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AA ruined my life
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exi...@myplace.com
Mar 5, 2013, 9:25:35 PM3/5/13
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FROM:
http://voices.yahoo.com/alcoholics-anonymous-tales-recovery-vi-4907230.html
--------
Alcoholics Anonymous: Tales from Recovery VI
The Real AA
Unlike many people who are ex-members of Alcoholics Anonymous, I do not
give AA the benefit of the doubt. I do not acknowledge anything positive
about the program. AA ruined my life. I spent years sitting in meetings
suffering from boredom and anxiety.
To begin with (and don't worry I am not going to bore you with my story)
when I got into Alcoholics Anonymous I was 31 years old. I wasted the
next nine years of my life sitting around in smoke filled rooms drinking
coffee and having stupid conversations. I was absolutely convinced that
AA was the only way to stay sober. Probably after the first six months
of meetings, I really didn't want to be there, but because you're
constantly told that you will die if you go back out and drink, you keep
coming back.
During my nine years in AA, I sat around mostly angry and unable to
think rationally. I was one of those jerks that told newcomers to pray
and go to meetings. I can't even count how many people I saw go in and
out the doors of AA during my membership? How many people did I give bad
advice to and actually harm? I can't even count.
Somewhere around the fifth year I started becoming increasingly more
hostile. I was very lonely as there was no one in my life but people in
AA. Those relationships were all based upon the program and the twelve
steps. If I was going to a meeting with these individuals or attending
dinner at the local diner then I was at home alone watching television.
I tried for several more years to go to AA functions like dances and
overnight retreats, but it was as though I was constantly in an AA
meeting, no matter where I was.
I started seeing a therapist because I was really beginning to fall into
deep depression. Thank God I made that decision! Thank God I got the
therapist that I did! He started telling me things like there are other
alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous. He introduced me to Rational
Recovery and the writing of Stanton Peele. Until that point no one had
ever told me that there were alternatives to AA. I stopped going to AA.
I stayed in contact with some of the people in the program for a time.
But after a few months the phone rang less and all my so called AA
friends didn't want to have anything to do with me.
Nine years of Alcoholics Anonymous and I didn't have anything to show
for it, not even a friend. But the kicker came a year later when I was
out with some new normal friends at a restaurant eating dinner. I was
walking back from the bathroom to my table when I ran into a guy that I
use to be friends with in AA. I asked how he was doing and he and the
conversation inevitable changed to Alcoholics Anonymous and the program.
He started talking to me like I needed help and at first I could not
understand why he was talking to me this way. Come to find out him and
everyone else in AA were sitting around discussing how I had gone crazy
and left AA. They all had this idea that I was drinking out of control.
I assured him that I was fine and told him that I thought it was
appalling how people in AA only live by principles when it concerns
someone in the program. What happened to my anonymity? Guess that only
applies to members. Good program based on principles! What a bunch of
hypocrites!
My advice to anyone in Alcoholics Anonymous, or thinking about attending
is get as far away from the program as possible. You will waste years of
your life and you will feel horrible.
Published by Vincent Van Noir
http://voices.yahoo.com/alcoholics-anonymous-tales-recovery-vi-4907230.html
--------
Alcoholics Anonymous: Tales from Recovery VI
The Real AA
Unlike many people who are ex-members of Alcoholics Anonymous, I do not
give AA the benefit of the doubt. I do not acknowledge anything positive
about the program. AA ruined my life. I spent years sitting in meetings
suffering from boredom and anxiety.
To begin with (and don't worry I am not going to bore you with my story)
when I got into Alcoholics Anonymous I was 31 years old. I wasted the
next nine years of my life sitting around in smoke filled rooms drinking
coffee and having stupid conversations. I was absolutely convinced that
AA was the only way to stay sober. Probably after the first six months
of meetings, I really didn't want to be there, but because you're
constantly told that you will die if you go back out and drink, you keep
coming back.
During my nine years in AA, I sat around mostly angry and unable to
think rationally. I was one of those jerks that told newcomers to pray
and go to meetings. I can't even count how many people I saw go in and
out the doors of AA during my membership? How many people did I give bad
advice to and actually harm? I can't even count.
Somewhere around the fifth year I started becoming increasingly more
hostile. I was very lonely as there was no one in my life but people in
AA. Those relationships were all based upon the program and the twelve
steps. If I was going to a meeting with these individuals or attending
dinner at the local diner then I was at home alone watching television.
I tried for several more years to go to AA functions like dances and
overnight retreats, but it was as though I was constantly in an AA
meeting, no matter where I was.
I started seeing a therapist because I was really beginning to fall into
deep depression. Thank God I made that decision! Thank God I got the
therapist that I did! He started telling me things like there are other
alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous. He introduced me to Rational
Recovery and the writing of Stanton Peele. Until that point no one had
ever told me that there were alternatives to AA. I stopped going to AA.
I stayed in contact with some of the people in the program for a time.
But after a few months the phone rang less and all my so called AA
friends didn't want to have anything to do with me.
Nine years of Alcoholics Anonymous and I didn't have anything to show
for it, not even a friend. But the kicker came a year later when I was
out with some new normal friends at a restaurant eating dinner. I was
walking back from the bathroom to my table when I ran into a guy that I
use to be friends with in AA. I asked how he was doing and he and the
conversation inevitable changed to Alcoholics Anonymous and the program.
He started talking to me like I needed help and at first I could not
understand why he was talking to me this way. Come to find out him and
everyone else in AA were sitting around discussing how I had gone crazy
and left AA. They all had this idea that I was drinking out of control.
I assured him that I was fine and told him that I thought it was
appalling how people in AA only live by principles when it concerns
someone in the program. What happened to my anonymity? Guess that only
applies to members. Good program based on principles! What a bunch of
hypocrites!
My advice to anyone in Alcoholics Anonymous, or thinking about attending
is get as far away from the program as possible. You will waste years of
your life and you will feel horrible.
Published by Vincent Van Noir
Charlie M. 1958
Mar 5, 2013, 10:21:14 PM3/5/13
to
On 3/5/2013 8:25 PM, exi...@myplace.com wrote:
> FROM:
> http://voices.yahoo.com/alcoholics-anonymous-tales-recovery-vi-4907230.html
>
> --------
>
> Alcoholics Anonymous: Tales from Recovery VI
> The Real AA
>
> Unlike many people who are ex-members of Alcoholics Anonymous, I do not
> give AA the benefit of the doubt. <snip>
> FROM:
> http://voices.yahoo.com/alcoholics-anonymous-tales-recovery-vi-4907230.html
>
> --------
>
> Alcoholics Anonymous: Tales from Recovery VI
> The Real AA
>
> Unlike many people who are ex-members of Alcoholics Anonymous, I do not
Nine years in AA, and by his own admission, all he did was go to AA
functions or sit home and watch TV. No effing wonder life was miserable!
Jimbo
Mar 5, 2013, 10:44:12 PM3/5/13
to
On 5 Mar, 22:21, "Charlie M. 1958" wrote:
> Nine years in AA, and by his own admission, all he did was go to AA
> functions or sit home and watch TV. No effing wonder life was miserable!
Anyone named Vincent Van Noir has to be fucked up!
> Nine years in AA, and by his own admission, all he did was go to AA
> functions or sit home and watch TV. No effing wonder life was miserable!
ebat...@gmail.com
Apr 26, 2018, 12:08:32 AM4/26/18
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ebat...@gmail.com
Apr 26, 2018, 12:09:00 AM4/26/18
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On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 6:25:35 PM UTC-8, exi...@myplace.com wrote:
ebat...@gmail.com
Apr 26, 2018, 12:09:40 AM4/26/18
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On Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 6:25:35 PM UTC-8, exi...@myplace.com wrote:
Al Luminatti
Apr 27, 2018, 12:23:42 AM4/27/18
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Al Luminatti
Apr 27, 2018, 12:23:57 AM4/27/18
to
Al Luminatti
Apr 27, 2018, 12:24:15 AM4/27/18
to
halo...@gmail.com
Jan 3, 2020, 7:34:24 PM1/3/20
to
I think that’s a pretty rad name.
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