Have you ever caught yourself spinning on a decision — looping between “what if” and “maybe not”? You’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 powerful ways to stop second-guessing yourself, especially if you’re leaving AA, deconstructing 12-step ideology, or just learning to trust your own thinking again.

By the end of this video, you’ll understand:

• Why second-guessing happens
• How to spot cognitive dissonance in real time
• A simple move to get unstuck fast

This is for anyone who’s been taught to doubt themselves — by society, religion, recovery programs, or high-control groups — and is now reclaiming their critical thinking, intuition, and freedom.

Timestamps:

00:00 Stop Second Guessing Yourself in Recovery intro

00:59 Why I Was Second Guessing Myself After Leaving AA

03:30 1 - Cognitive Dissonance

11:32 2 - Fear of Mistakes or Regrets

16:45 3- Conditioning and Authority

23:36 4 - Perfectionism and Control

29:08 5 - Threat Mode Biology

38:55 Recap 5 Ways to Stop Second Guessing Yourself

🌀 Deprogram AA Course

📚 Deprogram Book List

🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚

👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here

Let’s get f*cking free.

Six months ago I finally hit publish on my first video about leaving AA—and it changed everything.

What started as fear turned into freedom, growth, and a whole new life. In this episode I reflect on six months of dissenting out loud, what I’ve learned from deconstructing Alcoholics Anonymous, and why this work matters so much. From 123 videos to playlists on AA mind control, cult comparisons, grieving, and alternatives, we’ve built a massive resource for anyone ready to get AA out of their head (playlists linked below)

Playlists:

AA Mind Control

AA Is A Cult

AA Culty Comments

Leaving AA Conversations

Deprogramming Books

Grieving AA

AA Alternatives

AA Propaganda

Escape Stories

Addiction Science

Now, as I move from deconstruction into critical thinking and reconstruction, I’m inviting you to keep evolving with me. Team Freedom—let’s keep getting free together.

🌀 Deprogram AA Course

📚 Deprogram Book List

🪩 Get free tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚

👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.

💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestie

DM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.

Let’s get f*cking free.

Victor from Quackaholics Anonymous shares his powerful journey of breaking free from Alcoholics Anonymous and finding the power to quit drinking on his own.

In this candid conversation, Victor opens up about being branded a “chronic relapser” in AA, feeling isolated and hopeless, and how leaving the program set him free. From realizing AA was a scam, to rebuilding life on his own terms, to starting one of the first dissenting AA YouTube channels — this is his story of reclaiming self-esteem, critical thinking, and true sobriety.

Whether you loved AA, hated it, or are just questioning it, this interview shines light on what life after AA can look like.

Quackaholics Anonymous YouTube Channel

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro Quackaholics Anonymous

03:48 Deprogramming Out Loud, Online

05:28 First Leaving Alcoholics Anonymous

10:24 Seeing Old Timers "True Colors"

13:58 DUI + Getting Back On Your Feet

16:57 Feeling Empty After Leaving AA

19:31 Deciding To Leave AA

24:35 Finding The Power To Stop Drinking Without AA

28:14 Realizing AA Is A Scam

35:17 Starting A Dissenting + Deprogramming AA YouTube Channel

47:33 The Mindset That Got Him Sober Without AA

54:20 Rebuilding Life After AA

1:03:13 Deconstructing AA Martyrdom + Self Sacrafice

1:11:58 Best Part About AA Dissenting

1:23:20 AA Disables Critical Thinking + Self Esteem

1:28:14 AA Friendships After Leaving AA?

1:34:00 Commenting With Trolls, Haters + AA Lovers

🪩 Get fee tools, community, Zooms and book club to deprogram 12-step ideology 📚

👉 Inside the Deprogram Lounge click here.

💬 Let’s Connect @SobrietyBestie

DM me or comment on any Sobriety Bestie socials. I’m here for the conversation.

Let’s get f*cking free.