Though I couldn't accurately describe my journey as spontaneous, this is the category I fall under, and it's the only thing that worked. I struggled for decades, and in hindsight, was more damaged by my experience with AA than uplifted. Brainwashing your fellowship into believing that AA is the ONLY WAY, and convincing struggling addicts that people who quit without AA, aren't authentically sober is BS, and destructive. (Dry drunks) I liked meetings because it was a relief to be in the company of other people that were humbled by addiction, but the program itself? Nope. Tried it lots!!! It's a life saver for some, but the program dictates the thinking of many in the fellowship. This was displayed by the response of one 12-stepper here, claiming your comparison was hardly fair. That's nonsense, but a predictable false claim that gets loyally regurgitated. I failed/relapsed countless times and needed medically assisted detox 3 times, so my addiction was very evolved. The biggest factor in my success was avoiding AA!
Prior to the term "spontaneous recovery", I read that more alcoholics successfully "quit on their own" than through AA. This was published in Rational Recovery in the late 1990s.
Thanks for being brave Diane. You presented your thoughts very diplomatically, but this type of data is perceived as a threat by a lot of 12-steppers. It's the equivalent of questioning one's religion. . (I was accused of trying to get people killed by simply mentioning 12-step alternatives at an on-line meeting.....so yeah, I have a king-sized chip on my shoulder!)
Thanks for sharing!!!