[KarlInOhio]

A.A. believes there is an enormous difference between bring dry and being sober. It is not enough to simply abstain. You need to heal and repair the damage to yourself and others. We talk about "white-knuckle sobriety," which might mean, "I'm sober as long as I hold onto the arms of this chair." People who are dry but not sober are on a "dry drunk."

I never liked the term "dry drunk". I seems to imply that the AA way is the only way. If you are able to use another method or even just decide that you've been drinking too much and need to stop that you are no better off than before, and may in some ways be worse off.

[cripplecreek]

I never liked the term "dry drunk". I seems to imply that the AA way is the only way.

Exactly. I quit on my own without any program but you wouldn't belive how many times AA members have told me that I'm going to start drinking tomorrow if I don't attend some meetings. Funny thing is that I tried AA and ended up sitting around getting drunk with other members.

[ichabod1]

Hmm... I can see how one would resent the implication, but I don’t think that is what is meant. The Big Book itself says that AA is only one method for sobriety. In my own life, I’ve found nothing else that effectively helped me sober up and stay that way besides AA. Yet, each time I’ve had long term sobriety I’ve moved into other domains of maintaining spiritual health. Many would say see, that’s your problem, but I can’t really see myself hanging out with newly sobered drunks. Just can’t. I don’t operate well in that environment. I go to meetings, prn, but am not very active. More of a religious guy now.

But Religion doesn’t have a very good track record of GETTING people sober.