Sparrow on February 9th, 2010

A.A.’s 12-Steps – A Program of Action
A.A.’s Twelve Steps, which constitute its program of recovery, are in no way a statement of belief; they simply describe what the founding members did to get sober and stay sober.
They contain no new ideas: surrender, self-inventory, confession to someone outside ourselves, and some form of prayer and meditation [...]

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Sparrow on February 6th, 2010

Within Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous Gamblers Anonymous, Al-anon and Adult Children of Alcoholics there are 2 basic types of meetings for fellowship and recovery.
The two most common kinds of 12-Step meetings are:
OPEN MEETINGS: As the term suggests, meetings of this type are open to members and their families and to anyone interested in solving a [...]

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Sparrow on February 6th, 2010

Reconstructing the alcoholic family.
World view change in co-dependents, Adult Children of Alcoholics/Al-Anon self-help groups.
We examined the processes through which 20 committed members (aged 29-52 yrs) of self-help groups for adult children of alcoholics experience alterations in their perceptions of family of origin.
Results suggest that world view transformation in the family of origin domain involves;

learning [...]

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Sparrow on February 5th, 2010

The Dating Game at 60+
People in recovery from alcoholism, addiction, co-dependency and compulsive gambling often find themselves alone again.
But, there is no need to be lonesome whether heterosexual, gay, lesbian – male or female.
This article from PsychCentral tells the story of an elderly women who found love again and gives some pointers.
Want to find love [...]

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Sparrow on February 1st, 2010

Psychological and emotional defence mechanisms are used by all human beings and may be necessary for survival in some situations.
However, people from dysfunctional families (co-dependents, adult children of alcoholics for example) may have developed defence behaviours that are increasingly dysfunctional.
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so [...]

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Sparrow on January 26th, 2010

How to Challenge your Internal Struggle Against Recovery and get off the endless staircase.
Most people trying to overcome an addiction, alcoholism, gambling or co-dependency soon realize that recovery is not spontaneous. It requires discipline and patience, and therein lies the problem with recovery.
Addiction’s lure is its promise of immediate gratification, the quick feel-good. Being addicted [...]

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Sparrow on January 25th, 2010

You can talk to a dozen experts, read a dozen books and get a dozen different interpretations of ACOA co-dependency.
Many accept it as a disease in as much as it has an onset, is progressive, predictable and in time is potentially fatal, although other causes of death are generally cited.
It is assumed that all [...]

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Sparrow on January 25th, 2010

Judy recently shared the following on her Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) e-mail group. I found it so useful that I asked her to allow it to be published here. Judy readily agreed.
Good morning group, When I read the daily reading on losing a sense of humour it reminded me …
I had to learn to [...]

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Sparrow on January 20th, 2010

Sexual Dysfunction and Recovery
Many people in recovery from alcoholism, addiction, co-dependency, compulsive gambling and adult children of alcoholics may identify with some of these. Sexuality may be very different in recovery and some people may have many questions about their sexual functions.
Sexual dysfunction is the persistent or recurrent inability to react emotionally or physically to [...]

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Sparrow on January 19th, 2010

Self-care is about setting boundaries, letting go
“Some of us have so many voices in our heads, we could hold group therapy by ourselves,” said Rokelle Lerner, a popular speaker and trainer on relationships, women’s issues, and addicted family systems.
This internal chorus is often composed of voices from our family of origin, voices of critical [...]

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