Comments on: About the Spiritual River http://www.spiritualriver.com Non-traditional recovery from addiction Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:09:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Pat Heatonhttp://www.spiritualriver.com/recovery-through-personal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-155955 Pat Heaton Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:58:04 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/wordpress-2.0.4/wordpress/?page_id=20#comment-155955 Thank You Patrick , I have been trying to establish a well rounded (Rehab) Share House for men whom are in the desperate stage and seeking recovery , I do like your Holistic Views , as I myself have found I need more than 12 step groups . I hope to read more of your site in the coming days weeks months . God Bless Thank You Patrick , I have been trying to establish a well rounded (Rehab) Share House for men whom are in the desperate stage and seeking recovery , I do like your Holistic Views , as I myself have found I need more than 12 step groups .

I hope to read more of your site in the coming days weeks months .

God Bless

]]> By: Amandahttp://www.spiritualriver.com/recovery-through-personal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-138792 Amanda Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:18:21 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/wordpress-2.0.4/wordpress/?page_id=20#comment-138792 Hello, I'm not an addict however I'm trying to look for answers for my lother inlaw. She has taken in a friend of hers and her son who is 32yrs old. He us a drug user and has gone through cycyles the past 3 years of living in her home. We all feel she is not helping him by having a great warm bed to come home to after he is gone for weeks at a time. Of course the same story he promises he will not use again. Same old story, however she was told that he can not get into a rehab while be on perscription drugs that his doctor have given him. there has to be some place that would take him. Please advice. Hello,
I’m not an addict however I’m trying to look for answers for my lother inlaw. She has taken in a friend of hers and her son who is 32yrs old. He us a drug user and has gone through cycyles the past 3 years of living in her home. We all feel she is not helping him by having a great warm bed to come home to after he is gone for weeks at a time. Of course the same story he promises he will not use again. Same old story, however she was told that he can not get into a rehab while be on perscription drugs that his doctor have given him. there has to be some place that would take him. Please advice.

]]> By: Bill Walkerhttp://www.spiritualriver.com/recovery-through-personal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-113861 Bill Walker Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:53:33 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/wordpress-2.0.4/wordpress/?page_id=20#comment-113861 Patrick, I am just completing 7-years clean and sober in a 12-step program. I have been trying to abstain and prevent relapse for nearly 4 additional years. During that time, I tried Rational Recovery - which is very much like the 4-step program of "relapse prevention through personal growth," that you advocate. I frankly don't see the difference between your "informal program of recovery" and the 12-step program, except in my life, and now in the lives of many of the men I try to help in AA and in our community, have a diffuse "personal growth" program doesn't help alcoholics to live comfortable and happy lives while they abstain. I am like many others who "try" AA and/or NA: I really have a strong personal motivation to quit. I was not on felony probation nor did my spouse threaten to leave me if I drank or used again, but I knew I was out of control and I was dieing! I therefore had great motication - especially given I was a single dad with 3 kids I was trying to rear. I tried and tried to grow in a holistic manner, and my health would improve for a time. My problem was I couldn't live my life comfortably, the stress would build up again, and I'd find myself drinking or using again, seemingly against my own will power! Through applying the 12-steps to my life, I have been able to find a manner of living that allows me to be very consistent and allows me to not even think about using again, so long as I keep applying the steps when I find myself becoming stressed, or "disturbed." If your premise is really what keeps an alcoholic or addict sober today can not work consistently over time, I strongly disagree with you! I have worked with alcoholics and addicts daily for nearly 30-years, and I agree with the vast majority of other people who work with our group of people: it's critical to find a simple easy-to-use program or device to use during one's day to be able to avoid getting "stuck" in fear, anger or stress. I'd urge folks to try 12-steps sincerely and consistently over a period of months, and see if their life doesn't change, remarkably. Patrick, I am just completing 7-years clean and sober in a 12-step program. I have been trying to abstain and prevent relapse for nearly 4 additional years. During that time, I tried Rational Recovery – which is very much like the 4-step program of “relapse prevention through personal growth,” that you advocate. I frankly don’t see the difference between your “informal program of recovery” and the 12-step program, except in my life, and now in the lives of many of the men I try to help in AA and in our community, have a diffuse “personal growth” program doesn’t help alcoholics to live comfortable and happy lives while they abstain. I am like many others who “try” AA and/or NA: I really have a strong personal motivation to quit. I was not on felony probation nor did my spouse threaten to leave me if I drank or used again, but I knew I was out of control and I was dieing! I therefore had great motication – especially given I was a single dad with 3 kids I was trying to rear. I tried and tried to grow in a holistic manner, and my health would improve for a time. My problem was I couldn’t live my life comfortably, the stress would build up again, and I’d find myself drinking or using again, seemingly against my own will power! Through applying the 12-steps to my life, I have been able to find a manner of living that allows me to be very consistent and allows me to not even think about using again, so long as I keep applying the steps when I find myself becoming stressed, or “disturbed.” If your premise is really what keeps an alcoholic or addict sober today can not work consistently over time, I strongly disagree with you! I have worked with alcoholics and addicts daily for nearly 30-years, and I agree with the vast majority of other people who work with our group of people: it’s critical to find a simple easy-to-use program or device to use during one’s day to be able to avoid getting “stuck” in fear, anger or stress. I’d urge folks to try 12-steps sincerely and consistently over a period of months, and see if their life doesn’t change, remarkably.

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