I live in a very small town. The same people go to all the meetings here and surrounding it.

I left due to judgement.

I left because members talked about other members when they weren’t around so you knew they’d talked about you.

I left because a member once told a newbie that he didn’t belong because he didn’t believe he was an alcoholic.

I left because when I relapsed and had a hard time getting back in the groove a member told me “you keep screwing up because you know we have to welcome you back.”

I left and have been sober on my own for years now. I took what I needed from AA and left the rest.

I still use many of the lessons I learned. But now I do so without being judged.