Is Alcoholics Anonymous a bunch af BS?

Question

I stopped going there after a month because it seemed like a bunch of pseudo religious cult-like BS. /they have this type of language they all talk in that I called.."taliking in bumber stickers" I think it is onlky good for people whom like to hear thier own voice when they complain. The studies have shown the program to be a failure...why do therapists and doctors still recommend it? click the link. No AA nazis or religion pushers please

http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-secrets.html

Answer 1

If it helps one person sort some part of their life out, what can be wrong with that?
Also, there are people now who would bet their life on it, who have been a part of it for most of their life and depend on it for survival. It's been around too long to go defunct.

Answer 2

Keep reading the "Orange papers" for the truth about AA. It is a complete mind Fook. Their own records show a 5% success rate, that is dismal. Most people who quit drinking or abusing drugs do so on their own. The disease theory/concept , whatever they call it is also a lie. It has never been proved absolutely, all evidence they have for it is anecdotal. Don't go back, and be sure you forget everything they told you. I'm sure you noticed the "you're in denial" and the "you haven't had enough" crap posted by the steppers, that's their whole game, they try to make you feel foolish or look stupid for not buying into that wacky bunch of crap. You are very unlikely to hear one of them say ,"well, if this doesn't suit you I hope you find what you are looking for." That's because they actually buy their own BS.

A month is long enough, no matter what anyone says. They want you to stay longer just so you get more exposure because they employ thought reform methods just like cults do. Stay home, go the park, work out, anything but brainwashing 101.

Answer 3

AA is an excellent program to get clean and stay sober. I have know people that have gone there and they have stayed sober for years. I had a drug problem fifteen years ago and I went to NA for it. The program saved my life. I have been clean and stayed clean for fifteen years. I am not an AA nazi and I know that there are some people there that are overbearing and only want to hear what they have to say and no one else. Do yourself a favor and find another meeting to go to. If you want you can go to NA the crowd is a little bit younger and not so hard on you. You will still find a few nazi's there to who could give a s*** about what you have to say but if I were you I would go to a different meeting. I don't know who told you that the program has been proven to be a failure because it is the most highly recommended program here in Detroit. You have a book that show you where all of the different meeting are and on what nights so switch until you find a home group that you like. I did it that way until I found my home group. You sound as though you may not want to attend a twelve step meeting program are you court ordered to go there? It is not a failure and plenty of people go there to get sober and then stay sober for years after attending for a while. I have not been to a meeting now in about ten years but you better believe that I picked up my ten year coin. Good Luck and God Bless you. I hope that it gets better for you.

Answer 4

Your observations are correct. But so are some of the observations of people here disagreeing with you.

AA works for some people.

But a few AA people will insist that a 12 step program is the ONLY way to deal with alcoholism. That simply is not true. We may all be going to heaven but that doesn't mean we're getting there by the same route.

The program is a cult when people start worshipping the process instead of the goal.

Since AA exists primarily as a huge group of individual meetings, it's only natural that some local chapters are dominated by some people who just don't work for you.

But again, another group of people might be a help to you.

Hank Hill said in an episode of KING OF THE HILL, "You people need a 13th step. You need to step down from your high horse."

But AA is not all bullshit all the time. On the contrary, it works for some people. That doesn't mean it will work for you. But if it doesn't work for you, that doesn't mean it doesn't work for some people.

If you're not too fed up right now, I'd suggest you try another AA meeting.

Good luck.

Answer 5

That explains it u got cured in a month, u r the type of drunk that became a drunk in a month and that's all the time u need to heal. What studies r u referring to that have shown the AA program to be such a failure? Professionals still recommend it because it works for millions of faithful alcoholics searching for a life changing experience. U apparently didn't go there for the message AA brings forth to the millions of recovering alcoholics who swear by the program. It seems u went there with ulterior purposes and not the seeking of having ur life saved by the "bumper sticker" mentality. If u r an alcoholic and u don't have God and or the AA support group in ur life why knock something that is working for so many millions of people who it has helped. Find another excuse to continue ur drinking. When u r ready we'll be waiting with open arms to help save ur own life. Good luck to u and whatever works for u. "Live and let Live" is my favorite AA bumper sticker.

Answer 6

AA is not a religious program. One month of sobriety (assuming your not drinking) is not enough time to give AA a fair evaluation... go to different meetings and perhaps you will find one that is more to your liking.

AA is still the most successful way/program for alcoholics to stop drinking. There are atheists in AA too, AA only suggests you find a higher power but they allow you to define that for yourself and anyone who tells you otherwise does not understand AA.

Stop looking at the differences and you will begin to see similarities... alcoholism is a progressive disease, denial and rebellion are characteristic behaviors of people who don't want to stop drinking because the thought of a life without alcohol is too intimidating.

AA works because you have a support group of people who have been where you are, have done the same kinds of things and have managed to put alcohol down for a better life... if you want a different life than the one you are living, then do something different from what you have been doing.

Answer 7

AA is definitely a good program, but it's not for everyone. A support group is a must when you are dealing with an alcohol situation. If AA is not the support group for you, you should find this support in others like family and friends. Keep exploring your options with your therapist and find out what works for you. Remember, all the options that you will explore are there to help you. Eachone that you turn down is a missed tool in your toolbox. Do your best to keep a positive attitude towards all of them.

Best,

Gustavo

Answer 8

Statistics show it works for 5% of the people that try it. So, it's great for that 5%, and not so great for the other 95%.

I agree that it is more than a bit cult-like. It most certainly isn't for me. The problem is, AA believes that its approach is the only approach that works. When you go to a meeting, the message you get is basically, do it the AA way or you will die. That's not an exaggeration. If it doesn't work for you it's because you aren't "working the program." I don't see why AA people won't acknowledge that the 12-step approach is but one way to go at it, and that different approaches might work for different people. Oh wait, I know why. It's because it's basically a RELIGION!

Unfortunately, AA is the only approach to treating people with drinking problems that is widely accepted, despite the fact that its methods aren't backed by any type of scientific research. Who knows why this is the case but it is, and that is to the detriment of many people who need help controlling their drinking but don't jive with the 12-step approach.

Answer 9

Interesting question. I went for about a month also. People swear by it. All the power to them but it wasn't for me. I like your analogy, I called it a herd mentality like sheep but I like your's better. It seems that some people cannot not drink unless they go to AA & immerse themselves in the "steps" and all that. I think a lot of them just traded one addiction for another, liquor for AA. I have not had a drink of anything for 6 months. I wasn't hard core but I did like my wine. Decided I liked it too much and needed to not drink it. I don't get these major cravings as so many talked about. When I go out to dinner, I would love to have a glass of wine but at this point I still choose not to. So yeah, some of those people have so many problems that drinking is the least of them. Do what works best for you. Good luck and don't slam the AA group to some or you will think the nazis are after you. lol

Answer 10

Therapist, psychiatrists, doctors, and judges recommend (or enforce) AA because it works. In fact, it is the only game in town as it relates to recovery. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Since you don't have that desire, you are not welcomed at AA. They will continue on quite nicely without you.
-MM

Answer 11

I supply up eating approximately 5 years in the past and in no way used AA, in no way went to a gathering or have been given any chips. i might been to a pair conferences decrease back as quickly as I nonetheless drank and had no purpose of quitting is how i know they hand out chips. I had tried quitting until now like 6 years in the past and seven years in the past yet in simple terms could no longer do it. Then this time 5 years in the past I did and suceeded. nicely, I had 0.5 a lager as quickly as, yet dumped the rest out. have not gotten a buzz of beer or under the impression of alcohol in 5 years. So definite, for me that's BS. did no longer desire it; did no longer use it. it extremely works for a team of different human beings however so reliable for them.