Research On Alcoholism Refutes The Success of the 12 Step Program (AA)
HughFreakingDillon
Winnipeg Posts: 37,350
very long read, but very interesting.....
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/?utm_source=rstw
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/?utm_source=rstw
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk"
-EV 8/14/93
-EV 8/14/93
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Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
I do, however, think it's helpful to get together with others who understand what you're going through. Having an understanding support system without judgment seems like it would be very important.
-EV 8/14/93
support groups are great. they are invaluable. but when you are, as the article said, dealing with the law as well and people's livelihoods, these people need to be represented by those who have knowledge on the subject, not just personal experience. that's tantamount to hearsay.
-EV 8/14/93
If the program helps in someway for them to give up their ghost fine. But I don't remember what step it is that you have to apologize to people you have wronged. If you apologize for being a bully to someone in school way back when you are looking for a punch to the face as an adult.
I read this article back when it was first published. Soem of its premises are wrong and I need to read it again to give both my opinion and the facts of my experince while also sharing what I believe is the truth of where i see the error in the article.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-121_en.pdf
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-122_en.pdf
Given the anonymous nature of the program i.e. No membership lists official or otherwise , its all speculation as to how many members there are or even the number of groups who call themselves an AA meeting. Unless they choose to register the meeting with the new york main office it would stay a locally known group.
AA has no opinion on what it considers "outside" issues , as it became clear with Mann that it put what did work for some in jeopardy but in the text it does encourgae going to those professionals trained in xy or z. Neither does it claim to be the only thing out there. It was however the only known thing that seemed to work for the hopelessly alcoholic for an awful long time. In fact it makes clear that what was found to work in AA was only a beginning and a very small drop in a vast sea.
Now something that bugs me personally in the rooms is folks who state without question as AA is the only way. Its just not true and the text doesnt make that claim. It may be that AA is the only way for them ( I hold this position), but often that clarifier is left off. Knowing what alcoholism and drug addiction did to stunt my "growth" as a human being and the hell of active addiction, my fervent wish is for the addict to find what works for them. But that help , whatever it may be , requires a measure of discipline regardless of method.
So AA claims to only be able to help those who deem themselves hopeless in the face of alcohol. I have so much more to say but think I should see if you guys have questions that I can answer.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
The steps chart you showed is not much more than an outline. The meat of the program , the steps themselves, are found within the text of the book.
I would encouage you to go to aa.org and look for the chapter 4 pdf. It explains in detail just how it is that aa can be applied by the athiest or agnostic.
Try not to get to hung up on that 3 letter word. Because truely its the action taken by the individual that has the most effect on staying stopped.
As for the traditions, the group conscience is the collective voice of that group.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_bigbook_chapt4.pdf
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
"When, therefore, we speak to you of god, we mean your own conception of god"
AA is faith based.
I walked into a room of people, listen to thwem tell their story and that they found a way to stay sober, when I could not. I took it on faith that what would work for them could work for me.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
And I encourage all programs that seek to help others.
You are absolutely welcome to any opinion you have.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
It worked for you and I am sure it will work for many others.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Good on you.
So having been to the meetings, if I had a dependency problem I wanted to kick, 12 step would definitely not be the way to go for me. But that doesn't mean I'm against it anymore than I'm against people going to a church or synagogue or mosque or run bare naked in the forest.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
I'm sure there is a lot of good that comes from it...but the higher power stuff would keep me away...and the social circle aspect - relying on people who could be much worse off than I am for support, makes it a bit of a daunting proposition.
Looked briefly online at BFC trying see what they describe as holistic. Just curious.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
But that isnt what really happens at meetings, which are varied in format or type of meeting. Could be a topic discussion, literature reading, speaker meeting. But its not like what you may have seen in movies.
In many ways we are being shown how to live. With ourselves and others. We find acceptance of emotions( which many drank or used to numb because we didnt like how it felt), a place to freely express that with less fear of judgement and more often the support of folks who "get it".
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14