If Alcoholics Anonymous is supposed to be freedom from bondage.....?

I heard the same things when I was in AA in 1991. I did not believe i was an alcoholic and the more I tried to convince people of that I had many fingers pointed at me trying to convince me I was. I never did accept that I was powerless and only god could keep me sober. I got in trouble because I said I was not powerless and I was keeping me sober. My sponsor forced me to flush my anti-depressants down the toilet and I nearly died in AA. Finally my sponsor got so mad at me that he ran me out and told me not to come back unless I was willing to do as told. That was November 1991 and I never went back. I live a sober life and am not ruled by alcohol or AA. I do not fear drinking because I no longer crave alcohol, actually I never did crave it, I did abuse alcohol because I was suffering from depression and was not being treated for that depression. My sponsor would not allow me to see a therapist or psychiatrist but soon after leaving I found a good doctor and got on meds that helped me. I did quit taking those meds in 1997 and since have not seen any kind of mental health worker or taken any medication. But that was my decision not my sponsor with an 8th grade education.

Edit: I wa sin bondage while in AA but since leaving am free. Free from alcohol desires and free from religious cults.

Edti 2: Sounds to me like you are not really an alcoholic. It is good that you like yourself and AA is no place ofr you because self love is not allowed. I don't believe we need a god to keep us sober but if you or anyone else does feel God is needed thn forget AA god and go with the bible God. Marj below me has a bunch of scriptures but one I want to add is Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. According to the bible God through Jesus gives believers power and strength to overcome anything they want to a big huge contrast to the AA god who give only a daily reprieve and it is god who makes you sober because you are powerles. If I was going to choos a god it would be the God who gives personal power. Not the god who takes away power.

The only one who can label you is you. Alcoholics and drug users replace one addiction for another. Chantix has been found to not be so good. Side effects are questionable and you don't really know how a drug will affect you until you take it. The best way to quit anything is cold turkey and a good support system. AA is a good support system if you take advantage of it. Your sponsor may be concerned that you are exchanging one addicition for another. Sit and talk with them, let them know what is going on. I am glad you are turning your life around. Smoking and drinking go together and do great harm to the body and mind.

An alcholic is one who cannot drink one drink or beer and leave it. They sit down, have one drink and before they know it they have lost track of time and amount. Some think they are social drinkers, but their behavior tells volumes. Your sponsor cares about you and is concerned.

AA is not a treatment program. It is a group of people, some with little education and lacking scientific knowledge regarding alcoholism. It follows some very antiquated premises in a ritualistic fashion. Some studies have shown that it fails to produce recovery in 98% of those who access it. But it's all there is for most people. If you want to determine whether or not you are an alcoholic, you need to enter a legitimate medical science-based treatment program which teaches you the physiology and psychology of the disease, and considers AA to be just one option that may or may not work for everyone. Unless your sponsor is highly educated in physiology of addiction, biological basis for behavior, and compulsive disorders, you are listening to someone who can only repeat the same worn out AA phrases that he/she learned. Many of today's sponsors are tomorrows relapses. They do not have all the answers.

First of all, are you definite you're an alcoholic? Many individuals in AA don't observe a impartial interpretation to the "indicators" of an alcoholic. There are plenty of labels implemented by way of individuals who don't have any coaching. They have revel in, however that doesn't lead them to certified as counselors OR as sponsors. Does alcohol REALLY purpose problems on your lifestyles? Is it stopping you from attaining your objectives? Or taking good care of yourself? Does it continuously result in unhealthy selections? If no longer, then you're no longer an alcoholic - regardless of WHAT Bill W.'s ebook says. Not every person who beverages is an alcoholic, however AA encourages the realization that they ARE, however do not are aware of it. Your sponsor isn't skilled sufficient to participate in that position at minimal, and you may also with no trouble no longer be an alcoholic as highest.

AA, and NA both frown upon taking unnecessary prescriptions because they feel you are giving up one addiction for another. Most alcoholics do not recognize that they are alcoholics. My husband was the same way. AA made him want to drink. He went a different route with his alcoholism. He took "antebuse". it takes away the desire to drink and he has been alcohol free for 10 years now. He also attended group therapy at the local mental health facility. Email me if you have any questions

It's a really hard situation to answer without knowing you personally because no matter what, if you go to AA (even if you aren't necessarily an alchoholic), they'll try to convince you that you are one and you're in denial. I would say if you can control it on your own, then more power to you. If you can't though, it is probably best to keep going to some kind of support group (even if it's not AA).

forgot a couple tiny words when you made reference to 'freedom from bondage'. You forgot to add "from self". Freedom from the bondage of self. Alcoholism is a very selfish disease.

As you know, alcoholics are a drink away from a drunk. And that is what your sponsor is trying to help you with. Any mind altering chemical can reactivate your disease; some more than others.

You're right in that a sponsor really doesn't get in your face, but rather guides you through the steps and helps with struggles using experience strength and hope. She would present her experience relating to medication and allow you to make your own decisions.

If you believe you are not alcoholic, go do some research.....no one will judge you. And do be assured that the disease of alcoholism is a lifetime disease.......that is, if you truly are alcoholic. The only one who could EVER label you accurately is you......

There will be hard times in getting over this addiction! I'm glad you and your husband are on good terms. Anyway, draw close to the Lord and he will draw near to you. Spend time reading the word, and not just reading but meditating and memorizing. Read the New Testament. I don't know what you already have done, but we need to memorize key scriptures so we have these to fall back on. Will give you some on salvation:

As it is written, there is none righteous, not even one…. Romans 3:10

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me. Revelation 3:20

As many as received him, to them he gave the power to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12

Repent therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out and that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that

God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. Rom. 10:9

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

And prayer:

Philippians 4:6-7, I John 3:22; 5:14-15, James 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:1-18, esp 18, Matthew 6:5-15; 7:7-11; 18:18-20, 11:22-24, II Corinthians 10:4-5. Ps. 66:18, Eph. 6:12, Jude 20-21, I John 1:9; 5:4-5, 5:14-15, Luke 18:1-8; 21:36, I Cor. 14:12-15, Lam. 3:22-24, Mark 1:35, (getting up before dawn); 11:22-24; 14:38-41, Matt. 7:7-8; 18:18, 6:16-18, James 4:2b-3, Isaiah 58:6-11 for study on the subject. Also, if you want get in deeper go to Hebrews 4:14-16; 13:3, Daniel 6:10-15; 9:3-19, the way Jesus prayed Luke 21:34-46 (about praying in the end times) or in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46) or when he prayed all night, many prayers in Psalm (read through and you will come to them). (Recommend reading through Psalm every month if you can, or at least reading 1 or 2 chapters a day.)

I know this is a lot of work, but just do what you can each day and God bless you!!!

Denial is a huge part of alcholism...I know because my mother is an alchloic. She only was drinking heavily for one and a half years when she was diagnosed with korsakoff's syndrome (which is an alchol induced form of dementia)... She can't hold on to any memory and has serious brain damage because of it.. She will have to spend the rest of her life in a care home or having a family member taking care of her 24/7. I know you feel like a prisioner now, but please stick to it... What happened to her can happen to you too. Imagine what a prison it would be to have to spend the rest of your life under the constant supervision of others... I hope you take what I said seriously

AA is a great start to a spiritual path, drinking is a symptom of spiritual malady they say. One bad thing about AA is a paradox. They say only God can restore us to sanity and cure our drinking, because he is ALL powerful. All powerful except he can't make you drink normally again....he can heal the blind, lepers ect but drink normally...sorry he can't do that. AA is a religious cult, make no mistake - but a good one and a great start to a spiritual life, but now my God is bigger.