Recovery

Does anyone have any experience with the Rational Recovery program? Any views on its views versus those of AA.

Grad, good to hear from you again. How is you thesis going? Well I hope.

Rational Recovery has been around for a while. And there are people who swear by it. I may not have this right, but it spun off a couple of other programs, SOS and Rational Emotive therapy.

They would be better able to sell their ideas then I, but from what I understand, their take is, if you can identify your addictive voice, you can control it.

I am sure there is more to it than that, but you need to here from them on the details.

One of the problems is they aren’t very many meetings. In the city I live in there aren’t but a couple. On the other hand, there are over 450 AA meetings a week. It’s not just a matter of scale, it’s a matter of perceived efficacy.

Richard

A few years ago, I think I read a book on it that I found in the public library. I'm sure you can locate this book and others on Amazon.com Just type in Rational Recovery and you will probably find several books on the topic.

As I remember, the program uses almost everything from AA, except anything to do with a HP. It was either this program or a similar one in which the founder ended up with another DWI.

I could see this program working to some extent for some people. Of course, most in AA may have been able to stop on our own if we had done so early enough. However, at the time, no self respecting alcoholic is going to stop until he has to.

You probably want to double check on these things. I may be combining several programs. I do know that AA works for me and millions of others. I have many friends with 10, 20, 30 years without drinking.

Most of us when we are ready for AA are grasping for something other than AA. We always look for an easier softer, way. This is OK if we live through it.
Jim S

jims wrote:Most of us when we are ready for AA are grasping for something other than AA. We always look for an easier softer, way. This is OK if we live through it.
Jim S

I went to AA but when it got to doing the 12 steps, I couldn't continue.
I wasn't looking for an easy way out. It's just that as I don't believe in God or any other Higher Power, I found the steps impossible to accept and work.
I've been sober for a long time now without using any programme.
I liked Jack Trimpeys book...Rational Recovery although I really can't remember specific details...
I think AA is great if you are a believer but if you are not, then a 12 step programme isn't practicable.
And yes, I heard all those comments about 'not having to believe in God' and AA being spiritual and not religious, but in reality that wasn't the case.

I'd like to know more about secular self-help groups for alcohol recovery as AA is the one that is always talked about, and I would like to know what other options are available that don't require the 'belief' in a God of any understanding or a HP.

"Any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question...Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't it is of no use

Don Jaun


http://www.smartrecovery.org/
http://www.rational.org/plan.html
http://www.moderation.org/
http://www.secularsobriety.org/
http://www.womenforsobriety.org/
http://www.unhooked.com/index.htm

Guest…
Look everywhere, and here are a few links to get you started with. But ask yourself the only question that really matters, does this path have a heart?

Good luck, and stop by and tell us how it's going.

Richard

FYI.
This web site is interesting and I think Dr. Peele is in New Jersey.

http://www.peele.net/

Stanton Peele is a psychologist who has changed the addiction field. He has pioneered, among other things, the idea that addiction occurs with a range of experiences, and the “harm reduction” approach to addiction.

This site contains much of his widely published writing, as well as his opinions and communications with people with addictive problems.

Good Luck