Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => News Items => Topic started by: Anonymous on June 03, 2003, 04:09:00 AM
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So... I don't understand... and please don't come at me like the enemy here, I'm just here out of interest's sake, I guess. I've been graduated for a few years now but I'm still fairly involved with AARC. I am also happy with the direction my life has taken as the result of a significant turning point in my life which happens to coincide with my treatment at AARC. I don't agree with everything that happens there, nor do I disagree with everything that happens there. These things are besides the point.They are just to let you know my stance on the entire situation. I just want to know, from those of you involved with AARC who feel your rights and your soundness of mind have been violated, where do you stand with your addictions? Are you active members of AA? Do you feel that that part of your life was just a phase or could be conquered through some other means (like therapy, or will power)? Do you feel that your alleged addictions were just another thing suggested to you while you were in a very vulnerable state? If I sound sarcastic I don't mean to, I'm asking these things in all sincerity. I feel for myself very concretely that I was struggling with alcohol and drug abuse, and that my life was suffering serious repercussions as a result. I knew that before I set foot in any sort of treatment facility. But it occurs to me that if I felt there was no reason for me to be there initially, I might be a little ticked that I gave up such a significant amount of time and power to an institution.
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How old wereyou going in?
How much were you drinking and how often? What drugs were you using and how often?
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But it occurs to me that if I felt there was no reason for me to be there initially, I might be a little ticked that I gave up such a significant amount of time and power to an institution.
While you were there, did you have a pretty good idea that some (maybe a lot) of the kids were not drug addicted to begin with? I'm curious because I know that AARC and some AA groups are pretty rigid on the point that any inapropriate use, as determined by whom or by what means I'm not sure, is indisputable proof of morbid addiction.
Personally, I don't but that. I think kids do all kinds of dangerous and stupid things while they're exploring their options and deciding who they'll be. If I had a choice between my daughter smoking a joint and her taking up cigarettes, for example, I would not hesitate a moment to prefer the joint. Either way, it wouldn't be the end of the world. To most Program people, though, that makes me a horrible mother.
To the extent that a society limits its government to policing functions which curb the individuals who engage in aggressive and criminal actions, and conducts its economic affairs on the basis of free and willing exchange, to that extent domestic peace prevails. When a society departs from this norm, its governing class begins, in effect, to make war upon the rest of the nation. A situation is created in which everyone is victimized by everyone else under the fiction of each living at the expense of all.
--Edmund A. Opitz
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No one wants to answer my questions?
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On 2003-06-03 05:03:00, Anonymous wrote:
"How old were you going in?
How much were you drinking and how often? What drugs were you using and how often?"
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From someone with absolutely no use for the 'methods' used in these places, I was 18, I had no real 'addiction' to speak of except for being considered depressed, suicidal, and bulimic, NONE of which I was. In some circles for an 18 year old to be a tad on the morose side is fairly normal, and I like to eat, always have, and after I finally made it out, the vomiting turned out to be an ulcer, not, as most everyone else thought, self inflicted.
Yes, I occasionally drank a beer when out with friends, and I'm aware that's illegal, but some people do have the capacity to drink socially, know personal limits, and stay within them. I drink socially still, but I don't get drunk, and I don't like drunks. I occasionally also partake in other "adult" activities, however again, I'm aware of my limits and stay within them.
No, I'm not currently in AA. At 27, I'm a college graduate, I have a home and a family, I'm fortunate enough to have a good support system now, and although I have faith in higher powers, I don't particularly ascribe to any single organized religion. I consider myself happy and successful, despite the mind fucking I got in years past. I was there 18 months, and it's taken the love of my husband and seeing my son's eyes to help me get over the past, and resolve to not ever put my child through the hell I was placed in.. no matter what good intentions I might have.
Is that a thorough enough answer? Hope so.
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Yeah, thats what I wanted to know.
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I was placed into AARC against my will in August 2002 at the age of 15. I didn't drink except for the occasional glass of wine with my family. In my entire life I have used marajuana less than ten times and acid 3 times. I ran from AARC after five months on step one. I immediately moved to Ontario to live with my father. I still have absolutely no desire to use drugs. My 95% average still won't cleanse my mother's mind of the AARC propaganda.
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I keep putting out questions on this site to those who have direct experience of AARC to contact me directly as I have a lot of questions about the place. Nobody pro-AARC has ever responded to my requests to talk, but I've had some private discussions with those opposed (and building -- but slowly)
So.. for you especially, I have a great idea. It seems your dad is supportive of you, but not your mum.
I'd like to talk to your dad and fill him in with regard to the situation here in Alberta.
Since I'm a divorce lawyer, I'm also curious to know how you escaped the clutches of Alberta.
If you register on this site you (or your dad) can e-mail me a private message and we can get a dialogue going here, that might be of benefit to you and help me in my research into AARC.
::read::
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Hi anonymous, welcome to the board. I hope that your father is being supportive of you and I hope that your mom comes around. You're very lucky to have gotten out so soon (although if you are anything like me it was the longest five months of your life). Your story is important.
Enjoy Ontario.
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You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but because curiosity got that cat I'm interested in knowing how you ran and were able to stay safe?
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Hi lawyer, it's 'curious' again. I'm pro-AARC, although I'm not quick to dismiss what I consider to be unfortunate, valid and inevitable emotional fallout of what can be an effective treatment process. I'll talk to you, if you want.
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On 2003-06-11 19:47:00, Hamiltonf wrote:
"I keep putting out questions on this site to those who have direct experience of AARC to contact me directly as I have a lot of questions about the place. , but I've had some private discussions with those opposed (and building -- but slowly)
So.. for you especially, I have a great idea. It seems your dad is supportive of you, but not your mum.
I'd like to talk to your dad and fill him in with regard to the situation here in Alberta.
Since I'm a divorce lawyer, I'm also curious to know how you escaped the clutches of Alberta.
If you register on this site you (or your dad) can e-mail me a private message and we can get a dialogue going here, that might be of benefit to you and help me in my research into AARC.
::read:: "
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The tragedy of AA is that a person limits his social life to only people involved in AA. Therapy will help addictions! It is hard work but can be done. You can find out that you are not bologically bound or an imperfect person. That there were reasons why you did drugs. There is no gene that made you addictive.
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OK:
To talk to me privately, you will need to go to the left hand side of this page and click on "register" you can then sign up with a Nom de plume if you wish, and then you can send, and receive private messages (click on "private messages" scroll through the list provided till you come to "Hamiltonf" and send me you private meassage. When you do that I will receive a notification when I log on that there is a message waiting for me, and we can start communicating. Sometimes you may have to wait a day or two, but right now I'll check for messages daily.
I look forward to talking to you.
:smile:
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I'm waiting to hear from you...........
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Aaall-right:
I'm still waiting.
you still chicken?
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Listen Racheal, when you were in AARC i saw hope in your eyes. Maybe not to be sober but definitley for a new life. You were sad and you needed help.You cant deny that you saw peoples lives change. i know you saw my life become meaningful and you were proud. How can you say this is PROPAGANDA??? You know that this place has worked in so many peoples lives. You cant deny it Racheal.
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Wow sounds like someone is trying to have a rap here and picking a target. I guess you think that if you tell her enough times that she is wrong and aarc is right then she'll believe it? Or are you trying to convince yourself? You don't seem to be argueing whether or not she blonged there or confessing and "making amends" that it was wrong to lock someone up who was never addicted. You say that she was "sad"? Who wouldn't be sad when locked up against their will for no legitimate reason? I don't understand what you get out of trying to tell a non addicted person that they shouldn't tell their story about being wrongly held hostage by a rehab!
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Well here we go again. If "Racheal" would like this post removed please PM me or post here. I can also provide the necessary information for you and the contact you'll need in order to trace this post. If the post was made by a staff member you can hold them responsible for it.
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On 2003-06-19 16:01:00, Anonymous wrote:
"Wow sounds like someone is trying to have a rap here and picking a target. I guess you think that if you tell her enough times that she is wrong and aarc is right then she'll believe it?
It's sort of funny, isn't it? I mean, it's a little sad too. But also funny in a vindictive sort of way.
See, when you're involved in a cult, emotionally and psychologically, you really do believe that the philosophy and world view make sense. The trouble with trying to make it true for people outside the cult is that we can do things like walk away, seek out opposing views, take a moment to think about it or just decide to think about it later without either accepting or rejecting the idea. When you're inside, these options are not available.
Yeah, the Program changes people. I don't think anyone ever walked away from an intake, no matter the outcome, without having some bit of their world view and/or self concept altered somewhat. The question remains, though, whether or not we were all changed for the better. If you've been brow beaten into accepting the Program view that we were all worthless, pitiful creatures before the hour of intake, then it would seem reasonable that we were all changed for the better. But if you have the time and freedom to examine that premis, it just don't hold water, friend.
WHEN SPIDERS UNITE, THEY CAN TIE DOWN A LION
-- Ethiopian Proverb
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WHEN SPIDERS UNITE, THEY CAN TIE DOWN A LION. That is what AARC is doing with ADDICTION
I was admitted to AARC in the year 2000. That is as specific as I will get. I was admitted against my will just as our friend who ran away after 5 months. Unlike her, I finished the program and have a completely different view of the program because my eyes have been opened wider than hers. I also was present as AARC while she was undergoing her treatment if anyone would like an outside view of what she was like inside. The staff were a bit skeptical of whether she was truly an Alcoholic/Drug addict or not - which is not a regular occurence, (AARC is almost always sure that people are addicted before they are admitted. If they aren't sure, some people are kept for a longer assessment to determine the severity of the addiction over a longer period of time). She was given opportunity after opportunity to be honest as to the extent of her drug use and more importantly the way she felt during those times and was not pushed one way or the other. People simply stated what their stories were and related them to hers. But before AARC could truly assess her condition, she decided to run away. They never heard from her again and apparently she is loving Ontario. Back to me for the statistics. I was in AARC for 13 months before I completed the program. The sad part is that I only used drugs for less than a year and it took more than that to rehabilitate me. At the beginning of my treatment, I did not like the people at AARC nor did I agree with the program. This was not because it was ineffective or abusive but because I was the target and the spotlight was on my life and me which I was very ashamed of. I was ashamed of the things I did to others and to myself because of my addiction. I was such a hurting individual and contemplated killing myself daily but was too scared to carry it out. AARC was not in the wrong. I was angry because for the first time in my life I was forced to look at myself because I was left with nobody else to blame, not even my parents because I wasn't allowed to see them. That was also rightly so because I treated them like absolute crap. However I would have denied that fact when I entered treatment because I was blind and in the denial that only an addict can have. As I moved through the program and looked at myself, I started to feel that freedom. Today I am over 3 years sober because of the kickstart AARC gave me into sobriety. Before I came in to AARC one of my siblings had been in there so I knew what was coming to me if I used a lot of drugs but I couldn't stop because I was horribly addicted. I returned home after 8 months (pretty long by AARC standards) and from there I went hard and cruised through the rest of the program. I love AARC, I love the people, and I am no longer sick like some of the people who are in this forum. You see, sick people cannot see the bigger picture, they can only see the sickness. I have been in both spots, the darkness and the light. I like the light. So many people critisize AARC but it is not to be critisized. Miracles happen there every day. Lives are saved. It's like the Bible, you either believe or you don't and it is hard to switch sides. AARC's program works for the people who use it. For some who don't use it, they tend to fall into their sicknees and start hate forums and things like that. All I know is that I sometimes start to cry when I think about how I used to feel every day and how I feel now. This was partly because of hard work but AARC lead me to this place. I have a job and I am going to College. I have a great relationship with my parents and an AWSOME, BEAUTIFUL girlfriend. I never thought I would have these things because I used to have NOTHING. I used to hate myself. I hope you can all feel the way I do today someday because it is truly the meaning of freedom.
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A five month long assesment to see if she was addicted or not? Does that sound a little strange to you? Putting someone in the developemental stage of the teen years through regressive therapy (over usage of regressive therapy) for five months straight IS to be critisized.
Please just try to step outside of yourself and read your post through the eyes of someone outside of AARC. You're saying that AARC is like the bible and AARC is light and everything outside of it is sick and dark. You also say that life was so dar before aarc and you were so horribly addicted but it was only one year out of your life. I think it's a little early to decide whether or not your addicted when you'd only been drinking or using drugs for one year. Especially considering you are a youth and your life will take many turns from here on. I hate to brake it to you but depression is a normal part of puberty, and unfortunately in this day and age drugs are available for teens to use. Just because you struggled with depression and didn't handle it well as a youth doesn't determine that you'll be on a downward spiral for the rest of your life. It's not a "miracle" for a teenager to change their mood in the course of a couple of years.
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Still nobody has contacted me. -- see earlier posts, this thread.