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Aug 17, 2012, 04:59 PM
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Member Since: Dec 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,624
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B1D, Sorry I haven't been able to respond sooner, I've wanted to but whaddya know, my son was on a 5150 hold and hell was breaking loose. But I like your post and want to tell you why. I have experience with AA and Alanon, and understand how it could be a controversial subject. They're often considered associated with religion. But they're not really, it's just that often times the free space they find to use for meetings happens to be at churches. That actually kept me from going for years, because honestly I'm more aligned with Pagan beliefs, among many others I like bits from most religions. (Anyone want to see a really brain washing program - take a look at Narcanon - run by the L. Ron Hubbard folks)
Anyway, since I know the 12 steps through Alanon, I liked how you adapted them to help you with your bp. And I felt like you're opening up and sharing something that has helped you. Never saw it as you trying to tell others how to be.
Someone had asked if alcoholism is hereditary like bp, and yes it is. If you've ever cared about someone struggling with that, you can tell they never thought it would turn into such a struggle of life and death, they never set out to ruin their lives and everyone's around them.
The minute we start judging alcoholics, like they chose it rather than being born with it, that is the minute we've become just as bad or worse than those people out there that judge us for having bp. My son's social worker told me she sees insurance companies refuse coverage when they think it's drugs/alcohol related, when in fact, most people with those addictions have a mental illness underlying, and need the treatment.
Enough about alcohol... Since it's become a group discussion, I have some responses about the steps below. I do hope I'm humbly approaching...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bipolar1Disorder
1. Admitting Powerlessness over the insanity of our Bipolarity that our lives had become unmanageable. This is just considered the 1st step, we all were most likely at this point at 1 time. The time when we realized we have bp, or were given the dx. And at that time, we sought out help, or were forced to be hospitalized, but things weren't going well, something was up. I think it means we accepted that this is our brain chemistry and it's not going to be going away any time soon. It's just one point in time, the 1st step toward healing.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves (medications, doctors, families, support team and friends) could restore us to sanity. information, research, self-help?
3. Made a decision to turn our wills and lives over to the care of a Power greater than ourselves as we understand it. This is the one where you choose your personal higher power, higher self, deities, none, etc.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to our Higher Power to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our illness. The part about "and another human being" to my understanding just means, you reach out and speak your truth. Kind of like how a forum like this or a room of anonymous people, just sharing about yourself can be very healing.
6. Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove our illness. I'm not at this step yet, lol. I think I have to believe it would be possible first...
7. Humbly asked our Higher Power to remove our illness.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and become willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when we are sick promptly seek help.
11. Sought through therapy and medications to improve our conscious sanity as we understand it. You made a cute play on words with this one. The Alanon one is "sought through prayer and meditation". Meditation always an awesome tool imho.
12. Having had a conscious awakening as a result of these steps, we try to carry this message to other Bipolar people and to practice these principles in all our affairs. This doesn't mean trying to seek out and convert people by force. These are very private issues. I take this one to mean that, if someone happened to come to me for advice, I would possibly have some experience from all the soul searching, and hopefully be able to help another human who is suffering.
That's all... oh well... actually, I'll share this: since this cps lady told me i needed to attend alanon (which I was already attending on my own) and get a sponsor and work the steps recently, i havent gone to a meeting for a few weeks now. She kind of ruined it for me, telling me how to be in my spiritual path. fricking cps... ok i'm done now.
I keep these 12 Steps To Bipolar In-Order pinned up on my wall. |
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