SMART compared to AA

There is no "one way" to my recovery. Finding what works and using it, might be an answer.

Looking to avoid "The Guru" who knows EXACTLY what I am best to do.

Scientific investigation indicates that my recovery is best served by me finding what works for me and WORKING it.

What might I do for myself with SMART Recovery:

1. Learn self-empowerment and self-reliance.

2. Attend meetings that are educational, supportive and include open discussion.

3. Recover from addiction and alcohol abuse and live a satisfying life.

4. Learn a technique for self-directed change

5. Be supported in the scientifically informed use of psychological treatment and legally prescribed psychiatric and addiction medication.

6. Work on substance abuse, alcohol abuse, addiction and drug abuse as complex maladaptive behaviors with possible physiological factors.

7. Use methods that evolve as scientific knowledge in addiction recovery evolves.

8. Use methodologies that differ from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step programs.

What Smart Recovery does NOT require me to do:

1. Believe in a Higher Power (although it’s okay if you do).

2. Commit to abstinence for life (though our abstinence based program aims to help you gain control regardless of your plans)

3. Commit to attending meetings for life (you are welcome at our meetings for as long as they are helpful to you).

4. “Label” yourself an “addict” or an “alcoholic” (we discourage the use of all negative or disparaging labels - a person is much more than one thing).

5. Proclaim yourself powerless over your addiction. (You are not powerless unless you say so!)

6. Accept the guidance of a sponsor, or commit to any requirements other than the goals of recovery that you set for yourself. This is a "Self-Management" program.

No one knows more about you, your situation, values, goals, concerns, and skills more than YOU.
No one is in a better position to anticipate how change will fit into your life.

Is there a behavior that you are dealing with that definitely needs change?

Or are you in a bit of contemplation about change with any of these behaviors; drinking, drugging, smoking, eating, shopping, gambling, sexual, etc. ( even "cutting" or other self-harm behaviors).

SMART Recovery can help you explore the possibilities of choice and change. The underlining process in any of these behaviors that can lead to addiction is what SMART Recovery focuses on.

The SMART Recovery 4-Point Program coincides with scientific research that shows people who have recovered successfully (regardless of the method used) seem to have "THREE THINGS" in common:

1. A COMMITMENT TO SOBRIETY;

2. A CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE; and they

3. PREPARE AND PLAN FOR AN URGE.

The SMART Tools are designed to be resources for the work of contemplating and/or initiating change through choice.

Here are my offerings of suggestions that have been helpful for many SMART members aka SMARTies. As you will see many will offer support and other suggestions. It is your choice how you use the amazing resources - see what resonates with you.

First, the SMART Tools are science and evidence based and the SMART COMMUNITY is Supportive.

SMART tools are applicable to many life issues beyond addiction. In general, they help one clarify one's thinking so that he/she can make more rational and helpful decisions in many areas of life.

The SMART tools are located in the SMART toolbox under the Resources drop down menu at the top of this page. Here are two SMART Tools to start with, the CBA and the HOV (Cost Benefit Analysis and the Hierarchy of Values) both are thought provoking tools to see just where you are and what choices you are making.

Second, Join the SMART community by connecting on the Message Boards or in the 24/7 chat room and/or the 27 online SMART meetings weekly.

Change may feel a bit overwhelming, and it really is just a process.

It comes down to one footstep at a time - no matter the size of a step.

Change is possible - it is helped by that first footstep.

Finding SMART Recovery and signing on, might be one of the biggest footsteps you have made.

Had First Anniversary of no alcohol at all on 14 June 2014 :)

As I was coming up to my first anniversary I thought "I feel great!"

"I am getting some things done in my life! I am getting an ever increasing feeling of moving forward! I am really feeling great! I think I can safely drink now."

I shared this idea at a SMART meeting and a member said,
"Let me get this straight. You have NOT used your Poison of Choice for 12 months and you are feeling sensational!
So much so, that you reckon you can now go back and use your Poison of Choice - the very thing that stopped you feeling sensational and consistently acting in your own best interests?"

I said, "Well I did think that, until NOW!!"

I started active recovery on 10 Dec 2012 in the AA rooms. I started with 30 meetings in 30 days - sometimes did 2 meetings a day.

I then went onto "90 in 90 days" - did quite a few more than that.

I picked up a drink 8 times in that first 6 months - 7 separate days and once for three days.
I drank at 134 days sober.

On 27 May 2013 I found SMART and my life took a decided turn for the better.

I also read "Rational Recovery" and was acquainted with the idea my 'Addictive Voice' is a paraplegic - without convincing me to donate my arms and legs to its cause, it is powerless.

From JvB at a SMART meeting, I heard, "early recovery is freedom from, later recovery is freedom to."

I am now an online Facilitator and a F2F Facilitator for SMART.

I will end my secretary roll for an AA meeting on the 26 July and will only attend the Sunday morning meeting of AA which I love, on the spiritual concept, funnily enough for me.

I do not have a Higher Power in the AA sense of the concept. I believe in love and I believe in Positive Thought as Higher Powers - but they are not sentient, in themselves, and will only work when I do.

Perhaps I'll come to some understanding that promotes improved tranquillity, through meditation - the thing is I am sober and living a life of my construction. A 'work in progress' that is far more constructive and consistent.

I started the journey in AA and I still dearly love some of the people in it. I continue the journey in SMART and dearly love, and am often inspired, by the people in it.

There are many paths to enlightenment. There are many paths to sobriety. What got me here, will not necessarily get me there.

"We stand alone, together."

Sobriety, recovery, reinvention, is an art. The right path for me to a life I want is only able to be walked by me - with the guidance of those who really care for me as a person, and who have sometimes walked a path before me.

I wish you a stout heart in your journey, and acceptance of self.

"Rather than Ask for Victory, Ask for the Persistence to step forward once again.

For when you take even a faltering step forward in a struggle, you bring honour to yourself.

Even more, you bring the message of hope and honour to us all."
 

Ten and a half months sober

Just came back from a work conference where I spent a week and a half in a room, by myself, with a bar fridge.

Just before I went on the conference, in answer to "If I drink while I'm away, no-one will know," the facilitator responded

"YOU will know."

"The most important person will know!"

Every time I heard those bottles clinking around when I opened the fridge door, I "played the tape through to the end" and laughed and said "that's not what I want!"

I am at the stage now where great change is possible - with commitment.
I am making a living, however I have the opportunity to have "a living that is making me."
Exciting!!

A year and a half ago, I looked up and saw the direction I was headed in and wanted the destination to change. Like any journey, a degree or two change in direction will cause the actual destination to be totally different. It wont necessarily be better or worse, just different.

Instead of rain and clouds on the horizon, I see flowers and sunshine as well.

Some flowers, when planted, will not grow.

Some, rarely, are trampled.

Some, even more rarely, are stolen.

The things I can CONTROL are the planting and the nurturing.

Some flowers can even send seeds to other people, who will plant them and create a paddock of flowers with me and others.

Without sobriety the will and the ability to plant exist in very diminished quantities.

SMART Facilitation Course

It has been a while since I have been here and a lot has happened.

I have broken up with my three year, very angry, partner and am on my own.

I decided to do the facilitators course at SMART recovery and am two days away from finishing it. It has been a case of "if you would truly know something, teach it!" I have learnt a huge amount from the material - particularly "motivational interviewing" and the insights it has broke to me about myself.

In particular, NO-ONE wants to be told! Everyone wants to be acknowledged as an individual and a person.

There are people I LOVE in AA.

I spent Xmas day, Xmas dinner, at an AA function with about 70 people - SMART Recovery had no such thing. I spent Xmas day with my mate from AA, Desmond.

However, I see a lot of 10 and 20 year AA people who are not well in themselves and who struggle as people.

Perhaps the fault is not AA - perhaps it is humanness.

AA helped me get myself Sober. It gave me the regular meetings and some people who cared about me to get my life back on track.

SMART Recovery has given me my sense of self back. Purpose and direction.

I believe that the combination of the two is essential for the beginning of total wellbeing.

Oh, there are people in SMART Recovery who are stuck and who struggle.

I would love all people in and out of AA and SMART Recovery to be at peace and live self-determining, full lives.