I tried 'the rooms' of the 12 step program and all I got was confused and abused by the grandiose false gurus... and strange people... I did not find any honest people nor any who were "restored""to sanity" just allot of pompous blowhards and contrarians.
2006-07-21 10:54:06 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Yes I have too.
I have tried AA off and on for years and was attending many meetings. I twisted myself into a pretzel to try and "make it work"
I was accosted by the weirdest of the weird and the men in charge refused to help me. They should have been a buffer and done more to protect the newcomers.
There are so many contradictions in the steps and they are NOT divine paradoxes like the steppers claim thy are crazy making contradictions.
The ex boyfriend of a woman who called me sponsor was stalking me and nobody would help me get this creep to go away...then I found out that his fourth ex wife had been murdered and that he was suspect but never arrested...(shudder) that REALLY creep ed me out.... It took a long time before the stupid slogans stopped running Thu my head... Now I have a sightseeing relationship with the people in the rooms... I was hoping to salvage a few friendships but it seems they are at best fair weather friends and act like chicken with their heads cut off when the problems get deep.
2006-07-21 16:41:23 · answer #1 · answered by surfnsfree 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Many people have had a hard time in AA, that why 95% of the people who join are gone within a year. That comes from several studies INCLUDING AA's own internal Triennial Report.
AA isn't about quitting drinking: "Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God" (Big Book, pg77). What you have is a bunch of (hopefully) ex-drunks who believe they hold the true path to God.
Even though it goes against their own literature, there is a large, vocal faction that is anti-medication, anti-therapy. People who need medication for their continued mental health are often told to throw away their medications, that if they work the program properly, there is no need of medication.
George Valliant, Harvard researcher and AA Board of Trustees member did one study of 100 alcoholics over 8 years and wrote: "Not only had we (AA) failed to alter the natural history of alcoholism, but our death rate of three percent a year was appalling."
Check out "12 Step Horror Stories" at:
http://www.morerevealed.com/library.jsp
2006-07-21 12:39:02 · answer #2 · answered by raysny 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
AA is a religious cult. According to AA:
1. If you don't accept a "higher power" you'll never get over your addiction.
2. If you don't follow their "12 steps" to the letter you'll never get over your addiction.
3. If you ever question anything about their program you'll never get over your addiction.
They pretend they are not a religious organization by replacing the word God with the phrase "higher power" (as you see it). Hmmm, ok, so I turn my life over to my doorknob, which I consider my higher power. Worship my doorknob and I'm on the road to recovery.
On the other hand if you believe in a mainstream religion AA still messes with your head. God's making you suffer with an addiction because you don't worship/believe in him enough? Sorry, not my idea of a loving God.
2006-07-21 11:05:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you think all the people in a a are pompous blowhards than you should take a look at your self aa works for thos who work it but you can,t think you are better then all the rest
2006-07-21 11:07:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
sorry, maybe try a different group
2006-07-21 10:57:51 · answer #5 · answered by MC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋