I have heard tales of how unproductive some FA meetings were, with people sitting around in a circle of chairs bemoaning everything from little church indignities they'd suffered to financial and personal disasters incurred under their church's aegis, and of course, the occaisional ranting fundie turned atheist. A lot of steam was let out and probably very little light shed at such gatherings, and the original FA had branches around the country. Perhaps, with the continuing rise of the Religious Right and their bestsellers and bookstores and mega churches and mindless minions, that the time is probably ripe for another FA leader to arise and testify before Congress, just as Richard Yao did when Jerry Fallwell's Moral Majority was making waves.
But I still suspect that working one on one with friends is the best way any of us can come to see the true light.
In general, the only books or ideas that influence us are those for which we are ready for, and which have gone just a tad bit futher down our particular path than we have gone ourselves -- This is especially true when a person is changing from a more rigid to a less rigid position on various issues. We don't break out of rigidity easily, though it's relatively easy to fall into a rigid mindset on any number of issues and beliefs. We hypnotize ourselves into thinking there is only one reality tunnel very easily, and further hypnotize ourselves into thinking they we have found the right one, all others be damned. (Read E. M. Cioran, A Short History of Decay, or Robert Anton Wilson, Prometheus Rising and the sequel, Quamtum Psychology for more info.)
Best, Edward T. Babinski
For information on Rational Recovery
Also visit - - SMART
"To support individuals who have chosen to abstain, or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behavior, (substances or activities), by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, and actions; and to work towards long-term satisfactions and quality of life.
Our Approach:
- Teaches self-empowerment and self-reliance.
- Works on addictions/compulsions as complex maladaptive behaviors
with possible physiological factors.
- Teaches tools and techniques for self-directed change.
- Encourages individuals to recover and live satisfying lives.
- Meetings are educational and include open discussions.
- Advocates the appropriate use of prescribed medications and psychological treatments.
- Evolves as scientific knowledge evolves.
SMART Recovery® is made up of many dedicated volunteers. These volunteers consist of recovered, recovering and never addicted individuals, and professionals.
Rational Recovery Self-Help Meetings
The Four Components of RR
AVRT-ing Addictive Voices
Permanent Abstinence
Unconditional Self-Acceptance
RET and Emotional Extremes
Dangerous Extremes
Some Final Thoughts
RR sees addiction as a technical problem with a technical solution. We try to demystify addiction and recovery. Many current approaches accept the inevitability of continued emotional dependency; they expect you to replace dependence on drugs and alcohol with dependence on something more benign. In RR, you are given the means to reject dependence as a matter of principle and to form a personal philosophy that is conducive to a durable, fulfilling recovery. Also, RR does not tell anyone what to believe about, spirituality, religion, morality, or ethics. Every person should be free to make up his or her own mind about such things.
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