Alcoholics Anonymous

There’s the program and there’s the fellowship.
The program is great. 12 steps to get people accountable for their own lives. Only work when people are really ready to take ownership.
The fellowship is hit or miss, it really depends on who’s present. Some people who sit in AA meetings, holding court, are alcoholics of a really unlikeable kind: opinionated, rude, whiny, finger pointers. That can be incredibly aggravating. But those are generally not the people who are actively, honestly working the steps.
To get the most out of AA, focus on the steps, get a sponsor and do what they say. All the whiny finger pointers kind of fade to the background, as long as you’re doing your own good work.
I’m guessing that the person who posted the really negative review isn’t doing any of her own work. It’s a pretty obvious cry for help to go to an AA meeting drunk. Thinking she just wasn’t ready yet. But hopefully she’ll find her way it. It works if you work it.

I think AA is a antiquated duck pile from 1935. That is dangerous for women and youth. I think its emotionally damaging and its 12 steps are a complete waste of time. Run from AA I say. I would rather go to a Smart, SOS or MM meetings.

Here’s my experience: AA can be be like a comedy show, some of the funniest things I’ve ever heard are from sober drunks. It’s the gallows humor about the irony of life and we often laugh at the ridiculous things we’ve done. It is also serious business and you do get out of it what you put into it. If we’re working the steps, it takes us out of victim, whiny mode! Makes us accountable and shows us how we get in our own way. And we stay to help others just coming in and give to them what was so freely given to us. People are pretty real here, too. I got sober in SF 20 years ago and haven’t had a drink or drug since. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Stopping drinking is just the beginning, it’s the change in my attitude, thinking and way of life. If you don’t like what you hear in one meeting, try another. There are about 600 meetings a week in SF. I still have lots of friends outside of AA and my husband isn’t sober, he just doesn’t drink much or very often. I don’t miss puking, hangovers and wondering where the $ 100 (or more) went the night before. Nothing funny about those things. I thought my life as a party girl was fun, but it’s much more fun sober than it was drunk. Who knew? I have a healthy marriage, good credit, my life is ‘bigger’, I have more fun and it is pretty drama free. Shitty stuff can still happen but I react to things very differently. If we don’t laugh we crack!
AA isn’t for everybody but it has sure worked for me!!!

To the drunk that feels A.A. is full of «whiney» people that blame everything on everybody else: I’m NOT gonna’ fault you for your opinion. I, too, spent YEARS laughing AT A.A., the people in it made me feel like going out and getting a drink, too! That was BEFORE I had a stroke, a good case of kidney cancer, AND lost the use of my legs — - ALL due to the use of ALCOHOL!!! I have been sober for six (6) years, SIX! and I might tell you– I made a discovery– all the «complaining,» «whining,» was a bunch of drunks, just like me, who were trying to work out their issues! Of coarse, if you were a person w/​any compassion for the pain these poor people are suffering, you MIGHT be able to empathize. I get it! You CAN’T because you are STILL drinking and drowning your feelings! You can’t stand to hear it because it HURTS! Your little «wet brain» resents it because «it» doesn’t want you to get sober. GOD FORBID! You might have to take a look at what makes you SO adverse to pain. These people you speak of in such a critical manner have figured out a way to HAVE, and HONOR, their feelings w/​o taking a drink. UNLIKE them, you choose to just go out and get poo-​poo faced! I get it! I used to do the SAME thing. You may still have many years of drinking to go/​endure. I hope not. I destroyed my kidney, fried my brain into a stroke, and lost the use of my legs. YES– I AM STUBBORN!!! I had an ego the size of Canada. I was arrogant because of my good looks. I felt self-​assured. I sure didn’t need you, OR your pissy little A.A. I felt it was for losers– full of whiney, feel sorry for yourselves, self absorbed, just need to get a job jerks! I felt that their only problem was that they just couldn’t afford their habit. Therefore they were only there to control it in-​between binges, you see! In reality it was ME that was doing that EXACT thing. GET IT??? Oh, honey. I hope to see you in the rooms BEFORE you take that drink that makes you SOOOOOOO sick, or, KILLS you. LOVE– The Pearl. P. S.– I, TOO, used to think – «That will NEVER happen to me!» I don’t think that… anymore. No. Now, now I think I’m lucky, BLESSED, to be sober– even in a WHEELCHAIR!

Reading some of these reviews, I must say, what a sad bunch of addicts. Such anger and denial. A.A. really does work if you put the effort into it. But there is no magic. You have to work at it, like anything else worthwhile in life. It’s hard to generalize about this program, every meeting is different, every alcoholic is different. If you think you have a problem, come to a meeting. If you don’t hear what you need, go to another meeting. You’ll eventually find what your looking for. It’s not a cult or a religion, it’s just a group of sick people getting well by helping other sick people. It works.

This place is my life & has saved my life too many times to count. I have been Involved With A.A. for 13 years now and even after more relapses than I can count naked they still have the door wide open for me and welcome me back. To all you who don’t understand and think AA is a cult or has stolen you Friends or family, just realize that you still have them here because of A.A. Otherwise they would probably be DEAD! I’m going to keep coming back and enjoy my sober times with my sober friends.
When I’m in the rooms my life is great and great things happen, when I’m drinking my life goes to shit and I start to lose it all. I’m just not able to live life like I used too and this is the ONLY thing that works for this Drunk.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I had a friend who joined «the program». She traded a booze addiction for an AA one.
I went to a couple of meetings & the people there were whiny excuse spewers. It was everybody’s fault but their own. Gawd, it was tedious. It’s a good thing I always went drunk.