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AA just isn’t for me

I can appreciate most of what Alcoholics Anonymous does but I dislike the constant self deprecation.

I understand that the alcoholism itself is selfish but when there’s never any talk about what led someone to drink in the first place, it just feels like something is missing.

I’m aware that people become alcoholics even when all is well in life but that just doesn’t resonate with me.

I didn’t progressively become an alcoholic.

I was hooked from day 1. The moment that first beer started working, it was like I had discovered relief. I was suddenly able to be myself. The constant fear while sober was gone. The unwarranted fear was gone.

I wasn’t just some guy who casually drank beer on the weekends and then became an alcoholic.

They say alcoholism leads to anxiety and then anxiety leads to alcohol again, just going back and forth but the starting point was different for me.

I already had ridiculous levels of anxiety prior to that very first drink. My first drink was like discovering a cure, not necessarily a party.
It was my cure to being able to leave the house and feel the sun on my skin. It was my cure to being able to let people look into my eyes and talk to them.

See it’s easy for me to stop drinking and it’s easy for me to stay sober when I know I won’t feel that fear.

My trigger was when people would try to socialize with me.

AA just feels like a self villainizing ritual sometimes. I don’t need that, I’ve been doing it all my life even before that first drink.

I’m aware that I have to address the alcoholism issue but I also have to address the trauma too. Alcoholism was merely surface level, the 12 steps is merely surface level.

I don’t care about the Dopamine rush from 0-100, my rush was from -50 to 0. I just wanted to feel normal like a sober person.

With all that being said, I do intend to payback those who I’ve hurt through the years. It’ll be my own way. I don’t need an AA sponsor. I just need healthy relationships. And those people have been there all along. I was just too lost to see it.

Now that I’m not ashamed to be human, it’s never been easier to make the right decisions. There is no strong urge to drink.
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Kuronekko · 41-45, FNew
I think, having seen my ex go and then stop going, it can feel quite negative and like its based around identifying as having a problem. Seeing him stop going to AA, I began to understand why they drum that into you so hard. Its because eventually you start thinking you're fixed and you don't need to identify as that anymore. The addiction takes over again. For my ex that was the point where he would start to think he could just casually drink again. It would quickly spiral into denial that there was ever a problem to start with and he'd be back at square one.

We aren't together anymore because of his drinking. He lost jobs, friends, his home and eventually everything else. Its awful to be reminded of the horrors of alcoholism on a regular basis, but it can unfortunately be necessary.
DearAmbellina2113 · 41-45, F
I am so grateful you posted this. Someone very dear to me is in AA right now, and I have been suspecting for a while that it's not really that good for him.
HermannFegelein · 26-30, M
@DearAmbellina2113 Someone told me Al-Anon might be better. Someone recommended it to me. Because although I didn’t have to deal with an abusive alcoholic, I did grow up with an abusive sober father.
Just curious if you tried different meetings and if there would have been anything preventing you from sharing there what you’ve shared here. Also, how you’ve done in the past trying to quit on your own or if you’re in therapy to address your alcoholism and trauma.
HermannFegelein · 26-30, M
@OlderSometimesWiser I’ve tried a few different ones in the past but that was long ago so I can’t quite remember what those were like.

And no I didn’t personally share any of this at the meeting I recently stopped going to but that’s because a handful of the members at this location have announced during the meetings that “this isn’t a place for therapy”.

I’m understanding of their rules so I decided it’s not for me.

The substance itself is obviously harmful to me and others but my concern is that if I only address the alcohol part of it, it’s like failing to pull a weed out by the root.

If I don’t address the trauma as well, alcoholism will just re-enter the picture because it’ll still be an escape route for unresolved trauma.

I just got a job with full time benefits from day 1 so I’m gonna schedule an appointment with a particular therapist that I’ve seen in the past.
@HermannFegelein Yes, it’s absolutely vital to address/resolve the trauma which led you to drink. Glad you’re heading back to therapy and I wish you all the best.
HermannFegelein · 26-30, M
@OlderSometimesWiser thank you ☺
Sleepysheep · 26-30, M
Fuck yeah buddy I’m proud of you! Kickin the liquor is a brutal challenge not a lot have luck with.

I think you should pause the therapy get out there and meet people, take that money you’d have saved and treat yourself!

If you ever feel the urge to drink I suggest smoking some refer or perhaps energy drinks.

Honestly this is good news and I’m happy for you brethren! 😎👏
Years ago, I went to Narcotics Anonymous. first of all, I could not get into the praying, but the ironic thing was after the meeting was over, we all met outside, and everyone was selling drugs, which was not a good sign.
@HermannFegelein since 2014
HermannFegelein · 26-30, M
@WonderGirl Excellent
@HermannFegelein I quit drinking in August 2023. I was a heavy drinker.
dale74 · M
It's okay they're just a bunch of quitters

 
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