PERSONAL VIEWS ON RECOVERY

PERSONAL VIEWS ON RECOVERY Personal Views Page

(This page will carry from time to time the personal views of some of our members on issues which they believe are important in the recovery process. Our present policy is that these authors will remain anonymous and will be limited to members of the Washington, D.C. Area SMART groups. They do not necessarily reflect positions either of the Washington, D.C. Area SMART groups, nor its National Headquarters. The following is the personal summary of one of our Professional Advisors of the purposes and goals at our Washington DC Area SMART Recovery meetings. Comments are welcomed.)

SMART Recovery in a Nutshell

In SMART Recovery meetings we apply concepts from many sources, including cognitive behavior therapy and modern recovery principles that help us learn to live better lives without alcohol and drugs. We often focus on four main points:

(1) building motivation to abstain

(2) learning to cope with urges to drink or use

(3) managing recovery-related problems of living in rational, effective ways

(4) developing a balanced, healthy, drugfree lifestyle.

We favor whatever works for the individual---one size does not seem to fit all. We believe that people are well-advised to view themselves as responsible for their own behavior, including drinking and drugging, and to design their individual recovery program. We hope to change our thinking, emotions, and behavior so as to live our lives in accord with important values---without depending on chemicals.

People come to SMART Recovery meetings first to get help for themselves and then to give help to others. Addictive habits are hard to change, but we can make it easier by working together. Our goal is for group members to aid each other in their efforts to stop using substances and to start building a drugfree, healthy lifestyle. Information, discussion, and feedback are part of every meeting.

In our meetings, participants often benefit from discussing recent urges to drink (or use), thoughts and feelings that lead to drinking, current life problems that make drinking seem essential, personal successes, and changes for the better. It usually works best to stick to the issues of today and last week, unless a past experience is relevant to today. We view lapses and relapses as regrettable but not shameful. If someone has a lapse, we hope he/she comes to a meeting and talks about it. We try to understand together what took place so that we all can learn how to handle similar problems in the future. The meetings are confidential, and "What is said there stays there."

The program supports abstinence as a goal because abstinence has worked out best for most people with serious substance abuse problems. We doubt that it helps to label yourself an alcoholic or an addict. SMART and AA are not in opposition; they have the same goal (abstinence) but with different approaches. Some SMART participants attend AA as well.

Although lifetime attendance is not expected, it may take time and effort to give up alcohol and drugs, to learn how to deal with the hassles of living without craving chemicals, and to develop a healthy, drugfree lifestyle. We suggest you try SMART Recovery for 4-5 meetings, learn the principles, and apply them in daily living. Many participants will want to continue to attend meetings until they are securely abstinent. Some will attend even longer to coordinate meetings and to be of help to others.

This is Essay No. 8, issued January, 1999.

Previous Essays

November, 1998--Other Roads to Recovery

September, 1998--How I Re-Thought My Beliefs on My "Alcoholism"

July, 1998--Why Do People Join SMART Recovery?

May, 1998--A Critique of PBS' Bill Moyers on Addiction

March, 1998--Should People With Gambling or Overeating Disorders Be Welcome At SMART Meetings?

January, 1998--Differences Between SMART and AA

November, 1997--Fifty Ways to Recover

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