Question by Joe E: I’m an alcoholic w/12 yrs. of sobriety and I was wondering if there were any other alcoholics?
that view AA as somewhat contradictory and vague?

Best answer:

Answer by raysny
I thought I was the only one who had trouble with AA until I got online.

I found the Yahoo group 12-step free,
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12-step-free/
over 1000 members whose description reads:
“12SF is a discussion group for those who reject 12-step ideology or are seriously questioning it. Members are those who have left step groups, who are still attending but are uncomfortable and considering leaving, who have loved ones caught up in steppism, who are professionals in the fields of addiction, law enforcement, etc., or who simply have an interest in discussing and debunking 12-steppism. We talk about how steppism has harmed people (or how it hinders growth), and we debunk the superstitious and unscientific beliefs of the 12-step movement. We also talk about political issues related to “addiction” and “recovery”, including court cases which have declared 12-steppism to be a religion.”

I co-own another, without_aa:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/without_aa/
“Yes, you can stay sober without AA. We are people who have been burned by AA and we discuss things we believe are wrong within AA. If you are convinced of the AA doctrine that you cannot be sober without AA, then this is probably not a group you should join. Our desire is to help you see what AA really is and we are not counselors or trained professionals. This list is not meant to replace professional therapy.”

There are many others.

I was in and out of AA for almost 20 years, never managing more than a few months sobriety. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a group where I did not belong and got help for the depression that kept me drinking, drinking became a non-issue. (And yes, I WAS a “real” alcoholic.)

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