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.
