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Posted on 01/04/2018 12:36:11 PM PST by nickcarraway
As a side note, there is no scientific evidence that AA works better than just going cold turkey with will power, or any other method for that matter. In fact, there is no scientific evidence that AA works at all, although I suspect it does for some people.
Because of its anonymous nature, there is only anecdotal evidence in the form of testimonials.
6 years sober in 5 more days. I appreciate AA and it helped me immensely. Does it help everyone? Does everyone really, really want it to? No, and no.
who cares about labels or “diagnosis”. if it keeps her sober and a better mom or accomplishing things, great for her.
she isn’t denying anything - she investigated and found info and ways to help.
labels and medical info or stats or self help groups are of no help if you don’t change your thinking and do some thing about it. it’s choices.
that is exactly what she did and continues to do.
Easily 3/4 of a bottle of JD a day for 4 years got me hooked. The realization that my life was starting to come crashing down made me want to quit. 3 weeks of nasty withdrawals convinced me to never go down that road again. Looking back, cold turkey was not the safe way to go, I should have gotten help. Not starting would have been much better.
50 years sober in 23 more years.....ODAAT
To all recovering alcoholics here, I congratulate you and can only these few words:
It works if ya work it.
;)
To all recovering alcoholics here, I congratulate you and can only say these few words:
It works if ya work it.
;)
no, much bigger boxes.
His M.D. (who does NOT support legalizing marijuana) told us that after witnessing the ravages alcohol has perpetrated on so many lives, he would gladly trade booze for grass.
We can offer prayers and support (not enabling), but ultimately getting his life back on track is up to him.
Bad habit are why many remain poor. Imagine all the money people spend on booze or cigs over 30 years, it adds up. The what they spend on health problems from the booze and cigs. They bitch about the rich but squandered away their money for nothing that would help them.
I have three friends who go to AA and it has helped them.
LOL
Yep, get drunk. Stay sober for 3 years. Write a book. Become famous.
What’s her next act?
AA has a very thorough and persistent program that works on problem drinkers of every sort. Many of the alternatives, such as the one presented by the author, typically qualify by saying that it may not work for everyone. AA does not have qualifiers, other than saying that those who are incapable of being honest with themselves may not recover. But even many of them do recover.
And many drinkers find that alcohol was not their primary problem, but only a symptom. Thus the suggested 12 steps can bring about a spiritual awakening that takes away the drink problem, and brings so much more.
Today, I have a happiness, a joy, and freedom that I had not known, even before I started drinking. This spiritual experience not only restored me to a sane life, it has added blessings that I had never dreamed possible.
Best wishes to Annie Grace for finding a new and better life;publishing a book of her experience is likely a tremendous thrill. All the same, I'll stick with what has worked for me for the last 30 years.
That is what my psych professors said-and my professional experience as a case manager shows it is true-I’ve never had an addicted client who didn’t start overusing/abusing a substance to escape from serious emotional issues-many have some degree of obsessive/compulsive behavior-often becoming addicted as a result.
If those emotional issues are not addressed and dealt with-preferably in therapy-then they will either relapse, start abusing another substance, including food or sweets/sugar. A lot of those who go to AA or other self help programs rather than therapy to deal with their underlying issues become insufferable “dry drunks”, too-preachy, fixated and obsessed to the point of being dogmatic and subject to mood swings worse than those of someone with bi-polar disorder-one of the dearest people in my life is that way-has been a sponsor at AA for over 20 years, and his social life is just about all there at AA, except for 2-3 of usrelatives and friends. Much as we love him, 24-48 hrs is all we can stand in his company before taking our leave-I’ve counseled him a few times over the years, at his request-I’ve told him he needs a psychotherapist, not just a sw/case manager like me-also I know him too well to be objective...
Many of my clients-and a couple of my friends-who went the AA or other self help route are compulsive sugar users-they dump 2-3 tablespoons of it in coffee, tea, etc-one of them buys a certain brand of soda by the case and sucks on a plastic bottle of it all day like a hamster in a cage drinks water-keeps a bottle in the truck, beside the sofa-even on a bedside table-I mentioned the unhealthiness of this habit once-won’t do it again...
One size does not fit all-inpatient rehab might be the only thing that is successful for some while psychotherapy, or AA or another self-help program like this woman’s may be perfectly okay for others-whatever works is a good thing. My lack of enthusiasm for the self-help route is my belief that when the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch...
AA is not for everyone, but it sure worked for me. Up until then, I HAD to drink. It was hell on earth.
I’m not religious, and neither is aa. Church ain’t for me. But I am finally spiritually woke and it’s pretty awesome.
One drink is too many and twenty isn’t enough.
The anonymity of AA and the other self help groups/programs are the reason none of us workers comp case managers can utilize it for clients-insurance carriers insist on hard evidence of successful rehab-not testimonials-before they will release a client to return to work, which makes sense since it is their dime...
I congratulate anyone here who has overcome any addiction by any means-whatever you did, it worked for you, and that is all that matters.
or
I quit drinking the same way. I just curbed my habit, instead of say an 18 pack of beer, I drink 3 or 4 a year. Instead of my favorite thing in the world, a margarita, I haven’t had one in 4 years. I drink red wine sometimes, I bought a 1.5 liter bottle last new years, and poured out 2/3rds of in in the summer when someone came over and wanted some and it was vinegar.
LOL
Looks more like they are selling an advertisement....
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