obsessive thoughts and addictions, individuation / sepration process/ growing up with saturn lessons, drinking, and feeling more emotions and pain

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm new to the list, so a little hesistant to add my two cents. But in

response to the request below for people who've had supportive experiences with

the 12 steps -- a few commetns. I've been a 12-stepper for 25 years and it has

worked for me. The coolest thing is that leaving my addiction (booze and, to

a much lesser extent, drugs) didn't require will power. I just went to a

lot of meetings at first and after about two weeks the desire to use just left

me. And I didn't miss it. (I still go, but to less meetings.) I didn't

believe (or agree) with much said at the meetings during my early times -- but

members said I didn't have to. The slogan is: " bring the body, the mind will

follow. " I was an atheist then, but, because of experiences in the program,

changed that view. I got through my early resistance because of two factors:

1)

I was so sick from using, the desperation made me " try anything. " 2) I was

able to attend meetings by following the most basic instruction: " Don't drink,

and go to meetings " (the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking -- you

don't even have to succeed). I think the reason the desire leaves has

something to do with a " group mind " you plug into -- it must be a sociological

cure

(you see other people happy and sober and it just rubs off by osmosis).

Anyway, that's my experience. The steps are suggestions, it is said, not

requirements. It's all pretty loose -- and can accomodate just about any

version

of a " higher power " . Jerome