On 2004-12-03 19:35:00, velvet2000 wrote:
"I was denied access to a lawyer or any other outside help. I was not court ordered or given any form of trial. I was denied access to mail, email, or telephone and had no way of accessing any outside help. I was not allowed to physically leave the building, and those who tried to walk out of the building or host homes were physically restrained (usually by having everyone present sit on the person). I was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. Such acts of this punishment would be:
Being kept isolated from society and loved ones.
Denial of ability to continue education or work.
Denial of efficient sunlight and exercise.
Denial of proper movement (being forced to sit in only one position with feet flat on the floor and hands straight down aside, unable to move at all)
Being denied water.
Being denied to speak of my religious beliefs, attend religious functions, or read material about my own religion.
Being forced to stand in one place for an extended time period.
Being denied access to doctors while suffering serious illnesses.
Suffering verbal degradation and hostility.
Being denied proper clothing to keep warm outdoors and inside unheated area's of the building.
Denial of time alone, even under supervision.
Being forced to partake in regressional therapy for extended periods of time.
Forcibly being subjected to graphic discussion of sexual abuse, rape, prostitution etc, and being forced to partake in this discussion (as a child).
I list these things because they disobey basic human rights, however they are certainly not the worst things that I witnessed or experienced in AARC.
"
Being kept isolated from society and loved ones.| Did you not see your family Tuesdays and Fridays?--then Every night go home after step 3?
Denial of ability to continue education or work.| On level three you are allowed to?
Denial of efficient sunlight and exercise.| I guess the weight room, pingpong table and handball court never saw any use from you...
Denial of proper movement (being forced to sit in only one position with feet flat on the floor and hands straight down aside, unable to move at all)| Uh huh, simliar to public school... sitting, usually with your feet on the floor, hands on the desk... you poor thing!
Being denied water.| Im sure after the 20th time inside of 5 minutes that you complained for it...someone eventually said "enough is enough"
Being denied to speak of my religious beliefs, attend religious functions, or read material about my own religion.| You weren't denied it, people just didnt want to hear it.
Being forced to stand in one place for an extended time period.| This might seem as a low blow...but is it not better than where you were standing for hours on end BEFORE you went into treatment?
Being denied access to doctors while suffering serious illnesses.| And what would those be?
Suffering verbal degradation and hostility.|Give examples... I am curious... were you being a bitch and someone told you to quit it?
Being denied proper clothing to keep warm outdoors and inside unheated area's of the building.| Why didnt you put on a jacket?
Denial of time alone, even under supervision.| Well God forbid you get enough time alone to commit suicide... we all know no one would EVER do that...
Being forced to partake in regressional therapy for extended periods of time.|You never had to say anything... think about it.
Forcibly being subjected to graphic discussion of sexual abuse, rape, prostitution etc, and being forced to partake in this discussion (as a child). |Is that something you would want to hold on to? Really...
Jess I think you are digging in the dirt to find ANYthing you can to complain about the place.. and rightly so... I guess... I have grievances too, here they are:
1.)Was not able to smoke until level 3
2.)Couldnt phone my ex-girlfriend for phone sex purposes
3.)Wasnt allowed to drink while in treatment
4.)They fed me too well
5.)They worked me through some of the worst things I did/went through in my life
6.)Wouldnt allow me to stay in contact with the people I did drugs with/drank with/kept me sick
7.)Made me have a conscience about the things I did that were hurtful/unethical.
8.)Forced me to reckon with my past
9.)Stopped me from either dying/going to jail
10.)Continuously encouraged me to aim high, do my best at life and succeed.
11.)Gave me the best friends I could ever have
12.)Gave me the ability to stay sober for 8.5 years and help others.
You can go ahead and call me brainwashed... but that in itself would hold no ground... I have been graduated from there for 7 and a bit years... if there was to be any unwashing of my brain...it would have happened by now. Granted that I am likely not the model graduate... I believe in and back that place 110%. Get away from the politics people... Why would I blame any failures that I have encountered in recovery ...on the place that gave me the opportunity to have them in the first place? Hey, I was turned down by the University of Oklahoma for football...damn that aarc place. :roll: the simple fact that I could apply at a div one school was amazing.. When I get finished a science major... if I dont score well on the Mcat.. maybe it will be Aarcs fault too? Yeah, it was a hard program...but it produces quality results, it did for me and it did for a most everyone I can think of that I talk to.
I think a few of you suffer from a condition called "Cranial-Rectal Intisusseption" but don't fret... you are in the company of politicians and trhe ignorant everywhere (regarding the condition)
I will never devote this much typing time to this site ever again... I dont think.
[ This Message was edited by: BigJoshuaP on 2004-12-11 06:41 ]