The Therapeutic Value of the Group

AsideDecember 17, 2015December 17, 2021 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

By Steve K. The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group is a fundamental ‘mechanism of change’ in terms of recovery from addiction. The group provides its members with a supportive social network that promotes sobriety. Participation in the group offers several therapeutic benefits which facilitate and support change for the individual. These therapeutic gains are as follows: […]

Is Addiction A Disease?

AsideNovember 15, 2015September 12, 2021 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

By Steve K. In this essay I will be specifically referring to alcohol and other drug addiction, or severe alcohol/substance use disorder, which is the terminology used in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The medical and scientific community, particularly in the USA, currently views addiction as a […]

Bad Dogma

AsideNovember 12, 2015October 16, 2020 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

By Bill W. “It is an historical fact that practically all groupings of men and women tend to become more dogmatic; their beliefs and practices harden and sometimes freeze. This is a natural and almost inevitable process. All people must, of course, rally to the call of their convictions, and we of AA are no […]

AA Spiritual and Religious

AsideSeptember 23, 2015October 16, 2020 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

By Steve K. It is quite often stated by members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) that the fellowship is “spiritual, not religious.” I do not think that this statement is entirely accurate and would suggest that in a broad sense it can be validly described as both. It can certainly be related to in this way […]

AA Conference-Approved Literature Only

AsideAugust 7, 2015December 18, 2020 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

By Steve K. The term “Conference-approved” relates to literature and audiovisual material that is published by AA World Services, Inc, and has been approved by Conference for this purpose. “The term has no relation to material not published by GSO. It does not imply Conference disapproval of other material about AA. A great deal of […]

Co-Occurring Disorders in Recovery

AsideJuly 6, 2015October 16, 2020 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

By Steve K. I would describe the relationship between mental illness or disorder, and alcohol or other drug dependency, as a strong one. However, it is important not to consider them as the same condition. It is very common for people in recovery from addiction to still suffer from other mental illnesses and disorders. There […]

Synchronicity – Acausal Connecting Principle

June 22, 2015June 12, 2017 Website Author - Steve KLeave a comment

“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.”

Goethe (1794 – 1832)