Posted on 10/12/2003 3:36:11 PM PDT by Lazamataz
I want to know if there is a need for a 12-step thread on Free Republic, every day (like Word for the Day)?
Many people, myself included, were emboldened by Rush Limbaugh's public confession of addiction. I myself admitted that I am a recovering cocaine addict with almost one year of sobriety (Thank G-d and Narcotics Anonymous for that). There are many others who I feel might benefit from such an ongoing, daily thread.
I'd be willing to host it daily, like RikaStrom hosts Word-For-The-Day. It would necessarily be located in General Interest (chat). Some days when I was rather busy, I might not be able to do more than start this thread, but other days I'd be involved in it closely.
Moderators, could you leave this up in News for a while? I want maximum exposure to the largest possible FR public.
I dropped 20 pounds last year by greatly reducing my carb consumption. I wasn't really overweight (6'2" 225 then, now I'm 200-205) but my lifestyle had become more sedentary and I knew I simply couldn't keep eating as I had. To make a long story short, I was miserable for a week. I went to bed at 8:00PM because I was so hungry and in such a bad mood, but once the initial withdrawal passed it was easy to adopt the new lifestyle.
It sure gave me an appreciation for how difficult it must be to stop the use of nicotine, alcohol or harder drugs. Laz, I say go for it. I think this is a great idea. And if anyone used the info revealed on the thread as flame material elsewhere, I'd call for them to be banned permanently.
.
Good luck with it!
I hate you.
brb
Absolutely. Honest and frank discussion is always a good thing.
Hey Pan_Yans wife, let me ask you a question. You saw me at the support the troops rally in centennial park, and we've posted a few times back and forth. Does what I posted in #67 change how you perceive me as a person?
I give you a ton of credit, Laz, for the idea and for sharing your info. :-)
JMHO, but it would concern me conducting "open" meetings on FR where personalities definitely seem to over rule most "princples" even if being posted behind an anonymous "nick-name." Besides I am not sure doing so would be within the constraints JR established and trys to maintain on "this" forum.
Congratulations!!! 208! That is awesome.
But the diet doesn't work long term you know. Hah! (Been basically on it for 7 years!)
As an aside one of the original founders of AA, Bill Wilson suffered from long term depression that the 12 step program helped but didn't lift. The man was a genius, lawyer, stock broker, professional golfer and he started one of the most influential self help programs of modern times. The 12 Steps of AA. But he couldn't beat his depression. Well he started looking around AA and noticed the behaviors that addicted people engage in. Smoking, coffee, and massive carb consumption. He reasoned that these behaviors were substitutes for alcohol. He came up with the then Radical idea of limiting sugars and starches and taking megadoses of niacin. As an aside Bill Wilson was the person who actually named Niacin vitamin B3! To make a long story short he beat his lifelong battle with depression. He, using his weight with AA, wrote a second communication to doctors outlining a treatment method for alcoholism using a low carb diet and Niacin. It worked for hm and many others! After his death there was a battle within AA over the document and it was pulled as outside the traditions.
Just an interesting story about one of the greatest geniuses of our time. The 12 steps and 12 traditions is one of the most awesome spiritual books ever written. As to the Big Book it is copied in hundreds of 12 step groups and hundreds of languages. He was a God touched individual!
We've had enough "cathartic" and "true confession" threads lately on this forum. I don't come here for the agony stuff and Dr. Dino advice.
Plus, a regular thread like you propose would open us up to all kinds of charges that we're riddled with a bunch of druggos. Read Jim's purpose for starting Free Republic.
While I commend any one who's kicked a bad habit, there's a million other places that folks can go to for help.
Perhaps by freepmail you could help any freepers who are battling their own demons and may want to benefit from your personal experience and advice.
Leni
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.