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.

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.

PROGRESS rather than Perfection :-)

After that horrible session of a bottle of Muscat washed down with a bottle of Red Wine, I had another drink, a bottle of Port, 14 days later.

I am well into SMART now and have used the tools, particularly the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) with very compelling results.

The sticking point with AA was giving my life and my will over to my higher power.

I can accept that as a notion of letting go, relaxation or meditation. But I cannot accept that there is a salient being out there that can cause things to happen in my life.

Everything will occur in my life and I have the opportunity to make what I can out of it - meaning exists because I cause things to have meaning. Usually, without purpose.

The SMART Recovery tools are best used every day and that is what I will do.

AA has some lovely people in it and it is incredibly supportive. It helped me to get 134 days up - without it I struggled hugely.

I think the combination of AA and SMART will work for me best.

105 Days

Yesterday I reached 105 days.

Already people who I came into the rooms with have disappeared back into their previous lives. I am very sorry to see David go back to very heavy drinking because he was lucky to survive and get into the rooms - he will be very, very lucky to get back.

It appears that there are some VERY welcoming people in AA, but a lot wait until one has shown one is likely to stick around and make it - then they will introduce themselves. A lot like how 'replacements' were treated in WW2. Some incredibly helpful and constructive people.

What have I come to believe.

A power greater than me? That is a given. There are a lot of things, most things, greater, bigger, more powerful than me. But a salient being who will direct my life? Not for me. An energy I can be more part of and use to get my life's work done? Yes, that I believe. Not something which controls, but rather something which adds to and multiplies.

I cannot control outcomes. All I can control are my efforts and while the outcome may lead from them, they are not at all certain.

Is it still a struggle?

I was shitting myself that I wouldn't get to triple figures - that I would drink before the magic ton, 100. For that preceding week, I attended meeting and dropped $20 in the bowl rather than the couple of dollars I am used to. I wanted to refill my Karma reservoir.

I made it on 23 April 2013.

I went to the Gym and got a program. I was introduced to it today. I did my first workout this morning. I am eating, exercising, living and loving properly.

I have, gratefully, my whole life ahead of me. I saw in aircraft investigations that once pilots realise they are flying into the ground, when they put power on and change direction, they still have to go through the bottom of the arc, before they begin to climb.

I am beginning to level out and I am VERY grateful for all the support and love I have had to date.

82 Days Sober

Just came from a presentation where I listened to Nigel Brennan, who had been held captive for over 400 days in Somalia talk about his harrowing ordeal.

This journey has not been horrendous, but it has been an escape from captivity of sorts.

Being away in a foreign country on a work conference, where alcohol has flowed freely, and it is MUCH harder to get a non-alcoholic drink, at times, than an alcoholic one has had it's challenges!

Things that have helped a lot are my daily reading of the daily reflection, daily prayer, listening to Joe and Charlie recordings, and Skypeing with my sponsor this week.

What was also of huge help was my non-drinking partner's presence - good on you Maria!! Having a person who was not interested in drink has made a huge difference.

I am very glad I took the time to really pump the meetings before I went away - often doing two a day - and that my headspace was sufficiently sorted before I went.

Day 64

Day 64

The 64 day question?

What a roller coaster ride early sobriety is! I came into AA on 10 Dec 2012; had three separate day busts and a full three days straight - after that conversation when I said to my sponsor "I don't want to be a hopeless alcoholic" and he said "mate! You are there!" I had no more excuses.

The life of a continual or part time drunk was not for the faint hearted, but I was medicated to enable me to destroy my life with the minimum of feelings.

At least, on this path, I have a lot of help - support in the way the program is done. Support from the people in the program I relate to.

Life was very tough last week. I was restless, irritable and discontented, perhaps, but on-edge, for sure!

My solution was to attend 2 meetings on Wednesday, 2 meetings on Friday, and two meetings on Saturday. A total of 10 meetings for the week.

By Friday afternoon I had settled down a lot and was back on an even keel.

I spoke with my sponsor early in the week and again in person on Saturday afternoon. That helped a lot. He gave me some direction.

There is a fair bit on my plate at the moment; a speech to prepare; a course to attend; troubles with my partner; a business to maintain; a recovery to work through as an ongoing spiritual recovery.

The recovery must take precedence!

There was a meeting I was half an hour late for that was an outstanding contribution to my day today.

My sponsor said to commit to the daily reflections book as an aid to my recovery - I commit to that.

The positives are the program, with the support of the fellowship.

The negative is the more I sit and listen in the rooms, the more I see myself and remember the destructive things I did.

The overwhelmingly positive things are my gradually improving quality of mind, greater relaxation, and increasing ability to forgive myself and others.

My journey is in its infancy. I look forward to helping it grow.

10 years, 5 years, 3 months, 1 day,
All have in common, just one drink away

I choose life :-)

AA Hope

I have no idea what I will hear at meetings and how I will be affected.

That is why it is so important - was so important - for me to go to meetings. To get phone numbers. To call people. To get the books. To get in the middle of the process.

Some of the things I heard there.

"Mate, you're there..." - when I said I don't want to be a hopeless alcoholic. "Jim is reliable"- after achieving sobriety. A real taste for sobriety. Isolation isn't a cure for loneliness! Godliness doesn't get expressed through me because I am good, rather because IT is good. Meetings; Sponsor; Steps; Service. Dis-Ease that we have. It is a Mental, Physical, Spiritual Dis-Ease Get a vision splendid for my sobriety. My Greater Power is Nurturing, Supporting and gives me the ability to rise to greater heights. BOAT = Bring Over Another Thousand. The purpose of the rooms is to develop a social support network. Hungry Angry Lonely Tired Sad HALTS - avoid them :-) The penny, she has dropped. Poor me, poor me, pour me a drink! Wisdom, Integrity, Honesty in the rooms. Sunlight for the spirit. College of knowledge Place of peace See myself as one among many. Not a battle, but PEOPLE everywhere on both sides. Intoxicating, out of control feeling of success - humility; thankfulness. DENIAL = Don't Even Notice I Am Lying Not all important, but not unimportant either. Just here. GOD OF MY UNDERSTANDING GOD = Group of Drunks GOD = Gift of Desperation Good Orderly Direction Higher power is for this speaker, the fellowship, the group, the steps, it doesn't have to be supernatural. As long as it is different from just the person them-self. Alcohol is my higher power - every time I surrender to it. "People can't tell me what to do" Let go, and let God. Give in and Get God. NRT = Next Right Thing The Loving Thing Bio - Psycho - Social influencers High Ego - Low Self Esteem OCD and other personality disorders. There is no really good treatment. Social and Environmental Factors are the triggers, it would appear = onset, maintenance and progression. Chronic relapsing disease of the brain that progresses. Increased consumption and declining health. No Alcoholic without Hope. Find it in the rooms :-D Social Isolation is the most common, debilitating, step. Liver and Brain deterioration and eventual death. Spiritual awakening is actual psyche change. Change playgrounds, playthings and playmates. DENT = Deeply Engrained Negative Thoughts. Fix these dents through the use of the program. Prison of my own creation is where I have ended up. Come as I am, go on as I would like to be Essential - Be active in my own rescue :-) Let the sunshine of the spirit in and out. Gutter can be a couch at home. Write down - Ten things that happen when I drink and how I drink. Write a job description for my higher power?? Higher power is in the NOW! Change psyche to change life. Person who is the most sober today is the person who got up earliest this morning. Most likely - Solution won't look like the problem. How does it work? It works just fine! Recovery can at times, look like a stagnant pond - needs life and movement. Read the "How it works" in the morning! 30yrs, 10yrs, 5mths, 1day, All have in common, just 1 drink away. Spirituality is "who am I really?" A life run from self-will, will not be a success. Run from a higher power will make it so. Tune into the program, tune into what is being transmitted by others. Be a conduit for Transmission once I have it. Feel part of, rather than disconnected, by getting involved. Want the effects of drinking but don't want the results :-( Chronic "I knowness" "The Great Reality is Within" Acknowledge that powerlessness needs a greater power to help with it. Write down three examples if when said wouldn't drink or moderate it and it didn't work and the consequences. "To feel" without medication or alteration Creatures of the dark and we leave because we get into the light and we are afraid of it. Give myself time and a chance to get used to it ;-) Do esteem-able acts to build self esteem. Read page 85 of the Big Book for the promises. We shall not regret the past or wish to close the door on it. When I listen to learn, I'll learn to listen. Live life on life's terms.