10 REASONS WE FAIL

10 REASONS WE FAIL
I’m always interested in reading what my friend and cohort Patrick Meninga has to say at Spiritual River (www.spiritualriver.com). In Patrick, I have found a kindred spirit when in comes to wanting to improve the rate of recovery among the addicted. There are good programs that work; however success rates are far too low and if we can build positively from what is currently there, so much the better. I can attest, through my own experience, higher success rates are possible!
In this article, Patrick puts forward the Top 10 reasons people fail. I do not always agree with him and welcome your thoughts! See the quote at the end of this post, and share why failure rates are as quoted.
While this article is addiction specific, the same thinking applies to most people struggling with life.
10. They do not take direction from others about how to solve their problem. (KB-that is why I screen clients)
9. They suffer from low self esteem and do not feel that they deserve to be clean and sober.
8. They do not prioritize their recovery as being the most important thing in their life when it comes to structuring their day and how they spend their time.
7. They don’t learn how to process and deal with the feelings that they used to medicate with drugs and alcohol.
6. Those that are single get derailed by an intimate relationship with another person in recovery.
5. They believe that the solution is entirely social (as in going to meetings), and therefore do not put in the work on changing themselves on a personal level.
4. They seriously underestimate what is needed to stay clean and sober.
3. They refuse to ask for help and insist on recovering through their own devices.
2. They have not fully surrendered to their addiction.
1. And the number 1 reason that addicts and alcoholics sometimes fail to stay clean in early recovery is: They do not take massive action.
Getting help from others, particularly those who have walked and continue to walk the path is critical. Get help from those trained in massive action and accountability actions. If we can help you find the right road (at no cost) and you are in agreement with a majority of these items and want to really take corrective action, visit www.hopeserenity.ca. We’re here to help. Our mission is to help others achieve THEIR goals.
For those who think that there is only one approach to life recovery that works, please read the following bio excerpt from author Melanie Solomon: It was then that she realized that there had to be another way. Due to her unyielding research of alternatives to AA, and the other 12-step programs, she started uncovering the scientific research that had been going on for over 3 decades, which sadly, most Americans are largely unaware of, such as according to AA's own internal surveys covering a 5-year period, as well as numerous government and independent studies, AA had only a 3-5% success rate for those who even stuck around for a year, and that 93-97% of the treatment centers in the US are still 12-step based! Even though there are many viable, evidence-based alternatives, well accepted and established in other countries, that might better suit the complex and individualized needs of people suffering with substance abuse problems.