In the mid-90s, a comprehensive study of over 4,500 people who were diagnosed with alcohol dependence as defined by the DSM-IV found that a majority conquered their drinking problem entirely on their own, without any formal treatment program of any kind, AA or otherwise. On the other hand, other studies do suggest that those who use formal treatment succeed at a higher rate than those who do not. On the third hand, the same studies showed that programs other than AA had equally good success rates, and that, despite what they tell you at AA meetings, AA does not and never has been shown to be more effective than other programs. Even AA founder Bill Wilson admitted that some people did not need AA and were better off seeking alternatives. (They don't tell you that at AA meetings, but it's true.)
As I mentioned yesterday, I have made a determination for now that, having been exposed to AA-style "12-step" programs for over 20 years, the AA program is not for me at this time. Although I value the insight and support of experienced AA folks, I ask that all of you simply accept that this is not the path I will be taking for now.
As part of my own efforts, I will be profiling some of the addiction treatment systems out there. Here is a profile of one of the more popular alternatives: Rational Recovery.
Founded in 1986 by Lois & Jack Trimpey, the RR (Rational Recovery) movement rather brazenly proclaims itself to be "the antithesis and irreconcilable arch-rival of Alcoholics Anonymous." Save for admitting you have a problem, and that you should abstain for life, they reject practically everything in the AA credo. They believe, for example, that:
* The notion that addiction is a disease is categorically false.
* Codependency is a myth.
* Group meetings are often counterproductive and tend to become a substitute addiction.
* Addiction recovery is an entirely personal journey and requires very little in terms of support from family or friends.
* No one drinks because of genetics, or because they're depressed or stressed or insecure or bored or due to peer pressure. You drink because it feels good. Period. No exceptions. All other excuses (depression, stress, genetics, insecurity, and so on) can be addressed by other means, and are thus merely excuses.
While I consider these views a bit on the radical side, I must confess I find the no-bullshit attitude rather bracing.
The basis of RR's theory is that the brain is loosely divided into sections, some more primitive and animalistic than others, and that the urge to drink (or use other addicting substances) comes from irrational, instinctive, animalistic parts of the mind that instinctively seek pleasure--and that simply recognizing this, identifying it, giving it a name and a voice, is key to conquering it. The basic techinque is therefore called "Addictive Voice Recognition Technique," or AVRT.
The "crash course" in AVRT simply looks like this:
Observe your thoughts and feelings, positive and negative, about drinking or using. Thoughts and feelings which support continued use are called the Addictive Voice (AV); those which support abstinence are you. When you recognize and understand your AV, it becomes not-you, but "it," an easily-defeated enemy that has been causing you to drink. All it wants is pleasure. "I want a drink," becomes, "It wants a drink." Think to yourself, "I will never drink again," and listen for its reaction. Your negative thoughts and feelings are your AV talking back to you. Now, think, "I will drink/use whenever I please." Your pleasant feelings are also the AV, which is in control. Recovery is not a process; it is an event. The magic word is "Never," as in, "I will never drink/use again." Recognition defeats short-term desire, and abstinence soon becomes effortless. Complete sepaertion of "you" from "it" leads to complete recovery and hope for a better life. The only time you can drink is now, and the only time you can quit for good is right now. "I will never drink/use again," becomes, "I never drink now." It's not hard; anyone can do it.(See Crash Course for Effective Abstinence for more.)
Rational Recovery was originally published in a book known as "The Small Book" back in the 1980s, but most up-to-date book on this methodology is simply called Rationial Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction. They claim their program is equally successful for drinking, narcotics, and smoking.
They offer no group meetings, and only a limited number of workshops. There is the book, and there are some relatively cheap online forums that you can use to discuss the RR approach with others following the same path--although, even then, the RR folks say that spending more than a year in the forums is probably a waste of time and money.
An interesting and free tool by the Rational Recovery folks is the Bullets for the Beast slideshow, which supposedly help addicts separate themselves from their unhealthy and irrational desires for alcohol or other unhealthy substances.
The Rational Recovery books sell quite well, and I've heard from people using this approach with some success. There does seem to be one inherent flaw in Rational Recovery's logic: if separating out one's desire for alcohol or nicotine or drugs from one's "true self" is so very easy, it would seem that one should be able to use casually, and then merely defeat one's "inner beast" whenever you want, including after a few beers or hits off the crack pipe.
Nevertheless, the program does seem to work for some of its proponents. Obviously, not everyone will agree with the RR approach or philosophy, but it's an interesting approach to say the least. I must confess to already drawing some inspiration from it: considering the urge to drink to be an "it," a thing separate from myself, really seems quite powerful.
You can find out more about Rational Recovery at the Internet Center for Self-Recovery.
I recall doing the RR thing online years ago.
This time I tried it again and couldn't get any reaction from the "beast" ... i suppose that's a good thing. For me, and this has been true for about 14 years, I've toyed with the idea of drinking, but I've never had a serious thought of drinking, that is, one that included intention, that wasn't immediately stomped out.
I'd be interested to see if RR's mental exercise works for you.
I'm not actually committed to RR yet, but I must admit that running through that slideshow it had me nailed perfectly on emotions every time I thought "never drink again" vs. "drink all you want" or "never drink again" vs. "drink again someday."
I was most impressed.
Eric Flint is big on the genetic component, but I don't think his assertion was "you drink because of genetics" but rather that if you have the (pretty well proven) genetic inability to metabolize alcohol it distorts your relationship with the stuff in ways which make you more prone to abuse it.
I would guess that they would share my reaction regarding your pouring out the last of the wine. It was, in effect, a declaration of power over "it". All the more reason to expect you to come out a winner.
Dean,
You might want to check out Rational Behavior Therapy - Sounds like that is what RR stems from. Maxie Maultsby (a pioneer in the field) has a couple of excellent books to help with addictions, etc.
I have used Rational Self-Counseling in the past, and it worked well for some issues I had back then. I'm planning on using it again, now that some of those things are occurring once again.
I think that the term "disease" has become a very vague thing ...
I totally agree that genetic factors aren't specific enough to target an addiction to merely alcohol. It's general addiction, compulsive behavior, which can be inherited due to natural, genetic deficits. Study after study, you find that people with certain physical conditions have psychological problems. These psychological problems ARE a physical condition.
(Yes, yes, I realize the mental impact of physical impairment can be a factor in things like depression, but look at an example like mitral valve prolapse, which is relatively benign, but is consistently tied to anxiety.)
Some people are born with a need, with appetites. Environment then has a big impact, but the nature of their natural behavior can reinforcenegative feedback. But basically, when you feel like shit all the time, when there is something missing, you gravitate towards these addictive behaviors like a rat hitting the bell for cheese.
Our neo-cortex gives us the willpower to triumph over our reptilian brain. You can do it on your own. Anyone who can be as analytical as you in your blog writing, for example, can kick booze.
Sounds like the "Sybil" method of addiction recovery. I wonder if I can use it to stop wasting countless hours surfing the web reading odd websites, countless blogs and political discussion forums. :)
PS: That wasn't me posting, that was "it".
I quick smoking tobacco in 1998, because I lost interest in it. It stank, wheezed my lungs up, and killed my sense of taste and smell. One day I realized that the same half-pack of cigs had been on top of my TV for two weeks, untouched. I was done, without really trying.
I quit smoking pot in 2000, because it wasn't really enjoyable: it created food cravings that made me fat, and promoted anxiety (that happened to A. Ginsburg as well, which was why he quit).
I quit drinking in December, because it made me feel like shit, not to mention fat, and was crippling my interpersonal relationships.
So, as far as RR goes: I quit these things because I realized that what was supposedly "feeling good," was actually feeling like crap.
Of course, if I find something that *actually* makes me feel good, I'll be in trouble...
May I suggest cocaine?
Sober 3 years, 3 months.
Truth be told there are many paths to sobriety, but I wouldn't be so quick to diss AA - especially if you're early in your "recovery". Each group is different, and some are definitely healthier than others. I found that AA was a crutch but what so bad about crutches when you've been falling down throughout your life?
I quit cigarettes cold turkey and booze the same. Whichever path turns out to be yours, I will guarantee you that it will never allow "social" or moderate drinking.
There was a schism in RR some years ago. Jack Trimpey got the rights to the terms RR, AVRT, etc. and the other side got the non-profit organization which was renamed SMART Recovery. SMART does have free meetings, called self-help groups instead of support groups. They are less dogmatic about the program and don't minimize the difficulty of changing. It looks easy in retrospect but is actually very hard to do.
That makes a lot of sense. I've seen reference to SMART recovery but didn't know what it was. I obviously need to examine SMART recovery. Ellis has a much-respected reputation in psychology and addiction research. Trimpey seems to be working harder to sell a product.
My only experience with RR was a couple of meetings long, long ago. At those meetings, the members seemed united not by their problem, or even by their solution, but by their hatred for AA. Did not appeal, and I moved on.
Bill--
Tried that. Didn't really see the point.
* Group meetings are often counterproductive and tend to become a substitute addiction.
Amen. My atheist too much to drink boss became a "meeting attending overbearing Christian" (and I am a Christian). My exact quote was exchanging one addiction for another.
Good luck!
This kinda sounds like that Bible phrase which goes something like...
taking all your thoughts into captivity to Christ,
Tadeusz