Posted by 64bowtie on October 9, 2004, at 17:32:52
In reply to 12 step programs, posted by Cass on September 27, 2004, at 17:40:24
> 12 step programs require that members find their "higher power" and surrender to that higher power.
<<< 12 step programs freely "suggest" in step three that we "turn our will and our life over to the care of a higher power, we choose to call God". However, "requires" is never mentioned in the Big Book of "Alcoholics anonymous", always "suggests".
<<< History:
1. 16 years of meetings; 750+ Adult/Children of Alcoholic Households; 150+ Overeaters Anonymous; 75+ Alanon; 20+ AA speaker meetings, simply because so much goes on, the stories are so great, and the speakers are so entertaining.
2. Hearing 5,000+ stories, many more than once, has given me a unique glimpse into dysfunction as an archtype behavior.
3. My "turn-it-over-day" was July 5, 1987 at about 3 pm. I had just run my first 1/2 marathon, and I was also ready. It took me two years before I could do my fourth and fifth steps with my sponsor (and friend, Bob A.).<<< Relevance to Babble: You bet! I wouldn't be here, I'm sure of it. I might even be dead and forgotten instead.
<<< Emotions Anonymous has been struggling to help dysfunctionals, whereas I have felt most at home in ACA (aka ACoA). CoDA is also close to the core issues, but lacks the Alanon guidance I found in ACA (one of Alanon's successful offspring programs). Read Claudia Black's book, "It Will Never Happen to Me". You may find yourself relating. Also, "Adult Children of Alcoholics" by Janet Woititz, or "Healing The Shame That Binds You" by John Bradshaw.
Seek Serenity.....
Rod
poster:64bowtie
thread:400813
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041001/msgs/400813.html