I was like “I’m not an alcoholic but Richard Rohr has a book on the 12 steps and maybe I could apply it to my addiction” and he said that they tend to think in black-and-white such as “I am powerless”. My friend has been to an AA meeting and said it was a waste of time. I personally don’t have an opinion having never done the 12 steps but i was wondering if people here find that it leads to or away from black-and-white thinking, which is one of my biggest downfall as a psychotic patient.
every viewpoint is a view from a point. My therapist isn’t a bad guy. But id have to say as much as I love the guy, writing something off entirely is a little black-and-white in itself.
I had a bad crack addiction for 4 years. I got clean in AA, CA, and NA. I’ve been clean for 26 years. When it comes to 12-step programs you will always have proponetes ( I’m one because it worked for me), and you will always have your detractors. After I was clean for 20 years I saw a therapist who was very critical of the programs and urged me to stop being a member. That was incredibly irrisponsible of him to say that. To me, that’s like urging a diabetic to give up his insulin shots.AA, CA, and NA, saved my life. I have also attended dual diagnosis groups. I’ve seen many people recover through AA when nothing else would help them.
I’ve been to a few AA and NA meetings, read a little of the Big Book. I’m not an addict, went to help others, but I find there are some good ideas there and the sense of fellowship is strong. My former peer specialist is devoted to his recovery and is a strong supporter of AA.
Look into it, take what you find useful, and leave the rest.
It saved my life. Almost 24 years clean and sober. I’m a fan, I still go to meetings, and I’m sponsoring two members myself right now. It’s not for everyone, but I’m glad it’s there for those who need it and benefit from it.
I’ve been wanting to go to something similar so I can get help keeping my life in order and also to help others. My therapist goes to one and he says he loves it.
I always had a problem with the steps that require faith in God. I believe there probably is a God of some sort, but I don’t believe he would keep me sober. Since God allows all these horrible things to happen, why would he care about little old me and my sobriety?
You have to take a leap of faith and a accept that there is a higher power who you can lean on when you need to.
Thousands of recovering alcoholics have done it, so why not you? Your higher power is a higher power of your own understanding. As you understand him. When I first joined AA in 1990 the members often told me you can make your higher power anything you want. You can make him a doorknob if you want to. I actually hated this saying but it’s true.
It can help the craving stop. I did OA (Overeater) for a while and it does help. Alcohol and drugs always worked best to drop all the people from the addiction days and enabler, you have to start to live it straight with employment and never go near stuff again. Have an alternative plan for all the stuff that used to happen to you that drove you to the drinking/drugs.