Ep 17 Why I left AA after 10 years
Sobriety Bestie Podcast · Kirsten Johnson
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Show Notes
🎧 Episode Summary:
In this raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal episode, I finally break my silence and my anonymity around Alcoholics Anonymous. After 10 years as a devoted, true-believer AA member and 5 years since leaving the program, I'm opening up about why I left — and what happened next.
This is the story of what it means to evolve beyond recovery. It’s not an AA bash-fest. It’s a soul-truth telling, and my intention is to liberate anyone who’s been quietly wrestling with doubts, dissonance, and the terrifying question: What if I leave... and I die?
I share:
- The moment I realized I was in a high-control ideology
- How critical thinking cracked open my AA worldview
- The painful (and freeing) process of deprogramming
- Why I now believe recovery can become learned helplessness
- How I discovered I was autistic and ADHD after leaving AA
- What recovery actually means to me now
- The surprising grief, fear, and freedom that comes from walking away
If you've ever felt trapped in a program that once saved you, or you’ve questioned whether staying is still serving your evolution — this episode is for you.
I share this not to convince, but to validate, to liberate, and to remind you: You're allowed to grow beyond where you started.
🌀 If You’re in the Deprogramming Phase…
I created a course called Deprogram, specifically for folks leaving AA and navigating the messy, liberating, identity-shifting work of reclaiming their own mind.
It’s a roadmap I wish existed when I left Alcoholics Anonymous.
🩷 It's safe to trust yourself 🩷
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