[bobbylight]

My story is below, if you don't want to read it, skip to the bold Question

I was at one point a huge pot smoker. An all day every day type of person. I would never miss a day. I ended up messing up college a bit, and decided I wanted to quit. I would stop for maybe 3 months, smoke once again, then within a few weeks be back to smoking all day every day again. And any time I wasn't smoking weed, my drinking would pick up quite a bit. And I only drank to get drunk. I wouldn't wake up and crave alcohol, but I never drank just socially, always to get fucked up, and probably 5 nights a week a little less than a year ago.

I was also biiig into hallucinogens and the like, so I would do mushrooms and e and a pretty regular basis, as well as acid on an occasion or two. Anyway, I would try to limit my drinking or smoking, and I couldn't. I could never only drink a few drinks, or smoke every once in a while. For me, it was all or nothing. And that, to me at least, seems to mean that I'm an addict.

Well anyway, I have been sober since the beginning of January. Not even a drink or hit here or there. I think my body has actually started to reject alcohol, and the taste of it, because whenever I take a sip of something that I used to "like" when I was drinking, it tastes disgusting to me. To the point that one time I wanted to drink a beer, got two sips in, and thought "I wish this was a mountain dew" and didn't drink any more of it.


QUESTION

But anyway, I went to an AA meeting with my friend because he had to go for rehab (which he is in because he got arrested). I went once before, with a different friend, for the exact same reason (right when I started not doing drugs in january). Anyway the resounding theme of everyone that talked (other than I thought they were completely nuts) was that you NEEEEED AA to be sober. My friend actually told his rehab counselor about me, and saying I don't go to meetings, and I'm sober, and the guy said "he is lying to you and still using."

Some people just don't get it I guess. If I can't control myself when I drink or do drugs am I an addict? My answer is yes. But if I can stop by myself, without going to meetings, does that mean I'm not an addict? I wanted to ask this at AA but I didn't want anyone to question their own recovery. If it works for them, fine. But I just don't understand why they make it seem like ITS THE ONLY WAY!

All the people that talked seemed to have lives, for the most part at least, that completely sucked, and my life is going pretty great actually. So maybe that is it. But what do you guys think?

I guess I would like to hear most from people that are recovering addicts or alcoholics that stopped with AA or without it.

[King Gus]

my friend is a recovering addict, he's been sober for 10 years now and he goes to meeting a couple of times a week. He just got engaged, started a succesful business and reunited with his daughter who left because of his addiction so AA helped him a lot.

It depends on the individual some people can quit and not have an issue ever again some people require support and assurance so if you could stay sober by yourself good for you dude, I quit smoking 3 years ago and i went cold turkey too, i just stopped and now i cant even smell smoke without being disgusted and i havent felt the need to smoke at all so again its all up to the individual thats all.

[Bladderbuster]

Addicts are weak. Weak people are full of excuses for why they are weak and cannot control their cravings. Therefore, weak people need support groups and meetings to keep themselves in line, because they are too weak to do it on their own.

I do not consider someone an addict if they are in control of their substance use, or personal abstinence.

[AZGnP]

check out the the episode on AA of Penn & Teller's Bullshit!, they some of the same points you do.

[SmileyPSU]

To OP: Congrats on recognizing that you have a problem and getting the help you needed to deal with it.

To Bladderbuster: Most people with any common sense would say that the refusal to seek help when necessary is a significantly bigger weakness than becoming addicted to an addictive substance, so in essence, you are weaker than the addict that you just attacked for no reason. You should probably jump off of a very high bridge ASAP.

[Marjoe]

Originally Posted by AZGnP

check out the the episode on AA of Penn & Teller's Bullshit!, they some of the same points you do.

AA has something like a 5% success rate. So does every other program including quitting cold turkey. AA is nothing special.

[Bladderbuster]

Originally Posted by SmileyPSU

To OP: Congrats on recognizing that you have a problem and getting the help you needed to deal with it.

To Bladderbuster: Most people with any common sense would say that the refusal to seek help when necessary is a significantly bigger weakness than becoming addicted to an addictive substance, so in essence, you are weaker than the addict that you just attacked for no reason. You should probably jump off of a very high bridge ASAP.

A crutch isn't bad if you need it. But that doesn't change the fact that you are crippled.

[doomonyou]

It certainly works for some people, but not so much for others.

[smasheroffaces]

well when folks are very very sick they can go to a.a and recover ive seen it a hundred times. is it the only way. i dont think so. but when sombody that has crossed that line into alcoholism. they are doomed DOOMED their only hope is a spiritual experiance. i would say MOST PEOPLE DONT ASK QUESTIONS LIKE AM I AN ALCOHOLIC if they are not an alocoholic. if you can stop and STAY stopped then sweet man. BUT KNOW THIS a.a will be there when you fell and know you cannot stop drinking at all. after all your own ideals have run out. they will be there. good luck to you. i suggest not worrying about it. a.a is for alcoholics and if you are not one dont bother with it.

[SmileyPSU]

Originally Posted by Bladderbuster

A crutch isn't bad if you need it. But that doesn't change the fact that you are crippled.

You must be a real self-loather after all that tutoring you needed when you were still in school.