There are as many pathways to recovery as there are people

Recovery
#1

I’m a 12 step guy, I go to AA and NA. I also facilitate a SMART Recovery meeting. A couple reasons I do that.

  1. I LOVE the tools it teaches. It helps my sobriety, and it also helps me be a better mentor.
  2. It helps reach the alcoholic/addict who still suffers.

I truly love my sober life. Finding ways to help others helps my own sobriety, and gives my life more meaning and purpose. God bless Bill and Dr. Bob, and the tremendous guide to life that they’ve provided. God bless all of you as well.

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#2

If I had any issue with AA it would be how some groups treat the Big Book like it's the Bible...I think it's great and a useful tool but not the end-all, be-all. But it is great that so many can benefit from it, recovery in any form is obviously great, and I have quite a few AA groups I love

#3

Then they have not studied the book pg164 second full paragraph

#5

I’m not sure who you mean by “they”.

#6

Anybody saying the big book is the end all be all of recovery in the book it states we know only a little and that more will be revealed the first 164 pgs was a step by step process of how the first 100 got sober and the the stories of how others found their way

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#7

Hey Brad! Great post! I’m love many things about AA. I think you said it best when you said it was a great and useful tool. I enjoy most of the meetings, most of the people, and most of the program. Like many, I get caught up in the religious undertone of the program, and the powerlessness concept. However, if you delve more deeply into the Big Book, 12 and 12, and other AA literature, you will find so much freedom to work the program in a way that fits your individual belief system. The fellowship of AA has opened up a completely new life for me. I have made some great friends. I get more out of a good meeting, than I get from 5 or 10 individual therapy sessions.
In order to advance my spiritual growth and overall mental health, I do incorporate many other tools outside of AA. AA does recognize and recommend to seek out other modes of help. I just need to focus less on the God words (Father, Him, Lord) that remind me of my old interpretation of God. I hear those words and it triggers a bad feeling. I try and focus instead on all the instances in the AA literature that talk about a higher power of my own understanding. Basically, anything other than my ego that has helped destroy my life.

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#8

I’m with ya’. I believe the big book and 12 steps are a guide book for life. I also love SMART Recovery and the tools it provides. I use them alongside each other, the more tools the better!