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ArnoldLayne

(2,067 posts) Wed Jan 29, 2014, 05:18 AM Jan 2014

Is AA a legitimate group? I went to one meeting and something just didn't seem or feel right. [View all]

Then I read articles that said they were something like a cult type group. I'm just curious and would appreciate some advice about them. They talked about a "Higher Power" and "The Big Book."

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Is AA a legitimate group? I went to one meeting and something just didn't seem or feel right. [View all] ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 OP

It's a legitimate organization blogslut Jan 2014 #1

tenets HERVEPA Jan 2014 #14

Tennis, anyone? Orrex Jan 2014 #17

sorry blogslut Jan 2014 #22

heh. SammyWinstonJack Jan 2014 #24

Not trying to shame. Sorry. HERVEPA Jan 2014 #35

Not actually ashamed. blogslut Jan 2014 #37

Oh good. Don't want to be rude. HERVEPA Jan 2014 #40

Blame it on SpellCheck. Feral Child Mar 2014 #96

Yes, it is.... Wounded Bear Jan 2014 #2

Thanks for the good advice you gave me. I was just wondering that's all. ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #4

So I shouldn't just taper off just everything Cold Turkey ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #12

Do what works for you... Wounded Bear Jan 2014 #18

You can't cold turkey Paxil. 840high Jan 2014 #19

ditto on the not going cold turkey off Paxil, BUT MH1 Jan 2014 #32

Please stop calling the Big Book a "Bible" TrogL Feb 2014 #58

Meh...it's an allegorical statement... Wounded Bear Feb 2014 #83

It seemed everyone gave their story when it was my turn ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #3

I really want you to UncleYoder Jan 2014 #5

^^^ This. Iggo Jan 2014 #8

Thanks I was taking up alot of the time now that I think about it. ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #10

i have a family member anasv Feb 2014 #51

hey Arnold Skittles Mar 2014 #92

I chair AA meetings - most groups have a 5 minute rule and no crosstalk TrogL Feb 2014 #59

Find a Meeting RobinA Jan 2014 #11

I don't know whether to wean myself off everything would be safer than just quitting all ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #13

If you are taking prescription medicine elleng Jan 2014 #15

I say this sweetapogee Jan 2014 #41

I don't know you, and your level of "using" doesn't seem catastrophic in the short term at least. nomorenomore08 Feb 2014 #44

Yeah, they don't like "cross talk" or asking people about what they said. They also usually don't GreenPartyVoter Feb 2014 #84

DO NOT COLD-TURKEY XANAX! Feral Child Mar 2014 #97

there is a substance abuse treatment group (not AA) owned by a cult eShirl Jan 2014 #6

roots in St Johnsbury, VT handmade34 Jan 2014 #7

Good job checking out AA BensMom Jan 2014 #9

They def helped me when I stopped drinking mimi85 Feb 2014 #80

I think so libodem Jan 2014 #16

Thanks my sister is going to take me to rehab. now ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #20

Best of luck libodem Jan 2014 #21

It does, okay thank you very much. ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #23

Good luck! PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #48

To stop drinking I would sit in a room of knitters saying the rosary for an hour. rug Jan 2014 #25

No, it's a fucking cult and we eat your souls because we can't ever drink or drug again graywarrior Jan 2014 #26

Snark.. denbot Jan 2014 #27

I'm snarky when it comes to AA posts graywarrior Jan 2014 #29

Doing good. denbot Jan 2014 #30

You are officially crazy....lol graywarrior Jan 2014 #34

Is that you Ozzy...Alice?? ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #28

Yeah, definitely legit. MadrasT Jan 2014 #31

Okay thanks for the advice ArnoldLayne Jan 2014 #33

Believing in a higher power forces one applegrove Jan 2014 #36

Yes -- the higher power doesn't have to be theistic. pnwmom Jan 2014 #38

The "higher power" of AA is an intercessional deity UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #61

Not every AA group views it that way. That's why there can be atheistic/agnostic groups. n/t pnwmom Feb 2014 #63

The fellowship is very different from the program UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #64

Not every group is a good fit for every person. My uncle, who used to run one, pnwmom Jan 2014 #39

Please read this before you commit to AA jmowreader Feb 2014 #42

I've known some AA people. They transferred their substance addition to meeting lindysalsagal Feb 2014 #43

+1 nomorenomore08 Feb 2014 #45

I've noticed that after attending several meetings ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #46

I don't drink often OrwellwasRight Feb 2014 #47

You nailed it. mimi85 Feb 2014 #81

I am your disease. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #49

I liked what you wrote that was very helpful for me, thanks. I am a Christian like I said ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #50

Best wishes to you, Arnold. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #54

Thank you and I will. Tonight I am going to ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #57

a very kind and wise response, pablo. elleng Feb 2014 #65

Thank you elleng. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #87

Fantastic post. Welcome to DU, pablo_marmol. pnwmom Feb 2014 #56

So glad to hear, pnymom! pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #86

Went to a meeting yesterday and heard my story told word for word graywarrior Mar 2014 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Feb 2014 #52

Only sheer coincidence kept me from killing myself with dope/booze. pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #53

I think it is a good idea to talk to people that have quit alcohol if you're trying to get alcohol JonLP24 Feb 2014 #55

Most people mature out of addictions UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #60

NO ONE 'matures' out of alcoholism; elleng Feb 2014 #66

Categorical statements UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #67

I'm referring only to alcoholism, elleng Feb 2014 #69

So that really isn't EVERY person UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #70

Not 'anecdotal.' elleng Feb 2014 #71

"No True Scotsman" fallacy UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #72

That hasn't been my experience! You may have known some people who raccoon Feb 2014 #79

The biggest thing you have going for you is the desire to quit Major Nikon Feb 2014 #62

Absolutely UncleMuscles Feb 2014 #68

alcoholism is genetic frwrfpos Feb 2014 #73

My bullshit detector just went off... Wounded Bear Feb 2014 #82

Good article up today TrogL Feb 2014 #74

It is legit..... AnneD Feb 2014 #75

I've been to 4 AA meetings and 2 NA(Narcotics Anonymous) so far in the past 2 weeks. I liked the NA ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #76

I was the chair for a 12 step program for over 2 years. In_The_Wind Feb 2014 #77

Okay I'll try that ArnoldLayne Feb 2014 #78

It works for some, not for others TexasBushwhacker Feb 2014 #85

Howz it going, Arnold? pablo_marmol Feb 2014 #88

Bumped. Wonder how you're doing, Arnold. NT pablo_marmol Mar 2014 #89

I still haven't had a drink but I still get tempted alot. It's been almost 2 months now. ArnoldLayne Mar 2014 #90

Congratulations! DU is proud of you! n/t DebJ Mar 2014 #91

Excellent Arnold! pablo_marmol Mar 2014 #94

Good news Arnold! UncleYoder Mar 2014 #95

Congratulations Ahpook Mar 2014 #99

Good luck, Arnold! Ron Obvious Mar 2014 #100

There are AA meetings for non-religious that might feel less cultish. Walk away Mar 2014 #93

It is no cult. It doesn't worship any leaders. So there applegrove Mar 2014 #101