I am happy, joyous and free because I discoverd that we are not powerless over our addictions. Self will is the answer. let me repeat that.
Self will is the answer. If one really buys into the powerless trap, if you actually believe you are powerless it becomes a self full filling prophecy.

AA is a religious organization. Don't take my word for it. Look it up. In 2007 a Federal Court decided that because AA was a religion that a person could not be required to attend meetings as a term of parole. Other courts including the U.S. Supreme Court have concured. For leagal purposes AA is a religion and AA is powerless to change that label.

My reason for posting is to help anyone who is stuck, who has doubts, who thinks for themselves to have some validation that there are many paths to addiction recovery. AA did not work for me so I did not keep going back. I am in favor of live and let live. I am living because I accepted my own power and ability to stop drinking. It was difficult, but not nearly as difficult as it was when I believed I was powerless.

I stopped drinking and decided that I will never drink again for the rest of my life. I am 100% certain of that fact. I quit one lifetime at a time not just one day at a time. I consider myself to be recovered. I refuse to call my self a recovering alcoholic because since I stopped I am by definition recovered. When asked I just tell people I am a tea toddler.

I will repeat again. Self will is the answer. Never believe for one second that you are powerless. Self will is the answer.

To anyone who would label me a "dry drunk" I reject that because it is an oxymoron. Once you quit and stay quit you have achieved recovery.

One alternative www.smartrecovery.org/