Powerfully Recovered! A Confirmed 12 Stepper Challenges the Movement

Rating:
Summary: Leaving the herd
Review: About one year into sobriety, gained as a direct result from having gone through the 12 steps EXACTLY how the BB describes it, I discovered that frequent statements were made at meetings to the effect that not only are we powerless over alcohol, but also over people, places and things. I found this confusing, to say the least. In an aa leaflet, that triggered my suspicion about some of the things I heard, it says "At any one time you will find somebody in AA who will agree to everything you have done up till now and by the same token you can find somebody who will disagree." Hence I had to start seeking and learn to trust my inner voice.

When I was totally beaten - the usual loss of house, cars, marriage, friends, credit and money, followed by a total breakdown three years later - I met a man at a meeting who, after having heard my story and told me his, promised me there was a way out. He said, after that I had been sober for a month he would show me what he meant. I learned how to live the program and have had no desire to drink since step 7 (and won't have tomorrow because I am doing what the book tells me to do) and more importantly I feel far from powerless. The only powerlessness mentioned in the BB is the one over alcohol.

I realised after some time that I had recovered, but at the same time I was confused because of all the misleading and contradictory statements made in meetings. And the people insisting to be of the endlessly recovering variety were always in majority. Anyway I started to introduce myself at meetings by saying my name is Michael and I am a recovered alcoholic. And the chilling atmosphere in the room was very real. After the third time at this meeting (using the word recovered) people just mumbled something remotely similar to hello Michael. I persevered and started to go to other meetings. At one of these I heard a man introduce himself in the same fashion as I have described above and I found it utterly attractive and listened very carefully to what he said.

I have also learned that it takes guts to come to aa and admit to your addiction, but in my experience it took more guts to say that I had recovered from it.

I can only say that if I, when first coming to aa, had been presented with the concept of a disease that I would never be able to recover from and that I would remain powerless over my life for as long as I lived, I would not have been alive today.

AA is changing from the inside to a society for non-drinkers in strong contrast to those of us who are real alcoholics and need the original message. I finish with saying that the sub-title of the BB is "How many thousands of men and women have RECOVERED from alcoholism" - this little piece of information seems to have gone lost in all the cafeteria style groups we see today. Anne Wyman has in an excellent way made it very clear to me why this situation has surfaced and she has also emphasised what my first sponsor told me at the first book-study night: The purpose of this is for you to find God, get rid of the need to drink and to be able to manage your own life. This has all come true.

Thank you Anne.

Michael

Rating:
Summary: The persistent myths are over
Review: Anne Wayman explodes the myths of powerlessness and endless recovering-ness that are part of 12-Step fellowship banter, but never were "Program". Indeed, it is Wayman who clarifies some of the differences between "fellowship" and "Program". The former has gone astray into a nonsensical obsession with powerlessness over everything, and it shows in the 12-Step groups in the form of depression and weaknesses. Empowerment for men and women should be what recovery is all about, and Anne Wayman's book will help people, as it has helped me. No more the myth of powerlessness for me; I didn't buy it when I joined NA, and I don't buy it now. Thanks to Anne Wayman, I no longer feel alone and I have a clear exegetical basis for my gut feelings and personal commitment to gaining more strength and joy in my life.

Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: Anne Wayman has written an important book. Powerfully Recovered! surprised me so much that I had to read it twice. I was expecting a rehashing of the same old recovery issues. What I found was a truly challenging discussion of issues addressing the very core effectiveness of 12 Step programs to carry the message of recovery to women and minorities.

Anne's book helped me understand how the myths of personal powerlessness and never-ending recovery were holding me back.

This is a great book and a must-read for everyone who wants to increase their own personal recovery program and effectiveness as a sponsor of others.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't understand the 12 step program
Review: Anne Wayman is a grateful 12-stepper who makes some thoughtful, respectful, and constructive observations about the "movement." Powerfully Recovered is a passionate affirmation, not just of the 12-steps in general, but also of life, truth, and self-respect. While its subject is the 12-step programs (and particularly AA), it really speaks about the nature of growth and healing. I am not a 12-stepper, but I found much of value in Powerfully Recovered. Many of the observations Wayman makes seemed powerfully familiar to me. I know, for example, that I need to acknowledge my own humanity and to love myself while I take responsibility for my own past, present, and future. I don't know that Wayman's intent was to write such a metaphor for "the rest of us," but she certainly did that. Her ideas are not revolutionary, but she says them in a way that makes it easy to "get it."
This is a very uplifting book. I would not hesitate to recommend it lovingly to anyone who feels the need for some personal encouragement or a compassionate hug.

Rating:
Summary: A psychologist's opinion
Review: Excellent! I intend to assign Powerfully Recovered to my "permanent" 12 stepper clients. In very different words, we say much the same thing. As a psychologist I speak about "taking personal power" and "responsibility for the self", or "getting at the stuff underlying addiction." Your well articulated account with it's references to The Big Book and clarification of the founders' intent is just what my 12 steppers need to hear, written in their own language.

This book is a gem!

Dr. Irene ...

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't understand the 12 step program
Review: The author does not understand the 12 step program. It is not a program of endless powerlessness. Power is obtained through contact with a higher power. People suffering from addiction learn to become truly powerful by calling upon something greater than ourselves. This book is dangerous because it can confuse people who are successful in recovery.

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Summary: SHE DARES TO SAY WHAT A LOT OF US ARE THINKING!
Review: The Fellowship and Program of Alcoholics Anynonomous saved my life. I have been clean and sober for over nineteen years. I have, however, noticed a change in the "Fellowship" (meetings) over the past few years, and the author is right on the mark. Her criticicism of the program is constructive and well-though out. It is not "change for change sake" thinking. She goes into great detail to explain why some things need to be changed to reflect the times and attitudes of the membership. I whole-heartedly agree with her philosophy of do the program, recover, and get on with the life you missed out on while in an alcoholic haze. A great read and a real page-turner. I read it in one sitting. Thanks for telling it like it is and how it could be Anne!

Rating:
Summary: Best I've read on the subject
Review: The title hooked me - a "confirmed 12 stepper challenges the movement". I am a confirmed 12 stepper, too. After 5 years i can tell you that I have taken no more powerful action in my life than entering recovery (AA). And maybe it is just a natural phase of development to start looking a little more critically at the program and how I can continue to progress.
So, I have read just about every book on the subject. SOme books are so anti-AA that it reads like one big resentful self-pitying indulgence. This book had a much more balanced view; more respectful of what AA does accomplish. I felt validated to read some ideas that I agreed with but never felt comfortable saying out loud. The truth is - I DO feel recovered. I understand that I cannot drink alcohol and I understand the importance of nurturing my sobriety and i will continue to do that. Attending AA still nurtures my sobriety so I stll go to meetings. I feel free, though.
In recent months, I admitted to myself that I felt "addicted" to meetings. It had become more of a social club for me than a necessity. I also suspected that I was having needs met through meetings that could be met through interaction with friends and family. In a weird sort of way, AA was helping me to isolate. So, I cut back on meetings. It was hard at first, but I stuck with it. Sure enough, I can report a differnt sort of balance in my life. I seek out others to connect with - a conversation with a co-worker, a call to my mother to see how she is, that sort of thing. Emotional connecting needs can be met more than one way.
And I still enjoy the meetings I do attend.
Like lots of other people, I have job stress, parenting stress and world peace stress.... but I am more stable than I ever dared hope possible. Recovery is a miracle. This book helped to confirm that for me.

Rating:
Summary: Very important message
Review: This book has a really important message for people in recovery. You don't have to feel powerless and defeated - you can recover and feel powerful.

This is an easy read and helps to dispell some of the negative things that are heard at meetings sometimes.