That's tough. I have dual diagnosis. I have done both AA and meds and therapy. A dual diagnosis group I went to was the best. I absolutely love AA and it is a very powerful program. It saved my life and has kept me sober for 18 years. I have worked to steps over and over applying it to my depression. Guess what....didn't work. There are a ton of people in AA with mental illnesses. I found a support group within AA with people who also have mental illness. Most people are afraid to talk about it for the reasons you mention. But if you just mention you suffer from depression in a meeting you will get a bunch of people after the meeting that will come up to you in private and say hey I have that too. The more people you meet like that the more you have this support group of people in AA but outside the rooms.

I don't think you should give up on AA. It will keep you sober and that is what it is for. You are absolutely right and the traditions say we have no opinion on outside issues so the assholes can keep their opinions to themselves. And if they don't you ignore them. If you are brave tell them exactly what you think of their opinion. And you are absolutely right that the book says to seek out side help. It actually tells you "we know only but a little, more will be revealed". To not shy away from the expertise of the medical and religious community, to take advantage of it. Medical includes mental health. Go to step studies. You will actually find many many more people who are understanding and supportive than assholes. They are quieter and the assholes are loud. Ignore the assholes and seek out the ones who understand and will support you . I guarantee you will find them.

I started in 1995. Treatment centers were kind of the new thing. I went to one. The old timers in AA hated us newcomers coming in from the treatment centers with all our new fangled ideas and blaming the parents, and talking about drugs like coke and meth. Co dependence and adult child of alcoholics was all new and the old timers didn't like it. And we talked about drugs alot and they didn't like it, it was an outside issue. AA is about alcohol and thats what it says in the steps and in the book. They were right. Alot of them had never done drugs. But us new guys didn't care addiction is addiction is addiction and it doesn't matter the drug. Once in awhile and old timer who had done drugs would stick up for us and talk about his drug use. You know what AA changed. Now it is basically just accepted by everyone that it is OK to talk about drugs in AA. Used to be big taboo.

I used to get really pissed about the mental health thing too. I still have resentments and will avoid meetings because I have been sober so long and my biggest problem is depression. I had a huge problem with depression then too. Once I got some time under my belt and worked the steps and felt a little more confident I started talking about my depression in meetings and even talking about being on meds. The old timers would get pissed and say outside issue outside issue. Then a lot of people who don't have mental illness and don't understand wouldn't like it. Some would even say that if you are psyche meds you are not sober. It someone said that they were pretty much told my a bunch of people that they were full of **** and to shut the hell up. If you are brave go in there and talk about it in open meetings. If not ignore the ignorant ones and find the ones who understand, but don't leave.

Be part of the change. Part of the solution not the problem. AA evolves, it changes. It changed about drugs, and ACOA issues and codependency issues and it is changing about mental health issues. I have witnessed it. Go to different meetings. Seek those who will support you they are there I promise.

If someone tells you that you are not sober because you are taking meds tell them to go **** themselves.