Alcoholism Support Group

Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.

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Alternative, or in Addition to AA?

Zachary18
Zachary18
Hopefully, even the most ardent supporter of AA will admit that AA is not for everyone, and that there are equally valid approaches to achieve a sober life. This is one such group (there are others):

http://www.smartrecovery.org/

Further, one support group does not exclude the other. For me, in a nut shell AA helped me to learn to accept the things I could not change and SMART a pragmatic approach to change the things I can.

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation Herbert Spencer
stickywick
stickywick
Hi Zachary,

I am forever grateful to AA because its what worked for me and for many I know. I'm a huge fan of getting sober -- period. I'm also hugely supportive of any program, principal, support group or person who can help anyone get and stay sober. I've personally not only used AA. I've used outside help, board like these, religion, spiritual teachings, etc. etc.
AA literature itself suggests AA members use outside help in the form of spiritual teachers, religious leaders, etc. etc.
Why not?
paulokes
paulokes
Zach I attended a few meetings of Smart through professional interest...was asked to go along.

The material was all pretty solid and useful...the group I attended though wasn't a great example, not much long term sobriety or genuine recovery that I saw.

I had a friend who attended both and found them extremely useful

P
Zachary18
Zachary18
At first, I too, was a bit put off by the lack of what is called in AA - long term sobriety, until it was explained that attendance at SMART meetings is probably not for a lifetime. Further, the structure of the meetings where dialogue between people was allowed was foreign to me and made things seem rather chaotic. I had to go for awhile and use the self empowering tools I learned and creatively expand on them for me to realize what was trying to be accomplished there.

Admittedly, if you are looking for spiritual support, you probably won't find it at SMART.
billwfriend
billwfriend
Kind of don't know my own depth of knowledge on this one so just will say Whatever......
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have yet to post here, but this subject caught my eye. I use both AA and WFS http://womenforsobriety.org/beta2/ While one taught me how to let go of my ego and develop self-awarenss, the other taught me the power of choice and how to grow, supporting the best parts of me.
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