Kirsten Johnson Podcast

I was in 12-step circles for 10+ years and I’m now 5+ years into my trauma recovery journey. Thank you for leveling the narrative here. At best, these groups crowd out evidence-based solutions for folks who really need them.

Thank you for your podcast.. I never bought into AA and also thought it was cult and after hearing your podcast I am so glad I chose not to go down tgat road.. I’m happy to see that I’m not the only one who thought it was a cult!!!

Honestly, I feel bad for you and your guests that this was your experience in AA- to feel like you must or have to do anything. Not sure what kinda meetings you used to run over there, but all of it was suggestive. Whether it was the # of meetings you went to, whether you chose to pick up the phone (lol that it was mentioned as a positive… we screen calls all the time), telling secrets? Like bro it even says in the book you don’t have to tell ur sponsor this stuff - having/talking to a therapist is just as good. AA helps a lot of people and sounds like you did get stuck into a really strict kind of it. This podcast is dumb and pointless for anyone who is confused whether to attend AA and get help. You said yourself you stayed for 10 years. It obviously worked until it didn’t (sounds familiar…).

For sure AA and the 12 step model are not for everyone, but it’s a supportive, free community that can and does work to help folks get and stay sober long term. And yea, lots and lots of folks who don’t want to stop using will tell you it doesn’t work, they’re entitled to their opinions. There are a lot of confusing/confused statements about her experiences with AA that I don’t think are universal and tbh, I’m afraid some poor addict out there who is just looking for an excuse to stay high is listening to this and deciding that AA is a cult, so they don’t go. No one at AA forces you to attend with the kind of fervor she did, and no one keeps you from leaving. It’s also unfortunate she didn’t know about her AuDHD but that’s not what AA is for. AA offers (totally freely btw) a program of sobriety for those who care to avail themselves of it. I know former addicts who have 10 years of sobriety and only go to maybe 2 meetings per year, I know others who feel like they need more consistent support, either is ok. I’m sorry this one person got addicted to AA and then left, but that doesn’t make what she says true. Speak your truth, girl, just maybe do it in your journal so you don’t hurt people who need help desperately