Resisting 12 Step Coercion

An interview with Dr. Stanton Peele. Produced and directed by Patrick and Andrea Bergin. Copyright First Vision Productions 2003.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Peele
• AA
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• 12
• Steps
• Coercion

[TheJuniornelson]

Well you can say kmart is not like walmart ...but they are so similar just as AA and a lot of churches...or the ideas contained in them

[olderloverxx]

I think, a LOT. Too much. But so far my experience with AA suggests, and i have no statistics to back this up, that if you cannot stop drinking, and you cannot control drinking, a twelve step program and attending a few meetings will help. I am sure AA has helped, saved and created happier lives rather than turned peole into miserable cult followers. Basically, the positive outweighs the negative. Of that i am certain.

[kevinfirstnamefinn]

I'd rather be dead than go to another meeting. I feel sorry for long time members. So much time wasted. What Loosers.

[BlatzBeer]

As a very insightful ex-AAer once said, "AA is a religion in denial."

Here's its theology:

They'll say your "Higher Power" can be anything (a lamp, a table, the AA group itself), but by Step 3 we must "turn our lives and our will" over to the H.P.

In the Big Book, our H.P. is:

-Called "God"

-Male (always called Him, never Her or It)

-A singular deity (never called Them or They)

-Conscious of our thoughts; can perform faith healing

AA: religion with a holy book, 2 saints and 12 commandments.

[blasphemer1981]

I used to go to NA for years and I have done more with my life after stopping going to meetings than when I was going to them. I take medications for anxiety and depression and it was always frowned upon. I felt like an outsider. And you know those people that say they are your friends in the program? Well, most of them avoid you like the plague once you stop going. It's sad.

[88warwolf]

these 12 stepping retards are so uppity about being anti drug and healthy and clean yet a shit ton of em smoke nonstop and eat tons of junk food, pop, and coffee. i wonder how many 12 stepping NA AA shit heads at the last meeting in my area were in PERFECT HEALTH? they just need to stop making idiotic choices and get healthy with proper nutrition and exercise. and get a job or a better one or get laid or both. shit. those assholes made me crazier than i already was. thanks for the panic attacks

[88warwolf]

@88warwolf but these crazy 12 step assholes would probably tell you im just one thought away from a heavy binge of drugs and alcohol that will kill me or land me in prison or some crazy craziness. these "recovery and 12 step counselors are all either complete idiots or con artists. shit im the only one of my family members that eats a healthy balanced diet and is physically fit, healthy, and happy. got the results from my blood work from my phsyical today and the doctor said im in PERFECT HEALTH

[88warwolf]

im starting to feel more sad for the people and their families who have been victims of this satanic death cult than i am mad towards my family for that shit. i was never a real heavy drink but ever since i limit my alcohol intake to 1-2 drinks a night per REAL medical advice. and a couple times a week eat a painkiller or two. so lets see. i didnt do the 12 step AA or NA "programs". never got a "sponsor". and my usage decreased. i didnt end up dead or in jail.....

[88warwolf]

@88warwolf before i got sent away i was like 4 weeks into an opiate taper down to basically a crumb so i was already basically done with a detox. i started working out and doing other shit that helped and wanted to stop opiates. i came out of that place fucking bat shit crazy and i still feel fucked up from it till this day.

[88warwolf]

@88warwolf the employees of the place were nuttier than shit. the patients were nuts too and bought it all up like typical sheep. i mean, holy shit most people will literally believe any bullshit anyone or any organization that claims to be an authority says. everyone but me bought it hook line and sinker and they all turned into crazy cult members and then the whole place turned on me and were trying to bully me because i didnt like the place and the stupid 12 step bullshit and all that.

[88warwolf]

@23230101 i was forced by my parents to go a few years ago to a fucking place called sierra fucking tuscon in arizona. 12 step NA, AA based "treatment facility" these crazy fucks charged my family over 50 thousand fucking dollars and the experiance kind of traumatized me. i was 23 and working at my dads company and at the time didnt know i had access to a nice inheritance fund from ya my parents are that nuts. threatened to fire me and kick me out and all this crazy shit.