RE: Does anyone belong to a twelve step program?
March 14, 2014 at 7:04 pm
(This post was last modified: March 14, 2014 at 7:07 pm by Phatt Matt s.)
(March 13, 2014 at 8:15 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote:(March 13, 2014 at 7:20 pm)futilethewinds Wrote: It's been shown that trying to kick addiction by one's self is about equally likely to be a success as trying to do it with a support group, so if I had such a problem, I wouldn't bother with a 12-step program.
This is because the vast majority of people that join 12-step programs don't work the steps. The numbers skew heavily towards success for people who get a sponsor, attend multiple meetings per week, and talk regularly. When you just go to meetings, you are effectively doing the same as trying to take care of it on your own.
One of my duties as an officer in the Navy was to run some of the 12-step groups on ship. I am certified, and I know this stuff, and there were several guys that ran into this problem. It is actually fairly common. You just have to have "God" be something bigger than you. A lot of guys chose the actual group they're attending, the cosmos, the ocean (Navy...), or even music. Something that inspires them, something bigger than them, it's important that addicts believe that there is something they can turn to to find peace and serenity. Step 6 is all about accepting help. Being humble enough to know that you can't do it by yourself. The most important by-product of step 6 is placing your pride in getting better, that letting others help isn't a bad thing.
The steps work, as long as you work them.
Thanks! You get rep points for that.
Also, drugs and alcohol are a higher power. THey kill more people and ruin more lives than Napolean, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Pope Francis combined.
(March 13, 2014 at 9:26 pm)Shell B Wrote:(March 13, 2014 at 7:20 pm)futilethewinds Wrote: It's been shown that trying to kick addiction by one's self is about equally likely to be a success as trying to do it with a support group, so if I had such a problem, I wouldn't bother with a 12-step program.
Boo! Sources?
(March 13, 2014 at 7:36 pm)futilethewinds Wrote: That's nice, but the bottom line is your results will come from whether or not you truly want to stay clean/sober, and nothing anybody else does can change that. It would probably do you more good to speak to a psychiatrist or a psychologist about the reasons why you drink/use and work with him/her on resolving those issues than simply spilling your guts to random people.
Mental health professionals/trained professionals typically run these things. There are meetings all the time at my clinic. I don't think it is a good idea to be discouraging about stuff like this. I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do, but we're talking about people's well-being here. They should reach out for whatever help is available to them to get clean. Those random people often become their beacons in the storm, so to speak.
Thanks Babe! You get points for that. Way to be looking out for the well being of others. You're ahead of most Christians.
You radiate a sparkling light from thy complexion clearer and more intense than a glittering crystal filled with sparkling water, transpierced by rays of the most conflagrant sun as thou illuminates my world oh light of my life!
