SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post - AA-Does it work?

keithj · 06-10-2009, 12:25 PM

“Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.” The beginning of Chapter 5, How It Works in AA’s Big Book is one of the most read passages at meetings. Do we ever really question the truth of this statement? Do we look at its applicability?

I think the truth is self-evident. The statement doesn’t make any distinction between motivations for coming into the rooms, types of drinkers, social status, how far of a bottom, religious preference or lack thereof, etc. Nothing like that. Just rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.

The message I hear is one of hope. Anyone can recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. If you do the things, follow the directions, that are laid out in AA’s program of recovery, you will recover.

Does everyone’s experience jive with that? I do some reading around the forums and see people that have been struggling for months or years continue to struggle. And I did the same thing before I recovered. Now, there may be other ways to recover. I’m not knocking those. But does anyone have experience with someone NOT recovering as the result of AA’s 12 steps?

I’ve watched people from corporate lawyers to homeless guys recover via the 12 steps. Men and women. Folks that got to the rooms by judicial order. Atheists. Folks badgered into AA by their wives. Devout Christians. Those who work the steps seem to recover.

I saw a guy relapse about two years ago who seemed to have thoroughly worked the steps. One drink relapse. And he claims he was unwilling to sponsor people, so he questions his thoroughness. Another guy went out after 7 years, but he fully admits he stopped doing any spiritual work. He’s been back for 5 years now.

I guess I just shake my head sometimes reading the forum about all the questions and lack of decisiveness and searches for a recovery that fits what someone may personally believe. The proof is in the outcome. Work the steps and you will have a spiritual awakening and you will recover. Simple like.

06-10-2009, 12:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
keithj Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,659	AA-Does it work? “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.” The beginning of Chapter 5, How It Works in AA’s Big Book is one of the most read passages at meetings. Do we ever really question the truth of this statement? Do we look at its applicability? I think the truth is self-evident. The statement doesn’t make any distinction between motivations for coming into the rooms, types of drinkers, social status, how far of a bottom, religious preference or lack thereof, etc. Nothing like that. Just rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. The message I hear is one of hope. Anyone can recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. If you do the things, follow the directions, that are laid out in AA’s program of recovery, you will recover. Does everyone’s experience jive with that? I do some reading around the forums and see people that have been struggling for months or years continue to struggle. And I did the same thing before I recovered. Now, there may be other ways to recover. I’m not knocking those. But does anyone have experience with someone NOT recovering as the result of AA’s 12 steps? I’ve watched people from corporate lawyers to homeless guys recover via the 12 steps. Men and women. Folks that got to the rooms by judicial order. Atheists. Folks badgered into AA by their wives. Devout Christians. Those who work the steps seem to recover. I saw a guy relapse about two years ago who seemed to have thoroughly worked the steps. One drink relapse. And he claims he was unwilling to sponsor people, so he questions his thoroughness. Another guy went out after 7 years, but he fully admits he stopped doing any spiritual work. He’s been back for 5 years now. I guess I just shake my head sometimes reading the forum about all the questions and lack of decisiveness and searches for a recovery that fits what someone may personally believe. The proof is in the outcome. Work the steps and you will have a spiritual awakening and you will recover. Simple like.