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=====TABLE OF CONTENTS=====
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS
=====INTERESTING IDEAS & ISSUES
=====READERS' COMMENTS
=====FEATURE ARTICLE
=====SPONSORS
=====EASTERN PERSPECTIVES
=====FEATURED LINK
=====PURE BOLOGNA
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS=====
PRIVACY: I will never publish, give, loan, or sell your email address to anyone. Never - No way - No how.
DISTRIBUTION: God willing, Principles hits cyberspace once a week--sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Find
Subscribe & Unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of this page.
CONTRIBUTE: I'd love to hear your comments, questions, & ideas. I don't answer every email, but I do read every one, and I answer
many. Email me at:
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Thanks...Charles Roper
=====INTERESTING IDEAS & ISSUES=====
Studies have shown that many alcoholics/addicts carry symptoms of mental illness in addition to those associated with their
addictions. For those "dual diagnosis" folks, there's an AA publication called "AA and Medications" written by some
recovering doctors. This publication makes clear the fact that we can, indeed, medicate responsibly within the context of our
recovery programs. The AA member who doesn't understand this and tries to get other AA members to quit taking their medications
should remember that "No AA member plays doctor."
=====READER'S COMMENTS=====
Regarding Mike D's Comment: <"Recently I attended a training for substance abuse counselors, and a trainer claimed that recovery
treatment for the crack addict is a very different process than for an alcoholic due to the "greater numbing of the pleasure
centers of the brain" associated with the use of crack. As a seasoned substance abuse counselor, I simply don't agree with
this.">
From R: "They said that same thing 16 years ago in connection with powdered cocaine. These things go in cycles it seems. Just
remember that you are treating to heal and many of them are writing for money."
From BK: "....When I go to an AA meeting, I want it to be just that--an AA meeting....The meeting should be as it implies. AA is
alcohol. NA is any narcotic (including alcohol). I wouldn't want a person struggling with food, sex, or other addictions at an AA
meeting....I guess an analogy would be that lots of people own cars, but only some of them own Buicks. I wouldn't take my Buick
to a Saab dealer to get it fixed."
From BG: "I'm afraid I have to agree with the speaker you heard about different treatment for crack addicts than for alcoholics.
But not just for the reasons he gave....It is true that cocaine (in all its forms) does work directly on the pleasure centers of
the brain (something that alcohol does not). And this makes for a difference in the addictive pattern....But beyond the physical
affects, there are the "psycho-social" and behavioral effects of cocaine usage which are extremely different from Alcohol....First
of all, just the fact that one drug is illegal while the other is legal changes the dynamic of the situation. I have always said
that the true difference between NA and AA is entirely sociological. For many addicts, the thrill of living an illegal
lifestyle is as addicting as their drug. Now, I want to make this perfectly clear: I'm talking here about "treatment." I am
NOT talking about a 12 Step Program! The Steps, how they are worked, the necessity of doing them, the necessity of meetings
and sponsorship is the same - no matter what the drug!"
=====
Regarding Nancy R.'s comment about denial: "I personally hesitate to promote a constant process of stripping away of one's denial. To "not be
in denial" would constitute a lack of a necessary and very normal defense....I believe we were all meant to have a healthy dose of
denial. The key words here are "healthy dose" and "balance".... I say lets stop constantly degrading the state of "denial" and
give equal time to a celebration of its positive and healthy attributes."
From D: "I want to hear exact examples of "healthy", "balanced" denial. I am trying to imagine what we are talking about here. It
is described only as denial and I can't picture precisely what it is? Is it denying the excruciating pain of childbirth, so one
might get pregnant a second time?... or the terrible loss to death of someone dear, so that one can go on? I just need
clarification."
From P: "I agree with Nancy on the balanced denial. Some denial is protection, and when the pain of being in denial is greater
the pain of the truth, you come out of it."
======
Please email your ideas & issues to:
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=====FEATURED ARTICLE=====
RECOVERY THOUGHT:
Surrender into freedom.
RECOVERY TALK:
The Freedom
Our life experiences,
whether we admit them or not,
are our foundation.
We must see, understand, and accept
our imperfections that lie at our very core.
To do so changes the "Why me?",
into the "What can I do now?".
For it is in accepting what is beyond our control,
we give up the endless struggle;
Surrendering to our inability to change our yesterdays,
and our powerlessness to control our tomorrow's.
Living instead for today's moments of rapture,
and seemingly endless sorrows,
Because it is in this balance we find The Freedom:
The Freedom from:
our secret fears that make us feel weak,
The Freedom from:
our secret desires that horrify us,
and The Freedom from:
our all-consuming active addictions.
Ultimately this freedom gives us the power
to forgive ourselves;
Bringing us to our knees,
when we finally allowed ourselves,
to have faith in our Higher Power.
Letting him take care of our fears and defenses;
Finally hearing our truths:
I am willing,
I am special,
I am loved,
I am me!
An Addict
[Thanks to Terry for sending this wonderful piece.]
=====PRIMARY SPONSOR=====
Going into its Second Printing: High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction &
Recovery, by Charles N. Roper, PhD.
"I got my book High Bottom Drunk today, and already I can't put it down. Thank you very much. Very reasonably priced too."
Order High Bottom Drunk directly from the publisher, through the www.highbottomdrunk.com
website, and receive two free gifts (modest but useful) with each copy.
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=====AN EASTERN PERSPECTIVE ON RECOVERY=====
Just as a flower is made only of non-flower elements, Buddhism is made only of non-Buddhist elements, including Christian ones, and
Christianity is made of non-Christian elements, including Buddhist ones.
We have different roots, traditions, and ways of seeing, but we share the common qualities of love, understanding, and
acceptance. For our dialogue to be open, we need to open our hearts, set aside our prejudices, listen deeply, and represent
truthfully what we know and understand.
To do this, we need a certain amount of faith. In Buddhism, faith means confidence in our and others' abilities to wake up to our
deepest capacity of loving and understanding. In Christianity, faith means trust in God, the One who represents love,
understanding, dignity, and truth. When we are still, looking deeply, and touching the source of our true wisdom, we touch the
living Buddha and the living Christ in ourselves and in each person we meet.
From: Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh.
=====SPONSORS=====
For practical lessons in self-compassion, check out the work of Thom Rutledge:
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=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is: Humor Anonymous, a web newsletter for people who are grateful for the role humor plays in our
recoveries.
Recovery is a deadly serious topic for many of us in 12-step fellowships. But the A.A. Big Book says: "There is, however, a
vast amount of fun about it all. I suppose some would be shocked at our seeming worldliness and levity."
I just really like this site. I guess it taps into my own rather twisted sense of humor.
Visit the site at:
<a href="http://www.robcurran.com/humoranonymous/"> Humor
Anonymous </a>
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
Three vampires go into a bar. The bartender walks up to the first one and says, "What can I get you?"
The vampire says, "I want a pint of blood."
The bartender then asks the second vampire, and he too replies that he would like a pint of blood.
The bartender then asks the third vampire for his drink order. The vampire says, "I want a pint of plasma."
The bartender thinks for a minute and says, "Let me see if I've got this right. That's two bloods and a blood light?"
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==========================
Alrighty, then...till next week, do us all a favor and keep it simple.
Charles Roper, Editor
Principles: The Addiction & Recovery Newsletter
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - The Addiction & Recovery Information & Resources Web site:
http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com
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