Ever wonder why people in AA get defensive — even when you’re calm and factual? 🤔

Turns out, there’s a neurological reason behind it.

In this clip from a LIVE Deprogram Q+A inside the Deprogram Lounge, we dive into the science of amygdala hijack, nervous system activation, and why cultic ideologies trigger emotional, not rational, responses.

If you’ve experienced backlash for speaking your truth about AA, this one’s for you.

👉 Deprogram Lounge (Membership with courses, LIVE Q+As, Zooms, Book Club + Escape Kit)

🧰 Escape Kit (resources to Deprogram AA)

📚 Deprogram Book List (my fave deprogram, cult recovery and critical thinking books)

🌀 Deprogram AA Course (free your mind at your own pace)

Let’s get f*cking free.

Leaving AA can feel impossible — not because it’s physically hard to walk away, but because of phobia indoctrination and the total lack of outside validation.

When the whole world believes AA is the only way, it can feel like you’re crazy for questioning it. In this episode, I break down why that fear is programmed, how experts still miss it, and what it really means to reclaim your freedom.

📚 Reading from “Cults in Our Midst” by Margaret Singer

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Intro – Hard to Leave AA

01:44 The #1 Reason It’s Hard to Leave AA

03:33 AA Mention in Cults in Our Midst

06:15 “AA does not recruit deceptively”

08:48 Informed Consent & Deceptive Recruitment

09:53 “AA does not hide what membership entails”

13:40 “Members can leave at any time”

18:27 “Cults use members to grow the cult”

24:46 Indoctrinating Others + Self-Forgiveness

27:54 Warning Label on AA

👉 Deprogram Lounge (Membership with courses, LIVE Q+As, Zooms, book club. + more)

🧰 Escape Kit (resources to Deprogram AA)

📚 Deprogram Book List (my fave deprogram, cult recovery and critical thinking books)

🌀 Deprogram AA Course (free your mind at your own pace)

Let’s get f*cking free.

After years in Alcoholics Anonymous — and a lifetime of seeking belonging in controlling systems — Teri realized she didn’t need to dim her light or outsource her thinking anymore.

This raw and powerful conversation explores what it’s really like to leave AA, find your voice again, and build a new life rooted in freedom, truth, genuine connection and self-trust.

Timestamps:

00:00 Best Thinking Got Her Out Of AA Intro

01:08 Leaving AA

05:33 Staying Silent, Guilt + Mormon Roots

08:24 AA Was Helpful + Also Emotionally Damaging

10:35 Deprogram Lounge

13:10 AA Cult Within A Cult

17:04 Teri's Evolution After AA

26:02 Healing Trust Issues + Group Trauma

36:21 Hardest Part of Leaving AA

39:48 Making Friends After AA

49:09 Scared to Join a Deprogramming Group

58:32 Speaking About Leaving AA

1:14:17 Drinking Around Social Issues

1:17:04 Leaving AA Was Harder Than Getting Sober

1:30:04 Deprogramming Course + Group

1:46:54 Is Deprogramming a "Cult" or Forever?

1:55:46 Freedom From Group Think

2:02:45 Still in Recovery?

2:13:14 Best Part of Leaving AA

🌀 Deprogram AA Course

📚 Deprogram Book List

🪩 Community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚

👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge

Let’s get f*cking free.