Fornits

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An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

Does anyone here practice Taoism?  I have a rudimentary understanding and interest that was renewed when I read James Frey's memoir A Million Little Pieces recently.  At 23, Mr. Frey underwent treatment for alcohol and crack addiction.  He never bought into the Twelve Steps, basically because he's an Atheist and does not believe in any sort of Higher Power.  He did, however, find a small book called Tao Te Ching, given to him by his brother, immensely helpful.  I wish I had Frey's book with me so that I could quote him, but I don't...  Basically, he appreciates the Tao Te Ching because, unlike AA-/NA-/step-related literature, it doesn't tell you what to believe and how to act...  Instead, its simple words are there for you to take or leave as you see fit.

Taoism: a Chinese mystical philosophy traditionally founded by Lao-tzu in the 6th century B.C. that teaches conformity to the Tao by unassertive action and simplicity

Tao: the process of nature by which all things change and which is to be followed for a life of harmony

English translations of the Tao Te Ching can be found at http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/ ... c-list.htm

Here is Chapter 52 of the Tao Te Ching, "Returning to the Source", as translated by Stan Rosenthal:

"The virtue of Tao governs its natural way.
Thus, he who is at one with it,
is one with everything which lives,
having freedom from the fear of death.

Boasting, and hurrying hither and thither,
destroy the enjoyment of a peace filled life.

Life is more fulfilled by far,
for he who does not have desire,
for he does not have desire,
has no need of boasting.

Learn to see the insignificant and small,
grow in wisdom and develop insight,
that which is irrevocable,
do not try to fight,
and so be saved from harm."

Any thoughts???
Mindi

http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com

 ::cheers::

Has anyone read this book?  It's the author's memoir of the weeks he spent in Hazelden, an inpatient treatment center in Minnesota, recovering from alcohol and crack addiction.

Hazelden claims to be the world's most successful rehab.  They base this claim on the fact that 17% of their graduates do not relapse within one year after leaving treatment.  They base their program on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous.

James Frey never bought into the Twelve Steps, basically because he's an Atheist and does not believe in any sort of Higher Power (although he did perform what I consider to be thorough 1st, 4th, and 5th steps while he was in treatment).

Over a decade later, James Frey has never relapsed.

Some interesting passages from the book:

"If you do what the [Alcoholics Anonymous 'Big Book'] says, you will be cured.  If you follow their righteous path, that path will lead you straight to redemption.  If you join the club, you're the lucky winner of a lifelong supply of bullshit Meetings full of whining, complaining and blaming...
Near the end [of the 'Big Book'], there is a section of testimonials...  As with most testimonials like this that I've read or heard or been forced to endure, something about them strikes me as weak, hollow and empty.  Though the people in them are no longer drinking and doing drugs, they're still living with the obsession.  Though they have achieved sobriety, their lives are based on the avoidance, discussion and vilification of the chemicals they once needed and loved.  Though they function as human beings, they function because of their Meetings and their Dogma and their God.  Take away their Meetings and their Dogma and they have nothing.  Take them away and they are back where they started.  They have an addiction."

"When [a recovering alcoholic] talks of God and of his trust in his almighty male God, his eyes glaze over.  It is a glaze I know and have seen many times before, usually when someone is fucked out of their skull on strong, hard drugs.  His God has become his drug and he is high, high as a Motherfucking kite, and he rants and raves, paces back and forth, God this and God that, blah blah blah.  If I was closer to him or if I could get at him, I would punch him in the mouth just to make him shut the fuck up."

(Yes, the whole book is raw like this.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and consider it a mostly honest, often harrowing, visceral portrait of addiction and recovery.)

Although I'm not an Atheist (I'm an Agnostic), I share the author's views on AA, NA, and step-based treatment programs in general: they do not 'cure' addiction; they merely replace one dependency (drugs, alcohol) with another (meetings, God).

I left Straight for good when I realized what a sick place it was.

I went to AA for a while.

I left AA for good when I realized what a sick place it was.

I'm interested in hearing what other people think about this book and/or its authors (and my) views on step-based treatment programs.

~ Mindi M.

[ This Message was edited by: Antigen on 2004-02-22 09:00 ][ This Message was edited by: Eudora on 2006-02-25 10:01 ]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is AARC?

My name is Mindi.  I was in the Springfield, VA Straight from March 1990 - June 1991.  Fortunately, I missed out on most of the physical abuse that eventually led to the relocation of that particular Straight from Springfield, VA to Columbia, MD, and later to close altogether.  Unfortunately, I did not miss out on the psychological abuse that only helped to lower my already abysmal self-esteem -- a low self-esteem that was not a symptom of my adolescent alcohol and drug abuse, but a cause.  Perhaps worst of all, Straight drove me to deliver some physical and psychological abuse to others in desparate attempts to escape the place.

I am now 28 years old.  After years of self-medication slowly replaced by ongoing professional therapy for major depression -- a serious mental condition that Straight, among other institutions this "problem child" was consigned to, either overlooked or chose to ignore -- I feel like I am a (relatively) well-adjusted adult.  Perhaps this is why I have finally gone in search of other people like me, and hopefully some people I knew -- to see how they are doing, say "I'm sorry" to some, and "Hey, let's get together" to others.

I'm not sure if I will be checking this forum regularly (getting the job done at work and at home doesn't always leave time for the Internet), but I am selecting the option "Notify by email when replies are posted".  If you are a Straight survivor -- particularly of the Springfield, VA Straight in the early 1990's -- please feel free to reply to this post.  I'd like to hear from you.