Alcoholics Anonymous has dominated the alcohol treatment field in the United States. This approach has worked well for many people who have drinking problems, but it doesn't work for everyone. Many women especially find the emphasis on "powerlessness" to be less than helpful. The Alcoholics Anonymous approach begins with the step "We admit we are powerless over alcohol and that our lives have become unmanageable." For many alcoholics, especially for male alcoholics, this step has allowed them to let go of their attempts to manage lives that had truly become unmanageable. After admitting powerlessness, the next step involved turning your life over to a "higher power" - usually thought of as a male "God." People who don't believe in a Judeo-Christian God also sometimes have problems with 12-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Women for Sobriety
Many women already feel powerless. Despite gains that women have made in recent years, they still live in a world dominated by men. Admitting powerlessness and turning your life over a male deity may not be a helpful approach under these circumstances. One alternative that many women have found is the organization Women for Sobriety. This organization began in 1976 to offer women an alternative to AA. Their "new life program" is more optimistic that AA, and it emphasizes changes that women can make, rather than their powerlessness. Despite their differences, Women for Sobriety works cooperatively with AA and recognizes that some women benefit from working with both organizations.
Rational Recovery
Another alternative for women and men with drinking problems is the organization called Rational Recovery. Founded in 1986, Rational Recovery is based on cognitive-behavioral techniques similar to those found to be effective in treating depression. This group calls their basic approach the "Addictive Voice Recognition Technique." Their crash course in this technique provides some very basic information about their approach. This organization takes issue with the "disease model of alcoholism," suggesting an alternative that they call " the structural model of alcoholism." Buddy T, the Alcoholism Guide, has also written about Rational Recovery.
I'm glad that these alternatives to the dominant 12-step approach are available. I especially recommend Women for Sobriety as an alternative approach for women who have a drinking problem. Is alcoholism a disease? I believe that it is a disease for many people, but it is probably actually several diseases. Others who have even severe drinking problems may actually be self-medicating in order to treat themselves for another problem. In such cases alcohol is being used to numb the symptoms of the other disorder. Persons with anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD have been known to self-medicate with alcohol in this manner.
If you have a drinking problem you should get help. Get professional help at a chemical dependency treatment program. Consider a 12-step group like AA, or one of the alternative approaches. Whichever approach you try, take the first step and get help.
Keep reading for a comparison of the 12 steps and the 13 affirmations...
