PERSONAL VIEWS ON RECOVERY

PERSONAL VIEWS ON RECOVERYPersonal 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. Comments are welcomed.)

Should People With Gambling or Overeating Disorders
Be Welcome at SMART Meetings?

On the surface, this seems a simple question. No substance abuse (gamblers)? Not welcome. Abstinence not an option (overeaters)? Again, not welcome. Problem solved. On to the next question.

Well, not so fast. Since REBT is the basic "tool" in our self-help kit, since our whole emphasis is on overcoming behavior problems, it stands to reason that our approach is valid for people with these problems. We might actually be able to help them.

Let me refer you to page 2 of the S.M.A.R.T. Recovery Manual. Paragraph three says: "Addictive behavior can serve a purpose - to cope with life's problems and emotional upsets. There's a drawback, however. Many problems arise from heavy drinking, drug using, gambling, overeating and other excesses. So that kind of coping is not only impractical, it's counter- productive."

That of course begs the question I proposed. Still, it suggests that even we (substance abusers) can help people with other addictions. But should we even try? There's no simple answer after all.

The Washington Metropolitan Area SMART facilitators have addressed this question several times. Some are against expanding our meetings into other addictions. Some, perhaps most, aren't so sure. Still others say sure, let's do it. What we finally decided was to sorta leave it up to the facilitator(s) of each meeting.

But this approach is not without its own problems. Most of the area groups have a kind of "rotating facilitatorship," meaning that a gambler may be welcome to the meeting this week, but not next week, depending on who is facilitating. Now, I can't say that this has ever happened, but it is a potential problem, particularly were that gambler court-ordered to attend self-help meetings.

Then there's the issue of finances. These people do contribute to the kitty (except, maybe the really bad gamblers...), and in the smaller groups we frankly need all the attendees we can get. This is not a small issue for some groups.

And, of course, there's the argument that when we spend time on other addictions, we're taking time from the substance abusers that the group exists to serve. Well, frankly, I've yet to observe this, and I'm one of the (if you hadn't guessed) "let 'em in" contingent. When any person at a meeting starts monopolizing our time, it is the job of the facilitator to, as displomatically as possible, head them off. A gentle "...and how does this relate to your addiction?" generally does it.

Three other pertinent points. Both gambling and overeating do involve substances, albeit substances secreted by our own bodies. Epinephrine, the endorphins, dopamine, all are produced within the body, and in most people their production is altered by winning a bet, or eating a hot fudge sundae.

A second point is that we substance abusers can learn from other addicts. Granted, their "addictions" don't involve an externally- administered substance, but we're both adept at self-deception, at convincing ourselves that we have to take that drink, place that bet, eat that confection, smoke that crack. And it is worth noting that even those with addictions whose problem is excess, e.g., eating disorders, need to abstain at some point and can profit from our abstinence-oriented discussions. As one of our professional advisors here reminds us, "I can easily see that mote in your eye; but I have a problem discerning the log in my own." It has been through talking with people who allow themselves to place short-term gratification over long-term best interests that I have become more adept at seeing when I'm doing the same thing.

This is Essay No. 3, issued March, 1998.

Previous Essays

January, 1998--Differences Between SMART and AA

November, 1997--Fifty Ways to Recover

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