Of course it counts for something. Who is this “they” you are referring to when you say they take it away from you? The only one you have to report to is yourself. If you’re referring to AA, it’s not like they’re the oversight committee or something, and it’s not the only way to stay sober. It’s merely the default that people and doctors point you to when they don’t have any other answers.

I’m not denigrating AA, I think it’s overall a great organization and it has helped countless alcoholics find and maintain sobriety. That being said, there are countless more who have found sobriety in other ways and means. With the others however, there’s not some huge international organization that someone can point you to in order to get help. All that being said, I’ve had vastly different experiences with AA in the various regions of the country I’ve lived in. And if you don’t happen to fit in with the groups in your region (the different areas all have a distinct “personality”), then they can do more harm than good.

Count days, don’t count days, call yourself an alcoholic, don’t call yourself an alcoholic, find God (or a higher power), don’t find God, follow a sponsor, don’t follow a sponsor.....it’s all up to you. There is no “they” forcing you to do anything, unless you’re court-ordered, in which case you’re paying for something you fuucked up yourself.

Other means of staying sober - therapy, groups other than AA (many of whom don’t count days), finding God on your own, reading books, journaling about your feelings as soon as you sober up and use that to remember it’s not all good times, finding a friend you can lean on if you feel like you want to drink and don’t want to, learning to drink in moderation (yes, it is possible), and a whole host of others.

The important thing is you find your own path, whatever works for you, and that in the end you don’t feel like shiit for being yourself. Also, it’s important that you don’t harm others or yourself in the process. Self-acceptance goes a long way in searching for a balance in life. I hope you all find peace.