Celebrate Recovery instead of AA or NA or any alphabet soup

carbenson

I've been looking over these posts in this forum, and people seem to be asking questions of where do you stand on any given issue, as if the snapshot of right now, is the defining moment of your life. I really dont believe that one's views are static throughout their life.

I had a mispent youth (geeze have you heard that before) No not really, I dont think I would change much, but I have definately changed my views on so many things.

I've been "on the wagon for a long time now, went through AA, and kind of lost interest in the smoke filled rooms and the cacophany of cussing. But really I think I sort of stayed a dry drunk. Still kind of mad with the world, or me, or God,,,, I dont think I really knew.

About 2 years ago, I got involved with Celebrate Recovery, and I have really been able to start to celebrate ! Using the 8 Principles in CR, in a step study fashion, has given me new insight to the many distractions satan has put in my path over the years. The 8 principles are very close to the 12 steps in AA, just a slight twist in that they are based on the beatitudes in Matthew.

so ,,, for me at least, I have found a new peace, and a new strength for the ongoing struggles we all have, and forgiveness for the times I stumble. My view on who really is God, and How I relate to God in my life and to others, has a new brighter deeper meaning.

Carbenson

Vrythramax

I needed no AA or any other support group....I found rinking was only helping to ruin everything I was trying to build for my family...and just stopped. I think it's called willpower.

stowesa

It is great when you can do it on your own thru your own willpower, but many people need the support and accountability that comes along with a group. If you are dealing with temptation, talking to someone that has been there or is going thru the same trials and tribulations as you can be very helpful.

HoboPelican

I'm not sure if willpower has much to do with it. I mean V-Max was able to quit on his own, and that's great, but I think different people react differently to drugs (I include alcohol here) on a physical level. When I was young I was into a number of drugs, some considered VERY addictive. When the time came I gave'em up and moved on. I don't think it was any great force of will to stop, I just think chemically I wasn't affected by the addiction.

I think common thought on this is that alcoholism has a genetic factor, indicating a predisposition for it or not. If true, those of us who are not predisposed to alcoholism or other addictions have no way of understanding the effect it has. It is just a different animal completely.

More power to those working their way through it.

BTW carbenson, your avatar is quite disturbing....it looks way too much like me!

Vrythramax

for me it really had nothing to do with willpower...maybe to stay away at times yes, but to quit....no.

After my wife and had our daughter I wanted so many things for her, and to be able to be there to share in them...there's no way I can do that hammered. Now she is sooooo full of questions I have to stay sobor just to keep from looking like an idiot Very Happy

carbenson

During the whole journey of recovery, I'ver heard many times over, and echo the idea myself. The drinking or drugs, or porn, or yes even posting (gasp) all are addictions, that simply are symptoms of the real problem. and that is usually a spiritual problem, lack of belief in a God that cares, lack of belief in yourself, sometimes because of abuse , a lack of beilef in beimg loved, or being approved of, whatever but basicall a hole in your soul.
so yes willpower plays a role is stopping the symptoms, but it does often in many take a re-connection to others on a spiritual level (not church service you understand, a real spiritual re-awakening) that allows that emptiness to begin to heal and fill with caring and self worth.

carbenson

btw my avatar is a picture that looks like you no matter who looks at it.....
bwahahahaha!!!