Alcoholics Anonymous and the Deflation of the Ego by Dr. Bob Weathers
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- Integrates the presenter's personal visit to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with the core philosophy of treatment within the 12-step program; namely, that the underlying source of all addictive behaviors is identification with the personal ego. Hence, treatment is focused toward dismantling the previous identification; upon which the goal of remission of addictive behaviors follows quite organically.
A highly regarded educator and university administrator, as well as recovery coach, author, and public speaker, Dr. Bob Weathers holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with an M.A. in religious studies. Over the course of his professional career, “Dr. Bob” has provided tens of thousands of hours of therapeutic counseling and recovery coaching to satisfied clients. He has also committed the past 35 years to teaching, training, and inspiring graduate-level mental health providers at several southern California universities, most recently at California Southern University.
Dr. Bob is currently academic effectiveness coordinator at CalSouthern, engaged full-time in ongoing initiatives for improving the educational experience of our learners, including his chairing the brand-new Student Advisory Council. Additionally, Dr. Bob has published numerous articles in a broad cross-section of respected professional reference books, journals, and edited volumes. To learn more about the speaker, visit: www.drbobweathers.com
For more information on the School of Behavioral Sciences at California Southern University, please visit: www.calsouthern.edu/psychology
My own sponsor disrespected my anonymity by talking behind my back.. i didnt let it break me. Moved on got a new sponsor & carrying on like the strong woman i know i am
My experience in AA has been life changing. I’ve become a much softer and more caring person. Before I went into the program I said a lot of these negative things about the program said in these comments. Yeah there can be drama, where there is people there is drama, but I choose to focus on my recovery and my growth as a person with the people in the program that have the same goals. You get what you put in, it’s saved my life and am very proud to be a member.
Love love love your comment
Thank you for telling your experience, I like to focus on the positive aspects aswell and my recovery. Blessings 🙏🏽
Did you use LSD to sober up like the creator of AA did? Congrats, you helped support his families royalties buying his '"big book" which is nearly 100 years old haha
Today is the 64th Anniversary of AA in India... It is growing in India..
I'm indebted to this fellowship and the 12 steps..
Today I'm the happiest person.. I Thank God & AA...
I've been to meetings from Bombay to Calcutta.
And don't forget to thank the LSD the founder of AA used to write his big book and create his program bc he wanted to die rich
Hi Edwin. How are you doing?
AA has worked from 1935, nothing on this is against AA.
AA has kept me alive 20 years.
tony you kept yourself alive. You are powerful
Tony you had alot to do with it. 20 years. You probaly call yourself an alcoholic.. Why if your not drinking?
Keep coming back! One day at a time :-)
How many people has AA harmed?
@@Gunthar2000 AA has not harmed anyone but Trumpism has ruined the program.
He got it all figured out after going to 1 meeting.
Lol.... He's clueless..
It doesn’t take much to figure AA out...the big book isn’t some fine piece of literature and the meetings are damn near all the same.
Must of been one hell of a meeting
@@koichinishi9075 I don't think so, sounds like he actually understood, perhaps not completely, the very core of what AA strives for. Maybe I saw it differently, but as an alcoholic I felt a little more seen from watching this.
Exactly, rings hollow!!!
Oh here we go with the peanut gallery and critical comments. I think this guy NAILED IT! He's talking about the very core of AA and what makes it so unique and helpful. He's right that organized religions tend to devolve very quickly into egotism and the outer shell of spirituality.
Quit lying. AA dose not work, none of the various forms of addiction treatment work, all have at best an 80-90% failure rate. As long as people just blindly accept that treatment works nothing will change that stat for any of the various forms of treatments. By promoting a false narrative that AA and other forms of treatment work you ignore the failures which are the majority there by insuring that no change happens to addiction practices. AA being the most widely used form of treatment in America bears a lot of responsibility for not changing and not having any form of self analysis for its effectiveness from the point of its creation. But that’s just like my opinion… man.
AAA is an amazing program. And ego deflation is absolutely one of the keys. Ego is actually an acronym, and it stands for
Edging god out....
Has worked for millions of people. And it saved my life. This program is a godsend
'What a privilege it was to be trusted with the proceedings inside an AA meeting.' From a friend who attended a meeting
If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.
Many, many people have gotten sober from alcoholism and addiction with no addition of supernatural spirituality to their lives. 80% of all alcoholics will recover, most of them without any type of treatment or mystical bullshit. But the nice part about things like the cult of AA is you can just claim "they must not have been 'real' alcoholics then"...
@@thisisgettingold Thats good to hear bro, im not looking for an argument. Good luck in your journey.
Hell yeah!! Big book Neva lies bro!!🤣
All these hostile comments!!! AA saved my life, and that of many others...why bash something that has been a lifeline for so many? If you found another way to recovery - good for you! - but why discourage others who may find life and hope in the fellowship?
Because AA discourages people from getting modern evidence-based treatment. When I decided I needed help, the biggest hurdle between me and getting actual help was the 12-Step myth.
Laurie, I am with you 100%. AA saved my life as well. The speaker is on point about AA. It's sad to see people bash that they dont have any experience with.
But AA is powerful, unlike some psychotherapy. Besides, Carl Young endorsed AA, so what do they know.
Agreed. I tried to quit on my own countless times and it almost killed me. Counseling, medication, you name, it I tried it. AA works for me. I am sober today because of this program. As are so many others.
Laurie Conner no , it killed your soul.
Now you spread your poisonous filth to oghers , because abuse and dishonesty is your nature. You even do it to children (al-anon).
Paul Bangash Absolute nonsense! You’re obviously not speaking from any real experience.
Dr,Weathers just gave the simplest and most profound explanation of going from ones egocentric childlike ego to ones adult ego which is one of taking responsibility for yourself. The center of addiction is selfishness. I can't really explain why the compulsion to drink happened but I know and feel that at a meeting these people just understand with out judgement.
I understand it works for many, all praise to all the recovered. My experience was somewhat similar, but it was recruitment and nudge for the sponsors from others that drove me away sadly. It was non-stop nagging and frequent calls at weird hours. I understand a buddy system but others should let other alcoholics come in and speak up at their own time… my two cents, maybe one day I’ll find my way back to recovery on my terms. Congrats to all others whom are at peace with their sobriety. Y’all are an inspiration.
Cheers (non-alcohol)
Your own terms is self will, need to surrender
Try a different meeting. That is not the case in the meetings I attend. Good luck to you.
We'll save a seat for you....
Don't know if it's true, but I heard research shows AA has an 8% success rate?
The support network in aa not only saved me from drinking but saved me when life got tough. When my brother died people gave me a hug and listened,i dont get this support outside the rooms and it saved me
The only thing I saw as a slight misunderstanding in the Dr s assessment was his statement that he saw an increase in self forgiveness among the members experience . That has not been my experience over 28 years sober - the program highlights we be “ hard on ourselves rather than on others “ to uncover and be rid of those things we find objectionable . Also nowhere in the program does it discuss making amends to ourselves - that is likely seen as easier softer …
I hope the doc has read the book - his quick grasp from one meeting at that time shows he’s a quick study !
“Growth directed men and women”! Bingo! Unfortunately, that is a threat to many people, and therefore they practice “contempt prior to investigation”, concerning AA.
This is a great video! I'm glad to see that you found a good meeting to use as your example. I'm not saying that there are lots of bad meetings, only that at some meetings the principles taught an AA might not be so apparent for just a single visit.
I think you did a wonderful job in your analysis.
AA really works for me because it's not about the drinking, that was only a Symptom, a solution really. It's really about finding out WHY you drank in the first place and unpacking all of that built up trauma. I love it, everything from the brutal honesty to the bonding and connections I receive from fellowshiping. I can't tell you who's an alcoholic or not but I can say if you feel like when you take one in (drugs or drink) and you cant stop, you might have the phenomenon of craving however there IS a solution and it really does WORK IF YOU WORK IT!
A symptom? I was a chronic alcoholic for many years, alcohol is a very big symptom. If I take alcohol it lands me in prison, mental hospitals etc, without alcohol non of that. Many people in aa are not alcoholic, I was on the streets through alcohol and many in aa look down on low bottom drunks, as if I was not like that, so basically don't understand the power of alcohol. Most in aa these days have a drink problem and not real alcoholic.
@@leonk3011 it’s a sickness just how people have different stages of cancer and different type of diabetes it’s the same with the alcoholic sickness can’t expect everybody to be like you when the spectrum of this sickness is very broad
AA saved my life x
"Emotionally Sensitive, Childish, and Grandiose", 12th step says it all.
Very well said
Love love love his assessment!
Anyone who hates doesn't really understand us..
Sometimes it's good to be hated by the right people..
I think Johhny Cash said that..
Oh yeah I've been at it for 7 years of sobriety. Ego collapse at depth that is the whole program. They call us egomaniacs with an inferiority complex! Only by working with another working the steps am I able to free myself from myself. Yes there should be some healthy narcissism for us shy types but only healthy. I only speak for myself so I have to watch. In its purest forms recovery is flawless
This guy reminds me of someone who goes to one meeting and is now an expert.
He doesn't belong there.... Trad. 3
Bull shit cult full of narcissistic ego trippers he turned the water into wine christ our saviour only higher power good enough for christ god good enough for me sod bill w and his heathen 13 step lsd spiritual heathen cult
@@ryanbyrne259 So what is your "solution" then....
He did pretty good for only attending one meeting. It's a valuable and interesting observation.
@@oglelaura right? I wish I got all that in one meeting! Geez by his 30 days he'll be levitating
Thanks for a very well-reasoned and unbiased assessment of the benefits of AA.
AA saved my life and those around me.. 33yrs and counting 🙏
says part of the literature of alcoholics anonymous, which is not a panacea refers to the fact that the aa program is not the only means to achieve sobriety, but has given testimony of thousands of people in the world who obtained sobriety thanks to the aa program aa.😊
Just here to offer love & most definitely a prayer: I have done damage not only to myself and my family but also my community may are all mighty ancestors grant me strength to learn and.fix mistakes fast and efficient but also give meaning to our seemless endless existence. Also let us find ways to enjoy life in a more loving modern fashion.
I do know one thing though with hard work and love problems come&go.
(Also never forget the value of preservation)(" 🇨🇦our"body,are brain, are stuff, are Entirety,our greater existence)
Strange! It seems to me that what, you are explaining is more are narcissism! Then alcoholism?
how so?
You nailed it. One of the major tenants of AA is the destruction of the ego. The two people who founded AA were both very egotistical; one a Wall Street trader and the other a prominent physician. They NEEDED to have their egos beat down. Many who attend AA today (women, people of color, indigenous people) who have been beat down by society, need to have their egos built UP.
I have attended meetings where the kindest, sweetest, people you could ever hope to meet were made to believe that they were some sort of societal misfits and totally destroyed by the process.
What do you consider alcoholism??
He attended an Open AA meeting. Closed meetings can be even more open to “confession” style recovery. You can’t talk about snatching a purse while maintaining a giant ego. The Wesleyan Mens group has a great story. Nothing left that room ever. Two men were asked not to return. One told his wife something that someone said and the other was still committing the same sin two years later with no real intention of stopping. How I would love to get involved in that. The men literally began to glow and I have seen such a man.
Another like ? They just keep coming. Wow
AA does not have a good success rate, according to their own statistics. However, this is partly because AA members consider that anyone who stops going to meetings has relapsed. This is not true and has never been true. Anyway, how would they know?
No they don’t - using is the relapse not lack of attendance
Any course or type of counseling you would recommend for someone who suffers from addiction and ego?
Great now go to an Intergroup meeting and see what they are really like
12 years? Wow, that's a long time. Must have liked it!
Andrew Newton central group is politics, not recovery etc
Ful of narcissistic ego trippers especially so called long term so called sober ones he turned the water into wine christ our lord first miracle on his own earth good enough for christ god our saviour only higher power good enough for me sod bill w and his heathen cult
@4862cjc what is gsr
Yes. This. Where the controlling egomaniacs hang out.
That was very helpful. The ideas were so clear coming from a professional observer. Crystal clear :-)
It's a good program
PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION. DONT LET YOUR HANDS DROP
AA saved my life
Pl, can someone address my serious question? When I quit smoking, I no longer thought of myself, or called myself, a smoker. Why do ppl who no longer drink, continue to call themselves alcoholics, & go to mtgs for the rest of their lives?
One meeting?
It is a mental health problem that requires therapy,medication, or both.EITHER a physical part of the brain that needs biological repair or an error in the person's thinking. The emotional intelligence part of the brain. This usually results in a lack of self management skills.the way AA defines "disease" is as if it is incurable and that you have it for life.This is not true unless you have a physical damage to your brain that psychiatrists or surgeons can't repair.By their definition you could say being a stupid person is a "disease."YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL THERAPY. There is help out there,YOU have to do the work to change yourself.How motivated and willing are you? It requires abstinence and you probably have to change the majority of your life.It is SO worth it. You can do it!😊
This lovely fellow shows little evidence of any deep understanding of the psychology of 12-step programs. Tragically, he's right about AA being a religion for many participants who only find it necessary to read and reread the core text, The Big Book, published in 1939 and unchanged to this date (at least the first 164 text pages). So, it is an accurate reflection of Bill Wilson's first 4 years of sustained sobriety, but nothing further for 83 yrs., not unlike the Holy Bible in longevity. However, Bill Wilson's life experience did not stop there and the Big Book is only a reflection of his earliest recovery. Bill was an abandoned child, and, thus, deeply traumatized, and it is unknown if he ever sought or received further psychotherapy of this early trauma. Clearly, for those of us who have read and studied this well written and laudable book, it is filled with the self-recriminations typical of an abused child. True, sustained recovery and the development of a strong relationship with a spiritual power sustaining one through life's often unexpected tumults, and a supportive fellowship, requires an evolution through a depth analysis of the ego defenses and the escape from the previously binding shame that drove the need for the relief of addiction. Sadly, many religions do not support such evolutionary journeys, and neither may some 12-step groups, who, for instance, refuse to allow their members to address child abuse traumas central to driving the addiction escape. This psychologist needs to dig a bit deeper to find the real story of the AA religion.
Yes, I could see that in his story- left by both parents pre teen and raised by grandparents and an only child. Bill had trouble sexualizing relationships with women outside his marriage his entire life. Nothing wrong with that although it seems he had mixed feelings about it. He smoked very heavily and ended with severe emphysema - had deep dark depressive episodes that would come and go and be long lasting. He tried LSD in the 50s 60s and found it so helpful he wanted to offer the therapy as a part of AA but the world service org said no. Many were emphatically against it and have been against any expansion of the method for all the decades they have been organized.
So in your opinion is it a good thing to empty yourself of personal identity or not? I mean I could see the benefits…
You have to be completely detached to see that this identification whith “ Me” is a artificial identity. This “Me” was created in time, in years, from childhood up today by ourselves and we didn’t even realize that in fact we were losing ourselves in this artificial identity . So, yes it is not just good but the BEST for ourselves to get rid of that artificial ME .😮😊
Unfortunately if you are not an alcoholic of the hopeless kind, you will just not understand AA. The book was written by and for that hopeless kind.
Don't think I ever met an alcoholic that wasn't hopeless or at least they weren't honest enough to admit it
Yes man the gift of desperation! It truly is a gift
Very well said!
AA replaces personal EGO with Group Dogma.
This strikes me as a very superficial analysis. One thing he apparently went to just one meeting, any reasonable person trying to assess the culture of an organization as big as AA will not consider that a sufficient sample. More to the point though deflating the ego doesn't mean it goes away completely, especially with talk of authentic spirituality anybody with a subtler discrimination should be able to see the possibility of a different form of ego, namely a recovery ego focused around conforming to the norms of that culture. While this new ego structure may serve recovery purposes it probably isn't totally authentic and it doesn't mean it goes away even if it's smaller an deflated. I would expect more from a psychologist with a doctorate posting something for the public online.
Excellent comment Mark💫
My brother said I'm so stupid for not liking the taste of Alcohol. And my ped. used it as a spike to get me in the sack with him.
AND HAS HAD ACCESS TO ALL THE MARDI GRAS BALLERS ASSOCIATIONS KNEW JUST WHAT PLAYERS TO RACKETEER TO CONSPIRE AT ME THROUGH ENTERPRISE AMD ENTANGLEMENT CHOICES
It is not political or a religious program it is a spiritual program.
Try SMART Recovery
I stopped drinking 5 years ago but it wasn’t because of AA ! I am an atheist so the ideology of the AA would have been useless for me
Stop drinking for the good reasons (mental/physical/fiancial health,etc) ! Is it easy ? Not at all ! Everyday counts but you always have to keep in your mind that alcoholism is a disease
AND YOU CAN'T SAY ITS NOT RACIALLY CHARGED AND MOTIVATED
Your experience is based on a visit to one group? I invite you to come to AA meetings in the Bible belt and experience religious bullying, the ignorance, the misrepresention of disease theory, the endless, mindless slogans. When you do that, sir, please make a video about that.
For whoever AA works, I'm grateful. I recovered from a viscous benzo addiction. In 12 years, I have never relapsed and the only thing that prevented me from using out of rehab, was exactly that which they told me I no longer had, power over my destructive behavior. Will power, will power, will power. Your brain will create new pathways, your memories of your past behavior will diminish as well as the cravings associated with it. Addiction is a distant memory I rarely think about, except to let those struggling know they are not wrong to think AA is not for them. It is not a treatment of any type and for some, it's philosophy destructive.
Cultic program
AND MY MOTHER THINKS HER CENILE HEAD GAMES ARE A JOKE IN MESSING WITH MY MENTAL ANGUISH
MY CONDOLENCES. I HAVE RIGHTS AMD JUST CAUSE IT WAS A HUMAN FRIEND OF HERS IN ALTERIOR MOTIVES AND ALLUMNI COLLEGICS ABUSE OF SUPPOSED PRIVELAGES
What if someone is a shy, non-assertive pushover, and became an alcoholic for "liquid courage". How is that person going to be helped by a program that deflates the ego. A program that reinforces powerlessness and teaches someone to take a passive role in life("let go an let God") is the exact opposite of what that personality type needs.
Exactly. I WAS the shy guy who drank for courage. I attended many many meetings and I found that the more I deflated my ego, the more depressed I got. I finally got the courage to leave AA and I quit drinking on my own. I did it all on my own. That brought back a feeling of power over my own life. Today I am dry and I no longer have a desire to drink.
I agree
JeffTheHokie well said great point
Low selfesteem is still about self that's the problem
This is not the case at all. In fact it is a fundamentally poor assumption of conditions by which Alcoholics Anonymous and more so the 12 steps achieves the goal of significant, long term sobriety. I would love to exchange any ideas you have.
Please. My point. Of view
Different Perspective
Is who I suspect did the okc bombing just because of foodstamp rules.
Definitely false ego in fellowships especially the God thing
IM BEING INTIMIDATED BY I GUESS BIG MOMMA AND THE TONY LINDA BIKER MEMBERS IN REGARDS TO THE WHERE ABOUT A OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY
IF PEOPLE GO TO AA INSTEAD OF GOING TO A BAR , IT WORKS !!!!!!
I KNOW COURTNEY HAS SOME KIND OF DEGREES AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TO ABUSE IN THE AIDING AMD EMBEDDING OF FUGITIVES WHO KIDNAPPED OBDUCT AND MADE A GAME OUT OF THE YOUTH IN ALABAMA
Ego is what made you think you could understand AA after one meeting.
WIC OFFICE
Who said AA was perfect ???????
Dr. Bob Weathers is one huge putz, huh?
Dont comment if you are not an alcoholic. As you will not know what you are talking about. It is on;y alcoholics who know about the Ego and the illness they suffer from. No doctor can help the alcoholic only a God of your understanding can help you. Believe me I know .
Roger Morgan well actually Doctors can help. Remember Dr. Silkworth OUR little Dr. Who said SOME FORM OF MORAL PSYCHOLOGY WAS VITAL FOR THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ALCOHOLS. SO I UNDERSTAND UR POINT. BUT DR. SILKWORTH WAS RIGHT!!!! When anyone anywhere reaches out for help I want the hand of AA to always be there and for that I am responsible.
Lol loser
Define "alcoholic"
Not a lot of anonymity in these comments.
DIDN'T THEY GET BABYD ENOUGH OR ARE THEYRE LICENSING DEGREES AND COLLEGE FUNDS MORE THEN WORTHY TO BE DEEMED EMBEZZLEMENT IM THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND ANY WHERE ELSE
WHERES MY SON. md sending HIM TO A KNOWN ABUSERS SIDE OF NOT AUTHORIZED DOESN'T TEACH ME A LESSON IN ALEXIS AND HER ENTERPRISE CONTROLING WHO ANYONE IN THE WORLD TALKS TO THAT WASN'T HER HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS "FRIEND"
If your ego is your ability to act think feel and will, disattachment from it, is abandonment of self-preservation.
AND ALEXIS GREENE. THINKS SHE RUMS SOMETHING IN "VENGEANCE" FOR HER DECEASED LOVER BOY
THAT'S A BIT IMMATURE AND NAIVE. OR IS THAT COURTNEY PLUG DAVIS POSING AS THE QUEEN OF THE CONSTITUTION
You people are protected. Our sex laws are inherently theocratic.
Burn your hijab for the women in Iran, wear it for the women in France.
It was my last day in the Ecole. It was my last day in hogwarts. I was the only student there. I threw a big fit when my parents wouldn't let me keep the skis I dug out of a dumpster.
I also remember I strolled off with my religious studies teacher before that. A woman by the name of "Laura." Isn't that convenient. We shared a six pack since I was no longer a student.
I remember talking with her. I remember thinking about kissing her. I also remember that all we did was sit there and drink. She didn't abuse her position. She didn't abuse her power. We just drank and talked about religion.
It's not a moral failing. Maybe it's a failing of society? What makes you people great is that you denied yourselves because you were worried it would cause harm.
What makes you people great is that the person in front of you is a person, and not an object to be used.
The meaning of life is that I can even see the color red. I can also smell shit.
It's absolutely possible that these people are bad, and it has nothing to do with the sex they like. They're bad because of how they use people. They're bad because of how they manipulate people. They're bad because they do bad things. They're bad because the thought that they harm people doesn't seem to harm them.
I couldn't have saved the world if I was sober.
I don't intend to ask for full custody, especially when they tortured me with a wound they caused.
I'm a good dad. That's why I will not ask for full custody from drug dealers.
Think you can help me out with a truck?
What makes me a good son is that my name is Jason Todd.
I SHOULDN'T BE DISCRIMINATED AT BY ALLUMNI FROM CHEERLEADER DAYS DEAD AND GONE BECAUSE OF THEYRE LOVED ONE.
KIDNAPPED AND STATE CONSPIRACY OF DISCRIMINATION AT ONE PERSON AND ANY ONE WHO GLANCES ISNT RIGHT NOR IS THAT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM DONE FAIRLY
Literally 40% of this is so off course.
Not if your the Real Alcoholic!!!
I disagree, 60% is on target!
Guys like this are so afraid of the higher power being true. We had to have oozed out of the primordial slime!
SHE MUST HAVE A HARVEARD LAW DEGREE OR YALE
IT reminds me of evangelism from some backward usa state,,.
Hi Michael, what reminds you? Can you elaborate? Thanks!
CalSouthern Psychology american type WORDS LIKE " EGO " "DENIAL" ARE NOW MORE COMMON AND USED BY EVERY TOM DICK AND HARRY TO DO WITH ADDICTION AND THE POOR DRUNK DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE WITH THIS ELEVATION TO A TYPE INTELLECTUALISM TO SOLVE HIS BOOZE PROBLEMS,,IN NON ENGLSIH SPEAKING EUROPE THESE WORDS ARE NOT USED,.CHEER,
getting arrested was not so bad but going to courts was hell..
To be honest I dont understand any of this. I think because he references religion a lot and religion is pretty foreign to me
Is ir because you drink? How much do you drink? Do you get stupid drunk? Do you allow demons in when you're imbibed? Do you have a relationship with God? No, a real relationship. Saying you love and actually living it are two different things. What did Jesus say how you would prove your love? If you love Me you will obey Me. Now that's just like when you tell a child not to do something. They don't understand why yet but you still know better than they do. God knows better than you. It's not because you drink. It's because you refuse to surrender your life to Him. Narcotics are entirely different. There's no one sniff that's ok or ever will be ok. A friend years ago wanted to go to a "gentleman's club" to witness and I told him i couldn't go. There's some things I can't do and not be pulled right back in just like you have things you can't do because when you do you lose your victory. You cannot have victory without a relationship with God. He's got to be everything to you. No if and or buts. *"You still have the internet." That is true. You can't totally escape the depravity of the world but you can choose whether to immerse yourself in it or just have the occasional glance from the pit of hell. IT'S JUST LIKE YOU CAN CONTROL WHETHER YOU OCCASIONALLY GLANCE AT THE BIBLE AND REALLY GET NOTHING FROM IT OR WHETHER YOU IMMERSE YOURSELF IN IT AND BE SAVED AND DELIVERED.
People who don't know 57 year olds that can drink one or two beers at a time is no where close to alcoholism. People they post on that demean real alcoholics struggles and are oxycodone users illegaly which requires a drivers license usually and I have never been an oxycodone user heroin user cocaine user marijuana user don't feel the need for ordering prostitutes smoking cigarettes vaping etc ..I have never spent any money on a drug deal at all with drug dealers. I don't make excuses to sneak around to get alcohol I have never Bern in aa and never.needed it. People who are fentanyl users every day heroine users every day which I have never been are lecturing me about my children and posted about putting themselves in father's day competitions and posting pics if other makes make parts. Sad.
One of my aunts could drink 1 litre of beer every night, and she would continue her heaving drinking with others on weekends. Is that normal?
Breaking traditions to inflate your ego by talking about deflation of ego😂
THATS DISCRIMINATION
The program is fundamentally screwed. The main tenants are to remove yourself from your nuisanced actions, and the nuances of other's perspectives on those actions, thereby removing yourself fr9m reactionary behavior towards a toxic scenario. It's not even psychological crop dusting. It's rigid and not ran by people who assume any legal accountability, or training outside "it takes one to know one". Absolute rubbish.
As AA assumes that everyone who doesn't drink as often as you do are better people. This simply isn't true.
Also to mention, members aren't necessarily going because it's reliable or effective. As some are forced by courts, or there's a lack of other services, and have unlikely researched alternative paths towards recovery.
You write uninformed nonsense.
Go rob another drugstore Gene
unconditional love… on one condition…
Its so sad that alcoholics are given only one choice for recovery. AA is a religious group and is disguised as a spiritual thing. I was in and out of AA for 25 years and the blatent
t denial of it being religious is astounding. I have seen some success stories but way too many failures. You see I have been in the trenches. Been in treatment a few times and seen first hand the problem people have with God part. And AA is never wrong. Ever. Very off putting considering the guy that founded it based the program around religion. I read the original 12 steps at central office once and it is fire and brimstone. AA has enjoyed a monopoly on recovery even tho its success rate is abysmal. I am not downing the program but am turned off by its blatent deception. Addiction science has come a long way. modern medicine and different therapies are available but treatment centers give only one choice. Get God or die. This attitude of this is the only way is unfortunalty killing many people who suffer from addiction. Different people respond to different treatments just like any other disease. All I am saying is a person goes to treatment they should be offered more than one option as there are many ways to recover. AA die hards swear by the program but we all know the old timers club is a small one. Our fellow alcoholics are dying. They need to be given choice. Its time to break the monopoly AA has on the industry. After all does it really matter how one gets sober ? we need to change the conversation to how and what can we employ to help people get and stay sober. AA works for some but not all and we need to give different therapies to alcoholics. I have lost many friends to this disease because only one choice is given Get God or die. Save the its spiritual not religious crap for someone else. My only goal as should everyones is to find what works for the individual. We would not use 1930s medicine for a disease so why do we with alcohol?
Keep coming back.
I had to let it go also
Damn you went for 25 years and thats how little you learned lol
You were in and out because you clearly didn't do the first 3 steps right so how did you expect the program to work lol
@@bryangormann214 with an 8 percent success rate. I am doing better than most . I have been sober 4 years
I can't get well being around a bunch of sick people trying to get well... Just doesn't work for me..
Why on hell would I take any advice from a sponsor in a 12step fellowship when even they admit their life is unmanageable...
It's not a Disease that makes you pick up a drink it's your attitude and behaviour towards a reaction to a situation that makes you pick up a drink..
Don't be brainwashed with excuses..
How's sobriety going for ya
You lost me at me at "failings"
We have a choice.....AA or big pile of steaming crap. take your choice....
AA is a big pile of steaming shit.
AA is the big pile of steaming crap, wipe your face you got some on you.
AA is a cult.Period.
Please enlighten us all Jeffrey. I’ve been attending AA meetings for more than twenty five years, and my life has been profoundly changed for the better...but I certainly don’t want to be any part of a “cult”. 😉
In what way is it a cult?
@Shannon L. Freng Irony
@Shannon L. Freng AA bashing by making unsubstantiated comments, declarations and generalisations, with no detail, reference, examples or information to back up the assertions. Fair enough to AA bash but give some detail. I went to AA after hearing it being bashed by all my peers for a few months. There was no explanation as to why it was so awful, and the people bashing it had no better suggestions. The fact I knew of sober reasonable people in AA was the evidence I needed. You could make an argument that some people in AA are a bit culty, and that some people in it are closed minded against certain ideas. Then again, that is because it is full of humans. Happens everywhere.
Shannon L. Freng Your comments are quite possibly the most ignorant, and laughable ever posted! “for people who can’t think for themselves”. Absolute rubbish Shannon! At this very moment, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous is performing surgery in an O.R. Another is the Captain of a commercial airliner, crossing the Pacific. We are everywhere, and represent all walks of life. There is not a city, town, or village in the U. S. that does not have AA members. In addition, AA exists in roughly 180 countries around the world. We’re talking MILLIONS of people, and their family members whose lives have been profoundly changed for the better, for more than 85 years! More than likely, someone in your own neighborhood is in recovery through AA. How’s your paranoia now? The next time you need a doctor, police officer, firefighter, lawyer, plumber, electrician, teacher, builder, dentist, home healthcare provider, priest, tow truck driver, mechanic, roofer, accountant, financial advisor, butcher, farmer, etc, etc, you’d better check first to make sure they’re not in AA. After all, they “ can’t think for themselves”! Right Shannon??? Pull your head out of your arse, and try thinking past the end of your nose!
AA has a success rate of less than ten percent. But they never mention that. Every AA meeting is restricted to what may or may not be said. Any discussion of treatment options is banned. Men are only permitted to discuss their failures, and their apologies. So the whole thing is a joke. Ego-destruction is put foreword as happiness. “Just be nobody”.
AA is a government-run psychological operations program, designed to destroy men. “You’re a failure. So be quiet.”
Alcoholism can easily be cured. Just put a man in the hospital, and give him a pure alcohol drip. While he’s drunk, show unpleasant videos. People arguing, death, violence, and misery.
Within a few days he will begin to associate drunkenness with unhappiness. After a couple of months of outpatient treatment, he will never drink alcohol again. It’s too depressing. Being sober is much more fun.
Really ?? All this from one meeting. ?? This dude is a joke
. :HALLELUJAH PENITENTIARY ISSUES: .