If you fail in AA, it's you that's failed. well duh, no sh!t... i have two friends that i KNOW would NOT BE HERE TODAY without AA.
Posted on 03/23/2014 4:04:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The low success rate of AA is known. The varying ways people respond to AA is also known. Indeed, I have observed it myself.
It is notable to me that there seems to be no mention of the success rate of other approaches. What is there that works better? The anti-AA psychology disagreement has been going on for more then 3 decades. Surely is there IS data showing something that works better than AA the writer could mention it.
It seems likely that addictive behavior has several causes. Therefore it seems likely that one therapy will not work for all who display such behavior. Further those who stop displaying addictive behavior with respect to things like alcohol or medication may still show compulsive behaviors in other ways.
Some people who go to AA seem to get really better, a LOT better. Others, to mention just one imperfect outcome, just become addicted to going to AA — which still beats being addicted to a substance which in sufficient doses is a poison.
Not only that, but the proposed approach involving insight may well be insufficient in many cases. The inner state which leads to the displacement or compulsive behavior could be organic in origin, for example. The “talking cure” can only go so far with organic illness.
My conclusion is that, as it is, this is a pretty vapid article which seems to be self-serving somehow.
I know Robert Downey Jr still goes to weekly meetings.
On the other hand, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine said nothing worked for years till he picked up a bible and started reading.
If you can quit in twelve steps, great. I did it in one step, 38 years ago. Just don’t drink.
I think it is just one more step in the progressive plan to completely erradicate the concept of a Higher Power from the public eye. “Don’t ask God for help, as his bosses (psychiatrists).”
Those whom cannot afford a psychiatrist? Ignore them
Those who are helped by programs like these? They are unimportant
I think he is laying the groundwork for legal challenges to funding a la Boy Scouts.
I'll tell you what this is all about. God. They hate that many people seek help from a higher power. Liberals attacked Teen Challenge who has a 70% success rate, because their strength comes from depending on God. The left hates anything that has to do with God. They called teen challenges help child abuse. These people would rather their own loved ones, continue in their addiction if it meant believing in God. Government success rate is in 20s.
Thank goodness it worked for my brother. Without it I would have no brother.
Because of it he has been a model husband, father and completed a lifelong Navy career.
He now, after retirement from the Navy, been working for the state of Virginia in Social Work, for years.
He could have done none of this.
You have to do it on your honor. Either to yourself, or to god and it goes on for a lifetime.
It’s been close to 17 years for me and while not as intense as it once was, I still go to meetings once in a while. I need to see the newbies as a reminder to keep the faith.
Doc we will hold your seat for you until you are ready...
Well, it requires “rigorous honesty”. That takes a lot of liberals out of the picture.
I was just talking to some recovered addicts (and drinkers) regarding that program. One of them is in a ministry program At Oral Roberts University.
He said that without the power of God to change on’s life - it just isn’t going to work; they’ll just fall back. But, if it’s a Christ-based program, then you have the power of the Holy Spirit working in the person’s life.
The problem with that? Well ... I guess it leaves out the atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus ... etc ... :-) ...
I’ve got a relative that we’re trying to work on ... in that regard.
they don’t say it doesn’t work for everyone. but i am sure you know of people in aa that have fallen off the wagon one or more times. ithink admitting the fact that it’s a program that doesn’t work for everyone is true, just like not every medicine works for everyone.
AA has helped countless people live one day at a time by the grace of God.
Ping AA
wht you say is true. the persone truly inside has to want to quit, consciously. maybe their life hasn’t hit rock bottom or the ‘what the hell am i doing?!?’ moment yet.
I read through it waiting for the argument against relying on a Higher Power. Surprised that was not in there.
I have had 2 close relatives who were helped by AA.
If you fail in AA, it's you that's failed. well duh, no sh!t... i have two friends that i KNOW would NOT BE HERE TODAY without AA.
I’m now very busy with Church and I’m sure Dr. Dode thinks that’s a bad thing.
(((
I am betting you are correct about that.
12 Steps have made my Wife and I better by getting over Addictions. We are now continuing our recovery via Celebrate Recovery.
Thank you Bill and God.
“It doesn’t work for everyone.
All it did for me was provide me with a new bunch of drinking buddies. What eventually worked for me was making a conscious decision to quit and toughing it out. Its been 12 or 13 years since I quit.”
I have known almost no one who beats an addiction permanently.
Kudos to you for doing it.
Regarding AA failing. My psych professor said that traditional psychiatry also has about a 90 percent failure rate. He said drugs were about the only thing that worked and even then it was about 50%.
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