I am logging back in specifically to address this comment in case it prevents somebody from trying AA due to misinformation.
First as others echo if you don't understand the addiction consider yourself lucky. If I drank one drink at the end I was physically compelled to have another. Imagine a terrible itch. You have to scratch it. Heavy drinking alcoholics have such strong physical addictions that detox without medical supervision can be life threatening. Your reaction wondering why millions of people choose AA and abstinence vs trying to "cut back" is misinformed but not uncommon.
Second and more importantly IMO the misconception that AA requires a traditional faith or GOD experience is what kept me out for years. Part of working the steps is finding "a higher power" and I know many atheists in the program that consider that to be Good Orderrly Direction (GOD) vs a spiritual or dogmatic experience.
But the true "work" of the program is centered around confronting your wreckage of the past and confronting life on life's terms vs utilizing alcohol as a mechanism to check out of life.
First as others echo if you don't understand the addiction consider yourself lucky. If I drank one drink at the end I was physically compelled to have another. Imagine a terrible itch. You have to scratch it. Heavy drinking alcoholics have such strong physical addictions that detox without medical supervision can be life threatening. Your reaction wondering why millions of people choose AA and abstinence vs trying to "cut back" is misinformed but not uncommon.
Second and more importantly IMO the misconception that AA requires a traditional faith or GOD experience is what kept me out for years. Part of working the steps is finding "a higher power" and I know many atheists in the program that consider that to be Good Orderrly Direction (GOD) vs a spiritual or dogmatic experience.
But the true "work" of the program is centered around confronting your wreckage of the past and confronting life on life's terms vs utilizing alcohol as a mechanism to check out of life.