Recovery is a Journey
Sweet Surrender
The process of recovery is sometimes decribed as
having three levels of experience: Defiance, Compliance, and Surrender.
Defiance is pretty simple to spot. When we are in that level, we say
"No" to recovery on the inside and on the outside. While we are in the
compliance level of recovery we say "Yes" on the outside, while we are
saying "No" on the inside. And finally, when we reach the level of
surrender or acceptance, we are saying "Yes" to the ideas and insights
of recovery on the inside and on the outside.
Defiance and compliance are behaviors and states
of mind that require a lot of energy to maintain. This is probably why
folks in these stages of recovery seem to be so tired and oh so angry!
Those who allow themselves to grow into the nurturing that accompanies
both surrender and acceptance find they have lots of energy and lots of
emotion. There may still be some anger. It is used for maturing and
deepening a relationship with the higher power.
One of the attitudes that characterizes defiance
is denial. The books define denial as an "unconscious defense mechanism
that keeps the addicted person from seeing the negative consequences of
the addictive behavior." I am not sure I totally buy into this
definition. I think denial starts out, not as an unconscious defense
mechanism, but as a very conscious one: "It ain't me!" Then after we've
done this for a while, it does become unconscious, unplanned, or even
unprovoked. Our character has changed. We say we are not liars, yet we
lie. We say we believe in honesty, yet we are dishonest. We say we are
not crazy, yet we do so many insane things. The way back is to accept
our powerlessness over the addiction.
A while back, I asked several of our clients to
give me some words to describe denial. Below are those words or phrases:
- Lying
- Can't
- Won't
- Not Me
- Refuse
- Impossible
- Not a river
- not trying
- Refute
- Cheating
Sometimes people leave recovery. They get
frustrated and angry, and just stop coming to the program. Excuses are
made. Sometimes those folks come back to recovery. A common answer made
by those folks for why they left to begin with is this: "I was just
being stubborn." The principles of recovery have been working for a lot
of people, for a lot of years. Where are you in these stages of
recovery? Why not make an appointment with your counselor to talk about
it?
--Rick B.
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Clinic hours on Saturday are |
OA - Overeaters Anonymous |
Life Lessons - 2
- No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
- Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five
years, will this matter?"
- Forgive everyone everything.
- What other people think of you is none of your business.
- Time heals almost everything. Give time…time.
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
- God loves you because of who God is, not because of
anything you did or didn't do.
- Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
- Get outside every day.
--annonymous
Thoughts About Attitudes in America
- 96% of America's physicians and the general poplulation do
not believe that treatment works.
- 94% of Americans believe that AA/NA is a waste of time.
- "Most" Americans believe those with alcohol or other drug
problems are simply weak-willed or immoral.
- 75% of employers will hire a non-recovering person when
there are equally qualified recovering candidates.
- 60% of Americans believe that stigma exists against
recovering perons.
Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence
12-17 year olds |
2% |
18-20 |
12.5% |
21-24 |
11% |
25-29 |
5.9% |
30-34 |
4.1% |
35-39 |
3.9% |
40-44 |
3.8% |
45-49 |
3.8% |
50-54 |
‹2% |
55-59 |
‹1% |
60-64 |
‹2% |
65-69 |
‹1% |
Percentages are compared with total population.
"The ability to face problems is necessary to stay clean. If
we had problems in the past, it is unlikely that simple abstinence will
solve these problems. Guilt and worry can keep us from living in the
here and now. Many of us believe we cannot possibly have a happy life
without drugs (or alcohol). Self obsession is the core of our disease."
from the NA Basic Text, page 51
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Mothers Against Meth-Amph. |
Come to Group
We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM
HERE NOW
The procedure is called auricular acupuncture. It is helpful for a
variety of issues that affect those with addictions.
Please see your counselor.
 The Dallas
County Health Department is offering screening for sexually transmitted
diseases. The fee is $25. If you can't afford to pay the full
amount, a payment plan can be arranged. Please call before 7:45 AM
to schedule an appointment.
214-819-2000
HIV Testing Offered
Almost every Friday, a member of the HEI department from the Greater
Dallas Counsel on Alcohol and Drug Abuse are here to offer free
HIV testing. The test is called "OraQuick Advance." The test is based
on saliva and you get your results in 20 minutes. The test is 99%
accurate. All you do is come in and asked to be tested.
Detox Spa
Cleanses your body of toxins.
30 minute treatment
Thirty dollars
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