Smart recovery quotes Videos

+Mike Janapolis AAA does save lives when you're broke down by the side of the road. AA is a dangerous cult religion. The end.

Triple A? They probably do help more people than Alcoholics Anonymous

+Juliet Abram I didn't notice he said AAA. Well they have cool roadside service so for all I know they have saved lives. I thought he was talking about AA. My mistake, Mike. Thank you for saving the stranded motorists!

+Mike Janapolis So AA helps you? I thought AA did it all. At least that's what they told me.

+Jason Bartley Well-said man.  I think it's hard to invest years if not decades in the AA program and not develop confirmation bias.  A person builds their entire social circle around AA and it becomes more about maintaining friendships with other lifers in AA than it does about keeping up with research on alcoholism and the variety of different solutions available that are not AA.  It's true most people leave AA.  Some manage to do so without having bought into the idea if they leave AA they will drink themselves to death--- yet some do drink themselves to death ONLY because they were in AA for so long they heard it so often they believe it--- it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Not proof that if you leave AA your disease will kill you.  Most people leave AA and stay abstinent from alcohol, maybe try SMART or HAMS, maybe moderate or practice harm reduction.  75% recover without any support group or treatment.  Of the 23 reported people identifying as "in recovery" or "recovered" or "former addict/alcoholic" only 2 million claim to be AA members.  Most people are not in AA.  Of those 2 million in AA, not all of them are abstinent, many are in and out of the rooms for years, and 95-98% leave after one year.  So it's hardly likely AA has 2 million success stories--- those who achieved the goal of lifelong abstinence.  Mike is one of the few and that would make a person extremely loyal to the program.  However, to be helpful and save lives people like Mike should properly inform themselves and others of the facts about the "disease" of alcoholism they claim to have a solution for.  12-Steps are a religious belief system-- they aren't a cure for a disease of any kind.  AA is a program of religious conversion.

+Mike Janapolis I think you meant AA not triple A (AAA), I simply propose more people in AA/ outside of AA can be vastly more helpful by recognizing the problems in AA and fixing them.  Also, to give people as much information about all valuable solutions--- if it's not AA, it could be SMART, SOS, WFS, LifeRing just to name a few.  AA's simply not for everyone and there's no oversight, no regulation, no training.  Some members (not all) have used the AA literature to justify bad behaviors, using God-talk as a tool of fear (spiritual abuse), and the literature is demeaning/sexist to women.  I personally appreciate it when anyone in AA is open minded, offers advice that's not AA, is aware of current research and science, and wants safety policies implemented in AA.  I personally am upset whenever someone reports to the organization of Alcoholics Anonymous that they've been abused, or families lose loved ones because someone in AA preyed on a member and murdered them, that AA takes no responsibility and offers no condolences.  There's 2 sides to every coin, and that's true for AA as well.  You just have to be honest about it --- your experience and beliefs aside.  Facts speak louder than feelings.

+Mike Janapolis AA save lives??? Aren't those words like an oxymoron? At least for 98% of all those who walk through the doors of AA. Have you ever wondered about all those newcomers who left after the first year? Where did they go? Well for an example I will tell you that I personally was held back and stunted in my growth in life because of AA. And Now that I have freed myself from AA my life is much more balanced and I'm on better footing as a person. I'm afraid what you have is a case of confirmation bias. If you don't know what that is I will use this as an example. You see 20 different people come into AA. 19 times out of 20 the person doesn't stick around. Of course sometimes one will come back to testify the bad news that "it still isn't working out there." As if to imply that AA is the only thing that could possible work for anyone. Then the 1 time out of 20 when the person sticks around and makes his/her own personal choice to stay sober (but who of course gives the praise to AA) members rave that this is proof that AA works. You completely overlook the other 19 people, assuming what AA wants you to think. That they must be "suffering from their disease still." If you can't see the fallacy of this mindset, I hope you will be blessed with the gift of reason. For reason has far more potential and power than wishful thinking ever will.And don't get me wrong Mike. I know you're probably a decent guy with good intentions wanting to help others in AA. But if you can, do yourself a favor, get a grip on your AA deluded reality and join the rest of us in the real world. Those of us not caught up immensely in a colossal fuck up of a cult. I know I once was, and today I am glad to be released form the bondage of AA. The bondage of the belief that alcoholism is a disease.

+Mike Janapolis How many have you seen leave AA?  That's an entirely fair question to ask.  Why did they leave?  I'm very glad you are happy--- after 28 years AA is a 2nd family, sometimes a person's only family, and it's a fellowship which one basis his or her entire social life around--- conferences, picnics, dances, camping trips, etc.  "If you would follow the instructions to the tea yet probably be happy now and sober to"--- I followed the instructions to a tea. (Tee/T)... I was raised emotionally and mentally abused.  I knew these steps because they mirrored my upbringing--- rendered powerless, depend on higher powers to dictate how to live, list my wrongs even if I wasn't wrong find my part in it, constantly list my defects/shortcomings, apologize constantly even if I wasn't wrong.  --- If this is helpful to you then I won't disagree.  I think there's a lot unsaid in the steps--- there's no empowering statement, the spiritual instruction is rooted in a concrete image of a male God but I guess some can pretend it says something else, the wrongdoings and defects are not balanced with a list of positive qualities and actions, no one is asked to confront a person who may have done them wrong or seek justice for hurts someone else caused them.  You see, I needed a set of instructions the complete opposite of what AA has, or at a balanced set of empowering steps.  Today I am happy joyous and free--- I wish I could go back to a meeting and give a lead sharing what I learned since I stopped going to meetings completely 4 years ago.  So, take it from me, those who follow the steps can have the opposite result as you.  It's like saying penicillin works for you so it should work for someone who's deathly allergic to penicillin, they must not have been taking it right.

+Mike Janapolis Did you learn anything from what Jason Bartley said?  I'd like to hear what you think about the problems in AA in an honest straightforward manner.  List the wrongdoings of AA, AA's character defects, and what AA should make amends for.  There is no such thing as a perfect person or perfect organization--- if AA cannot correct its wrongs how can members correct their wrongs?

+Mike Janapolis you are a part of the problem.

Your fog hasn't cleared, you came in dependent on booze and are now dependent on the group, your sponsor, your higher power, your silly slogans. You are not and never will be recovered until you learn to live an independent life

+Karen Parker He's obviously not being open minded and willing to hear other people's experience strength and hope.  He's not willing to listen and accept other people's honest stories.  Anyone who doesn't praise AA is obviously a liar.  Just because he and his AA friends probably blame the victims who die or drink themselves to death for not accepting AA --- when they should accept that AA can harm others.  Just because he wasn't sexually harassed means that I'm lying.  Or I should have just brushed it off, no big deal.  Watching 50 year olds hit on 16,17,18 year old females in meetings was socially acceptable and helpful to the young girls' sobriety, wasn't it?  Why do they leave AA?

+Mike Janapolis Lies?  How can you say that when I can link you to hundreds of news reports of child molestations, murders of AA members by AA members, and the fact that many like myself were suffering more mental abuse working the steps?  "Crap"?  Why not just stick to the facts, listen to what others who are not you have to say about their experiences and the facts, and learn something instead of verbally attacking us?  I gave AA a try, so did Jason and Karen, and we are 3 examples of people who AA failed us.  It hurt our friends, we saw our friends die frustrated, full of doom and gloom hearing what AA had to offer, whose drinking became worse after attending AA when if they hadn't gone at all it was likely not to have gotten worse.  So I did make up my own mind--- and I'm still here, healthy, happy, joyous and free.  All the promises AA made to me didn't happen until after I left AA.  10 years of my life were wasted in AA.  I'd never been so sexually harassed and have my thoughts ridiculed so often in my life.  My opinions were mocked and laughed at.  When I mentioned the literature was sexist and causing me emotional distress and anxiety, not to mention I entered AA a sexual assault survivor, I was laughed at or even yelled at.  I didn't feel cared about at all--- I had to stuff down my feelings.  Guess what happens when one can't speak openly and freely and receive caring advice?  Things get worse.  That's what happens.  Mike--- do you ever suggest SMART, SOS, WFS, LifeRing, or any other support group for people with alcohol problems?  Or does AA pay you to not learn about other forms of recovery?

+Mike Janapolis WTF . calling me a killer ? the problem i have right now is YOU. all you cult members do is say the same ol recycled bullshit. not one of you have said anything original to me in the last 30 years. and by the way mr twatwaffle, my family and some of its members survived a homicide . IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. Murder does not happen ""just anywhere."" IT HAPPENED IN MY HOME . F U. your self righteous opinion disgusts me .

Yeah give AA a try and witness the bait and switch first hand while old timers try to get in your pants, wallet, mind, house and let a sponsor, who has destroyed his/her life, destroy yours too! Put your dollar in the bucket and AA will indoctrinate you for life! Fuck your religious program

I once killed a moose with my bear hands its a fact. Every weekend i usally wake up naked in the woods next to a dead moose, deer, bear, or anything i can get in a headlock for that matter. BTW I like TURTLES...

Ah, the mindless chat among family and friends over a dead bird and some burned dinner rolls.... Conversation like that is why I have an icepick sticking out of my ear right now...

this was tony twollet talking even though it was not in the description i know its that guy.

I'm going to my aunts funeral tomorrow. This still made me laugh though.

That was amazingly informative. I have just learned the universe.

I wonder what uncle Lon had to say this turkey day!

You should've filmed this at a table :D

@Flopstar80 LOL YES YES!! ALl hail!!

@cuttercanfly Who care ?....

you are a hilarious man =D

you going moose hunting?

I am very confused XD

I love you

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