Spiritual Abuse and Spiritual Bullies in Alcoholics Anonymous?

Using religious doctrine to enslave, ensnarl, and emotionally control others is spiritual abuse.  This happens in Alcoholics Anonymous, which has embedded itself into our mental health industry for the treatment of substance abuse, addiction, and alcoholism.  Last week, I spoke with Darlene G. Smith, the Intellectual Property Administrator with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., who …

Online Activism- Smash the AA Monopoly: Part 2

Online Activism:  Smashing the AA Monopoly Part 2 ARISE is a for-profit enterprise that claims an 83% success rate.  Which is amazing considering they use fear tactics to produce such amazing results.   When I first contacted ARISE, I did not expect much to be completely honest.  Yet, the feedback form was there and it only …

Online Activism- Smash the AA Monopoly: Part 1

Ever Google “peer support” groups, rehabs, or other addiction related services and come across the 12 Step programs as their example of support and services, excluding all other programs available?  I have, and I also have contacted the websites with my concerns. The first website I contacted was the University of Kansas’ Community Tool Box.  …

AA Bullies Still Calling Me an AA Basher

I’m called an AA Basher because I am opposed to AA for numerous reasons: My personal experience with the program making my problems worse. The fact AA is grossly ineffective yet has a monopoly over the treatment industry. The 12 Steps are negative, and use religion to scare believers into submission, and teach dependency. For …

Honesty in Recovery is Alive: Interview with 12 Steps to Dead author Rolf Ankermann

I recently had the honor to interview the author, and ex-AA member, of the book 12 Steps to Dead.  Thank you Rolf for taking the time to share your thoughts and views with me.  Without further ado, here is the full article. -------------------------------------------------- Deeply troubled, yet brutally honest, characters walk-- and sometimes stumble-- onto the …

My Turn to Debunk the Review about 13 Stepping

I offer no amends to this... I HATE THIS ARTICLE! I confess, I don't know who Danielle Stewart is.  Nor do I know much about rehabreviews.com.  However, this author and website has chosen to draw even more attention to filmmaker, and former AA member, Monica Richardson's documentary:  The 13th Step. (Thank YOU!) "Everyone loves a good …

Tablets and Other Technical Problems in Life After Addiction

Most of you, my small yet awesome readership, did not know that since my first serious foray in addiction-topic writing I was sharing a laptop with my boyfriend.  However, I prioritized, and also procrastinated making cool FB page about geek and horror culture.  But mainly, I shared my story and persisted to get heard.  Even …