First of all we know that the first step to freeing ourselves from the deadly clutches of any and all addictions is to ADMIT that our life is out of control, unmanageable and that we are powerless over what has us by the throat! Our lives have hit the wall and there is no place to go but to seek HELP. Humbling it is. To ask for help. But it is absolutely necessary if we are to free ourselves from the pain of any addiction.
I am speaking from my own experience with that deadly and scary reality that we all know as depression. I finally came to the frightful reality that if I wanted my life back then I would have to do something that I had never done before. I had to admit that I was beat. I had it. My life was a mess and I had created it by gradually drifting away from taking care of my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual life. Just by my admission that my life was in shambles, I realized, begrudgingly, that I had to take full responsibility for cleaning up the mess. And where was I to find that solution to the cancer-like illness which was eating me up with each depressed and hopeless breath?
From Alcoholics Anonymous I found my solution. They told me that my pain was the door that I had to go through if I was ever to find any peace for my troubled life. And so I went through that door which opened me up to hope and belief that there truly was a way the out of the daily mental grind of sadness and despair. It came to me that the fellowship of those using and working the 12 Steps of recovery had all found a home.
“There was a time when we ignored trouble , hoping it would go away. Or, in fear and in depression, we ran from it, but found it was still with us. Often, full of unreason, bitterness, and blame, we fought back. These mistaken attitudes, powered by alcohol, guaranteed the destruction, unless they were altered.
Bill W., continues sharing, “Then came A.A. Here we learned that trouble was really a fact of life for everybody – a fact , that had to be understood and dealt with. Surprisingly, we found that our troubles could under God’s grace, be converted into unimagined blessings.”
“Indeed, that was the essence of A.A. itself: trouble accepted, trouble squarely faced with calm courage, trouble lessened and often transcended. This was the A.A. story, and we became a part of it. Such demonstrations became our stock in trade for the next sufferer.”
Because of my own terrible pain of an insufferable depression I founded a group centered on the 12 Steps and which made these spiritual principles part and parcel of my daily life. This group is aptly called Depressed Anonymous.
Yes, I still have troubles, but now I can help others by sharing my own story of hope and serenity . Even though we may not be alcoholics, we can have a hope that these Steps can help me as well to leave the prison of depression.
For more information about who we are and what we are about please take a look at the menu that appears on the first page of our website Depressed Anonymous.
The Depressed Anonymous Workbook tells us how “Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity.
This improved perception of humility starts another revolutionary change in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have come out of painful ego puncturing. Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to running from pain and problems.
We fled from them as from a plague. We never wanted to deal with the fact of suffering. Then in A.A., we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets. We heard story after story of how humility had brought strength out of weakness. In every case pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It bought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. We began to fear pain less and desire humility more than ever. ”
Are you will to pay the price?
SOURCES: As Bill sees it: The A.A. Way of life…selected writings of A.A.’s co-founder. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc., New York.
The Depressed Anonymous Workbook (2002) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. pg.60-61.
Depressed Anonymous,3rd edition.(2011 Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.
For more literature please VISIT THE STORE. Also note that the HOME STUDY SELF HELP STUDY combo can be purchased together. All purchases can be made online at this site.