanted to go to a bar where she slept with the owner for free drinks. really disturbing
"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." There's a guy at the men's meeting who used to say: "Rarely have we seen a person thoroughly follow our path."
I personally have NEVER seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our steps.
@@machelle5522 Amen. And keep coming back!
To your own self be true
@@machelle5522 that’s AA for you, if you fail it’s your own fault but if you succeed it’s all thanks to the program
AA is a dangerous cult that needs to be shut down.
I absolutely love this post. I’m coming up on a year and a half sober from alcohol in two days. There is not a single negative thing I have to say about AA but it’s refreshing to hear your perspective. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
AA and NA dragged me down and kept me from staying clean. For me using actual modern treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and SMART recovery are far more effective. Because you're not powerless you're powerful and you have the power to change.
yes! THAT IS THE POINT. Stop living in Victim mode, we can change anything we put our minds to. AA is disturbing putting the thought of "you're powerless". No you are not! Bizare.
I always hated the idea of you're powerless. That to me landed into the "pity party" world very fast. I ask for no pity. I never pity myself. If I feel bad for myself I take a week and then move on and take bag my life. I can't do the pity me, I have no control, I'm powerless mindset, waiting for a miracle that never comes.
I'm just going to say that if you in your core do not understand the powerless feeling that alcohol or drugs can bring you to then maybe you're not the alcoholic or addict that the program is made fore....maybe you just abused the substance. The big book talks about this and the real alcoholic.
IMHO the people that need AA realize they need AA and stick around. The others choose to either die in their misery or hopefully seek other outside help. vut the the majority of the people that say AA didn't work for them....to be 1000% honest didn't do the work that AA requires.
I always find it funny when someone says oh AA didn't work for me, But with a little investigation, you find out, they never got with another alcoholic to read the book, never got another alcoholic to guide them thru the steps, and failed to enlarge their spiritual life....thusly they didn't even give AA the chance.
The very Last paragraph in the book states:
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
--HERBERT SPENCER
People write off AA without fully investigating AA.
Alcoholic "powerlessness" is a paradox. AA is not saying that we don't have the capacity to not drink. But what makes a "real alcoholic" powerless is it they cannot stop, at least in the long term, once they do take a drink, and they cannot not drink, or seek some other dissociative substitute, because of their baseline unmanageability. That's why we must connect with a Power greater than ourselves, which is the Great Reality found deep down within. Living life on a spiritual basis through the practice of the twelve steps, avails us of that Power, who some of us choose to call God.
Yes absolutely it made me feel like a pathetic weak person who wasn’t allowed to have emotions and they would tell u if u get resentful u will drink. That is ridiculous that is sending the message if u get upset with someone u will drink. Well how the heck can u go through the whole of a persons life and not get resentful. It is Normal to get resentful at people from time to time it is human. It is ridiculous to think otherwise
Grateful I’m apart of that 6%-8%! AA saved my life. That being said, whatever gets YOU sober, do it!
Awesome! Great advice.
me too sober in a.a. since Aug. 4 1985 very blessed to be so
AA saved my life and then it ruined it so
@@orange-rv9ek There were so many red flags. You saved your life. The Satanic cult of dirty rotten bar flies ruin as many lives as they can.
@@orange-rv9ek how so?
Went to my first AA meeting yesterday. I hated that we all had to sit in a circle facing each other. I have really bad social anxiety so I stared at the ground throughout the whole meeting. Anytime the organiser asked "would anyone like to share their story" Everyone looked at me expecting me to share my story which I wasn't comfortable doing on the first night. He asked this 3 times. I was the only newcomer that evening and near the end he asked "would any new members like to share?". I've always heard that you can sit in on meetings and not share, but I felt so much anxiety and pressure to speak. I ended up leaving the meeting and drinking alcohol to calm my anxiety down. I also didn't like when he asked "would any new member like to collect a badge if they've sober for 1 week/1 month/1 day etc. I couldn't collect a badge as I had drank alcohol before attending. I felt embarrassed that the whole room knew this without me technically telling them. It's definitely not for everyone
Sorry to hear that, there are other supports that you could try than AA
lol! Who cares just try your best to stay sober. I'm following some people who got out of the AA cult if you're interested they are pretty cool. But I got out of those meetings like a week ago I'm over it. I'm a binge drinker I'm thinking about going to get one beer lol. I would have drank over that guy to he was so rude and shouldn't have made you try and share pathetic. I didn't mean to be rude or dismissive but honestly you can do it on your own don't give up though. Or your body will just get worse and you'll be forced to quit if you want to of course.
Everybody goes through that. They are just trying to help you. You politely say" not today just listening " which is fine. The trick is to keep going to a different meeting every day for one hour and you will get used to it.
Let me ask you this? How's your anxiety after you went out and got drunk...again..and spent all your money..Can't remember what you did? Now your hearing from others all kinds of crazy embarrassing stuff.
Recovery isn't easy..your going to have anxiety either way. Might as well get into the meetings and ask for help.
@@mariahconklin4150hi I'm interested. How did you do it. I'm desperate for a new life😢
in my 26th year of sobriety , I AM ALCOHOLIC, the real thing,Happily Sober, Happy, Joyous, and FREE!!!! Bless you James
Don’t let alcohol define you as a person, you are above that and it is behind you.
I am so happy for you! :)
I quit 10 years and 3 months+ ago at 42 for good, the first and last time I tried. I called AA one day about 2 years before my attempt to end my life, they sent 2 horribly judgemental women to meet with me at a Starbucks who grilled me for an hour and decided I wasn't bad off enough for AA. After I quit I probably went to 10-12 meetings in a month (one last one at 90 days, for the coin 😅) where I listened to people who loved a podium complain, never could figure out the point. I desperately needed to quit drinking but I never needed AA. Screw them. 10 years free of miserable meetings. Community would have been appreciated but I didn't find it there.
AA has degenerated into being mostly a haven for mentally ill, lower-class types.
I am sorry to hear about your experience. How is it going now?
I was there for 11 years and haven’t gone since 2018. I truly never felt like I should be there but blamed myself for that and thought there was something wrong with me and not the group.
I am sorry. How are you now?
Even as someone who believes in God, AA and most of the crowd have left me feeling more like relapsing then staying sober. So I haven’t been to a meeting in weeks, and I feel amazing.
Listen to the Alcohol-Free Lifestyle podcast 🎙 in Apple Podcasts and on Spotify. Lots of great tips and advice there. )
Meetings kept me using and drinking. I told myself I was done, and that was that. It's been 14 yrs since I did anything and it was my brain power and will to change my life. Not a sponsor or group
Great to hear that Jason, thanks for sharing this.
If you’re trying to quit or get you’re drinking under control, you’re an alcoholic. Other people don’t try to control their drinking. They drink and can feel getting drunk, and can stop or nurse their drinks
Alcoholics don’t feel drunk, no matter how much we drink. We don’t get a buzz on from alcohol. We think we’re sober. We’re flunking breathalyzer tests left and right.
Our body chemistry is incompatible with alcohol.
What you drink is ethyl alcohol, which effects the nervous system and is habitual to a small percentage, who use it. It’s like being addicted to Librium, Valium, nicotine etc..
If you’re counting your drinks, switching to other drinks, laying off the booze for awhile, trying to cut down on your drinking, you’re an alcoholic
The way addictions work is once you have the first drink, cigarette, pill etc, that sets off a craving for more, that grows and grows. You know you’re drinking too much and try every trick in the book, to control your drinking. You count them, switch to other drinks, lay off the booze for awhile. Nothing works because it’s the first drink that’s the problem, not the last 2 or 3.
Quit trying to control your drinking. You can.’t do it.
Like I said other people don’t try and control their drinking, they know when they’re drunk. We don’t feel drunk..
We wake up in the morning hungover, can’t remember driving home the night before and say “I had too much to drink last night, but I wasn’t drunk. I had a couple of drinks too many. I cut back next time”.
If you’re doing the above, you’re an alcoholic and have to quit cold turkey.
Takes one to know one, so if you can relate to what I said. Quit cold turkey. It’s the only way to solve your drinking problem
I disagree with your statement of "If you’re trying to quit or get you’re drinking under control, you’re an alcoholic"...But I thank you for your feedback.
Bill W said AA is not the end all be all whatever leads them into sobriety thank the most high!
Whatever works for you best to reach that sobriety, then keep it up!
34 years sober my friend.Proud member of AA.The dirty little secret you refer to was one of the first things I was told about at my second or third meeting.The % has climbed by the way.
You're awesome. Keep on inspiring others.
34 years doing meetings now that's just straight up sad
@@gorillagodzilla8138 Sad??? whats sad about being happy for the most part daily.Whats sad about making like minded friends world wide.Whats sad about having a formula of living that keeps me relatively stress and anxiety free.Whats wrong with living a life style that gives me the gift of helping others.I could go on and on.What I find sad is your lack of open-mindedness.I wish you well in your journey .I shall continue to be happy joyous and free.
@@becksboots I am have a lifestyle similar except the endless meetings
No it has not , Infact the numbers are even lower now
It’s free and has helped hundreds of thousands of people stop drinking… it didn’t fail!
Some reports seem to suggest AA has a 6-8% success rate. If that’s true, simple math would mean it therefore has a 92-94% failure rate. There is no question AA has been effective for millions of people. However, if these statistics are accepted, AA appears to have been ineffective for tens of millions of people.
What about the millions upon millions of people they do not help. They need to stop telling people that their program works as long as the person is willing. It causes people that are already broken to not seek other paths. It’s ok if it doesn’t work for everyone.
I attend Smart Recovery and one-third of the attendees are also in AA. I have asked them many questions about this and have discovered that they do not believe in the Higher Power concept, do not follow the steps, and have never had or been a sponsor. They attend because they have friends there and after the meeting every week they go out to lunch. It is a social experience. Attending probably reinforces sobriety but Smart Recovery actually has specific tools to use that are based on research and emphasizes your role in your own recovery.
Thanks 🙏🏼 God I am in the Club of 6-8 percentage ,
AA changed my life .
Great to hear that! Keep it up!
I ended up using my own approach...almost 3 years alcohol free now and it feels so good.
Wow! That's really amazing!
@@JamesSwanwickgone through 5 years now.best thing I ever did was leave those meetings
I’ve been to 8 meetings now and I feel worst after I discuss things, I was actually doing better by myself throughout lockdown and am also developing my own method as it has helped me so far. Hence why I am now looking at your video! The last straw was being at a meeting last night where everyone just were not what I wanted. Dude thanks for this vid and the courage to speak up.
Thanks for sharing Ida. Great that you've taken action and trying different ways to quit. Just to share, based on research, and doing it on your own, AA and rehab have less than 10% success rates. My way has an 85% SUCCESS rate.
If you are willing to try my method then let's talk: m.me/JamesSwanwickOfficial
@@JamesSwanwick Would love to but am not on facebook so couldn't get access to your messenger page. Any other way?
Hey friend, I was raised by an AA extremist and also ended up actually getting sober when I did it in quarantine *my way*.
In fact, I’m still de-programming some of the brainwashing. The main one being “you’ll always be an alcoholic, you’ll always need us”
I have PTSD, and I have an absolutely neurotic fear that my case is severe enough to be incurable. I’ve talked that over with so many people, both mental health professionals and people I know in my personal life, and everyone has assured me otherwise, but I always had this idea in my head that I’ll always be sick.
It was… astoundingly recently that I realized that fear came from AA.
Anyway, I’m proud of you. Quitting on your own is valid. I did it by starting antidepressants again and taking up yoga, meditation and exercise every single day (again, it was quarantine, so I had the gift of time), and now I’m 17 months and have, like, no desire whatsoever to drink lol. (It may be worth mentioning that I am “California sober”, which I was also shamed for in AA, even though I have my med card)
And I just really hope they weren’t too shitty. I have seen some really nasty things at AA meetings, and I’m sorry that you had that experience in a space that you were told would be safe. I was raised in that mindset and told it was the ONLY WAY to be safe, and it really shook me up in ways that persist now in my mid 20s; I’m glad you realized and got out before it got that bad.
Thanks for sharing I always felt horrible after leaving a meeting it’s such a downer so negative.
Hi Nita, I've also found that I feel worse discussing my feelings, that and addiction are 2 signs of CPTSD (there are many others). I've been diagnosed with major and clinical depression, and anxiety disorder, but those never seemed right. I finally realized it's definitely CPTSD. You might want to look into it. Best wishes to you, keep on keeping on 🤗
Thank you, I just watched your video. I was in AA for 5 years and remained sober. After 2 in AA my intuition was telling me that I was stuck and although I was sober I was becoming miserable. I relapsed after 5 and a half years and drank for a year - feeling confused. I am now sober and see AA with a new perspective. It helped me when I was Rock bottom and vunerable , I identified with the suffering that brings people to the rooms and of course I identified with the horrible suffering that addiction brings. I don’t go to AA anymore but I feel quite balanced and happy. For a long time I kept going back to the meetings ‘thinking’ I should ; but they made me worse. They were great initially because I would go ti a meeting and not drink. I just had to stop getting drunk. Now I don’t get drunk my spiritual path is what my gut tells me. Personally - I believe AA does serve a purpose but it has become outdated as human consciousness has evolved naturally. It is more like a ‘club’ now rather than a spiritual programme. That is my opinion anyway, everyone has their own path.🙂
you're welcome
❤
AA only works when the principles are accepted, unfortunately for 99% of all people getting truly honest with ourselves is the root of the problem its not a shortcoming of the 12 step program, alcohol and drugs aren't the problem they only appear like a salutation to some that sedate themselves from themselves, if everyone was brought up with the principles of the 12 step program, this world would be a much more functional and peaceful than it is now
AA dont fail people,, people fail AA truth, morality and realities haven't changed since the 1930s but society sure has been devolving. If one refused to learn the rules of driving and keep having accidents dont mean the rules are flawed, just like AA if you dont practice the principles you won't change and your still think sedation, or projecting your issues onto someone else is the answer just like the rest of our broken society has been doing.
( Time to get real )
I'm in AA and I'm questioning my membership and my alcoholism. I don't even think about drinking now that's it's been almost two years since I had a drink. I was clean for 15 years all on my own and I wasn't in AA and I was fine. When I relapsed I went to AA on my own. In the past it was court ordered and I use to say that them meetings and people make me want to drink even more and I'm just now starting to remember that. The last meeting I went to I squirmed in my chair the whole time and couldn't get our of there fast enough. I'm convinced that I can't drink alcohol at all. Once I start I can't stop but if I just go about life and not think about it I'm fine but after a meeting all I want is a beer or 12 😂
I'm reminded of the words of a comedian. If alcoholism is a disease, it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Dammit Jim, you're an alcoholic. Dammit Jim, you have lupus. One of these sentences don't make sense.
@heatherfeather3051you’re either not right in the head, or very, very stupid.
I am sorry. How are you now?
I know a few things that AA gets right. It's free, there is no profit motive, it doesn't try to sell you false hope, and it's public policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.
The fact that AA is free is one of the many reasons it has just a reported 7% success rate. That's a 93% failure rate. :( I've studied AA and in my opinion, it's not based on attraction at all. It's based around surrendering to a higher power, having to admit you're powerless over alcohol, and is very much steeped in darkness and shame. The only thing AA gets right, IMO, is that it encourages people to rethink the drink. I just don't think it does this in an effective manner.
@@JamesSwanwick wrong again. You actually have no clue what the 6-8% is based on. I know you're telling people that basically 1 out of 10 people get it but that's where it's clear you are completely lost with no facts. Do you honestly believe that every person who attends AA is written down in an attendance book? Hahaha! I haven't read one comment from one person who talked about your program yet you're gonna show us all the way Lol. This is some funny shit! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm glad there are others who aren't falling for this garbage. This guy is a taker, not a giver.
@@JamesSwanwick oh I get it $$$$
It’s not free because of the literature and profits from literature sales still go to Bill W family and he left 10% of royalties in his will to his mistress - all evidence available online
It works for chronic alcoholics, with good sponsorship. The rooms are filled with acute alcoholics or "heavy drinkers". For acute drinkers alcohol is the problem, but with chronic alcoholics it's much bigger than alcohol. Life is just as hard sober as lit. And for these types a spiritual connection to something greater than themselves, a honest and brutal self examination followed by a simple guide to living is what is needed. It gets us out of the way of ourselves so we can be at peace and be of service to others and not to the bottle. A chronic alcoholic, especially at the later stages would give anything for a 10% chance. Any true chronic alcoholics struggling with A.A. Ask the universe for guidance, Don't give up, keep taking action. Much love xo
I’ve been in & out of A.A for several hrs& have a dived sobriety.. but I truly .. felt it was not due to this program.. but I knew I was defiant drinking too much& wanted to quit.. for myself‼️.. I’ve been sober for over 61/2 yes& feel that I don’t NEEd this any longer $ truly feel that zi Never WAS an Alcoholic ‼️I just knew .. Alcohol was not suppose to be apart of my life any longer & I just over time.. love the benefits of being Alcohol free….
Love this! Congratulations!
I know someone who tried AA and was told it was difficult. I'll try your resources James. Thank you
You're welcome, Diane.
Diane if you haven't tried it I encourage you to. Quitting drinking is hard but don't let that stop you. I believe AA is the best program out there and the reason why it's been around for so long is because it works. At least give it a shot for yourself and decide for yourself. Some of the best things in life were hard but well worth it. My best to you.
I have been sober for 10 years, I know the AA program, I know its shortcomings and its sect aspect that bores intelligent and independent people, but it is the best solution so far invented for truly sick people. and I no longer attend meetings and I don't have sponsors. But one thing I will tell you, if you really have a problem with alcohol, go to AA, it can save your life.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't hold a monopoly over recovery. If it doesn't work for you our hats are off to you try something else that does. My personal experience with AA has been that it worked for me beyond the drinking, the drugging the acting out. It's a new way of living. It is true that not many recover but for me I kept coming back and the seed was planted and as with anything else in life I had to have the willingness. With that being said it is a personal journey I tried every house on the block and found the last house worked for me. So I hope you find something that works for you.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness)
The person who knows they are an alcoholic AA is valuelable free resource
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
It made my addictions far far worse.It wasnt until i completely went against everything i learned there that i was finally able to stop.l am truely cured now,something they always told me was not even possible.l have lost all desire for alcohol, its like i never did care for it after 45 years of drinking .
That’s so awesome!! JB ❤
Might I ask specifically what your referring to? This is an honest inquisition, not someone trying to be a smarmy asshole.
That's incredible
How did you do it❤
How's it going now?
If AA helps you, great. I was in and out of AA for a few years. Found other things that work for me and also fit in my sound sane ideal for my life. There is no room in my life for a program like AA. Its completely ridiculous to share over and over year after year that I am a alcoholic or that I have a problem. If your car has a problem you fix it and keep driving it. You don't fix it and keep saying your car has a problem. The logic in talking over and over about alcohol is in it self insane. AA becomes in it self a addiction. There book is just a book. There is more to life then hearing people complain or flex there ego because there are sober.
Fucking nailed it ! People get atticted to substances and some will defeat it , some wont, but there is no way that labeling yourself alcoholic and AA is the only way and getting addicted to it
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I'm on my way to quitting. Thank you for your help
You got this!
I use to go to AA. Those people are not friwndly..They wanted me to get rid of my friends that Drink or smoke weed. Im more closer to those friends than AA People.😊
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
AA regularly explains that the odds are against us...
That's good. If only most people considering AA knew that.
I've found that most people do understand that.
Sending someone to AA is like prescribing leeches instead of antibiotics. A few people will get better. Most won't.
And who’s to blame for that? The program, or the person?
@markhenry7768 the person who prescribed the thing that doesn't work.
@@Adrian-yi8fl There is no “prescription” for AA.
@markhenry7768 that's why I used the word "like". Find a dictionary. If that doesn't help find a grown up to explain it to you. It is the fault of an entire industry and infrastructure built around it knowing full well that it doesn't work any better than doing nothing.
@markhenry7768 okay I was going with my original analogy but I guess that's just too complex for you. I'll dumb it down as much as humanly possible for you. It is the fault of the person who recommends AA or the person who court orders it.
The program does not fail. People who STAY in meetings and connect with recovery stay clean. The ones that don't continue with the program may fail. What this dude say is tricky.
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
No they don’t. People in 12 step programs relapse over and over and over and over and over and over again hold on I’ll wait while you get your own 1 day chip for the umpteeth time. And over and over and over again
@@erinwilson3369in a.a. or n.a. we speak only of ourselves.
@@erinwilson3369 It’s true that relapse is a challenge for many in 12-step programs, and it’s a reminder that recovery looks different for everyone. Some people find success through those programs, while others need a different approach to achieve lasting sobriety. The key is finding what works for you-whether that’s a structured program, a personal path, or alternative support systems. The journey isn’t about how many times you fall; it’s about your commitment to getting back up and continuing forward. Everyone’s path to recovery deserves respect, even if it’s not perfect or linear.
People who fail in AA are often people who drop out or people who don’t stay plugged in with it. People who cannot or will not give themselves to this simple program. There are such unfortunates, they are not at fault. Theres a lot of truth behind that. I believe the people who fail at AA are people who aren’t ready to fully surrender and let go “absolutely” as we say.
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
You are 100% correct in your statement .
Oh no she’s back. Just thought I’d tell you Paula Poundstone is my guru. By the way it’s not work the system. AA never says that.
Attempting the program and doing the program are two completely different things
That sounds like victim blaming to me.
Ty for sharing the truth you prevented me from taking a decision that probably would’ve end up driving me
To the last thing to end me…. I will find a viable solution to keep fighting, ty
This is just this guy's opinion. AA is very effective. If you haven't tried it I encourage you to do so. Don't solely make a decision to not go because of this guy. It works for millions and that's why it's been around for as long as it has because it works. My best to you.
I’d still give it a try. Personally it ain’t for me, can’t stand half the people there. It works for a lot of people though.
Just be careful they allow anyone at these meetings with criminal offenses rapist,killers,pedophiles because the courts send them there with court cards to be signed. Another thing watch out for 13th steppers could be male or female who prey upon newcomers. Just be safe 🙏
You're welcome!
So the solution is to give you money? Please
The solution would be make the right decision. Choose wisely and invest what works best for you.
@@JamesSwanwick So you are treating a medical condition, do you have medical training or licenses?
AA didn't fail anyone people fail themselves!
93% of people who attempt AA fail. Surely AA could be more effective than 7%
@@JamesSwanwick I feel like you missed my point all together lol. The person fails at AA, AA doesn't fail the person, they have to have the will and integrity to adhere to the principals. People in general are week willed. If someone fails a test the test isn't wrong the person just didn't do their best. How can AA be effective if its the person going through it that fails because of their own lack of will and ability to go all in.
@@mikemontgomery1163 I want to let you know that AA and NA meetings failed for me, because my issues are related to extreme childhood trauma and other trauma, which is the usually case with people who drink a lot and/or partake in other drugs!
I wasn't even allowed to mention it though, as it's only meant to be about alcoholism, yet it's often the underlying issue, hence why my recovery has been about healing from the trauma, including what happened with people at meetings.
I left many years ago and haven't had a drink or any other drugs for about 28 years now. They say that members won't make it if they leave though, which isn't appropriate at all. 🙁
@@cyndigooch1162 I'm glad to hear you found your own path but AA didn't fail you, we are responsible for ourselves AA is just a stepping stone to help get you on track through expirance strength and hope but you ultimately choose what path you walk! It's not our parents other men or God YOU have to want it bad enough to take yourself through the gate. When people blame other things It's just weak will.
@@cyndigooch1162 I also agree they shouldn't say you won't make it my group dosnt do that we are there for eachother it's a true brother hood of strangers each one of us has somthing the other want and that helps form the bond! If people use or abuse drugs and alcohol due to trauma then they arnt alcoholic per say they probably need therapy and a healthier "coping" mechanism they just chose the latter because it's easy.
The comments are the true help here - today, for me. I’m just going home from an AA meeting and for the 100000th time I have these thoughts what Swanwick talks about. And here, below, I see how many people have the same doubt as me. ❤
You're amazing
I'm in the same situation and getting through this evening purely by reading every comment
Thank you for saying what I couldn't say ❤
@@jkat8376 when I need to get through a strong wave of emotions, I take a few deep breaths: 3 sec in, 4 sec hold, 7 sec exhale. Plus I get a little fresh air, move around a bit. All cravings go away soon if you don’t ruminate on it
How are you doing now? Everything okay?
@@JamesSwanwick very kind of you to ask. I had 1 year sober, then I quit AA and done a little experimenting with moderate consumption (some good and some very bad experiences) and now I'm sober again, enjoying it and expecting my first baby. So there's a lot to process.
AA is sort of like taking millions and millions of people who are out of shape and demanding that they train and run marathons in order to get in shape. And, of course if they don't succeed in running said marathon...they are "not in shape". Some will succeed in running the marathon...and most won't. AA can make it harder than it has to be. Maybe you can just train for a 5K and "be in shape" ?....
LoL. Very nice point of view.
Thank you Richard ❤
How I became the stop drinking expert was firstly I went to rehab and whilst in there getting a bit of time up without using any drugs or alcohol I realised I can actually live life without this crap and a dam good life also. No more hang overs feeling like shit having to apologize to everyone for my behaviour the night before no having to be around people that use abuse lie steal and cheat of you.. Thank God..
I don't even do meetings because there is too many dickheads in the rooms.. You can do this also don't give up.. Peace Freedom Love..
Thank you
You've given me hope ❤
That's really great! Kudos to you!
Loved your video and completely agree with your commentary. I’m 20 years sober; never went to AA. Just a girl who drank too much😉. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Lisa
The biggest problem with AA (besides the fact that it's a faith based, pseudoscientific program from the 1930s) is that it completely dominates the "recovery" industry in the United States. 12 Step programs have a terrible success rate for alcoholics but they are downright DEADLY for opioid addicts like myself. I've been to two of the "best," most well respected rehabs in the southern US and none of the people I was in treatment with had positive outcomes. Many of them are dead and nearly all of them became more addicted than ever after their inevitable relapses. Can you imagine if you went to a doctor for cancer or diabetes and the doctor told you to start believing in god and pray about it? That's the basic state of addiction treatment in America and it's no wonder the patients "keep coming back."
Good share. This is based on research, and doing it on your own, AA and rehab have less than 10% success rates. My way has an 85% SUCCESS rate.
@@JamesSwanwick prove it hot shot.
Actually, going to god to heal your cancer is called Christian Science! And, that church is just about dead, being accused of letting people die, nearly murdering them with neglect, and killing children. AA - having done both C.S. and AA - is not that far away from me with its pseudo christianity, paranoid founder (Bob drank till the day he died), odd theology, and more. Ironically, one group is dead, the other is the cornerstone of modern rehab.
They have a terrible success rate because people don't actually work the steps. They think going to meetings will keep them clean and it won't
Perfect post of the decade!! So true
aa doesn’t fail anyone, if you don’t work the steps as out of the big book and have a spiritual awakening and continue disciplines of 10, 11 and 12 including sponsoring, then you don’t “do” AA.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
Hi James, I have been at AA meetings the last month ( after coming out of rehab ) it does not work for me at all. It is like some medieval organistan to me.. it is brilliant for those it has helped and more power to you I wish you the best. However something developed in 1939 has little bearing on today,s world. That is just my opinion..! Please do not destroy me with angry attacks people!
I wish all in AA all the very best! :)
Have you tried to work the steps? That's all that really matters. The meetings themselves aren't even that important
Rubbish try step 1 and 2 and not drinking for today and go to as much meetings / socializing with sober people👍
Hi Jason! How are you now?
I reject AA but retain membership. I draw from several abstinence based sobriety programs.
95% failure rate is common in all give or take.
AA never failed anybody. It works if you work it. We fail ourselves when sobriety is lost. Don't blame AA but that man in the mirror.
Some reports seem to suggest AA has a 6-8% success rate. If that’s true, simple math would mean it therefore has a 92-94% failure rate. There is no question AA has been effective for millions of people. However, if these statistics are accepted, AA appears to have been ineffective for tens of millions of people.
We love you ❤ and pray that your wounded soul will be healed by Higher Power. May you find it now❤
Thank you!
I was in alcohol recovery program, and everyone was tested every morning. If you test positive for alcohol, they kicked you out!!!! Wtf?? After years of addiction, they expect to change overnight.
I am so sorry for that. How are you now?
I was in another program recently. It ended. I really miss the daily van pick up, the activities, the friendships I've made, the daily schedule of activities. Now I'm home alone and bored. No car, no tv, no daily activities. 😢😢😢
But no craving, no desire to go back to that life again. A very nice person I met in rehab, before I left said he was going to jail soon after a mugging he did. Sad. What alcohol , need for it does to people. Anyway, moving forward.....
AA saved my life.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I'm going back to a meeting tonight. I hurt my family so bad. I'm desperate. i dropped out because i could not understand or get through step 3. I hated the pressure to go to events and get a sponsor but at the same time it did help me a lot when I was there. I did 4 months sober. I saw people who had quit for years and still say "I'm an alcoholic."
Please feel free to reach out if you need support, you got this!
I succeeded 16 years . You must show humility it works if you work it period. It’s not a waste of time.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I've only been sober a short time (44yrs) and still learning what it is and how it came to be..odaat.
Wow, 44 years sober-that’s an incredible accomplishment! It’s amazing how the journey of sobriety can continue to unfold, no matter how much time has passed. The "One Day at a Time" (ODAT) approach is such a valuable mindset, allowing you to focus on the present moment and not get overwhelmed by the long-term journey. Even after all these years, it’s clear that you’re still committed to understanding the deeper layers of sobriety and its impact on your life.
Each day sober brings more self-awareness and growth, and it sounds like you’re still embracing that process. How has your perspective on sobriety evolved over the years?
i'm one of those people who quit AA ..... I just miss the friends i made very much but i feel i got too burned to go back. I dont feel very close to the program i feel pulled away from it. i'm a single mother with a young kid nobody gets that. nobody understands that resonsibility. i cant explain it and thats always a problem in AA!
I am sorry to hear that. Do you need help in your relationship with alcohol?
How wonderful to hear of someone who has found a way to stop drinking. The first nine steps will get you sober and the last three steps will keep you sober.
Thank you!
While I used a different method other than AA I still go to AA because I enjoy being around other people and being part of a community
that's great David, whatever works for the better
I think people leave because they know it works. People don’t let people drink in my groups. People hold each-other accountable. People give unbiased, objective advice. I left AA and I drank again. I’m in again and I’m still sober. It does work but most people don’t wanna put the work in.
Agree, awareness is the first big step to it
It's part of AA's tradition that it should always remain non-professional.
The 12 steps are mostly lifted from 17th century spiritual exercises of the jesuits.
There are innumerable ways of holding meetings, it doesn't have to be in a dark and dingy room somewhere. Most groups make the mistake of being overly negative.
But I agree, there is a flaw in this sort of unscientific therapy. You leave an AA meeting... thinking about alcohol.
I also agree, alot of people have problems and think that stopping drinking will solve it all. Not always the case.
@splinterbyrd: Stop drinking alone will not solve it at all - I´ve started in Jan. 99 became sober pretty fast - but felt always uneasy around those many many gossip girls and nasty and often drunk people around me - they did not want me to see a therapist bc of my Trauma from abuse in a dysfunctional family - and I could not talk inside of AA about my abuse - my sponsor talked about her sexual problems with her husband and I felt ashamed about that - could not trust her at all and left AA after a couple of month - they were trying to mix up into my private life to much - and many of those so called AA-friends were abused themselves in their life but they did not want to see a therapist and denied their own trauma - it was not the right thing and the right place for me at all . I am sober until today but it was not bc of being in those strange kind of meetings - I was never ever a real alcoholic - alcohol was just a symptom - one of many others - it was a experience but again a real traumatic one for me. I am from Germany so please excuse my grammar it´s not my first languages.
A.A. Official Statement "The A.A. Fellowship does not develop or offer opinions on any other organization, cause, treatment, medications, legislation, housing, sober bars, non-alcoholic beverages, or the alcohol industry."
@@claudiaschneider5744 AA is solely about alcohol. In the Big Book it does not claim to take the place of psychotherapy for trauma, or of other mental health interventions.
Unfortunately, alot of people in AA think that it cures absolutely everything.
I want to quit in a fun and celebratory way! Thanks for the info
There is a way JM. It begins with your determination.
Perseverance,perseverance , perseverance . Sober since 2008 proud for being an alcoholic without this I would of never entered the program. The program works if you work it. The rooms where I go are packed. Especially if one has a one year celebration the room will have 100 people attending. I have never wasted my time going to meetings. But for the Grace of God I have been arrested from my afflictions.
Your message about perseverance is incredibly powerful! Congratulations on your sobriety since 2008-that’s an impressive achievement. It’s clear that you’ve found strength in the program and the community it provides. The support from a packed room during celebrations is a testament to the connections and encouragement that come from shared experiences in recovery. It’s inspiring to see how your journey has brought you closer to grace and healing. Keep spreading that message of hope and determination-you're making a difference! 🙌✨
@ thank you I owe everything to my higher power which I call God.
Aa never worked for me im 4 years sober and I stepped away from aa way of life it kept me stuck in Trauma and labels opinions isolated self hating it was scary to leave but the only way I cud break free and find my truth
I am so sorry about that. How are you now?
20 years later,AA still working for me. Let’s see how long until this guy goes away. I love AA, and there is no “easy softer way”.
Amen
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
There are many other ways. How dare you. Seriously. What is so broken in you that you feel the need to not only criticize much more successful ways of breaking addiction, but to demean those people that discovered those ways. 12 step programs do not work for most. If it works for you that’s great but why do you feel the need to criticize already fragile and healing addicts. And there are much softer ways. You don’t have to sit in dingy, punitive, puritanical rooms eating cheap shitty cake, drinking stale coffee, and white knuckling it with a bunch of bikers and relapsing over and over. Good luck to you sir. Your program is thankfully dying.
I quit by myself four years ago. I see booze as my enemy and don’t let it around. Easy. Whine me a cry river. Have a little self reliance and backbone. Nobody at AA is gonna be with you in the end.
Nice to hear that you're alcohol free Billy.
@@JamesSwanwick I’m pretty happy about it. I find it comical that many are so weak yet demand respect.
@@billybowman3891you're amazing ❤
@@jkat8376 you can do it too. It’s hard but doable.
I was in AA for a few years. Your video resonated with me.
I was forced to go to AA meetings in the halfway house I was living at. Despite not being an alcoholic. They told me I was in denial. They called me a liar. They told me if I didn't go, they would kick me out of the sober living house. I went to the meetings just to appease them. It was cultish from the moment I walked in there. There was chanting. There was shaming. There was tearing down of people's character. You had to submit to the Christian God, then if you question their religious motives, you were told the lie that "AA doesn't align itself with any religious or political organization." Despite in one meeting alone, there was direct references to God made 48 times in one 60 minute meeting. Which God are they referring to?? Vishnu?? No. Isis?? No. Buddha?? No. They're referring to the CHRISTIAN GOD! Because they're organization is masquerading as a treatment program, when in fact, their REAL MISSION is to peddle CHRISTIAN beliefs upon sick and vulnerable people. I think this is evil. What if an Islamic organization did the same thing?? Or the satanic temple?? Oh yeah, THEN it would be a problem. THEN AND ONLY THEN would people be in an uproar about this. However, we abide double standards in this country. And since Christianity is the opiate of the masses in America, somehow.... That makes every evil act these predatory 12 steps groups are doing somehow excusable. I am openly and vehemently against AA and all it evil practices. Shut it down and start using science based programs to treat addiction. Not a fantasy cult.
Im a Christian but I do get what your saying. My problem is first they talk about the past to much. And second is it is amazing how much negative self talk they have. Ect. We’re powerless, we have to surrender, and the most ironic part they call the people that do drink normies. Ive met some flat out shady and bad people in AA that don’t drink or drug but there terrible human beings.
bullshit
@@danilecashin4126❤
I am so sorry for that. How are you now?
It’s never a waste of time. God bless you.
See Bill and Dr. Bob began to present their idea as the “Twenty-Four Hour Program”, the “Day at a Time Program.” Taken from the book Not-God a history of Alcoholics Anonymous by Ernest Kurtz.
30 yr heroin (5 yr fentanyl) addict. Went to an anti 12 steps rehab for 8 months and am now 1 yr and a half off. I have my life restored. Just wish I wasn’t so damn lonely.
Congratulations on 1.5 years of freedom from addiction-that is an incredible achievement, and it shows your immense strength and resilience. Rebuilding life after addiction can feel isolating at times, especially when stepping into a new, sober world. Loneliness is tough, but it’s also an opportunity to explore new connections and rediscover yourself. You’ve overcome so much already, and I truly believe you can find meaningful relationships and a community that resonates with you. You’re never alone in this journey. 💙
I was going to AA meetings. I stop going but also leave alcohol alone. I stop going cause they got too involved in my life. They would talk behind my back about ways to manipulate my behavior. It was disturbing. I just quit going...
Hi Jefferson, I'm sorry to hear about that. If you are looking for a different way of support please send me a message.
Yes I'm interested in your help. I have stopped drinking but I keep getting cravings for alcohol
I know so much about the AA process and history, it's a wild story! I have had some success using the steps and the meetings, but I have released as well. I have so much shame when I relapse, and I find it so hard to go back into the rooms after a relapse. I am trying to find something different from AA, or something to add to it so I can move on with a happy healthy life. I had 2 years sober at one point, 6 months a few other times. I am in the process now of trying to get off of Kratom and get through the withdrawal. I think I will be able to stay sober once I get through this. I mostly drink now because of hhe withdrawal from kratom.
I am considering starting to smoke a little bit of marijuana instead of the kratom and alcohol, but still working at some kind of spiritual, emotional, and psychological program or therapy. I do have some trauma from a few issues over the course of my life. I have done some work in these areas, but I feel like there is something blocking me deep in my mind or my heart.
Thanks for sharing this. Please feel free to connect if you need support.
Dear Lance. I am not from AA, but have read and listened to many stories of success. Nothing is guaranteed. I would love to tell you that the one thing you can count on is that any group you come to, anytime, will embrace you. But the groups are full of hurt humans. And hurt people hurt.
Am convinced that for most people, a little positivity will help. For some, I've heard and read, shrooms will do the trick. I have heard youtube testimonies of people taking an Amazons' herbal preparation and quitting drinking. There is an old prescription I just can't remember right now, that is believed to be helpful. Again for some people.
Am convinced most people suffer from addictions because of childhood trauma. But that is my opnion. Am nobody. Should you choose to heal any trouma you may have, nobody will be able to garanty you will give up alcohol. I wish you the best in your search for a better life.
I quit drinking thru AA, no longer goto meetings... I had problems with people and their BS....coming up on 24 years on Sept 25th...No meetings are needed
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
With no pleasure left in it l was blessed haven't drank since 1988
Wow! that's very nice!
Mad love and respect. I have to agree with the comment down below me. You literally expressed how I feel about AA. There is just something about introducing your self and saying I'm an alcoholic that is off putting. Not drinking and doing some soul searching mean while living a healthy life style shouldn't feel like it isn't good enough to others like in AA. AA is not for everyone and it isn't the way for everyone. People in recovery take life way to serious and sometimes sound deep down miserable. Really you're proud to be an alcoholic is what I said in an online meeting the other day but I know what he meant and meant well but back to those AA places it's just not for everyone. There are other outlets to living a healthy life style while being sober 🙌🏼
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I’m so glad you’re here so I can send you ppl that just can not read the book.
thank you!
Well all I can say really is I thought I could do it in my own and tackle my addiction but 14 years of relapse and relapse I finally gave CA a go
Fuck me wasn’t I still relapsing but someone took time out of there life to go through this book with me and be there on the battlefield of my active addiction
To go through how I have been to my friends and family and the destruction I caused
To make amends with those people and live a more honest life. The big book has delivered me freedom and my life back 😊
I respect people who AA saved their life. For me, I always had no choice or free thinking. It was not good for my emotional and maturity level. But I knew this was a strange thing. My mom in 1936 was born and was so open-minded. It struck me as so wrong.
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
AA has been a lifeline for me. My particular group is the best. We laugh, joke, play around and have a great time in a clubhouse overlooking the sea. I'm 33 and this is the only thing that has seemed to work for me. I'm definitely an alcoholic. Walk in with an open mind. We got like 40 different HPs. 3/4ths of em people just call God. So God is used loosely.
Love it!
I always say that if AA works for you, “keep doing AA!” I support AA’s mission while also reporting the published data on its statistical effectiveness (or rather ineffectiveness).
I go to NA when I want to be told how wrong I am all the time and that any misfortune is my fault. Include the sexual guilt, the classism and the general north-London snottishness that one finds and meetings have got everything I don't want.
Hugs 🤗 get out!! You deserve a happy life
Are you alcohol free at this point?
6-8% are the people who REALLY TRIED the program. You say it doesn’t work for most people but the reality is that most people wont do the work.
couldn't agree more
0:35 I think you were right the first time James. If 1 in 10 people succeed, then 9 fail. 9 times 1 is 9. So it's failed 9 times as many people.
Its certainly does say 5-10% on many websites, usually those self same sites are trying to sell you something. "I am not knocking AA", yet the title does suggest otherwise IMO. However at the end of the day whatever works for the individual, we all want freedom and serenity. Personally AA has changed my life. I wish you well James because what AA has done is remove my resentments and taught me how to try to judge objectively, it works for me. AA has also been around since 1939. If you can stay that course then I've clearly misjudged your approach. If your method does indeed stop a greater percentage (what is your % success rate it doesn't say) then it'll get my vote. Good luck.
Some reports seem to suggest AA has a 6-8% success rate. If that’s true, simple math would mean it therefore has a 92-94% failure rate. There is no question AA has been effective for millions of people. However, if these statistics are accepted, AA appears to have been ineffective for tens of millions of people.
AA worked for my friends just for a few weeks but they got bored and went back to drinking.
So what they need is to know what to do to stay quit, not just quit for a few weeks. Have them watch my video :)
That's what most of them do. Sad. Been there. I don't drink now though, as I've recovered from AA 😂
Well if you tell someone they can never be cured of the disease of Addiction I can see them going back to Drinking or using drugs
@@lloyddaley6169 but the AA book uses the word “recovered “ so why do people have to stay in recovery.
Its difficult at best to assess where the AA program fails and an individual fails to honestly do what is asked by the program. Also I would like to add its not about quitting its about never starting again for those who have trouble when they drink. Also, this is a very subjective subject. First we need to understand what an alcoholic is.. the definition of one can vary greatly upon opinion. I think its good to try other approaches or even mix in other approaches with A.A. The purpose of A.A. is to let you live alcohol free and focus on having a full life. If you can honestly achieve this by any means than you've nailed it.
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
Here's an interesting factoid, AA was founded in Ohio in 1935, that's 88 years ago and it's so out of date it's laughable. Literally everything from that era regarding the topic of addiction and mental illness has been replaced by better science. Going to AA is like visiting a modern doctor for a surgical procedure and asking them to knock you out with ether and slice you open with 1930's surgical tools instead of doing keyhole surgery.
Thanks for that interesting info Adrian. This is good to know.
I havent drank in 22 years in AA , but it is the most lonely , most boring 22 years of my life !!!!!
I am sorry that you felt boring about it. Do you need help?
So glad I'm out of the cult that's called AA, I did CBT and I've been sober now for 15 years best decision I ever made.
Great to hear that Adrian, keep it up!
AA talks to much about the past. All there verb-age is negative self talk ect. Surrender , we’re helpless, they call people that do drink normies. Ive met a number of people in AA that dont drink but there not good people. I believe alcohol is bad for you but AA can make one over emotional and weak.
there are other support than AA that you could try
AA doesn’t care if you relapse over and over as long as you stay in the program. They are not interested in helping anyone achieve permanent sobriety that doesn’t involve permanent membership in their program.
This is so true
I lapsed and was cut off by everyone in aa😢
AA's Big Book (p. 84) says, "We have ceased fighting anything or anyone--even alcohol," and "love and tolerance of others is our code." Is your comment in alignment with the doctrine you seem to be defending?
I quit meth on my own> Last time I drank alcohol was a half of a beer Xmas eve. I am on my 5th day without weed. I HAVE THE POWER!
He's 1000% right.
Only 2million sober since 1939. Fact from AA book. The Bible say Jesus 2000 years . He is always coming. Same bs. AA is a grift.
Why on earth would I listen to a bunch of terrible beliefs!?!?!?!?