Today was a horrible day riding. I came home and cried....a LOT. Now, I've gone out and eaten a lot of sweet stuff. I did NOT drink though, which I wouldn't on a weekend and I also resisted buying cigarettes. I gave away all the partially finished packs I had accumulated on nights out drinking. Giving them away was a good thing because otherwise I'd be smoking right now.
The reason riding was such a downer is because my horse flipped out and then my teacher got pissed at me for not doing what she told me to and it was such an emotional rollercoaster...a lot of fear and near tears. I then came home and bemoaned my very existence. Really.
And now that I'm eating junk food, I am probably NOT going to feel too hot tomorrow, when I am likely to have another scary ride. Oh well. I think I'll just try to get some sleep tonight. The lack of it last night probably has not helped.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
ReplyDeleteFiled under: Rants — spedman @ Jun 22nd, 2007
When you think about Alcoholics Anonymous you think of a group that
helps those with an addiction break the habit and become sober. You think of a program that betters someone with an addiction to alcohol.
What you do not think is cult. The truth is alcoholics anonymous is simply a cult, one of the longest lasting ones at that. Throughout this paper I will prove to you just that.
Alcoholics Anonymous was created by two alcoholics by the names of William Wilson and Dr. Bob in 1935. They wrote books on the subject and gathered at arranged meetings every week to talk about there addiction. The program grew from there and they recruited many people with the enticing opportunity of becoming sober once again.
The problem is the program is so flawed and non-effective it is almost impossible to become sober using its set rules and guidelines.
Alcoholics Anonymous still uses these books as there doctrine today, even though they have proven not effective. How can a program be created around guidelines written by two men who continually fell back into alcoholism?
I see no way it can possibly work. Aside from its ineffectiveness, Alcoholics Anonymous runs solely on intimidation, false hopes, and the forced belief in god. Regardless of what Alcoholics denies it is very evident they promote religion.
As stated above Alcoholics Anonymous denies that they promote religion, yet constantly they say that its members must find god. It seems to me that that is promotion of religion. Federal courts even deemed Alcoholics Anonymous “unequivocally religious.”
Through out AA’s history you can find thousands of remarks dealing with religion and even the sole belief that the only thing that matters is the AA program.
Everything else must come second to AA. Here are a few things commonly stated at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings; “Alcoholics must turn to god.”, “Choosing to go to AA is choosing to find god.”, “Submission of the individual to the will of god is necessary.”, “Surrender your will to a greater will.”, “If you can not manage yourself turn to god.”
If you cannot see that those statements are in every way religious I don’t know what will.
Aside from those statements the two founders often say that the member must rely on the program and the program alone.
If you read through there books you will be amazed at some of the things they say, often putting the program above family and other aspects of life.
I was truly amazed at this quote from William Wilson; “I decided I must place AA above everything else, even my family, because if I did not maintain sobriety I would lose them anyway.” A man placed the AA program above his family, regardless of the reason that is a very strong sense of commitment.
Many AA members read those very same words. If a founder gave up his family, would not a member do the same? “But there is one who has all power—the one is god! May you find him now.” Simply put, AA is religious.
Alcoholics Anonymous as a group does many of the same things dangerous cults like the Manson family or Jones town did. But first we will talk about the founders of AA. Bill Wilson has become idolized.
Much like the way everyone in the Manson family did whatever Charlie said without question. His home has become a shrine, and his belongings have become highly sought after items by the 12 Step community.
Some members even believe that he could possibly have been the reincarnation of Christ. The core members, although they deny having any leaders in AA, are often referred to as “trusted servants.”
This label tags these members, the trusted servants, with a great amount of moral authority because the regular AA members believe that these members are representing AA’s history back to Bill W. and even to the Loving God AA obediently serves. Clearly this is cult like behaviour!
Let’s talk about the effectiveness of the program. The 12 Step program is NOT effective. If it were not for one leaked document there would not be much proof of to aide these remarks. Alcoholics Anonymous never releases any sort of documentation on the success of rehabilitating alcoholics. So naturally they can say they are the greatest in the world or that they have a 100% success rate.
But, in 1989 an internal document was released, and on this document was statistics. It showed that 81% of AA members leave after one month, 90% of AA members leave after three months, 93% of AA members leave after six months, and 95% of AA members leave before twelve months.
Alcoholics Anonymous has a success rate of 5%! It gets better. A percentage as small as 5% is considered to be spontaneous. This means that those 5% would have recovered without Alcoholics Anonymous. Let me break it down one more time just to make sure you get it. Success rate with AA: 5%, success rate without AA: 5%.
A side note, Hospitals gave alcoholics LSD, a hallucinogen type drug, to break down alcohol cravings. This abnormal treatment had a 15% success rate, theoretically proving that LSD is three times more effective at recovering alcoholics then Alcoholics Anonymous. A former Alcoholics Anonymous spokes person said; “A majority of AA members slip after one month.
Others stay dry up to six months but eventually slip before the twelfth month.” Coming from a former spokesperson I think maybe people should take that into consideration.
Another quote from a spokesperson; “95% of newcomers do not ever attend a second meeting.” How great can your policy be if you cannot even entice people to come more then once? The 5% of people who join AA would quit on their own. No need for the middle man.
Despite this alarming failure rate, Alcoholics Anonymous claims to be the only path to salvation. Alcoholics Anonymous tells its members that they must accept its doctrine despite its discrepancies.
The tw12 step program provides no methods of quitting, simply to just quit drinking. How many people do you know that can simply quit an addiction? One would think that they would revise their methods to get better results.
Instead AA just says their program requires an unquestioning belief in obedience. When the program doesn’t work they just blame the person for failing, it is never AA’s fault.
The original founders tended to classify alcoholism as a “sin disease”. This is not possible. For one the philosophy of a “sin disease” is not possible in a free society. This is not a country run on religion.
Therefore again proving AA to be religious. By slapping the idea of alcoholism being a sin on it’s members it again gains the upper hand and has the ability to control its members by saying anything they want as long as it’s in the name of god. As soon as you go to AA it is very hard to get away.
Remember, it is a cult. AA is very possessive. They go to great lengths to bring you back. There are documentations of intimidation tactics being used, continuous phone calls, members often telling you that you will be damned if you do not return. They take growing their ranks very seriously.
Let’s break AA down. Alcoholics Anonymous is a highly religious group that thrives on the writings of its founders and put all of their belief in the writings and the 12 Step program.
Regardless of if it actually works. The members put the core members and the program above anything else in their lives. If it were necessary for AA to have the deed of their house they would give it to them.
They do not second guess anything AA tells them to do, remember it is “gods will.” If a member becomes an alcoholic again, it is in no way the program’s fault. The program always works as long as the member has total dedication and full belief in the power of “god.”
Friends, if Alcoholics Anonymous is not a cult I don’t know what is. If you can not see this by reading this paper then by all means go to any of the sources on my work cited paper.
They have plenty of links and valid information based on Harvard studies and trustworthy sources. You can make your own decision, but it is very evident: Alcoholics Anonymous is unquestionably a cult.
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.
TWELVE STEPS AWAY FROM CHRIST
ReplyDeleteMr. Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and creator of the twelve-step program. Mr. Wilson was heavily influenced by demons.
Chapter sixteen (p. 275f) of 'Pass It On' The Story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world records Mr. Wilson's use of the ouija board, participation in séances, psychic events, "spook sessions", table levitation, and how he would receive "messages" from "discarnate" spirits.
Bill Wilson was clearly in contact with demons, and this is the man who created the deceptive twelve-step program.
Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him. (Step #11. Emphasis added.) The last part of this statement ("as we understood Him") is enough to damn your soul! God says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5).
This is the exact opposite of "God as we understood Him." All men, according to Romans 1:18-32, are condemned before God, because they rely upon their own understanding (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18, "having their understanding darkened"), and they create (in their own darkened minds) a god of their own making (Romans 1:23).
To encourage people to turn their "lives over to the care of God as we understood Him", is to encourage people to "turn their lives over to a god of their own making" (i.e. according to their own understanding).
This promotes nothing more than spiritual death (Revelation 22:15). In addition, these twelve steps are a deceitful attack against the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. they are against Christ, anti-Christ, 2 John 7; Colossians 2:8-10).
The twelve steps are (as Mr. Wilson used them) given as an answer (a way) in which one can overcome sin (with Mr. Wilson's case, the sin of drunkenness).
Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer for sin. He is the only way (John 14:6). There is only ONE "step", and that is faith in the Saviour (Ephesians 2:8/Matthew1:21/John 8:36/Romans10: 13!
The above exemplifies the "twelve steps" are what are used to "become free from addictive, compulsive" behaviour (i.e. sin). In other words, the twelve steps are the saviour!
No doubt it is deceptive, because "Biblical principles" are interwoven throughout; but if they weren't, few (if any) would be deceived. One good question to ask would be, "Where does Scripture talk about any 'twelve steps'"? The answer? Nowhere!
These twelve steps come from Satan (via Bill Wilson), who is the master deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Remember, SATAN. used Scripture to tempt Christ (Matthew 4:6), and Balaam spoke much truth (Numbers 23-24); but he was a false prophet (2 Peter 2:15-16/Numbers 22).
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus warned, Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus likewise warned in Luke 13:24, Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David
Welcome to Blogging and your new life. It gets better and better....Take it one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteI see you have met Michael Patrick David--whatever sickness that is. You may wish to consider enabling "MODERATE blog comments"
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, welcome to this really wonderful blogosphere of alcoholics, recovering, of course! You will never be sorry you happened in here!
Believe me, these blog posts have changed my life since I came, in April 2008. Drop on over and say "Howdy".
Steve E.
AlkySeltzer said...
ReplyDeleteI see you have met Michael Patrick David--whatever sickness that is.
Dear Steve E,
I wonder if THIS might interest you?
MARY CHRISTINE - AA ZOMBIE
ReplyDeleteOne Sober Alcoholic
DIARY OF AN AA ZOMBIE
I am also mourning the loss of AA as I know it. I look around and see very little evidence of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous as I thought it was. I see something entirely different. We used to care about each other. We used to actually know each other. We used to talk with each other.
MICHAEL’S RESPONSE
Mary Christine, doesn't mention JESUS CHRIST, ONCE, in her self-absorbed diatribe?
Luke 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.>
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS &
ReplyDeleteTHE NEW WORLD ORDER
Aleister Crowley, illuminati, Satanist, and 33 degree level Free Mason, circa 1875-1947, founded his religion, “Thelema,” at the turn of the century.
Thelema being the practiced religion of its members, Crowley also created at the turn of the century “ Fraternitatis Argenteum Astrum” which translates from Greek to English, “Fraternal Order of the Silver Star”.
One of the symbols used by Crowley to identify his fraternal order is the Masonic triangle within a circle with the acronyms A.A. inscribed below it.
This symbol is now known globally as the symbol of Alcoholics Anonymous. Crowley published a book in 1922 entitled Diary of a Drug Fiend. In this book Crowley presents a satanic program of recovery from drug addiction.
Throughout Diary of a Drug fiend, its publication predating Alcoholics Anonymous by 17 years, there are many themes and phrases, both similar and identical that are also common in “The Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous.
These themes include “abandoning free will”, “abandoning ones self”, “it’s beyond human power”, “god is beyond conception”, “Do what thou wilt”, “Do with me as thou wilt” etc.
The identical ideology of these doctrines is this: free will is useless therefore hand your will over to someone or something else. Anyone who has read both Alcoholics Anonymous and Diary of a Drug Fiend can easily spot the commonality in the wording, writing style and doctrine of the two books.
It is also easy to see similarity in the writing style of the short lymric style poem included in the first chapter of the Big Book, “Bill’s Story”, of Alcoholics Anonymous and the many short lymric style poems written by Crowley.
See an example of the common writing style in the following poems.Big Book; 1st Chapter; “Bills Story”:Here lies a Hampshire Grenadier Who caught his death Drinking cold small Beer.
A good soldier is ne’er forgot Whether he dieth by musket or by pot.”
Crowley’s “Epitaph” to Pearl Brooksmith written August 1933:Here lies a Pearl of women Who lived in open sin. One end collected semen, The other guzzled gin.
The first chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, “Bills Story”, gives insight into the darker psychological elements of the character Bill W.
Note the following excerpts taken from “Bills Story”: “Judging from what I had seen in Europe and since, the power of God in human affairs was negligible, the Brotherhood of Man a grim jest.
If there was a Devil, he seemed the Boss Universal, and he certainly had me.” Later in the chapter the author writes: “Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness.
I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all.” Father of Light” as used in the above paragraph is also referred to in the bible as “Lucifer”.
Now see the identical ideology in the following excerpt from Diary of a Drug Fiend describing the spiritual program of the character Basil, who is identified in the book as “Satan himself”: “He wants one to be oneself, and the price of that is to abandon the false ideas that one has of oneself.”
In the last page of “Bills Story” the author writes:” An alcoholic in his cups is an unlovely creature. Our struggles with them are variously strenuous, comic, and tragic. One poor chap committed suicide in my home.
He could not, or would not, see our way of life.” There is, however a vast amount of fun about it all. I suppose some would be shocked at our seeming worldliness and levity.
The rituals which Crowley conducted with his followers involved, drug use, animal sacrifice, consuming human feces, homosexual sex, drinking blood, consuming menses, physical abuse and psychological torture.
Crowley even boasted of ritually sacrificing children. Crowley’s goal was to psychologically break people in order to control them.
In turn, Treatment Centers
utilizing the Twelve Step method of Alcoholics Anonymous aim to bring about a psychological break in the patient.
This psychological break is referred to in Alcoholics Anonymous as a “complete psychological change”.
The techniques used by treatment centers to cause a psychological break involve cutting off the patient from his familiar social setting (restricting contact with family and friends) and restricting access to reading material, radio and television.
The patient lives in a situation of inferiority and is regularly reproached by his counselor and “group” members for using defense mechanisms (humor, self-pity, anger, etc.).
The patient is bombarded with repetitive slogans and phrases. The idea is to create sufficient stress to cause a psychological collapse at which point the patient becomes susceptible to influence.
The desired goal is for the patient to abandon free will and to accept the program. The most commonly known term for this form of this process of psychological restructuring is brainwashing.
Examples of this satanic, free Masonic agenda can also be seen in music, art and pop culture.
The term “Oz”, as used in the film title The Wizard of Oz, is taken from Crowley’s book, Liber Oz (“Oz” is Crowley’s transcription of the Hebrew word for goat.)
Another, so called, family film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory is a thinly veiled allegorical metaphor of Alcoholics Anonymous.
You can easily see this in the story line. Wonka’s spy “Slugworth” is a play on the name “William D, Silkworth” credited as the author of the chapter entitled, “Doctor’s Opinion” of Alcoholics Anonymous.
In turn “Willy Wonka” is a play on the name of Alcoholics Anonymous founder William Wilson,a.k.a. Bill W. The story line goes as such; the children and their parents endure a crucible of which most of them fall out of because of impulsiveness and lack of self-control.
Only Charley lasts till the end of the ordeal at which point Wonka rejects him on the basis that Charley was overcome by his impulsive nature, indulging in the Fizzy soda, thus breaking the rules, therefore disqualifying himself from inheriting the Chocolate factory.
Only after Charley gives back the everlasting gobstopper and his “will” to inherit the factory does Wonka grant Charley the factory. The key here is Charley gave up his “will” and was thus rewarded for so doing.
This here fits right into the framework of Alcoholics Anonymous ideal that, “human will is of no use what so ever”.
I find it most plausible that many government officials, politicians, musicians, artists, and elitist types know the secret of Aleister Crowley and A.A. and that no one is willing to publicly uncover this deception that has existed for the last 80 or so years.
As stated in “Step Three” of the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, “human will is of no value what so ever,” this serves the Masonic/Illuminati, New World Order agenda perfectly.
Another theme emphasized throughout Alcoholics Anonymous is the proclamation that the A.A. member is “powerless”.
As governments and elitists endeavour to dis-empower citizens via corrupt banking practices, taxation, legislation, corrupt corporate influence, and censored and controlled media, a significant portion of a population will engage in the use of alcohol and drugs.
To illustrate this fact, one must only look at the alcoholism epidemic of the former Soviet Union and the alcohol and drug abuse which plagues the Native American Culture.
It is no mere coincidence that after the creation of the run for profit, privately owned, Federal Reserve in 1913 the Prohibition was enacted, the Stock Market collapsed, and the U.S. endured the Great Depression.
This was an attempt by the elitist, illuminati banking families (Rothschild and Rockefeller) at imposing fascistic control.
Also during the same period, the Federal Government imposed the Prohibition, and criminalized drugs which were previously legal to purchase and possess.
In order for an oppressive government to gain control it must first regulate by legislating and criminalizing personal freedoms.
It can be seen today that the problem of drug addiction in America has been made a bigger, more expensive problem than it was at the turn of the century and earlier.
Today, this explains why the CIA is known to allow cocaine and heroin to hit the streets of America to this day. If America is fighting a “War on Drugs”, what side does it presume to be on?
The scenario is this simple: (1). Illegalize drugs and alcohol (2). Make them readily available then, (3). Force the intentionally created criminals into a program that requires them to give up their free will.
The reader should understand that this information is not meant as an attack on persons who are members of Alcoholics Anonymous, but rather it is meant to inform those who would aspire to have as much knowledge as possible concerning the institution of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.
THE SACRED BULL
ReplyDeleteI imagine 12 STEPPERS have sold their souls to the devil. Fortunately, I was saved through the power of Jesus Christ, but for many years had been exposed to the evil “satanic cult” (Alcoholics Anonymous) Wilson (AA) has prostituted himself & deluded millions (12 STEP GROUPS) by worshipping the god Moloch (Ba’al the Sacred Bull). It all started with his (Wilson) “drug induced hallucination”….
Here are references to séances and other psychic events….
Bill would…”get” these things …long sentences, word by word would come through….” (22)
, he asked for guidance….The words began tumbling out with astonishing speed….(23)
So A.A.’s 12 Steps were actually received verbatim from the demonic world. It is not surprising, then, that the effect of A.A. upon many of its members is to lead them into occult involvement.
In 1958, Wilson wrote to Sam Shoemaker,
Throughout A.A., we find a large amount of psychic phenomena, nearly all of it spontaneous. Alcoholic after alcoholic tells me of such experiences… run nearly the full gamut of everything we see in the books.
In addition to my original mystical experience, I’ve had a lot of such phenomenalism myself.(24)
Wilson’s “original mystical experience” was his alleged “conversion” –a classic occult encounter: “Suddenly the room lit up with a great white light. I was caught up into an ecstasy…it burst upon me that I was a free man…a wonderful feeling of Presence, and I thought to myself, ‘So this is the God of the preachers! ‘ A great peace stole over me….”(25)
This was not the “God of the preachers” but the one who transforms himself “into an angel of light” (2 Cor 1l:l4) - a light that often transforms those involved in the occult.
The experience was so profound that Wilson never touched alcohol again. Satan would he more than willing to deliver a man from alcoholism in this life if thereby he could ensnare him for eternity and inspire him to lead millions to the same destruction!
Wilson joined the Oxford Group and regularly attended its meetings at Calvary Church (NY), pastored by Episcopalian Sam Shoemaker. Shoemaker urged his hearers to “accept God however they might conceive of him….”(26)
Here was the origin of Step 3’s “God as we understood him.” God does not respond to those who call upon false gods. Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (Jn 17:3).
God’s judgment comes upon them “that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thes 1:8).
I will set my face against that man & his family & will cut off from their people both him & all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molech.
I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums & spiritists to prostitute him by following them, & I will cut him off from his people. (Leviticus 20: 5, 6)
Moloch the God Ba’al, the Sacred Bull, was widely worshipped in the ancient Near East and wherever Carthaginian culture extended. Baal Moloch was conceived under the form of a calf or an ox or depicted as a man with the head of a bull.
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.
CANCEROUS GROWTH
ReplyDeleteI imagine AA to be a cancerous growth in our society. I have been DELIVERED – thanks to the SAVING GRACE of our LORD & SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
I've seen this "cult" virtually destroy people where they become these BILL & BOB ZOMBIES devoid of any emotion.
Most of the Steppers are not dealing with their core issues and become addicted to the "droning Bill & Bob heads" who pop up and expel meaningless diatribe from their mouths.
Alcoholism is the only "disease" one doesn't recover from & one is continually confessing ones non - existent sins, which intensify the guilt and fear when one is not at a meeting (indoctrination session). AA numbs and shuts down the critical thinking section of ones brain.
I know a guy who has been “sober” for over 30 years and he’s quite mad, because he hasn’t processed his fear & pain. The only way to FREEDOM is for one to REDEEM (through Christ) - the ‘child” within.
That "child" is God! "Unless you become like little children...." "The kingdom of God is within you!".
I hear things like; "I need to do the Steps!" "I need more meetings!" "I had cancer or my wife died or I lost my job!" "But! Guess what! I didn't pick up a drink". They might as well say; "I fell of my chair but I didn’t pick up a drink”! "Meaningless”! Why? Because one is not expressing ones feelings!
Ones process is all about processing ones feelings – especially ones REPRESSED feelings from ones childhood. How is one REDEEMED if one doesn’t feel ones pain, fear, & shame? AA suppresses these feelings until one ends up a semi - depressed zombie like the lunatic who has been sober for over 30 years.
Can you see how dangerous this "cult" is? A madman, Bill Wilson, started it and if you want to end up like him - keep attending meetings. The sure way to insanity is "Meetings!" "Meetings!" "Meetings!"
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.
Mary Christine Said..
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the fool under the hill...
My Dear Mary,
Whoever Says "You Fool!"
Shall Be in Danger of Hell Fire (Matthew 5:22)
Are you a FOOL, Mary Christine?
Nowhere in the 12 steps does it say that you should quit drinking, or help anyone else to quit drinking, either. Nowhere do the words SOBRIETY, RECOVERY, ABSTINENCE, HEALTH, HAPPINESS, JOY, & LOVE appear in the 12 Steps.
ReplyDeleteThe word ‘alcohol’ is only used once, when it was PATCHED into the 1st Step for the word “sin.” But Wilson wrote “ We are powerless over ‘alcohol’… Oxford Group Slogan; “We are powerless over sin & have been defeated by it
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.
12 STEP HORROR STORIES:
ReplyDeleteTrue Tales of Misery, Betrayal, and Abuse in AA, NA and 12-Step Treatment, edited by Rebecca Fransway
Reviewed by Jackie J.
The Introduction, Foreword, and Preface contain a great deal of anti-AA editorial commentary. The basic points are that AA is bad for some (or most) people and that people who contradict the belief-systems of AAers are demonized.
Pro-AA individuals who are easily offended might want to skip the introductory material. The horror stories themselves are fascinating reads and only a few had an entirely negative view of AA. Even avid 12-steppers should find something of value and little to resent in most of these stories.
Some stories are very detailed, chapter-length tales of 13-stepping and compulsory AA-attendance. Other stories are no more than a few paragraphs long. Each writer clearly has an independent and unique perspective on their AA experiences.
Most names were changed to protect the innocent, although some writers insisted that their names be proudly displayed.
Each story-teller drew a unique conclusion from their experience. The differing opinions treated the subject with a basic fairness that was much more open-minded and even-handed than the title suggests.
Every writer was clear that they were writing solely about their own experience and most insisted that they did not intend that the reader jump to conclusions about the organization as a whole.
Some contributers were primarily interested in reforming AA and fixing AA's internal problems by opening a healthy dialog within meetings, making newcomers aware of stalkers within the organization, and limiting the authority of old-timers (who may be more interested in protecting their friends and/or their egos than supporting the organization). They were motivated by a desire to create a better environment for those seeking recovery.
Some people protested the systematic sexism or racism they encountered in the organization. One mentioned the lack of tolerance for non-Judeo-Christian religious preferences. Male and female alcoholics are clearly held to different standards of behavior in many AA groups.
Others told of the shock they experienced when they were admitted into treatment centers and realized that they were in an abusive (or religious) environment that they were unprepared to cope with.
They related how they and their families were pressured into accepting a pro-forma explanation of their troubles.
Most of the writers' scorn was reserved for treatment centers and the counselors (most often characterized as deranged) who ran them.
Some stories dealt with suicides and other destructive behaviors that AA members were driven to when they were denied the support of the group for some actual or philosophical conflict with the organization.
Several instances had to do with people being encouraged to quit taking prescribed medications for mental illnesses in order to become authentically "sober" according to the standards of their group.
Very few readers insisted that they would not refer a friend to AA after their experiences, although most of them were emphatic that they themselves would not return to "those rooms" again.
Several had discovered alternate methods of treatment, others felt that they had taken charge of their lives and recovery sufficiently to no longer need the support of a group to maintain their sobriety.
The differing points of view and perspectives of the contributors gives lie to the myth that all alcoholics are alike.
These story-tellers all tell another story - the story of their resilience and commitment to sobriety regardless of the obstacles.
Interestingly enough, most of them arrived at a desire to act to change their circumstances and found the courage to speak out about the injustices they suffered in AA after four or five years of sobriety.
www.unhooked.com/booktalk/12_step_
horror_stories.htm
Peace Be With You
Michael Patrick David.
Well, so much for the excitement of seeing there were 13 COMMENTS on my blog's last post. Thank God (and I don't mean that literally michael patrick david) that two of the 13 were from seemingly sane people.
ReplyDeleteTo michael patrick david, you obviously have not been redeemed and I would question if you can be redeemed. Please refrain from making irrelevant comments on my blog. If you have something to say, and I believe you do, please be so kind to break it down and limit it to say, 1 comment per post, a comment that is relevant and reflects whatever was written in the post. Thank you.
j-online, thank you for the welcome!
alkyseltzer, thank you for the welcome as well and the perhaps will-have-to-avail-myself-of "moderate comments" option....lol. I don't really know what to call myself. Alcoholic doesn't sound right. Drinking problem doesn't sound right. My entire being is one of excess and going way past the usual definition of "moderation." In any case, I KNOW I have LOTS in common with people who abuse alcohol, food, (ok, not other drugs) whatever and that's what I'm trying to improve, my dealing with those things, in other words, LIFE. I love reading the sober blogs. It's nice to know there are so many people like me out there with similar thoughts, feelings. I guess you could call it just another strata of life that I hadn't explored before. Glad I am now.