imawino
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 22:58:16 GMT -5
Posts: 5,370
|
Post by imawino on Oct 23, 2013 11:53:53 GMT -5
The power of one's own mind and wanting to recover/stay clean is the only power one needs to succeed in the program.
There are many recovering/recovered addicts now living a clean, healthy and productive life, who do not believe in a power higher than themselves.
They went through the program to succeed on their own sheer willingness, dedication and determination. The only "higher power" they needed was the power of their own mind and will to succeed. Don't you mean to say that for *some* people all they needed was the strength of their own mind? Your first sentence clearly implies that is all anyone needs ever.
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on Oct 23, 2013 12:56:12 GMT -5
The power of one's own mind and wanting to recover/stay clean is the only power one needs to succeed in the program.
There are many recovering/recovered addicts now living a clean, healthy and productive life, who do not believe in a power higher than themselves.
They went through the program to succeed on their own sheer willingness, dedication and determination. The only "higher power" they needed was the power of their own mind and will to succeed. Don't you mean to say that for *some* people all they needed was the strength of their own mind? Your first sentence clearly implies that is all anyone needs ever. Having worked almost 20 years with persons with serious MI (many of whom are dually and triply diagnosed with substance abuse and/or chronic physical conditions), I can tell you from observation that a great many people DO find the personal strength of character to recover and succeed without religion or a religious "higher power." And many of the folks who I've seen do it are absolutely not someone most people would think of as "strong" individuals. That is the basis for the Rational Recovery movement - finding personal (and community) resources to assist recovery without a spiritual component. And it works really well for a LOT of folks. One does NOT need "a power higher than themselves" to recover. It's true that many people want one, and DO find comfort, direction and strength with a "higher power," but I'm another person who contends it is not necessary. Different strokes for different folks. There's a reason why we're all different. And thus there's a reason why there are many avenues and techniques to wellness and recovery. JMHO
|
|
ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
Community Leader
♡ ♡ BᏋՆᎥᏋᏉᏋ ♡ ♡
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:51 GMT -5
Posts: 43,130
Location: Inside POM's Head
Favorite Drink: Chilled White Zin
|
Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Oct 23, 2013 16:25:53 GMT -5
Thank you, kittensaver - that's pretty much the point I was trying to make clear.
You don't NEED a "higher power" or need to believe in one to manage your recovery. An addict will always be one - but with inner strength, determination and will-power they CAN learn to live clean, productive and healthy lives. They can also have no belief in a "power stronger than themselves" or faith in any religion. THEY - and only they - are the masters of their own willingness (or lack thereof) for whether their recovery will be a success (or failure). It's done by drawing on the strength of one's own mind and using one's mind to overcome their vice. If there's no strength or willingness within oneself to fight to succeed and maintaining that strength, the ultimate result is most likely to be failure - or relapse.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 7, 2024 12:28:53 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2013 18:06:53 GMT -5
I'm currently reading "Her Darkest Secret...why women drink" and I'm in the middle of the chapter about AA. It gives a very well researched history of the history and some of the founding characters.
It's a very interesting read.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,763
|
Post by thyme4change on Oct 25, 2013 19:14:01 GMT -5
I think I'm being a little misinterpreted. He can do housework, but he has been warned against projects. When I said "clean up the house" I didn't mean scrub the toilet and do laundry. I meant things like replace the floor, paint, empty the stuffed full garage,etc.
Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying, maybe he misunderstood, maybe he is being lazy. His wife said she thinks he is drinking again, so whatever he was trying may not be working for him anyway.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 7, 2024 12:28:53 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 13:29:33 GMT -5
Your friend may benefit from going another route: www.non12step.com/whereby they use a combination of naltrexone and behavioral therapy. Naltrexone isn't the drug that makes you sick when you drink alcohol; it blocks endorphins which can get released when you drink alcohol.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 7, 2024 12:28:53 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 15:50:00 GMT -5
I think I'm being a little misinterpreted. He can do housework, but he has been warned against projects. When I said "clean up the house" I didn't mean scrub the toilet and do laundry. I meant things like replace the floor, paint, empty the stuffed full garage,etc. Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying, maybe he misunderstood, maybe he is being lazy. His wife said she thinks he is drinking again, so whatever he was trying may not be working for him anyway. In that case there are too many variables to understand why that advice was given. Off the top of my head I would guess that he is not dependable about finishing projects he starts right now so his sponsor suggested he stop torturing his wife with half finished messes to live in. But that is just one wild ass guess.
|
|
Miss Tequila
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 10:13:45 GMT -5
Posts: 20,602
|
Post by Miss Tequila on Oct 27, 2013 17:01:29 GMT -5
I come from a family of alcoholics. None of them have been strong enough to quit drinking without some kind of help. My one uncle was in and out if rehab several times and then was sober for the 20 years until his death. He was a big proponent of AA and swears that is what kept him sober. I'm sure there are many other ways to get sober, but seeing the drunk that my uncle was and the man he turned into, I'm a fan of AA.
Two other uncles tried to quit drinking on their own becaus "real men don't need support". One still drinks and the other one had a stroke and is fully dependent on his wife. He no longer drinks because she won't allow it in the house and it is very difficult for him to get out ( the left side of his body is partially paralyzed).
Alcoholism is horrible and whatever a person needs to quit is the route they should take.
|
|