Comments on: The Alcoholics Anonymous Alternative

By: Nitesh Ghaley

Nitesh Ghaley — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:56:36 +0000

Hey Frens Recovering Poly Nitesh
Just Finished My treatment and going back to my home town but i m afraid to face the main stream so any of my recovering fellowships would like to help me please leave your message in my facebook user name is nitesh manger ghaley swearly need yours help

By: bernard armagh aa

bernard armagh aa — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:01:57 +0000

im have to apologize from the start,because im am in stitches laughing at your aa alternative article,are you interested in helping people with alcohol problems,im a member of aa,why would you put down a fellowship that has saved many a persons life and is trying to help people who have a drink problem or even people who think they have a problem.i would not put down your method of trying to help people in this area,i definitely would not use lies against you and alot of information on statistics that cant be true because surveys cant be taken on aa,firstly you say AA was formed in the 1930 by religious individuals grouping together,im sorry my good friend,it was formed by one drunk sharing with another,which then became a group of drunks staying off drink one day at a time, sharing with another that formed AA,note i havent mentioned religious,the 12 steps you called a formula is yet another lie,the 12 steps are but 12 suggestions,plus they are only to deal with alcohol although other groups have taken them and use them,i ask you why would any other group take them if some good wasnt obvious,next how does a im sure im dealing with someone with a higher education than myself,i havent a thing in education to my name,how do you get an estimate if you dont do a survey or something to that effect which cant be done on AA,another untruth,next in line is addiction,you would not agree for the person that is addicted to totally stay away from what they are addicted to,example would you tell a smoker take a couple in the morning and your cured,or the heroin addict take 3 shots a week and we will make that do you,and then we have in your article you state how could AA be anonymous,when they mention there names,i would say that you know as well as i do that you only state your first name,are you claiming that people are psychic in AA that they automatically know there surname,abit childish of you there i think,then we have the cheap slogans remark,go to any psychologist/psychairtrist/doctor/and ask them about the slogans,i would say you live by some of them yourself,if you cant agree with me that 90 percent of the slogans are used by most people in life you are just clearly telling more lies to promote your article,lets take a few,first things first,is it not right to deal with things that are of importance first than things like washing the car second,simple isnt it,take it easy,you wont get much done or solved with your head in a mess,simple again slow down take it easy,another think,think,think,is it not better taking a wee step back and think before jumping in head first,simple isnt it,i could go on,men and women through the ages have been using these slogans to good effect,you call it cheap,next we have the word powerless,are you saying that a person has power over his addiction,i could go on for hours on that one,AA you say has a view that there is no cure for the disease of alcoholism,yes i said disease,but total abstinence,i can only speak on alcohol,that is not just the view of AA,that view is also supported by the WHO and the AHO,im sure you know who these organisations are,just in caes some readers dont,if this is published in your site,which i dont think it will,WHO is the World Health Organisation and AHO is American Health Organisation,who both now recognise alcoholism as a disease,and finally nobody in AA is compelled to do or believe in anything,there are no rules,if a person wants to become a member of AA it is the person themselves say they are a member when ever they wish,is all they want is a desire to stop drinking and they call themselves a member,AA is not for everyone but AA doesnt tell you that you do yourself,many come and go,many stay,it is not a religious cult as you seem to portray,there is many an atheist and agnostic in AA and are happy being off alcohol,one more thing,and one i would be sure you know very well that all addictions are in and around 5-10% physical addiction and the other 90% or so mental addiction,that would obviously explain why alcohol is mentioned only once in the 12 steps,thank you for letting me have my say,i wouldnt think it will appear on your site,but i hope it does,please if your trying to help people with addictions dont be knocking other people like AA for doing the same work,i can only say from my own experience it saved my life and put smiles back on my kids faces,i tried everything else and found that AA for me,plus i have seen others taken from the hell of alcoholism to living a happy fufilling life,i truly hope that yours works too.i will finish on this, it is the person themselvesthat decide if AA is for them,no one else……bernard c armagh

By: Andy Davies

Andy Davies — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:56:25 +0000

Whether people like it or not, AA works for me. I couldn’t give two hoots what works for others. I was on the grim reapers things to do list, I shook hands with the devil. I don’t believe in some distant deity in the sky, i’m more inclined to subscribe to Lennons, “No hell below us, above us only sky” sentiments. But I do believe in a power greater than me, I have found an inner strength that I was previously unaware of, so have many of my friends. The only difference is attributing the source. So, do what you must…..but don’t put off others, AA works………..end of story

Keep the faith

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:13:50 +0000

There is some comfort in the fact that some AA bashers seem to get really angry with the fellowship as it seems to me that at the least Alcoholics Anonymous raises a debate and has helped to put the confusing plight of alcoholics on the agenda .
There are no reliable statistics stating the recovery successes in AA and as such there is no need for any . The general feeling within the fellowship is that if the program of recovery doesn’t suit someone seeking help then so be it.
AA does not recruit but will offer help and support for those that ask for it.

The issue of God is debated within the fellowship as well as outside it and this is a microcosm of society in general . There are many atheists and agnostics in AA who have stayed sober and led meaningful lives for 30 years or more . An AA traditions states that ” The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking ” . The twelve step program are suggestions and not “musts” . Recent reliable statistics state that 70% of people believe that there is a possibility of a God or Higher Power overseeing our activities . If you are not one of these it prompts me to ask why you get so angry at something you do not believe in . This is totally illogical.
There are those in AA that are over zealous when passing the message of AA to the outside world and God is often given as the reason for their ” Miracle “.
This is not such an outlandish claim when you consider what some of them have been delivered from.
I am a member of AA and have been sober since 1978 and have witnessed both failures and successes , deaths on the one hand and completely restored homes and families on the other .
From a totally selfish perspective my main objective in life is to keep myself sober and whoever falls by the wayside has done so by choice . The AA fellowship gives me the support and understanding that is unique to my illness and would ask that it is not condemned through ignorance .

By: Shaun

Shaun — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:39:05 +0000

Hey there Joe, I hope this mail finds you well and in good spirits. I’m an alcoholic of a good 32 years now, and have enjoyed my sobriety for almost 11 months. For me this is a work of wonder in it’s very self. You see, when I chose to seek out the nearest AA meeting, it was after taking my young kids out for the day and ending up at a family pub, where I merely threw my name away in front of them. It was was whem it came to driving home that, for the first time in my blurred life, I couldn’t remember how the heck a car worked. I could have killed my kids and myself that day, had I not called their mother to collect the. Naturally she dumped me and drove off. My safe……God. Um not too sure but my Higher Power, as He/She had made themselves known to me. As the other guy herein states thatnwe’re all assholes, he talks from self ritiouness, having never wlked in our shoes. AA as a program is absolutely useless to everbody that comes through our doors, It’ll NEVER work for them or anyone else…..and that friend,os proven fact.

AA and it’s Twelve step programme is a selfish rehabilitation program because it’s all about us, We have to take the first step, we have to admit to them gathered around that we are n alcoholic, we have to surrender ro ourselves, and We have to work the 12step program, and not sit on our butts complaining what a bad pogramme this is because It doesn’t work………NO! all alcoholics always have excuses as to why Not, Stand up and be accounted for. You Work The Program, You got Yourself here, You Get Yourself Out of it. All it say is seek the aid of A power Greater than ourselves to assist us. Damn…that could be anything or one at that moment in time, You Sponsor, Your best friend, Your AA Group, God as He/She has made themselves known to you, it could even be Your Mother-law. But my friend………..YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, NOBODY CAN DO THIS FOR YOU

Cheer and good luck all the way from
South Africa
Regards
Shaun Jackson

By: jo hardy

jo hardy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:06:46 +0000

I took my last drink the first week in July 1984. I was 36 female and my life was in bits. I was alone having lost family friends etc and AA saved my life. Bill W.- one of the cofounders of AA -said ‘alcoholics of our type’ would benefit from the programme. I have met lots of other types of drinkers in my life but when I joined AA I knew I had found my tribe. no-one is forcing you to go to AA -in fact the Traditions say we should attract rather than promote-you are a free spirit -if you want to kill yourself and leave broken hearts scattered to the 4 winds thats your choice. but don’t knock it if you aint tried it. I tried it and am sober today. I have a new home, a new husband, a new life, a new serenity, a new peace et al.- thanks to AA and a Higher Power/God of my own understanding. jo hardy [mrs] liverpool uk

By: Pandora

Pandora — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:36:37 +0000

Dear All,

For this alcoholic 18 years sober, AA worked for me as I listened, found humility and was willing to be helped

Anyone who can do controlled drinking , and stick with normal drinking is not an alcoholic

An Alcoholic has no physical capacity to put on the breaks so the first drink gets them drunk because we never know where it will lead us (and I tried controlled drinking and everything I possibly could not to stop )

When I was first introduced to AA i could and did find a million reasons to kick against it. Alckys are negative by their nature

It came down to this
Did I want to feel free from the compulsion to drink?
Yes
I am a Buddhist , if I am anything , and Buddhists do not believe in a God outside of ourselves.

I believe in love, tolerance,compassion , taking responsibility for my behaviour and forgiving other people theirs

But if you want my support because you want to stop drinking walk into any AA and I will be there to show you the way.

18 years with out a drink, without acting out sex addiction highs, without gambling , without smoking, without acting out shop-aholic behaviour. IT IS A MIRACLE

Thank you all AA’s who have helped me do this without you I would be dead, My God, my higher power ,is a Group of Drunks in a church hall , who I love with my heart and thank for my life

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:49:49 +0000

Joe,
Thank you for that wonderful observation. I am entering my 10th year of soberity and for some reason the program has lost its charm for me. You hit the nail on the head, in terms of the spirituality in the rooms being so far and few between. Alot of jargon but little solid energy and inspiritation. I have no friends in the programme here, and many in this town complain about lots of meeting and no fellowship coffee etc… I recently started to meditate again and have found great peace. It helps me to be less angry, more grateful in life and a little more balanced. When I go into the rooms of AA at least in this town the people and not over friendly, there is an air of depression and many of the members do not take care of themselves. Like alot of smoking, overweight etc…This is not the balanced type of person I want to be.
Its a great programme but if one is no longer getting that spiritual food, then it becomes a dead formality like a dead boring church.
Of course its been beaten into me that if I don’t go to meetings I will become a dry drunk, or drink again, or never make it back to the rooms and die a horrible alcoholic death. Well these are all fear messages. I decided to stop, I decided to stay stopped, and I will continue with God’s help.

Dave

By: Sandor

Sandor — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:08:57 +0000

I have read all the comments on this site with great interest. My partner is in detox at the moment and she has also started going to AA meetings recently. She detoxed earlier this summer at a clinic in France where we were living at the time. The clinic was big on physical detox (lots of drugs) but offered no real psychological help or treatment, she left the clinic after four weeks of treatment and did not drink for six months. She is now getting psychological help at the UK clinic where she is, they use the AA twelve steps as part of their program in addition to the physical detox treatment. What caused her relapse? she went to an AA meeting and and the next day went back on the booze, she told me that she found the attitude of of a lot of the people there arrogant. She told me of her other negative feelings about the meeting many of which I have seen expressed in this forum. What really caused her relapse? I’m not sure, I think it was already coming and the AA meeting touched a raw nerve. She does not have strong religious beliefs and feels that some of the references to ‘God’ at AA are not necessary but she can live with that. I can see a difference in her attitude to her drink problem now that wasn’t there after the detox in France, I believe that along with the greater emphasis on psychological help at her present clinic, the AA meetings have helped her to understand her problem a little better. Also the knowledge that she is not alone and that she can talk to people who will not judge her has helped a lot. My experience of living with an alcoholic for a number of years (and having two friends die from booze) has made me believe that you can’t beat it on your own. I would say to alcoholic reading this GET SOME HELP, AA or otherwise as you are very, very unlikely to kick it on you own. Forget Sean’s big ‘I’ theory (posted 28th Sept 2010) you won’t do it alone no matter how how much ‘back bone you get’. I know a guy who has been in Afghanistan and I’m sure he’s got more back bone than the self opinionated Sean but he can’t beat the booze on his own. And finally in his own words. Why don’t you kiss your own pie hole Sean.

By: Clayton Fitzgerald

Clayton Fitzgerald — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:35:03 +0000

I’ve been attending A.A. for two months now and have remained continuously sober for as long. My own experience has been very positive. I’ve only attended the same group, so I don’t know what other groups are like. Having read the experience of others, it looks like I found a very good group.

What I am personally getting out of attending the meetings is fellowship with other alcoholics, who are continuously surrendering their own will to the will of their “Higher Power”.

I never thought I would find myself in A.A. I thought it was for the weak. I thought that if I was going to quit I’d just have to be strong willed enough, but I’m not. I’m weak , I’m sober and I’ve got a lot more peace of mind than I have had for the past 15 years.

Thanks for letting me share,
Clayton