At a recent AA meeting, I reported to its members that I was sucessful in overcoming addiction to the drug alcohol by using conceptual logic, reason, and rationale thought. I also said that I used self-discipline to control unwanted behaviour. They immediately told me that I was a "dry drunk" and in denial. Is it forbidden in AA to use ones brain to change a problematic behaviour? If the brain is used to solve problems, is the result always negative as AA suggests?
After confronting me in a cloud of cigarette smoke while stating they are "clean" from drugs (cigarettes?), they told me to read the "big book".
What in the world is going on here?
2006-12-02 11:29:12 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
because you don't have the same though as they do...they want to judge you....... I have a brother that AA has judged so badly which turned him back to drinking <<< I know it was his choice to pick it back up again,,, he feels that there is no one that will help him or even some one to talk to>>>>>>> I have heard of this by alot of AA people " if you don't follow the cult then your a dry drunk "" i hope you keep up the great work of staying sober ......lol even if your just a dry drunk ...jk rather be a dry drunk then just another follower ,,,,,
2006-12-02 11:45:22 · answer #1 · answered by just a mommy 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sooo many layers to this answer:
1. AA people believe in the AA way. I personally believe that the AA way works for some people, but not others. Obviously some AA people would disagree.
2. There is such a thing as a "dry drunk." I've met dozens. Usually these are people who stopped doing their troubling behavior (drugs, alcohol, etc) but never addressed the underlying reasons why they did those things. If that AA crowd was convinced that your "logic, reason and thought and self-discipline" only stopped the behavior and NOT the things that caused it, they'd let you know.
So, my guess is that they think you haven't addressed some issues in your life, and that is making you less happy than you could be, or worse yet, worse for others to be around.
Perhaps you should "check signals" with a few wise, perceptive people in your life (don't confuse my description for "friends" -- you need wise people who aren't your friends to do this too) and see if they think you've still got issues but not the behavior they used to cause.
Fair enough?
2006-12-02 11:43:10 · answer #2 · answered by geek49203 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Self, Self, Self, Self. Myself is what got me into AA. You cannot keep you sober. Only a God of your own understanding can do that. believe that the good of members of AA would like for you to not sound so self-sufficient and self reliant or feel like you did the changing all by yourself and within you own power. In AA, the twelve steps are designed to help you to gain some type of a relationship with a Higher Power. A Power that is greater than yourself that can do for you what you can not or could not do for yourself. Many intellects analyze their way through a thing and some people tend to feel that the reason why a lot of folk don't grasp the AA "design for living" is because you may be too smart, too rich, and/or too young to get it.
What I can't understand is why would you go and be so controversial at the AA meeting? Didn't you know anything about AA. I would not go to a Smoker's Anonymous meeting to try to deviate from their principles and ways.
There is a guy in the BigBook who had a lot of self-knowledge just like yourself, but he failed to enlarge on his spiritual life. God is our Creator. Nothing can be accomplished successfully without incorporating Him. That has been my experience. Anything that you do without a Higher Power or God is destined to fail. I hope that you can find it in your heart to try to get a God of your own understanding. You cannot reason or will your way into successful sobriety. Only sodriety. That is my experience, strengh and hope. May My God keep you.
2006-12-02 12:17:49 · answer #3 · answered by jack0120032004 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If your methods have worked for you, excellent. You have to remember that AA has steps and they can't imagine someone being a success without finishing all twelve steps.
I hear ya on the smoking...perhaps they should all join smokers anonymous after they finish up the AA 12 steps.
Good luck to you.
2006-12-02 12:06:02 · answer #4 · answered by Loli M 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, I'm not sure what is going on, since I don't know you. However, many alcoholics are in denial, and routinely "fall off the wagon"....ask yourself these questions: have you admitted that you have a problem? What steps have you taken to avoid alcohol? Do you have a sponsor that you can call? I wish you the best of luck.
2006-12-02 12:57:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good for you!!!!! AA isn't for everyone, as long as you aren't drinking who cares how much denial your in- AA replaces alcohol addiction with an addiction to tea and sympathy!!!
2006-12-02 11:39:07 · answer #6 · answered by Shiv 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Forget AA. You'll always get a negative response from them.
2006-12-02 11:36:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
First Congratulations!! it doesn't matter how you got clean if you didn't do it their way then they think you did it wrong.
2006-12-02 11:40:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
it doesnt matter wat aa says as long as you are clean congraduation
much luv
ya girl
quita
2006-12-02 11:48:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋