AA has never been very successful. That's a part of the mythology of AA. When it does work, It works for the same reason anything works: You stick with a thing. Alcoholism starts as an unaddressed mental or emotional anguish before the first drink. To call it a "brain disease" is both unscientific and irresponsible. Alcohol is a legal poison. Other poisons are illegal. Neither catagory of substance is used in excess unless there is first a mental or emotional ailment at play. Unaddressed trauma- induced by neglect, abuse, acts of war, accidents, natural disasters, the loss of terrain, a relationship, status, financial wherewithal, etc.- is often a root cause. That said, calling alcoholism a choice is also missing the mark. In order to make a choice, or to choose, one must first be aware of things from which to choose. If an entire culture hammers into its members "we have always done [x] for millenia," what choice is there but to do "x" ? And, of course, trauma can be passed down one generation to the next. "Hurt people hurt people," so the saying goes. And, money is involved - big money. Drug dealing and big booze distribution alike know this. So, there's always that. And the fact that the medical establishment in most Western nations have a "suggested number of units" per week isn't helpful. Again, alcohol is a poison. Every cell in a lab will die when exposed to alcohol. To suggest an acceptable number of units per week and "drink responsibly" is a direct result of the liquor lobby paying big bucks to politicians. Oh, and yes chronic alcohol use changes the brain. But then so does falling in love. Neuroplasticity is a fascinating topic. Do a thing enough times and the brain will change to accommodate or (in the case of addiction) exacerbate a condition/state of mind. Cheers!

Enjoyed the video . Sad but true.Chris R nails it in his talks.He shared a couple of times in your video. Without our higher power we are doomed

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Also thank you to Chris R!

Thanks❤

Please help me i am suffering from alcohol addiction from last 10 years yesterday too i drank a half a bottle of whisky now feeling miserable please help me

Do you go or just follow the material ?

TRUTH

This video was so beautifully spoken and created. Truly a gift.

I wonder if AA has gotten this reputation presented in this video because of all the court-ordered requirements to attend. So now AA meetings are filled with those who really don’t want to be there.

AA has a 5-10% success rate, and it is the voices of that 5-10% heard extolling its virtues. AA is vehemently being debunked by professionals in the field. If you are struggling in AA. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. You are not "constitutionally incapable of being honest" with yourself. AA's idealogy can be damaging for some and even deadly. If you're one of the 5-10%, my "hat is off to you," but please do not encourage struggling, vulnerable people to get into the program more. 5-10% is pretty low odds to bet someones life on!

Old man Mike told me that he had been sober longer than I've been alive.

You're not put under a spot light, but you have to deal with egos

I have 34 years of sobriety. Best years of my life..my family have benefitted and they are not members ..I don’t have a higher power or get on my knees nor do gratitude lists I have a home group and never miss it if possible..I love the AA way of life due to,its lack of dogma ..it was inclusive of all since its inception years ago. Ask for help and you will find it..I did 30 years service in the local prison and most members were atheist….great people.

AA and NA have helped millions of people. Step 1 is important because you cant recover if you dont admit that you have a problem. AA is not a cult demanding your money. AA is a fellowship of people who value sobriety more than addiction. No one will blame or shame you. AA will welcome you

Thank you for speaking the Truth. I am sober 25 years and agree with everything you’ve said I’ve done service beyond the Group level for 21 years.. Would love to talk with you sometime. Thank you for your service.

This was awesome! So glad I watched it. I'm currently doing a new 4th step and I always have a hard time with this part of the step. Thanks so much!

You quit at 29 and I started at 28, I'm now 38 and a heavy drinker.

Wonder how many people fellowship has killed over the years

Thanks for this video. I needed this to continue on to day 3 sober.

Just one more thing maintain that experience. It can slip away if we don’t share it. ❤

Give up. Clean up. Make up . Grow up .

AA never fails because it’s about the 12 steps . I have never accepted the concept of Disease. I have never been to a treatment centre. I don’t sponsor no one . And I am only 42 years sober. I live the book and still attend meetings In Ireland. Here it’s known as the Irish virus Thank for posting this . Bill wilson never mentioned disease in the big book, neither did he mention sponsor. Because the first 100 wouldn’t let just anyone come to meetings, they had to be sponsored into the group. Two members would take the Alcohol through the first 3 steps, then they could come to their first meeting, six months later they would have had a profound experience by doing the other 9 steps and had recovered from alcoholism, the meeting helped them maintain their sobriety and they became of service to others

Thank you for sharing

Great video, thank you. How can I get a transcript of the video? Cheers, Robert

❤ since 2014 may 12,am in with AA, grace to have 12 steps program, practicing in all affiars

75 percent is guess at best, their is no sober records and I don’t trust bill w that begged for a drink on his deathbed and continually try to 13 step young female members. There is a long history of old timers, sweeping his behaviour under the carpet. The 12 and 12 is basically his opinions. One thing I do respect about Bill is he was very empathetic to the idea of bringing doctor’s opinions into the fellowship, as seen with the chapter that is dedicated doctors opinion. Also when the big book was written, it was sent to over 200 doctors around the country to get feedback and thoughts from them. if you look at the fellowship today, it’s almost social suicide talking about a therapist or counsellor or some cutting edge science in addiction. I don’t doubt that it works for some people I’ve seen the proof, a lot of them are much better people today than when they were drinking or using. There is no perfect system and some gravitate to the fellowship and the program. I respect a lot of Dr. Silkworth’s work because it still holds through today although I don’t think that AA’s been diluted, I think it hasn’t evolved to the time. The traditions basically block it from doing so. I attended 12 Step Treatment Centre with a cognitive behavioural twist using the steps.. it was literally life-changing, my life does not revolve around AA and the fellowship anymore. I have hobbies I have friends that are not involved in the program. I’m not addicted to meetings. I would say that the majority of people in AA are close minded. If it doesn’t fit the literature it must be wrong. Am I supposed to listen to a person that literally went to 11 years of school and specializes in addiction medicine or do I listen to the mailman down the road read a book and has a bunch of opinions based on 1939 science? the one thing I do agree with in this video is all the opinions of the Fellowship 90 meetings and 90 days etc It’s all ridiculous. The one thing I did learn going through the steps with a sponsor and the treatment centre are going through the steps is the actual program does work if it’s applied in action in your life. I’m open minded too many different ideas of recovery.. Cleaning house, trusting God and keeping my house clean. 1011 and 12 are the maintenance steps to keeping my house clean. I guess my mind has way too many questions for the majority of close minded people in the fellowship that regurgitate what their sponsor says and what the old timer says that’s been married three times in recovery and only has friends in AA.

I agree that the steps are what will save you and work in the program. I too have seen the decline in the changing Profound spiritual system that works. Yes I have faith

The speaker in the video doesn't mention , that about half of the first 100 members went back drinking

I went threw the work the problems been removed I am grateful I met the man armed with fact how showed me how to recover from alcoholism I said recovered from my first years got shot down didn't stop me 20 years later I done a tony robbison semi an now is see the truth about aa as I got in the middle of the mental hospital I do what bill done go out in my own community an carry a message of hope to.those how still suffer no humman power can do what god can do step one I will not be going back I'm the man on page 23 I'll give you 100 resson but in the light side I ain't got a clue

The entire human race suffers from the spiritual malady but they are not all alcoholic or addicts

Sober 45 years August 10, 1979! Good points!

The first 100 had a succss rate of less than 35% for more than 2 years

Meetings are not the program, "12 steps which are suggested as a program of recovery" , each day i have a daily reprieve contingent of the maintence of my spirtual condition.

IT IS THE "ADJUSTMENT" OF GOD..Allowing All concepts of gods, including "a doorknob"..i hear they used to Bow in prayer!

Ive had many spiritual awakenings last year i sat the worst hell ever i didn't give up i made it multiple yrs in recovery only by working hard on myself and keeping myself positive and working on things more better

on 4 today... this is going to take a while, isnt it...

AA in my town is the most ridiculous group. It should be a group of people trying to help people get sober. AA in the town I live in bad mouth other groups, talk about personal information about people. And in my experience, like when people start drinking again. It is not a safe place in this town. Is it the same in other places???

GOD SORRY BUT THE BACKGROUND MUSIC IS SO OFF PUTTING, WE CAN HARDLY HEAR WHAT HE IS SAYING!!!

Thanks and God bless yall. Keep comimg back eh....

Whats with the loud music in the background? It takes away from the video.

Thank you for sharing, I can relate a 100% about your teenage years and early 20s. I was also hating myself back then, and It led me to binge drink and being unable to socialise without being drunk. for some reason in my mid-20s I was able to gain confidence in myself, and loving myself. The binge drinking stopped. and I was able to control my drinking. Turns out I was not an alcoholic, just someone with self-esteem problems. Today I'm a normal week end drinker, I never Black out, rarely hungover. I'm just sharing my story, It's different than other people commenting, A lot of alcoholic have self-esteem issues that trigger the disease.

I don't think you showed how it was laid out on your paper. I've done Step 4 through the Big Book years ago. I was trying to do 10th step which for me is laid out the same but for current daily inventory. I forgot how to lay it out. I'll keep looking

This Video is a lie

Beautiful

This video is partially true, but there are only two symptoms of alcoholism, the menta and physical. Once you do the step you overcome the spiritual malady

I am only 42 years sober. And have always contended the Alcoholism isn’t a disease, having said that I have recovered. And live a fulfilling productive life. I apply the 12 healing steps. I Live what the book says. Not what clowns say at meetings that probably aren’t alcoholics. I don’t have a sponsor. Neither do I sponsor. Having said that I do ask a few simple questions 1Are you ready to go to any legend to get sober.? If I don’t get an affirming answer,I walk away. Carry the message not the person. The old times used to say to me . AA has 33 sign posts 12 steps 12 traditions and 19 slogans . Tonight I discovered that the 11 step has 33 words. God is hiding in plain sight

Or. Hear me out. Bill w made up the 75% number. Just like he made up most of everything he said. Cause he was a liar. And AA is a cult.

Thank you!! I'm 15 months sober and have struggled recently connecting to a higher power. This to me makes so much sense.

Incorrect

Thank you brother for this video. Am on doing the 4th step for the second time. And the way your explaining it gives me courage to do it better then the last.