-
H&R Moderators: VerbalTruist
Recovery AA speakers and listening material
- Thread starter Quasimoto
- Start date
AA and listening to people talk about it, ( alcohol) always would make me want to drink even more than before I went to an AA meeting( went to 2 that I can remember maybe more)
Also it had a cultish vibe and I have no problem with Believing in God. Because I do.
Also it had a cultish vibe and I have no problem with Believing in God. Because I do.
That sucks. Does the opposite for me.
I don't get easily triggered by alcohol. I can walk passed the aisle, I wear alcohol brand shirts, talk about it here. None of that triggers me.
Stress, boredom, the time of day, routines, and the smell trigger me.
Because it technically is a cult... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cults can be positive forces, the word cult automatically has a negative connotation from pop culture, but it's a neutral word.
The church is a cult, too...
Depends on the church, My church has no control over me and I go voluntarily and I am Christian( yes there are plenty of screwed up Christians but I am getting better.) My faith is not dependent on my or any church.That sucks. Does the opposite for me.
I don't get easily triggered by alcohol. I can walk passed the aisle, I wear alcohol brand shirts, talk about it here. None of that triggers me.
Stress, boredom, the time of day, routines, and the smell trigger me.
Because it technically is a cult... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cults can be positive forces, the word cult automatically has a negative connotation from pop culture, but it's a neutral word.
The church is a cult, too...
The term cult only applies to some, like the ,, I don't want to get into trouble again. But a certain and one really large one that terrozied Europe and persucted, protestants. For example. I would get into trouble if I elborated, and you know I am long winded. I get in trouble for shit no one else would, here.
You maybe an atheist but I would expect you to at least know there are major differences.
Actually as a non believer, maybe not. My bad. My faith is of free will and not dependent on a church but I go because of my beliefs. God has protected me from my own dumbass and from a lot of real trouble, many times.
A true Christian will have The Lord to help and yes punish, but the fact I am alive is almost a miracle.
Also one prayer and a sincere repentance of my alcohol problem and I was allergic and hated alcohol the next day or two. I hate alcohol and can't even physically drink beer, ever good beer. I used too when I was nearly broke trade 20 or so bottles and cans, for $2 dollars( Michigan bottle return and deposit on carbonated beverages 10 cents a piece. They sell it, they have to give you cash back) then pay $2.12 with tax for two half liters of fake listerine 35% ethanol. A liter of listerine, is a liter of 70 proof. I could easily choke down any booze but cinnamon schnapps and Malibu coconut rum.
Can you chug listerine, straight? I could now I can't even get a bottle of good beer down, without puking and having a histamine reaction that lasts a while and huge amounts of benadryl don't help.
You have no understanding of a true cult, but that is too be expected. I was a non functional drunk. Unable to survive on my own. But now I am clean, from booze. No triggers anymore, because I can't drink and even if could I truley hate it. God will answer prayers from true believers.
Also protected me, I am not open about all I have tried, including one, no would believe I used many times( well into double digits times) and never got hooked. Which one, I will take that too my grave, probably.
I am not an atheist. I am a deist.
No reason to dick size our diseases, but yeah, I’ve had my fair share of moutwash, vanilla extract, and hand sanitizer.
I understand why some people do not like AA, but also think they dislike AA for reasons they don't quite appreciate or understand (not referring to you, just in general), particularly when the 'cult' word gets thrown around.
The point is it works and has saved hundreds of millions of lives, including mine. It is the most successful program in history, and there is a reason ALL recovery theory is based to some degree on the 12 steps.
No reason to dick size our diseases, but yeah, I’ve had my fair share of moutwash, vanilla extract, and hand sanitizer.
I understand why some people do not like AA, but also think they dislike AA for reasons they don't quite appreciate or understand (not referring to you, just in general), particularly when the 'cult' word gets thrown around.
The point is it works and has saved hundreds of millions of lives, including mine. It is the most successful program in history, and there is a reason ALL recovery theory is based to some degree on the 12 steps.
jasperkent
Bluelighter
Well, I'd argue that it has some cult-like qualities but it doesn't fit the definition of a true cult.
Cults usually venerate a leader, whose word is absolute law. AA doesn't have a "top dog," but has chairpersons, etc, and specifically says our leaders are but trusted servants-- they do not govern.
Also, cults usually teach that society at large is wrong about most things. AA says quite the opposite: we are the problem, not them.
Cults often try to isolate its members from family and friends-- AA does not. And AA never advises people to go against the advice of their doctors, clergy, or counselors.
Finally, AA is supported by member donations, but they never pressure anyone to give more or even to give at all. It's 100% voluntary.
(edit) One more thing-- in cults, if you consistently break the rules you are condemned and banished. In AA, they always say Keep coming back!
Bill W. would sort of fit that definition.
Definitely an exercise in semantics, though.
jasperkent
Bluelighter
Except that Bill didn't write Alcoholics Anonymous all by himself. It was a collaboration among the first 100 members.
And AA says about its steps that they are suggested as a program of recovery.
The only rule for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
AngelsandFairiesarereal
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2022
- Messages
- 3,727
Yea this is a good one. I’ve watched it a couple times over the last couple years.
Last edited:
It triggered me like a an m134 minigun, remember the scene in Terminator 2, when the terminator kicked a desk out the windows and open up on the cops. 6 barreled 30 caliber( 7.62x51mm nato, basically a 308 round) 100 rounds per second.
My dad contemplated buying one, cheapest $215,000 plus all the bs with local and federal tax stamps for a legal machine gun. Still pissed at Raegan for 1986 law about no more new machine guns. So hard to get legally, only the shoot out in LA, where the judge gave them back to the accused to pay legal bills. Not any other crimes by legally owned registered, and Extensive state and Federal background checks, by machine guns after laws passed to severely limit and check a person out.
Stolen and illegally converted is still rare, and 'assault rifles' are not responsible for many crimes. Pistols and shotguns. Sorry I love gun rants( really, I can read your mind and no I am not crazy)
I don't talk about stuff IRL, and I am a loner, by choice.
All those sponsors and steps but most of the time I was like a junkie, trying to not be sick. I could and did stop at times because I wanted to and did. Then the usual, just this once, yeah and full unaided wds and dts well over 100 times. Luckily heart issues don't run in my family.
I am saying that my issue wasn't about, please God give me strength or whatever, but the steps and the cultish confessions and forced co dependence or whatever with sponsors. Not gonna work for me.
Have the 2 books. But it don't matter I can't physically drink, so technically not an alcoholic, besides I hate alcohol, now.
It is cultish, not a cult, and not all churches are cults. We pray to God and confess our sins through Jesus. Not Steve or Mike or another person.( I am protestant)
I suppose if it helps people and is that successful, I will not condemn it. Just a hard pass, when I did abuse alcohol.
Also seeing an adult crying over a sip of champagne at a wedding( that happened and It took every fiber of my being not to fall down laughing uncontrollably) That's really when I was late for the door. ( quoting out of context; fellow Michigander Bob Seger, Old Time Rock and Roll, I hate discos also)
Then their are the arrogant long time sober folks. I have heard about them.
Not sure how common but, in my twenties and thirties I had more muscle mass and have been in many fights, not proud of it. Just I wouldn't have made it to step 2 without pounding the shit out of someone like that. Banned from bars and AA.
But good music, a book, and booze made me happy. To quote George Thorogood( not sure if he wrote it) I drink alone, or I did and preferred too.
jasperkent
Bluelighter
When I was an active alcoholic, nothing ever triggered me. If I was awake, I was either drinking or craving a drink. Period. And I'm certain I didn't get anything at all out of the first 4 or 5 meetings I attended, except that I remembered they said Keep coming back. I wasn't accustomed to that. I was more familiar with Please leave and don't come back.
Although I no longer attend AA meetings and I don't particularly love their emphasis on finding a Higher Power, I will always defend AA as a great organization. Are they perfect? No. Does it work for everyone? No. But AA helped me achieve a few periods of sobriety that were stepping stones on my path to a more lasting serenity.
The main thing I got out of AA was hope. I met folks who had been in as bad a shape as me (sometimes worse) and were now not only sober but happy. For me, that message was priceless.
I listened to the speaker. Now I am thinking about seeing if I am still allergic or not. That AA stuff is always a trigger.^ Lets try to keep the topic at least in the realm of sobriety
Feeling vulnerable to relapse atm.
Ever had chronic pancreatitus? It is gone but, I still have problems.
Nothing else triggers me, like AA. No bullshit. He is not even very funny, but he made me hate AA now. Before it was, I don't like it. I should have known better. He did what, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations ect.. Didn't do, make me think about alcohol too much.
You think you are feeling vulnerable, I have what I didn't have before. That's all I will say on that.
My bad, I should have know better. I should have known better.
Last edited by a moderator: