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.
Do people who needed AA to stay sober feel that their problem was somehow worse than for those people who stay sober without AA because those people were able to deal with their problem without the aid of AA and a program therefore it cant have been as bad?
Do people who got sober without AA and a program think that they are somehow stronger, more determined etc than the people who needed AA to stop because they were able to solve their problem on their own?
I dont believe that either of these things is true and I dont believe that either group of people are thinking that but I sometimes feel that in discussions each group of people feel judged by the other group.
Any thoughts?
Do people who got sober without AA and a program think that they are somehow stronger, more determined etc than the people who needed AA to stop because they were able to solve their problem on their own?
I dont believe that either of these things is true and I dont believe that either group of people are thinking that but I sometimes feel that in discussions each group of people feel judged by the other group.
Any thoughts?
I would say that is a bit black and white. Not everyone outside of AA does so because they are head strong, wants to rebel, i.e., has to do things "there way." Nor is is seen as a cult be alkis who do not choose to participate.
I actually feel I am doing things the RIGHT way for me today-outside of AA. Mormons in my community sadly have had the same comment with their religion, that people do not join because it is they do not want the full truth, and cannot handle the rigorous lifestyle.
I certainly do not steer this ship-and I am not in AA (or mormon). It is hard for me to hear these assumptions by AAers on this board. Honestly, when I first decided to discontinue AA I had to stay clear of this board because, while I knew it was my healty brain telling me this was the correct decisions-I would hear this type of black and white thinking and it would discourage me.
Now I can say it is just plain limited in scope, and not accurate in my case at all.
I think that if you re-read my post that you will see that you may have misinterpreted much of what I have stated. I consistently try to balance my own belief in what AA has to offer with the viewpoints of people who have found alternative methods that work for them.
What I have tried to portray is that when I first went to AA meetings with no knowledge of alcoholism it was natural to believe the people who had many years of sobriety and who maintained that the 12 Step way was the only route to sobriety. As with many things in life there was an element of truth in their argument where it concerns SOME alcoholics but I later concluded that you cannot generalise about such matters. Today I believe that AA works for me and for many other people who would be still drinking if they did not have what AA has to offer. As I have already stated there are plenty of other sober alcoholics out there who never went to an AA meeting and their way is just as right as mine.
It is interesting to open up a debate about this subject and particularly as to how it relates to posts here on D.S. Personally, I like to see everyone afforded the same opportunity to express their views and to share their experience so that it may help people who are struggling. I would like to think that I have shown the same respect to people who are outside of AA as to those who follow the AA way. What I find strange at times, and your post is a good example of it Marie, is the viewpoint that AA people should somehow remain silent and not express their views. If a few people suggest to a newcomer that they should check out AA there is an accusation that non AA people are being driven away from D.S.
My belief today is that if you are strong enough in your convictions you will not feel threatened by people who express a different viewpoint and therefore I have no problem with the non AA point of view being expressed here. However, I would respectfully ask that just because some people advocate the AA methods here that they would not be made unwelcome or accused of trying to make this an AA forum.
Marie, whatever works for you is just fine and by all means share your experience so that it helps others. What works for me is AA and I have a strong belief that there are SOME alcoholics who may not find sobriety without AA or something similar.
I also have a life long friend who is almost 30 years sober but hasn't gone to many meetings in years. His outlook is begining to suck and I worry for him.