From: slaac@yahoo.com (Rev. Lemuel Atom)
Newsgroups: alt.slack
Date: Sun, Oct 6, 2002
As Mr. Zevon so eloquently put it.
And even the dots on the wall admit that they aren't up to the task.
So now I shall and must consider the option of other intervention, to wit: a 12-step program.
I would be humbly grateful to any of you slackeroos that have had experience with AA or NA or any-other-A to share your experiences and impressions of the efficacy of these types of programs.
Feel free to respond privately or laugh and lambast in dis ere group. I don't care, cuz my shit's fucked up.
Thanks.
RLA
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From: Joe Cosby <joecosby@SPAMBLOCKmindspring.com>
I'm sorry to hear it, man. You don't need to apologize. When you get to the point where it's going out of control, it's time to do something about it.
When life isn't fun anymore, something is wrong.
I've known people who have been going completely to pieces, and their minds were going to pieces. I mean, right in front of your eyes. You could see that the path into their brain was just starting to misconnect and they were having a hard time just keeping the basic thing together. Good people, smart people, people I liked.
Most of them went into one of the any-other-A programs, and the ones that did were able to get themselves back together in a way which made their lives good things to live again.
I wish you luck. There's no gaurantees. If you want help, get help. Seeking friends going through the same thing is just a good idea. In the end though, it is completely up to you.
SEE how your life could be, and see how you want it to be.
And don't lose that.
And you will get there.
--
Joe Cosby
http://joecosby.home.mindspring.com
The secret to flying is actually quite simple. Just
throw yourself at the ground as
hard as you can, and miss.
- Douglas Adams
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From: "Rev. C.M. Sasquatch" <chlorpromazine@hotmail.com>
[Responding to Rev. Lemuel Atom]
What are you addicted to?
I know that SAMHSA is a conspiracy government agency, but they have a treatment facility locator at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/facilitylocatordoc.htm
AA, NA, and CA are all pretty legitimate and free. Go to some open meetings, and choose which one that you're most comfortable with. After you find a home group, find a sponsor with good sober/clean time.
Beware: Some people that are in AA and NA are really fucking into it. I mean that there are some damn AA/NA fanatics. Also NA takes all comers, but some AA groups are pretty alcohol specific and don't like drug addicts to show up.
If I knew what your problem was, I'd be able to help
steer you in one direction or the other. If you don't
want to post it, feel free to reply by e-mail.
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From: glassgnost <dlindnerSPAMBLOCKED@socal.rr.com>
[to Rev. Lemuel Atom]
Well, first and foremost, be aware that you *will* be joining a cult. It may be a benevolent cult, but it's a cult nonetheless, with all the usual control mechanisms etc. Plan on interaction with the group taking up ALL of your time for at least the next 90 days, and most of it for the next year or so.
The benevolance level of the particular group will be secondary in impact to your life relative to the benevolance (or lack therof) of the person you choose as your Sponsor. I've seen some pretty sick shit inflicted by Sponsors on their "babies". Many groups pile a shitload of pressure on the newbies to get sponsors, but TAKE YOUR TIME. And don't be afraid to tell a sponsor to fuck off if he/she gets abusive. There's plenty out there.
Remember, if you take a drunk asshole and get him sober, you're still dealing with an asshole.
Ultimately, your success in dealing with whatever you're dealing with is in your hands. A support group can help, but it's just that - support.
--
Mystical Reverend Doktor glassgnost, Minister of Unnatural
Selection
-- dlindner (at) socal (dot) rr (dot) com --
Eternal Salvation or Triple Your Money Back!
http://www.subgenius.com ...or kill me!
A wise person makes his own decisions, a weak one obeys
public opinion.
-- Chinese proverb
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From: William Barwell <wbarwell@mylinuxisp.munged.com>
[to Rev. Lemuel Atom]
I would suggest you check around the various Atheist news sites for a secular drug and alcohol type group, there are several nationwide that have very good success rates. The problem with AA is they can be quite cult-like in many ways and you may end up changing one addictive behavior for another.
--
Cheerful Charlie
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From: Artemia Salina <y2k@sheayright.com>
Rev. Lemuel Atom wrote:
> So now I shall and must consider the option of
other intervention, to
> wit: a 12-step program.
Are you talking about drinking? If so, have you tried going it alone yet? I don't know if I'm an alcoholic or not. I do know that at one point in my life I would get drunk at every opportunity and honestly believed that things would continue like that until it killed me.
I was able to get away from drinking on my own, but it took an event that was important enough to me to try. That would've been the birth of my niece; I just couldn't tolerate the idea of her growing up with an alcoholic uncle. Or, to be more honest, I didn't want to BE an alcoholic uncle to her.
I couple of things I've discovered are that, for one, it wasn't really as hard to give up drinking as I had thought it would be (smoking is infinitely harder and I haven't managed to quit yet). And two, I have no desire to drink at all now, however, if I DO drink even a beer I can't stop until I'm completely shit-faced. The urge is completely irresistable once I've gotten that 'tickle'. My not being able to drink makes things very awkward for those around me who CAN drink in moderation, and so, good friends who understand me aside, I've had to move away from the circle of people I used to hang with. Giving up drinking was more of a change of lifestyle for me than it was overcoming an addiction like nicotine or heroine. The thing is, I know that the weakness is still there, and so I avoid drinking entirely.
Good luck with it.
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From: "Reverend Farrago" <farragonospam@attbi.com>
[to Rev. Lemuel Atom]
Someone very close to me recently went through what you are going through. If you can take the time from work and you either have the funds or the insurance, you should go for inpatient treatment. You can get a thorough and proper brain washing that will help you through the tough times. There are a number of different types of centers and some seem like they are probably less effective than others. It's worth while to do your homework. If you live in the NW, I suggest Sundown M Ranch (http://www.sundown.org/). They are pretty hard-core, but they take you to the fifth step, which a lot of other programs don't do. Be warned that the 12 steps are really god heavy, which I personally would have a really hard time with.
Here is an interesting article about 12 step program pros and cons:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12167
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From: John Starrett <jstarret@carbon.cudenver.edu>
[to Rev. Lemuel Atom]
My stepson is an addict, and he has been clean for almost four years now. He got clean in a residential treatment program in California, and has kept clean by the fellowship of NA and AA meetings in Denver. Good luck.
--
John Starrett
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From: "Rev. Ivan Stang" <stang@subgenius.com>
[to Rev. Lemuel Atom]
I already emailed you with my meager suggestions combined with heap of sympathy.
But... ain't it funny how, first, you're looking for some good shit so *you* can *get* fucked up, but in the end, it's *your very shit* that's fucked up. I HATE that.
--
4th Stangian Orthodox MegaFisTemple Lodge of the Wrath
of Dobbs Yeti,
Resurrected (Rev. Ivan Stang, prop.)
P.O. Box 181417, Cleveland, OH 44118 (fax 216-320-9528)
A subsidiary of:
The SubGenius Foundation, Inc. / P.O. Box 204206, Austin,
TX 78720-4206
Dobbs-Approved Authorized Commercial Outreach of The
Church of the SubGenius
SubSITE: http://www.subgenius.com
For SubGenius Biz & Orders: call toll free to 1-888-669-2323
or email: jesus@subgenius.com
PRABOB
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From: El Queso <the_cheese_23@yahoo.com>
I don't have too much to say, just good luck, and if you get treatment in a program - stay away from Narconon (NOT N.A.) - they are just a front for Scientology. Nobody wants to trade problems for idiotic slavery.
Cheers,
Queso
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From: slaac@yahoo.com (Rev. Lemuel Atom)
glassgnost <dlindnerSPAMBLOCKED@socal.rr.com> wrote...
> The benevolance level of the particular group will
be secondary in impact
> to your life relative to the benevolance (or lack
therof) of the person
> you choose as your Sponsor. I've seen some pretty
sick shit inflicted by
> Sponsors on their "babies".
Such as?
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From: glassgnost <dlindnerSPAMBLOCKED@socal.rr.com>
I recall one guy who did a *serious* mindfuck on one of his "babies" who wanted to take a truly sweet job offered to him out of state, just because the kid would've had to join another group if he moved. I also recall one sponsor "arm-twisting" a kid into not attending a funeral for an immediate family member because the kid was in the 90 meetings in 90 days phase, and would have had to skip a meeting on that day had he gone.
In short, fanatics on power trips. Newbies tend to be rather vulnerable in the first place, and the more radical groups teach their members to regard their sponsor *as* god, in my experience.
I personally walked away from A.A. in disgust with eight years of continuous sobriety behind me (I quite literally began to get physically ill when I stepped into a meeting room), and remained stone-cold sober for a total of fourteen years.
I *have* been engaging in periodic social drinking for the last eight years, with no apparent ill-effect whatsoever. Either it's a *miracle*, I hadn't *really* pickled myself in the first place, or I just grew up a bit and got over it. To this day, alcohol has little attraction for me.
Here's an site worth a visit IMO:
http://www.aadeprogramming.com
And on a related note, here's another eye-opener:
http://www.geocities.com/ageorange/orange-cult_a1.html#ca_only_way
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From: bjorntoluz@aol.com (Bjorntoluz)
Many companies now offer an Employee Assistance Program with referrals to appropriate programs. Your health insurance may also provide benefits.
Breaking the habit is a tough nut. I wish you well.
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From: tylermasse@cs.com (Durden)
I think the church should start a "Bob"-approved
13 step program.
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From: "Rev. Ivan Stang" <stang@subgenius.com>
Durden <tylermasse@cs.com> wrote:
> I think the church should start a "Bob"-approved 13 step program.
That 13th step (-- straight off the wagon, head first,
with no net) is the one that keeps 'em coming back
for more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Rev. Ivan Stang" <stang@subgenius.com>
Rev. Lemuel Atom <slaac@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ladies, Fish, and Gentlemen,
> Hey, thanks a LOT for the support and feedback
regarding this brutal
> and unpleasant realization. I'm still trying to
come to grips with the
> fact that I've been exhibiting addictive behavior
for years with 1)
> pot, 2) alcohol, and 3) whatever else I could get
my mitts on. No fun
> realizing the party's over, but then again it hasn't
been all that
> much fun overall for the last couple of years anyway.
> I'm not really digging the idea of dealing with
a 12-step program, but
> at least I know a little bit about what to expect,
so that makes it
> easier. Plus, I've been involved with this Church
for over a decade
> now, and I'd like to think that I can spot a mindfuck
from a good way
> off, and deal with it accordingly.
> I was truly touched by the concern exhibited by
a group of strangers
> who only know me via the occasional dumb-ass rant
I post here. Proof
> positive that THIS is the only brainwash cult for
me - shit, you guys
> seemed more concerned that a lot of my so-called
friends.
> I see nothing wrong in designating "Bob"
as the higher power I will
> henceforth defer to in order to clean up my life.
Besides, it says
> right there in the Book: "You can get off
drugs and on "Bob", or get
> of on drugs WITH "Bob".
If you get on "Bob" be sure to wear a THICK rubber.
I have a "big" stash of porn on CDR, if that'll
help avoid "Bob". By "big" I mean
it's mostly plumpers.
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From: slaac@yahoo.com (Rev. Lemuel Atom)
Awright! Now you're talking RECOVERY. Besides, they're all Pink on the inside, right?
RLA
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