SelfGrowth.com articles for 12 Step Programs

What do you know about A.A.?

dickb@dickb.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 am

International Christian Recovery Coalition Workshops in Orange County, CA 23May Do you know how many Christian organizations influenced the ideas, principles, and practices of the AA of Akron Christian Fellowship founded in 1935? Do you know the details of the Christian upringing of A.A. ...

Identification, Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse In Teens

wpdev305@hotmail.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 am

Identifying Teen Drug Abuse Parental and peer drug abuse are regarded as as among the more common variables influencing a teen's decision concerning substance use. The age at which teenagers start to consume alcohol is lowering, with 25% of adolescents beginning to drink prior to 13 years of ...

Anatomy of a Relapse

tbranston@gmail.com — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 am

A random poll among newly sober clients, recovery counselors, and people who have achieved years of clean time would probably produce a varying consensus about the most pressing need for successful recovery. Most respondents, however, would likely agree that relapse is often an indicator of ...

Take a Drug Class before Considering Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

info@bluemountaineducation.com — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 am

Why do so few people receive driving under the influence violations (DUIs) for marijuana? Statistics show how many people are smoking and using marijuana these days. In 14 states, including the District of Columbia, weed is legal for "medical" purposes. The entire idea of marijuana's medicinal ...

Should You Quit Drinking? - Taking the First step

corey@sobernation.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 am

Is your habit of drinking alcoholic interfering with various areas of your life? Is your significant other threatening to leave you if you do not get help? Is your child scared of you? Perhaps you have gotten fired from your job or received a stern warning from the manager. It is when problems ...

The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous: How to Stick with the Winners

dickb@dickb.com — Sat, 7 Apr 2012 12:00:00 am

The Twelve Steps of AA “Stick With the Winners” Dick B. Copyright 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved This article is written to show how one who believes in God, and certainly one who has come to Him through Jesus Christ, can look at “old school” A.A.—the original A.A. Christian ...

Selecting A Good Rehab Center

neotec@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:00:00 am

The vice of drug abuse has always impacted negatively on the friends and families of the addicts. These substances transform the victims into different creatures. Subsequently, these drugs interfere with their metabolism thereby; they experience physiological problems. In this regard, substances ...

Alcoholic/Addict Recovery: Can Medicine, Religion, and 12 Step approaches Cooperate and Better Succeed

dickb@dickb.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 am

Overcoming Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Joining in Support, Not Splitting in Departure By Dick B. Copyright 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved Some Comments and Some Questions Introduction and Three Approaches It would be naïve to think that there are only three ways—mutually ...

The Two Real Guidelines That Marked the Beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous

dickb@dickb.com — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:00:00 am

The Real Time Lines —Two of Them—That Marked the Beginning of A.A. March 12, 2012 Akron Events September 1931 Russell Firestone gets saved and healed of alcoholism with the help of Rev. Samuel Shoemaker on the train back to Akron from the 50th triennial General Convention of the ...

Using the 12-Step approach at an alcohol treatment facility

drugrehabarticle@gmail.com — Wed, 7 Mar 2012 12:00:00 am

12 Palms Recovery Center believes that the foundation for any quality treatment plan should revolve around the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, working in conjunction with other successful options. 12 Palms Recovery Center believes that the foundation for any quality treatment plan should ...

An Old Question Revisited

andre.spinaker@gmail.com — Tue, 6 Mar 2012 1:17:59 pm

The "alcoholism cult." That's what Sheldon Bacon, for many years the director of the Rutgers Center for Alcohol Studies, called overly avid supporters of Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous - AA as it is generally known - was started in the 1930s as a spinoff from the Oxford Group, a ...

Oroville CA Serenity Group Message for Churches and Pastors about Recovery

dickb@dickb.com — Tue, 6 Mar 2012 1:18:00 pm

A memo to pastors... As pastors who minister and lead in a culture where addictions of all kinds exist, we are constantly deluged with the direct and indirect consequences of those addictions. Our options, it seems to me, are two; bury our head in the sand and hope that it all works out ...

Autonomy and 12-Step Therapy: Can They Co-Exist?

andre.spinaker@gmail.com — Mon, 5 Mar 2012 12:00:00 am

Autonomy is a fundamental ethical right that allows mental health and substance abuse clients to make informed decisions about the course of their treatment. Legally speaking, autonomy is a liberty interest that is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. Ethically speaking, autonomy underscores a ...

12 Steps to nowhere.

andre.spinaker@gmail.com — Mon, 5 Mar 2012 12:00:00 am

The emergent nature of reality is that all systems, whether it is knowledge, society, technology, philosophy or any other creation will when uninhibited undergo fluid perpetual change. What we consider commonplace today, such as modern communication and transportation, would have been ...

The Oxford Group's Four Absolutes and A.A.'s Christian Roots

dickb@dickb.com — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:00:00 am

Alcoholics Anonymous History A.A. – The Four Absolutes –The Facts Again! Dick B. © 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved. Summary The “Four Absolutes” of A.A. were cherished “yardsticks” in earliest A.A.—standards for determining right behavior as measured through God’s eyes. And ...

Our Christian Recovery Model Today: A First Century Christian Fellowship

dickb@dickb.com — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 7:10:15 pm

A First Century Christian Fellowship Major Sources for Observing Early A.A.’s Apostolic Principles, Practices, and Resemblance to First Century Christianity at Work By Dick B. © 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved A Common Observation about “Old-School” Alcoholics ...

The Dick B/Sam Shoemaker A.A. History Collection

dickb@dickb.com — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 am

The Dick B. Shoemaker/A.A. Collection And The Archival Notes of Dr. Jared Lobdell [A major portion of the Dick B. Shoemaker Collection was gathered together as described in the Dick B. comments below. Then, with the help of benefactors, it was given into the temporary custody of Ray ...

The Negative Ego: Transforming Enemy into an Ally

michaiel@aol.com — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:00:00 am

Contrary to popular belief, the most difficult relationship isn’t with our boss, mother-in-law, disgruntled neighbor, friend or spouse. However, if that were the case all of our relationship troubles could be solved by simply walking away. The truth is the most difficult relationship we all have ...

Alcoholics Anonymous History Study with "Conference-approved" Foundations

dickb@dickb.com — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 3:23:33 pm

A.A. History Studies with “Conference-approved” Foundations Dick B. © 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved The Problem with a Clear-cut Solution Fear has often ruled in the minds of those who understand the importance in their recovery of studying, learning, and applying the highly ...

Our Latest Recovery Meetings and Coalition Participants

dickb@dickb.com — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 9:47:38 pm

A Great Close to Our Southern California Meetings Dick B. © 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved Ken and I are back in Maui and excited over the many meetings we had in Southern California from LAX, Redondo Beach, North Hollywood, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana, to three hotels – Best ...

the first and still the best-- a simple and straightforward guide to doing the 12 steps

tuchypalmieri@healing-habits.com — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 4:03:26 pm

The old-timers know the best. The members of the first 12 step programs worked hard and collaborated on many booklets and pamphlets. One of the efforts was the creation of a 12 step workbook. The Little Red Book* was the original book for doing the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. It was ...

Alcoholics Anonymous Origins and Early History:What the Searchights Reveal (Part 3)

dickb@dickb.com — Mon, 2 Jan 2012 6:21:41 pm

Alcoholics Anonymous Origins and Early History What the Searchlights Reveal Part Three By Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved Darkness, Be Gone! Let There Be Light If there is one thing I believe for sure about Alcoholics Anonymous, as I have experienced A.A., for ...

Suggested Guide for Recovery Groups: "Old School" A.A. Pattern

dickb@dickb.com — Mon, 2 Jan 2012 6:21:41 pm

A Suggested Guide for Recovery Groups and Meetings Patterned on Early AA Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved P. O. Box 837 Kihei, HI 96753-0837 (808 874 4876) email: dickb@dickb.com URL: http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml Introductory Comment For the past three of four ...

How Bob Costas Changed My Life.

carcreditpro@gmail.com — Mon, 2 Jan 2012 6:18:07 pm

Have you ever had anybody make a huge impact in your life without even realizing it? Bob Costas has changed my life and here’s how: Integrity and morals. It sounds pretty simple but let me explain. My name is Jeff Wheeler, Manager of Hollywood Motor Company in St. Louis Missouri. Now I know what ...

Finding God in A.A., N.A., and Recovery from Addictions

dickb@dickb.com — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:00:00 am

Alcoholics Anonymous History and a Relationship with God By Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved Moving from Being “in Recovery” to Having “Recovered” Would you like to recover from alcoholism and addiction? Do you believe that God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, ...

Impaired No More: Why Early A.A. Succeeded (The Core Ideas)

dickb@dickb.com — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 9:23:35 pm

Impaired No More Why Early A.A. Succeeded and How You Can Too By Dick B. Copyright 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved The Core Ideas • Old Testament healings by the power of God: Ex 15:26; Ps 103:3. • The healings of Jesus: Matt 4:23; Acts 10:38. • Healings by the Apostles and ...

What Defines A Holistic Drug Detox Rehab Program?

corey@sobernation.com — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 9:23:34 pm

There are as many different approaches to treating drug addiction, as there are drugs. The holistic drug detox philosophy involves the transformation of the total person, as opposed to only dealing with the symptom, which is the addiction. Underlying the addiction is an assumption that the ...

How Can Failure Work For You?

ryan@ldrholistic.com — Sat, 3 Dec 2011 6:12:44 pm

Using Failure To Get What You Want In Life We all like failure as much as we like a punch in the face. Learning to use failure to get what you want in life is one of the most important tools one can ever learn in their lifetime, and the reason why is we fail way more than we succeed. By ...

Alcoholism: Disease Or Spiritual Crisis?

sam@ianchat.com — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:06:19 am

It may be appalling to watch high school students or college kids getting wasted. And it's easy to wonder how grown adults can cling to a habit as destructive as alcoholism. But drinking in excess has an important role in our culture. For many people, alcohol plays its first important role as a ...

Alcoholics Anonymous History: Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks

dickb@dickb.com — Sat, 5 Nov 2011 9:41:50 am

Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks A Contemporary Perspective Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved An Introductory Look at Silkworth as One of A.A.’s “Co-founders” William Duncan Silkworth, Jr., was born in Brooklyn on July 22, 1873. His family remembers him as a ...

Signs Of Alcohol Abuse: When Use Becomes abuse.

tanishasandiford@gmail.com — Sat, 5 Nov 2011 9:41:51 am

Many people often wonder what alcohol abuse is and what the signs of alcohol abuse are? While most people will find that they do drink a single drink every night, they will assume that this doesn't constitute abuse in any form. The truth of the matter is that there are different levels when it ...

Treating Xanax Addiction

jennapope@yahoo.com — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:18:42 pm

Addiction to Xanax can be frightening because it's almost impossible to quit on your own. But how could something that feels so good be bad for you? It's bad for you because it is highly addicting. Progressively, you need more and more of the drug to feel the same effect that you felt in the ...

How to Get Help for an Alcohol Problem

jennapope@yahoo.com — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:18:42 pm

Alcoholism starts with loss of control. The person's behavior violates his values, causing remorse, which then triggers denial. Because of denial, there is unresolved emotional pain. This sequence occurs many, many times and ultimately results in chronic emotional pain. The alcoholic must drink ...

Three Very important Questions To Ask About Internet Advertising

crai2vh0ol@hotmail.com — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 9:40:44 am

Internet promoting and advertising is thrilling, difficult, and confusing. It may possibly make or break your internet enterprise career and yet many people who rely upon online advertising haven't obtained a full grasp of the essentials involved in internet marketing. In reality, many web ...

Taking Care of Ourselves is not being egotistic...

jeffzf7mfe@hotmail.com — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 8:46:43 am

As many of you know, at the end of March, we had our seminar “The Eleven Principles of Transformation” and one of the issues we explored (principle VI) was the value of taking care of oneself. Many people think that paying attention to our needs is being egotistic, and forget about what they ...

How to Journal Your Way to Authenticity in 12-Step Recovery

socialmedia@writetohealth.com — Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:00:00 am

At a recent meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, a young woman brought up the topic of anger to be discussed. She wanted to know how to get over her feelings of resentment over being an alcoholic. New to sobriety, the woman expressed her dismay over other “normal” people’s ability to handle liquor ...

Why I Meditate

judyalternhealth@aol.com — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 9:46:45 am

Alternative Stress Solutions #2 Why I Meditate My spiritual journey officially began many years ago as a result of becoming involved in a Twelve- step program. Al-anon not only saved my life, my marriage, and my sanity. It also opened a door into a world of continuous ...

Dick B. Address to Assn of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Palm Springs

dickb@dickb.com — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 9:40:05 am

THE ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN ALCOHOL & DRUG COUNSELORS INSTITUTE Announces the 2011 Annual Christ-centered Addiction Professionals Conference to be held from Friday, September 30th TO Sunday, October 2nd at the Hotel Zoos in beautiful Palm Springs. The Dick B. Address on ...

Alcohol Awareness Classes Could Help With Peer Pressure

info@bluemountaineducation.com — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:30:51 am

Have you ever felt the effects of peer pressure? If you answered no to this question you obviously have lived on an island your entire life without ever having had human interaction! As a counselor for both in class and online drug awareness classes, I often discuss the nature and power of ...

Five Steps to Choosing the Right Addiction Treatment Program

lisaespich@gmail.com — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:03:20 am

When you love somebody struggling with addiction, you pray for the day when he or she agrees to accept treatment. Maybe they reach 'rock bottom' and ask for help, but it's more likely that an ultimatum or plea from family and friends is what pushes them toward making the choice. Regardless of ...

Basic Ideas About 12 Step Programs

sawasdee@abv.bg — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

Today, we’re glad to be able to avail from so many different means of treating our problems or mental illnesses. There are all sorts of different therapies ,and depending on your personal choice, or your capabilities at the moment, you can choose between the different ways of helping ...

Awake, Refined and Causal: Conditions of Awareness

shakti.eric@hotmail.com — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

The main neuroelectric catagories most often investigated in science (Beta, alpha-band, theta-bandwidth, delta-band) exemplify categories of waking, dreaming and sleeping through which we pass every day. Though all brain states are typically normally active throughout the day, beta-band motion ...

Alcohol Awareness Classes Can Help Free You From Addiction

info@bluemountaineducation.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 9:55:14 am

What is great about being American? What do we have that people all over the world, including here in the good old USA cherish? In one word, the answer is freedom! As a counselor for both in class and online alcohol awareness classes I often discuss this concept with my students. Of course, ...

12 Steps to Applying the Law of Attraction

silly.port@gmail.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 9:55:13 am

Hello, I'd like to share some practices that I know work for me and shape my life for the better. I see these practices change the way people respond to me and occurrences that seems to be more than mere chance. I'm talking about using the law of attraction. I first learned of the concept only a ...

After the Insight, Part Two

info@catherineauman.com — Fri, 5 Aug 2011 3:50:53 pm

After an important insight into why you act the way you do, the long process of changing your behavior begins, one action at a time. Most people find it difficult to change without outside support, and if that is you, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or wrong in some way, merely a member of the human ...

Addiction in Ongoing Recovery: Getting Acquainted With Middle Ground

peggyferguson@hotmail.com — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

The main task of early recovery is spent in trying to interrupt the momentum of the addiction to achieve sustained abstinence. Most of one's mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual energy is spent on that goal. In ongoing, stable, sustained recovery, the recovering person is no longer ...

The 4 A's of Healthy Relationships

mlerner@milestonesprogram.org — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

One of the more challenging aspects of recovery from an eating disorder is learning to “navigate” through our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. One certainty that exists for people regarding their ongoing relationships prior to entering recovery is that no relationship will ...

Basics of Eating Disorder Recovery

mlerner@milestonesprogram.org — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

There are a few “implied” assumptions I have regarding the basic building blocks to recovering from any addiction – of which I consider most eating disorders to be. Let me be candid and put out there one of the most important assumptions I have – recovering from an eating disorder begins with a ...

What defines an Eating Disorder as an Addiction?

mlerner@milestonesprogram.org — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

Although there has been some controversy as to whether anyone can be "addicted to food" (AKA food addict) or manifest the symptoms of addiction with respect to the other eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders - the following is a list of the criteria appearing in ...

"I'll Quit Tomorrow" - Dealing with Co-Existing "Addictions"

mlerner@milestonesprogram.org — Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:00:00 am

Cross addiction or multiple addictions are a fact of life inherent within the eating disordered community. Many of us come to the rooms of a 12-step program, treatment facility, or related support group intending to tackle our "primary problem" such as alcoholism, drug dependency, or an eating ...