Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work? AA Didn’t Work For Me

Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work? AA Didn’t Work For Me

AA is a life saver to thousands of people but it is not for everyone, me included.Why AA Didn't Work For Me

I knew that my drinking was dangerously out of control but I didn’t want to sit with a bunch of strangers and label myself an ‘alcoholic’.

I didn’t want to tell my family that I was going to AA and that meant I would have to lie to them about where I was going. My list of problems with AA grew larger and larger.

The biggest problem though is that for most people it doesn’t work.

Attending Alcoholics Anonymous does not involve any ‘treatment’, they follow the 12 steps in a hope one will stop drinking, however many people who are following ‘the steps’ are still drinking.

The twelve steps were created in 1935 and have no ‘intervention’ properties, they involve a process of prayer and meditation to achieve a ‘spiritual awakening’. In fact the Ditman-Study provided evidence that AA is no more effective than doing nothing or ‘no treatment at all’.

New member drop out rates, the percentage of those that leave is, 81% after one month, 90% after 3 months, 95% after 12 months. AA have a 5% retention rate, yet are perceived as a successful organization.

Yet again proving that willpower does not work as a cure for alcohol problems.

Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work? If you want to learn how to quit drinking then watch the video and find out

[mandyrainbowlocks]

I will never go to an aa meeting ever again. I find its a cult and I don't like to be told that I am weak and powerless and if I stop going to meetings I will relapse. I haven't so far!!!! Also sexual predators in meetings are disgusting.

[niall]

Graig, AA is not for everyone. AA is a Nut house.

[chrisclark]

I am that atheist that speak of. My atheism saved me again from wasting my time with a program that doesn't work. At least for me. I really didn't like the idea that I had to declare defeat and I'm not in control. So, give it up to something I don't believe is there. It's hard to bank on a character you are convinced is fictional to magically save your ass. I read your book and Allen Carr, Annie Grace, John Vale and others. It's all in the mindset. We've been fooled into thinking drinking offers some benefit and enriches our life. This is taught to from the age of a child by older people who are disillusioned by the drug. They taught us what they tell themself to maintain their own addiction. It really does lie to you! Great book, man!

[casper]

If you want instant depression just attend a local AA Meeting

[sarahsanchez]

I tried AA several times. Each time I had the same issue - first, people drone on and on and ON about their problem and they go off on tangents. So that alone drove me insane with boredom. Second, they read all the rules/reflections every single time - takes about 15 minutes and after the first time I didn't want to hear it again. Third - as hard as I tried to find a sponsor nobody was actually AROUND when I needed the help. They wouldn't call back or answer text messages. I went down the list of women who could be my sponsor and had the same problem with each of them. Fourth - I got sick to DEATH of people asking me for money because they "haven't eaten for 2 days" or don't have gas in their car, etc. So many CREEPY people there. I'm a clean cut NICE girl and I never fit in. Also, so many of the people there have been arrested multiple times. That was also unsettling. Finally, the program isn't specific with concrete steps - so sorry AA, but you were an epic fail for me.

[jayman]

It doesn't work for me either. Sharing with strangers is my idea of hell. On my first or second meeting a lady shared a story about how her father used to sexually abuse her when she was a child. She explained it in great detail and the things he would do. It was really traumatising to listen to. I doubt that could have been psychologically beneficent to retell to anyone other then a trained professional.

[bgardiner]

While I am religious, I was completely turned off by the hard core approach of AA. I tried to talk about why I was drinking and the mess I had made of my life. No one would listen and instead it was the same BS. " You have to go to meetings everyday, you have to meet with your sponsor every day" Worse I was told NOTHING else mattered- nothing- not my family, my job nothing except AA- I also find it strange that people who have been sober for 10, 20 or more years STILL have go to a meeting everyday?

[Zorn]

While I've met some absolutely Wonderful and Awesome people in AA, I've burned out completely on the entire program, even though I just had 8 yrs w/out a drink recently. I did do the steps with a sponsor, was a secretary at 3 different fellowships, anywhere from 6 months to 2.5 yrs lol. And. I. Just. Burned. Out.

I simply had to go. I always had an issue with the 'disease' concept but was willing to do whatever it took early on to quit drinking. I also noticed that once you quit going to meetings, the 'friends' you thought you made aren't really gonna be in touch w you, for all intents and purposes. I know, because I've been on both sides of it now. Only 2 people reached out on my 'sobriety b-day', when they used to practically throw me a lil party when i was a regular attendee (awwww, lol, I know). Point is, when you quit plugging in, be prepared to do it on your own. And I am.

It's a Fear Based program, even though it has worked for me. That's another reason I had to leave. All the negativity and parroted b.s. being thrown at those who decide to try another method, including doing it on your own. In fact, Most people out there quit on there own anyway, be it drugs, booze, or both. Look it up, by all means. The bottom line is, recovery is a bitch, and it's up to each individual to decide for Themselves what they wanna do. And when the best case scenario for any program is a 'success' rate of 10% or so, Nobody reserves the right to point the finger at another method and say, "you have no chance".

Best of luck to all out there who struggle with this. Keep fighting the good fight, because our lives are worth fighting for, no matter what the odds are.

[manicmurph]

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again expecting different results. Well isn't going back to meetings again and again the same thing? I find most of the AA cult are hypocrites.

[NoThanksnothanks]

It's too time consuming and demanding. Meetings everyday for the first 90 days. Reporting to ur sponsor everyday. Cryptic assignments, there is a hierarchy within AA new members r not treated as equals. Lots and lots of egos and power tripping. Some people r revered based on their time sober and are worshipped but in reality r losers in their own life and r only important within the AA circle. They just hang on in the groups long after soberity bc they have nothing else going on. So yeah it didn't work for me. BTW they tell u they only have a 10% recovery rate! WTF, if the program is statistically that unsuccessful then CHANGE, don't wear it on ur sleeve as a badge of honor! At least lie to give hope for newcomers. If AA where a business it would have been bankrupted and abandoned years ago.

[shawna.]

TRUTH! Love this mans LOGIC. Craig, you have changed the way I view this whole situation. Alcohol is poison.

[DELPHI]

One statement is you drink too much, I always knew that, the other is you are an alcoholic. To this day if you called me an alcoholic I tell you to go to hell. For years, I’ve seen people go public with these stories of self pity and their struggle with alcoholism. Their is no such thing. What do they do? Take a blood or urine test to detect this illness.
Let me explain how you know if you’re an alcoholic like me. People, like me, wake up in the morning hungover, can’t remember driving home the night before, feel like crap, and say “l had too much to drink last night” Then we say “I wasn’t drunk last night, I must have a couple of drinks too many. I’m going to “cut down” next time.” You were drunk the night before, but didn’t know it. People, like me, don’t feel drunk even when we are. I’ve never experienced the physical sensation of being drunk when drinking. It’s always when I wake up in the up in the morning.
We try all kinds of tricks to control our drinking. Count them, switch to drinks, that aren’t our favorites, laying off the booze for a while.
You don’t realize is the first drink, that sets off an appetite phenom for more. That is how addictions work. You don’t cut down. You go higher and higher as the addiction increases.
You’re always addicted to it.
If you can relate to what I just said, quit trying to cut down and control your drinking.
You have to quit cold turkey.

[StepUp]

I’m in AA right now. I’m new in sobriety. I hear what you saying and I agree to an extent. There is a lot of things about AA I don’t like. But I’m just trying to stay clean. Going to a meeting gives me something to do instead of going to the bar or something. It’s more like a social outlet for me until I get stronger and get a new social network outside the drinking and drug using people. But I doubt if I’ll keep going all the time after years of being clean, if I’ll even go at all.

[robinjohnson]

It didn't work for me because 12-step people were too crass and mean and judgemental...it was terrible.

[ixishadesixi]

Felt like you were speaking directly to me on this. I’m an atheist and have struggled with AA for that and other reasons like saying we are weak willed etc. Just purchased your audiobook. I really hope this assists me on my sober journey. Thank you

[josephkennedy]

Most people who have " success " in AA are not even alcoholics .

[daviddivad]

I'm a christian and agree here. you need to change your bad thinking patterns that will result in bad actions. Faith can be an additional motivator to live a responsible healthy life but i really like Craig's approach.

[clancykobane]

i used to go to this meeting where this guy was so passive aggressive, praising me one time, ignoring me the next time i saw him. also, the guys in this meeting meet at restaurants and bars before the meeting for dinner. i got so many WEIRD vibes after a while i just couldn't go back. i just couldn't. i do go to another meeting that is very mellow and just more like some friends gathering for support, with no attitude or agenda. rare for an a.a. meeting, i think. good luck everyone!

[stubdo]

AA doesn't say you have to force yourself to not drink. It doesn't say alcoholics are weak willed. My take on it is that alcoholism/alcoholism addiction is deeper rooted than the conscious mind, so conscious thought won't help - aside from to direct it to daily constructive action/awareness of life. I have an understanding of god, for me - which is not supernatural or reactive to human requests in any way and doesn't come down and remove my desire to drink. I had to open my imagination and looked at etc. and weigh up life's realities and seem to have tuned into a deeper awareness and perspective of life. I like the blog. Will listen to more of them. You definitely have to follow your own conscience with all this I think

[Alco.Bipo.Believer_Sarah]

I was told I’ve failed repeatedly bc I’m “constitutionally incapable of being honest with myself”.
The shame keeps me from going back and to “escape” AA more.