FEAR = Failure Expected And Received
FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real
FEAR = False Expectations Appearing Real
FEAR = Fear Expressed Allows Relief
FEAR = Feelings Every Alcoholic Rejects
FEAR = Fighting Ego Against Reality
FEAR = Forget Everything and Run
FEAR = Face Everything and Recover
FEAR = Frantic Efforts to Appear Recovered

Replace Fear with Faith;

FAITH = Fear Ain’t In This House

Fine (once again, replace with appropriate expletives if needed)

FINE = Faithful, Involved, knowledgeable and Experienced
FINE = Feeling Insecure, Numb and Empty
FINE = Frantic, Insane, Nuts and Egotistical
FINE = Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional
FINE = Frustrated, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional

A Sober, Clean Evening To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

A Couple Of Acronyms For You

Nicotine Anonymous

What Is Nicotine Anonymous?

Nicotine Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women helping each other to live our lives free of nicotine. We share our experience, strength and hope with each other so that we may be free from this powerful addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using nicotine. There are no dues or fees for Nicotine Anonymous membership; we are self supporting through our own contributions. Nicotine Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Our primary purpose is to offer support to those who are trying to gain freedom from nicotine.

This is from The Serenity Prayer for Nicotine Users;

“Remember, it is not really the stress, frustration or even the craving that causes us to keep using nicotine again, but rather our lack of serenity and courage to deal with the craving. Help comes from your Higher Power, from the group, and from your own healthy inner self! May God be with you now!”

This will grab your senses!

What Is Nicotine?
According to the American Lung Association:

• Nicotine is a poison used as an insecticide.

• When inhaled, nicotine gets to a person’s brain in seven seconds, twice as fast as intravenous drugs.

• Nicotine affects the brain and central nervous system. It changes the level of neurotransmitters and chemicals that regulate mood, learning, alertness, and ability to concentrate.

• Nicotine increases the heart rate, but it constricts the blood vessels, which reduces circulation.

• Nicotine can act like a stimulant or a sedative, depending on the level of nicotine in the body and time of day. Smoking also causes the release of endorphins, which create a tranquilizing effect.

• A tolerance for nicotine begins to develop with the first dose. Therefore, the level of use must increase to maintain its effects and to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Did You Know?

“. . . while the odds on those trying crack or alcohol becoming addicts are 1 in 6 and 1 in 10 respectively, they’re 9 in 10 for cigarette smokers,” reports the chief of clinical pharmacology, National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“. . . Scientists have found, for instance, that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, and for most people more addictive than alcohol,” states the article “Nicotine, Harder to Kick than Heroin,” published in the New York Times Magazine.

Did You Also Know?

Smoking Might Cause Baldness?

Please check out the sidebar here and click through to the other Science and Health Blogs. These folks have done a wonderful job of posting some interesting facts and thoughts about smoking.

A Sober, Clean Day To All!

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Helping You Quit

SOBRIETY VERSION of the 23rd PSALM

THE LORD IS MY SPONSOR, I shall not want.

He maketh me to go to many meetings. He leadeth me to sit back and relax and listen with an open mind. He restoreth my sanity and health.

He leadeth me in paths of sobriety and fellowship for my own sake. He teacheth me to think, to take it easy, to live and let live, and to do first things first. He maketh me desire to be honest, humble and grateful. He teacheth me to accept the things I cannot change, to change things I can and giveth me the wisdom to know the difference.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of despair, frustration, guilt and remorse, I will feel no evil – for Thou art with me – The A.A. program, the new way of life, the Twelve Steps – they comfort me. Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies – rationalization, fear, anxiety, self-pity, and resentment. Thou annointeth my confused mind and jangled nerves with knowledge, understanding, hope and love. No longer am I alone – neither am I afraid, sick, hopeless and helpless.

Surely sobriety, sanity, and serenity shall follow me every day of my life – twenty-four hours at a time, as I surrender my will to Thee and carry the message to others. I will dwell in the house of my Higher Power, as I understand Him, daily, — forever and ever. AMEN

Thanks Dallas!

Post from: Blisstree

SOBRIETY VERSION of the 23rd PSALM

From pg. 160 in The 12 and 12 – “Everybody knows that active alcoholics scream that they have no troubles money can’t cure.”

From page 58 in The Big Book – “We thought we could find an easier, softer way.”

Put those two together and you might find;

Pointed to by Successful Treatment Of Alcoholism Found In The Doctor’s Office (Science Daily) at “Treatment Of Alcoholism” the results of the “largest clinical trial ever conducted on drug and therapy interventions for alcoholism.”

(warning – personal sarcasm ahead)

Treatment Of Alcoholism then points to the article on the trial at Science Daily which, from a short read, is identical (or almost identical) to this article from Brown Univ.

I’m not one who would profess disagreement with anyone looking to help with the fight against these killer diseases, nor will I be one who professes that AA is the only way! AA does NOT (IMHO) have a corner on the market of recovery.

BUT – I read through both of these articles and, perhaps because they’re about identical and I learn from repetition, I notice something towards the end. It says;

“To encourage the use of medical management, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will include an abbreviated version of the protocol in its Clinician’s Guide, which the institute expects to release in early summer. The COMBINE team, meanwhile, is conducting a cost-benefit analysis on medical management with either naltrexone or CBI and will also study DNA samples from trial participants to try and better understand the role genes may play in predicting responses to drugs or therapy.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism funded the research.”

Medical Management??? Doesn’t medical management = spend money on Doctors? Oh, that’s right, I forgot – “no troubles money can’t cure.” The easier, softer way.

What do you think you can “get” for a buck?

A meeting…

Post from: Blisstree

For A Buck?

We use the Twelve Step Recovery Program, because it has already been proven that the Twelve Step Recovery Program works.

Cocaine Anonymous Home Page

Post from: Blisstree

Cocaine Anonymous

That’s the title of today’s Daily Reflection. Do you feel as if you’re a prisoner of your past? Do you feel as if there is just no way possible to extract yourself from the guilt and the shame of your insane actions? You know deep down inside that whatever God you think you believe in, will never, ever, forgive you for what you’ve done? It’s hopeless – right? Wrong.

Please listen to this;

Cling to the thought that, in God’s hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have – the key to life and happiness for others. With it you can avert death and misery for them.

From The Big Book, pg. 124

“No longer is my past an autobiography; it is a reference book to be taken down, opened and shared. Today as I report for duty, the most wonderful picture comes through. For, though this day be dark – as some days must be – the stars will shine even brighter later. My witness that they do shine will be called for in the very near future. All my past will this day be a part of me, because it is the key, not the lock.”

********************************************

Is Guilt Standing In The Way Of Your Recovery?

There are a few excellent tips towards the end of this article from Father Martin about letting go of your guilt. IT IS POSSIBLE!

********************************************

There’s also a very loud “hint” in the reflection! Focus on others. How can you help? Be useful to your fellow sufferer. Pass your experience on so others may learn. Be A Witness…

A Sober, Clean Day To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Lighting The Dark Past

“Spiritual?”

Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they might mean to you.

From other members;

“Yes, I began with blind faith, but the proof of truth is that it works.”

“I learned in the Fellowship that if others could accept me and love me as I was, then I should love myself as I was – not for what I was, but for what I could become.”

Spirituality is “freedom – if you consider fear slavery. Peace of mind in the face of adversity. Gratitude for every happenstance of the past that brought you to a moment of justice. Patience in the face of stupidity. Feeling that you want to knock somebody’s head off – and walking away instead. Seeing a caterpillar turn into a butterfly.”

When people look at you and wonder what’s with you, the look in your eyes will answer them: “Because I can cut it!”

A Sober, Clean Day To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Spiritual?

From a thread titled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” , a cool statement for anyone who may be concerned whether or not they have a drinking problem from member wareagle10.

You’ve Got Two Choices

“As far as you drinking is concerned, you are either an alcoholic or you are not an alcoholic.

If you are not an alcoholic, then you don’t have anything to worry about. But if you are an alcoholic, then you have two things to worry about; you will either have to do something about your drinking or do nothing about your drinking.

If you do something about your drinking like joining AA and becoming active, then you won’t have anything to worry about. But if you don’t do something about your drinking, then you will have two things to worry about; you will either go insane or you will die.

If you go insane, you won’t have anything to worry about. But if you die, then you will have two things to worry about; you will either go to Heaven or Hell.

If you go to Heaven, then you won’t have anything to worry about. If you go to hell, then you will only have ONE BIG THING to worry about; where in Hell can I get a DRINK…”

A Sober, Clean Evening To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Two Choices…

I wonder how many know that the Circle and Triangle symbol, seen in so many places, is not trademarked by AA.

Anonpress.org is an extensive AA resource and has a list of FAQ’s at their site. Someone asked “Why did AA stop using the circle and triangle symbol?”

Because;

“What happened was that after many years of using the symbol and claiming it as a trademark, AA World Service tried to stop non-AA companies from using it on things like anniversary chips.

In this process they learned that the symbol had been in wide spread use, even in temperance societies, well before AA existed. Because of that AA never had a legitimate claim to ownership of the symbol and stopped using it.

You can read more about this at this link.”

At “this link” we find a fellow named “Barefoot” (hey – what do I know?) who details how it was discovered that AA didn’t have a trademark on the Circle and Triangle.

Barefoot also tells us “The circle and triangle is not ‘banned by A.A.,’ just discontinued since 1993 as a trademark.”

Post from: Blisstree

The Circle And Triangle Symbol

Without being direct, trying to avoid being confrontational and, having had similar experiences, I have a motivation, an agenda for quoting this particular writing. My feelings were influenced this morning by a comment made during the evening that I don’t understand at this moment. I don’t understand why someone has a need to use words like “terrifies” in response to something I wrote. I don’t understand why someone has a need to apparently accuse me of conducting a lifelong investigation into their life when I’ve never met or spoken or communicated with this person in any way, shape, or form.

One additional principle – for newcomers/beginners to recovery. We are FREE today! Within reasonable, mature boundaries we can be ourselves and say what we think, in respectful ways. The guilt of our shameful actions is no longer. We don’t have to immediately react without any thought process. We can sit back, think it through and respond appropriately (perhaps).

A sub-title for this post could be “Those that judge don’t matter, those that matter don’t judge.”

From the book;

“But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most. We have been especially stupid and stubborn about them. The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being. Our egomania digs two disastrous pitfalls. Either we insist upon dominating the people we know, or we depend upon them far too much. If we lean too heavily on people, they will sooner or later fail us, for they are human, too, and cannot possibly meet our incessant demands. In this way our insecurity grows and festers. When we habitually try to manipulate others to our own willful desires, they revolt, and resist us heavily. Then we develop hurt feelings, a sense of persecution, and a desire to retaliate. As we redouble our efforts at control, and continue to fail, our suffering becomes acute and constant. We have not once sought to be one in a family, to be a friend among friends, to be a worker among workers, to be a useful member of society. Always we tried to struggle to the top of the heap, or to hide underneath it. This self-centered behavior blocked a partnership relation with any one of those about us. Of true brotherhood we had small comprehension.

I believe the answers are in the books. And, yes, my sponsor talked with me at length about this also

A Sober, Clean Day To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Of True Brotherhood We Had Small Comprehension