Does AA Work? An Ex-Drinker Gives His Honest Review Of Alcoholic Anonymous

Does AA Work? An Ex-Drinker Gives His Honest Review Of Alcoholic Anonymous

I get a lot of negative comments from AA members, they seem on the whole to be very upset that anyone should dare to deal with a drinking problem without using their 12 step program.

There seems to be an almost cultist level of anger bubbling under the surface.

Don’t you dare do anything different than what worked for me etc.
Back when I had my drinking problems I went to Alcoholics Anonymous and I hated it. Actually, it made me drink even more than before.

Why? because I listened to all the terrible stories of alcoholic abuse and concluded that my drinking habit wasn’t so bad after all.

Yet, it was still killing me and making my life a misery.

It’s old, it’s free but for the most part, it just doesn’t work for most problem drinkers:

Does AA have a place... yes, for sure. However for many asking the question does alcoholics anonymous work? The answer can fall short of expectations.

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About Craig Beck

Craig is a bestselling author, speaker and alcoholism coach. He is also the creator of a complete 90 day quit drinking course called Stop Drinking Expert.

Not a replacement for professional medical advice.

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[slavid]

Greetings Craig
My personal experience with AA was demeaning, got me feeling broken for over 4 years, relapsing all the time, suicidal thoughts, went through 4 different locations & 4 different sponsors and all of that Pain, Misery, Time & Confusion was Totally Unnecessary.
Thank you for cracking the shackles of this psychological anchoring that you opened up. My Eyes.
Appreciate you Craig 🙏

[jacquelinecottrell]

It’s like I wrote a script for you! I felt exactly the same as you! Your book was a huge help (I have shared with many) and I loved the hypnotic tape you made for me. There is so much amazing support out there, people like you. I don’t count days but I am on year 6. Keep up the great work!

[paulinobalbuena]

I tried AA a few times it made me miss the bars and places i use to go to it was depressing ..changing my mindset and the way i view alcohol worked Best for me now 7 months sober and enjoying life

[sergioavila]

Hi Craig, I'm totally with you about AA. I tried AA for years and it didn't work for me. I'm not religious. You have to be. My brain works on logic.

[Rotbeam]

one thing I'd like to say about the whole "alcoholic" thing (as in using the term alcoholic to describe yourself), is that it's about taking away the stigma from the word. A lot of people have trouble labeling themselves an alcoholic and go through difficulty with rationalization, "I'm not as bad as that guy" (which you touched on in the video) type thinking, and so forth. Being around people who basically call themselves alcoholics with no shame can allow you to realise that it's pointless to fuss over particulars of terminology.
Personally speaking, this kind of acceptance allowed me to stop looking down on others. I didn't drink nearly as much as many people, I quit when I was 21 years of age (now 23), and I never drank every day. People I know often insist that I am not an alcoholic. I disagree, as I know very well that I am simply far too attached to alcohol. My life when I drank revolved around alcohol, even though I never went as far as some people might have. Understanding this has liberated me.
There's a true story (from AA) that I feel surmises it well. It goes like this. A man was sitting at an AA meeting and listening to a woman talk about the guilt she felt for killing somebody whilst driving drunk. He said quietly to the fellow next to him: "gee, I never did something like that." the fellow next to him responded with a question. "You ever black out?" the man laughs. "sure, more times than i could count." the fellow continues, "then you don't know. You could have killed somebody, and you wouldn't know." It's a morbid story, but the message is clear. It's foolish to view yourself as above the people who weren't as lucky as you. All kinds of bad things can happen as a result of drinking. If you drink to the point where you lose control of yourself, you have little right to be looking down on others. And through that realisation, you begin to understand that in fact it has nothing to do with whether you drank or not; it simply is wrong to cast judgement on others. Of course this is just my opinion.

[fieryeurochick]

Maybe that’s why AA didn’t appeal to me. It was depressing and I can’t even say “yes” to most of the questions they asked as to whether or not I was an alcoholic. And I believe in God. I also never understood the whole idea of calling yourself an alcoholic while your sober. And it’s every time you want to speak? I didn’t get it so I decided it wasn’t for me.

[petechabot]

Greetings Craig, you & your videos were incredibly helpful in the first days, weeks & months of my sobriety. I was disappointed with AA as well but must admit that it too was helpful. Today I use the fear of disappointing the people who helped/love me to remain sober going on 3 years. And your videos of course !

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

Pete Chabot

[micburns]

Craig come on my friend. You don’t have any issue with AA. You have a competing business model to this problem. I respect what you do and so chuffed you are helping alcoholics. You are selling yourself short. Focus your energy on what is good about what you do.

[uniquechallenges]

Yeah I'm athiest too it's way too religious

[Sketch_Sesh]

How dare we pathetic weak people get addicted to an addictive substance

[briguy_]

I’m 2 months sober. I’m one month away from my one year anniversary for when I quit smoking. I feel like it’s getting easier everyday to stay sober. Thank you so much for your videos. You have been a great help.

[visam]

I tried AA many times it didn't work for me. A lot of negative talk around those rooms. It feels cultish.

[CarolynnMc]

No AA didn't work for me. I guess i'd have to say I worked for myself! Best regards

[kevinsmith]

Oh man have you nailed it! Pretty much my experience as well on many levels. Aa is an outdated pathetic and archaic “organization” started in the 1930s! Why oh why it and the non-sensical (stupid and vapid) 12 steps is still the default for addiction treatment is mind boggling.
Your video should a national broadcast. For every alcohol advert there should be this accompanying video.
Perhaps it is finally time to create a new organization based on up to date information and research: Alcohol Adversaries

[anttoole]

I tried AA and it was far too religious, 90 meetings in 90 days.Blokes in a meeting one night, in the supermarket 0800hr in the morning buying booze. I just tried the hard way....on my own. I am a recovery success. X

[madeleinelittlewood]

I went to A/A for 5 months - I used it as a tool until I felt strong enough to go it alone. I am 5.5 yrs sober today. I did not do the 12 steps, nor was I even told I had to and I'm an atheist. I think A/A fails for a lot of people because they just aren't ready to give up drinking and won't admit it.

[ShannonFreng]

Craig, would you have any explanation as to how AA transformed, from being initially only meant for upper middle class WASP men, to its current demographic of mostly quasi-lumpenproletarian types?

[michaelquinn]

I agree Craig I went AA and felt like I wasn’t even close to being like everyone there. I did try for about 4 months but when they started bringing in drug addicts too I left.

[baronvonchickenpants]

I think it's a good start as you are facing up to your drinking problem,
I found a drug / alcohol addiction centre called open road better for me no religion or labels