Anyone else think Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't work?!?

Question

i've been going (court ordered) for almost a year and all i feel when i come out of a meeting is more depressed!!

Answer 1

Court ordered AA meetings are ridiculous. The court should supply you with information regarding AA if that's an option you decide on.

Forcing you to go not only wastes your time and gives you false ideas about its effectiveness, but it also hinders the recovery of people who are there by choice.

Do a favor for those who are there by choice and file a grievance with the court for requiring you to hamper other people's recovery just to punish you.

Answer 2

It works if you work it and it won't if you dont. I am a recovering alcoholic (8 years). It might be the meeting that you are at because not all meetings are doom and gloom. Get a meeting directory and fan out. You are not limited to that one meeting. A large metropolitan area has literally hundreds of meetings. A sponsor can help you in this quest but AA didn't help me until I started to do something other than occupying a chair in a room. Get involved in service work (making the coffee, setting up, etc). I wish you the best and keep coming back.
Before I go, Bryton, the meetings are not paid for by the state. According to the 7th tradition "Every AA group should be self supporting, declining outside contributions". At some meetings there is a 7th tradition basket but no one is under obligation to give anything. The contributions go towards the coffee, chips, medallions, and literature. there is also no truth to the fact that if you find God you will be kicked out. Many recognize their higher power as the God of their understanding. I have heard people use the word God freely in the rooms with no repercussions just as I have heard people credit Allah, Budda, and even Satan. The point is to find a power greater than yourself to restore you to sanity.

Answer 3

It's really hard to address our own character defaults do to the influence of a substance. How I feel about that, is sometimes, almost always, that the picture shows another page, not just the alcohol. I go to court ordered meetings as well. I have come to the conclusion, that there job is to get us through the course, it's our job is to be there. Where you feel like you should be is all up to you. But so far, look at yourself, you are doing fine with yourself. Depression comes from your own guilt and how you feel about where your going, It's not always an tour, but that's oK

Answer 4

I don't think it works when people get sent there, IN the past I have been sent twice to court ordered, and once can you believe it was across the street from the corner bar, they moved in a few years later.
I drank for 16 years and lost everthing, even had seisures, the only way I finally quit is with the help of the Lord, I don't even have a taste for alcohol anymore.
These meetings are paid in part by the state, so they have to say higher power in them instead of discuss God, and I think if a person seeks God they can quit.
I think if a person does not, and does not have the desire, the meetings are not going to do the trick. Its another way to get your money, and keep you off the street.

Answer 5

I've been clean and sober for over 3 years, and I can soooo relate to what you'r saying. I haven't gone to a meeting in over a year, but I'm still doing well. Not that I recommend doing what I've done, some people need to be at those meetings just to make it through their day. The one thing that you state is that it is court ordered; this could be the reason you feel the way you feel. I think that in order for it to "work" you have to be there for YOU, not because someone told you that you have to. Give yourself the chance to be the person you were meant to be, without the booze. Good luck, and email me if you want to shoot the sh*t.

Answer 6

I do not think it works. I 've been to a similar meeting :Anonymous for people with Eating Disorders. I went once and never went back.
It felt just the opposite for me: I was a little encouraged and happy when I realized I am not alone. But in the long run I decided not to go.

Answer 7

i became court ordered, and that i went two times a week for an finished 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. in simple terms advance up and do it. I took knitting or different hand paintings to the conferences. The lunch conferences are shorter. I hated it. in simple terms take some thing to distract you, put in a at the same time as, and bypass on. good success.

Answer 8

Well, it may be cause your court ordered to go and not not there of your own free will, if you don't believe you have a problem its not going to work for you

Answer 9

It doesn't work if you do not want it to work. Of coarse, do you need AA ? If you do 9 and the court thinks you do) and follow the program responsibly, it will work. You are going cause you HAVE to go. Suck it up and grow up!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kick the habbit . You really want this, anything, go for it but do it with a purpouse.

Answer 10

That's only because you're not ready to give up alcoholism. Your attendance of these meetings is court ordered. That means you're forced to go. If you would attend under your own will, then that would mean you're interested in giving up your habit. But because you didn't decide to go on your own, you're not ready to give it up.