The Freedom Model

08/21/2026

Guilt and shame are very powerful emotions, and require a lot of emotional resources. In our free event, we will show you how to move past these counterproductive thoughts and emotions. You can sign up in the link in the comments.

08/21/2026

What if shame and guilt aren't helping you change - but are actually fueling your habit?

For decades, people struggling with alcohol, drugs, and other habits have been told they must feel the full weight of what they've done.

Remember the mistakes.
Remember the pain you caused.
Remember how bad things got.
Keep it green...

The message is: if you feel bad enough, maybe you'll finally change.

But shame and guilt are NOT effective tools for lasting change. In fact they can lead to a downward spiral:

Heavy use leads to Shame leads to Guilt leads to Seeking Relief leads to Heavy Use...

And sometimes your habit gets worse.

But what if you don't need to feel worse (i.e. hit rock bottom) to change?

Join us for our upcoming FREE Live Event: Moving Beyond Shame, Guilt, Addiction & Recovery on Thursday, September 17th at Noon EDT (GMT-4) 5:00 PM in the UK, 9:00 AM on the West Coast of the US.

We'll discuss why shame and guilt can keep you stuck, how they can interfere with your ability to clearly analyze your habit, and why setting them aside can open the door to solving your problem for good.

You've carried this shame long enough. It's time to put it down, see your choices clearly, and discuss how to move beyond addiction and recovery. Click the link in the comment below to reserve your spot today.

08/20/2026

When I left AA for good in 2000, I never looked back. I knew I was ready to move on and evolve and grow. Are you?

08/19/2026

We are getting closer to our public launch of the Moderation with The Freedom Model Course!

08/18/2026

I've always found it strange when someone comes onto my feed or page, and then complains or criticizes the content. I've never gone onto another's AA positive site or page, and complained that they are counterproductive or harming people. Frankly, I'd be really embarrassed if I actually did that. Anyway, we all know why this occurs, but I've always been astounded by the critics blind spot regarding their actions.

08/14/2026

There is a special kind of irony in coming onto someone else's page, commenting on their post, challenging what they've said or written and then accusing them of trying to debate your personal experience.

We have said over and over again - we are not trying to discredit anyone's personal experiences in AA and recovery. Your personal experience is yours, and it's valid to you. We respect that.

Our posts challenging the addiction and recovery belief system are meant for the very large group of people who have not found a solution in the 12 step recovery world. They are the majority.

And some of those people are close to giving up hope and are at the greatest risk of early death from heavy substance use and su***de. We are here for them.

We welcome comments that simply say, "This was my experience in AA or recovery - it worked for me - etc....". That's great.

But coming onto our posts and saying, "This was my experience and that means you're wrong." - Now, you've introduced your personal experience as evidence in a discussion, and you have invited debate about that experience.

That's like knocking on your neighbor's door because you overheard their discussion and injecting yourself in their conversation - which was never meant for you.

If you truly don't want your personal experience debated or challenged, there's a remarkably simple solution: Don't go onto someone else's page and use your personal experience to try and discredit theirs.

08/14/2026

Our next Free Live Event is Thursday, September 17th at 12:00 PM EDT (GMT-4). Reserve your spot on The Freedom Model App or use thenlinkninnthe comment below.

08/13/2026

This is a great question and one that we get often from people who have spent years in AA. Why would someone ever want to drink in moderation?

08/13/2026

Check out Mark and Michelle's interview with Jim Richards of Toronto's Newstalk1010. Excellent discussion on Moderation!

Jim Richards provides everything you need to know on your way home, making the brutal GTA commute seem shorter. Jim brings a unique perspective to the day’s events to keep you informed and entertained.

08/12/2026

New Article by Mark on Moderation.

Few ideas have shaped and misled heavy drinkers and drug users more profoundly than the concept of "real alcoholic". Learn more....

https://www.thefreedommodel.org/is-moderation-possible-for-the-real-alcoholic

Few ideas have shaped and misled heavy drinkers and drug users more profoundly than the concept of “real alcoholic” and “real addict.”