True Tales of Misery, Betrayal, and Abuse in AA, NA and 12-Step Treatment, edited by Rebecca Fransway
Reviewed by Jackie J.
The Introduction, Foreword, and Preface contain a great deal of anti-AA editorial commentary. The basic points are that AA is bad for some (or most) people and that people who contradict the belief-systems of AAers are demonized. Pro-AA individuals who are easily offended might want to skip the introductory material. The horror stories themselves are fascinating reads and only a few had an entirely negative view of AA. Even avid 12-steppers should find something of value and little to resent in most of these stories.
Some stories are very detailed, chapter-length tales of 13-stepping and compulsory AA-attendance. Other stories are no more than a few paragraphs long. Each writer clearly has an independent and unique perspective on their AA experiences. Most names were changed to protect the innocent, although some writers insisted that their names be proudly displayed.
Each story-teller drew a unique conclusion from their experience. The differing opinions treated the subject with a basic fairness that was much more open-minded and even-handed than the title suggests. Every writer was clear that they were writing solely about their own experience and most insisted that they did not intend that the reader jump to conclusions about the organization as a whole.
Some contributers were primarily interested in reforming AA and fixing AA's internal problems by opening a healthy dialog within meetings, making newcomers aware of stalkers within the organization, and limiting the authority of old-timers (who may be more interested in protecting their friends and/or their egos than supporting the organization). They were motivated by a desire to create a better environment for those seeking recovery.
Some people protested the systematic sexism or racism they encountered in the organization. One mentioned the lack of tolerance for non-Judeo-Christian religious preferences. Male and female alcoholics are clearly held to different standards of behavior in many AA groups.
Others told of the shock they experienced when they were admitted into treatment centers and realized that they were in an abusive (or religious) environment that they were unprepared to cope with. They related how they and their families were pressured into accepting a pro-forma explanation of their troubles. Most of the writers' scorn was reserved for treatment centers and the counselors (most often characterized as deranged) who ran them.
Some stories dealt with suicides and other destructive behaviors that AA members were driven to when they were denied the support of the group for some actual or philosophical conflict with the organization. Several instances had to do with people being encouraged to quit taking prescribed medications for mental illnesses in order to become authentically "sober" according to the standards of their group.
Very few readers insisted that they would not refer a friend to AA after their experiences, although most of them were emphatic that they themselves would not return to "those rooms" again. Several had discovered alternate methods of treatment, others felt that they had taken charge of their lives and recovery sufficiently to no longer need the support of a group to maintain their sobriety.
The differing points of view and perspectives of the contributors gives lie to the myth that all alcoholics are alike.
These story-tellers all tell another story - the story of their resilience and commitment to sobriety regardless of the obstacles. Interestingly enough, most of them arrived at a desire to act to change their circumstances and found the courage to speak out about the injustices they suffered in AA after four or five years of sobriety.
Some stories are very detailed, chapter-length tales of 13-stepping and compulsory AA-attendance. Other stories are no more than a few paragraphs long. Each writer clearly has an independent and unique perspective on their AA experiences. Most names were changed to protect the innocent, although some writers insisted that their names be proudly displayed.
Each story-teller drew a unique conclusion from their experience. The differing opinions treated the subject with a basic fairness that was much more open-minded and even-handed than the title suggests. Every writer was clear that they were writing solely about their own experience and most insisted that they did not intend that the reader jump to conclusions about the organization as a whole.
Some contributers were primarily interested in reforming AA and fixing AA's internal problems by opening a healthy dialog within meetings, making newcomers aware of stalkers within the organization, and limiting the authority of old-timers (who may be more interested in protecting their friends and/or their egos than supporting the organization). They were motivated by a desire to create a better environment for those seeking recovery.
Some people protested the systematic sexism or racism they encountered in the organization. One mentioned the lack of tolerance for non-Judeo-Christian religious preferences. Male and female alcoholics are clearly held to different standards of behavior in many AA groups.
Others told of the shock they experienced when they were admitted into treatment centers and realized that they were in an abusive (or religious) environment that they were unprepared to cope with. They related how they and their families were pressured into accepting a pro-forma explanation of their troubles. Most of the writers' scorn was reserved for treatment centers and the counselors (most often characterized as deranged) who ran them.
Some stories dealt with suicides and other destructive behaviors that AA members were driven to when they were denied the support of the group for some actual or philosophical conflict with the organization. Several instances had to do with people being encouraged to quit taking prescribed medications for mental illnesses in order to become authentically "sober" according to the standards of their group.
Very few readers insisted that they would not refer a friend to AA after their experiences, although most of them were emphatic that they themselves would not return to "those rooms" again. Several had discovered alternate methods of treatment, others felt that they had taken charge of their lives and recovery sufficiently to no longer need the support of a group to maintain their sobriety.
The differing points of view and perspectives of the contributors gives lie to the myth that all alcoholics are alike.
These story-tellers all tell another story - the story of their resilience and commitment to sobriety regardless of the obstacles. Interestingly enough, most of them arrived at a desire to act to change their circumstances and found the courage to speak out about the injustices they suffered in AA after four or five years of sobriety.
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