How does one break away from AA?

Question

I was in AA for 3 years and realized it wasn't helping me. I am now sober but I still have a lot of doom and gloom that I learned in the rooms. I was abandoned by all my friends the moment I started coming to the conclusion that AA didn't work for me. Even my therapist thought I was getting too upset at meetings. I still have all those phrases stuck in my head.

Answer 1

I have been in recovery for 7 years now. The rooms of AA didn't work for me either because I learned early in the program that you still remain "sick" if you hold on to old characteristic traits. That it's not about the drink or the drug, it's what we did while using. A lot of people in AA still remain "sick as dogs" and therefore I sought out my higher power and know in my heart of hearts that "He" is all I need. Sometimes you just have to love "whomever" from a distance. Do what you have to do to remain clean, there is nothing worse than a "dry-drunk", ya know what I mean? Take care, God Bless and look me up if ya need to.

Answer 2

I was gonna say stop drinking but since your serious. Break away like you do any thing you outgrow move on, stop calling them and they'll stop calling you. It's great if it works but if it becomes counter productive what's the point ? I've known a few people in AA and it seems if your educated or socially intelligent you don't last in that environment for long. The majority of it's occupants are dead beat, down trodden social rejects who've gotten sober but still leech of the good intentions of others. If you have a job they want your money, if you have a wife they want her, if you have a house they want to stay over, it's best to move on. I think in organizations like that your only as good as what they can get from you, move on. The phrases have their place but the wisdom the contain is poorly applied by the majority there. Just move on simple.

Answer 3

I wasn't able to stay sober in AA, once I turned my back on it and took responsibility for my actions, I was able to maintain my sobriety (5 years).

But I still had all this BS running around in my head. I found the best way to get rid of it was talking about it with others. I saw someone give you the orange-papers link, that's a great start! Here are a couple of Yahoo groups where people talk about deprogramming from AA:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/without_aa/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12-step-free/

They've been lifesavers for me.

PS - Telling someone to try a different meeting is like telling someone to try a different McDonalds if they don't like the food at one.

Answer 4

I agree with you that AA does not help every one and can be like a cult. Change your phone number for one and stop going. I just broke up with my boyfriend of many years because I had enough of the cult. after a while they think anything is excusable because it happened yesterday. Congratulations on staying sobber. You are strong enough to do this on your own since you are strong enought to recognize that AA is not right for you. keep up the good work. God is with you and don't let them shame or hassel or infuence you you have a mind of your own use it.

Answer 5

You could try a different AA group and/or try a different therapist. Congatulations to you for maintaining your sobriety.

Answer 6

Start going to casinos, and getting out more often. You don't need the booze, the gloomy stories, the old farts who say things like. Whats up with you, you think you had it bad well.........
Life is too short, time to live it up. Take up a sport, a hobby, join another club.

Answer 7

You have a 5 speed in your head.

Do you choose your 'Higher Power' or do you prefer to use a lower gear?

The choice is inside of you.


Good Luck!

Answer 8

Ya AA is a bunch of SHlT!!

Answer 9

Stop going to the meetings and ask them not to contact you.

Answer 10

It's hard to run away from the truth.