As my mind began to clear from the nearly 2 decades of addiction, it was immediately replaced with the severe depressions and extreme psychotic manias that defines treatment resistent bipolar 1 disorder and began ruining everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. I have a simple goal of recording my experience of "dual diagnosis" with severe addiction and severe mental illness to identify any statistically significant patterns that are absent from current research and publications. Having survived these issues combine with daily suicidal thoughts since January 14, 2017, I am still here despite the will to live. I am looking to identify the most statistically significant activities that have helped me stay both sober and alive with active suicidal thoughts and severe mental illness since January 14, 2017. If there is any such correlation, I am hoping to find something useful that I can use as a starting point to apply for academic research grants to start a Ph.D. dissertation or a business case for a non-profit.
The origins of modern addiction recovery programs is based on the Bible, and primary derived from "The Sermon on the Mount." A 1920s organization called "A First Century Christian Fellowship" created by a Lutheran minister led a movement to refocus modern Christian lifestyles to live much closer to the way that first century Followers of Christ lived their lives. A sub-section of this group including Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob went on to create the organization called "Alcoholics Anonymous." The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are primary take from the "4 Absolutes" and "5 C's" of this group with the notable exception that Jesus Christ has been removed and God is replaced with "own conception of God," "Higher Power," "Him," and other less specific terms that are more open to agnostics and considered less controversial.
I will sponsor according to the 12 Steps because it has been proven consistently over time to help alcoholics stop drinking and did help me in my recovery jounery. However, I will also cover the origins in the Bible, the principles and practices from "A First Century Christian Fellowship" that Bill W., Dr. Bob, and the other authors followed before the 12-Steps were created or the book "Alcholics Anonymous" was written.
https://emotionalsobrietyandfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/4_four_absolutes_inventory.pdf
At this stage of my life I do not have sufficient time for study in Apologetics or Polemics, so I only sponsor with a focus on Christ and an active program of action that starts with the belief that the Bible is the absolute truth.
Jesus Christ has been the only solution I can find to get help in the mist of severe, chronic, progressive, treatment-resistent mental illness.
- I define truth as represented in the Bible
- I seek primary guidance from the Bible
- I meditate
- I pray
- I serve
- I pay attention for opportunities for personal experience with God
- Weekly Church Attendance
- Bible Studies
- Christian Support Groups
- Accountability Groups
- Financial Donations
- Service Work via the Church
Oxford Group Big Book: What is the problem? Step 1: Step 1: Bill's Story & Doctor's Opinion What is the solution? Step 2: Step 2: Chapter 2, 3, 4 What is the program of action? Step 3-12: Step 3-12: Chapter 5, 6, 7 Surrender Quiet Time
- After this quiet time, I check in with my accountability group, sponsor, mentor or another brother or sister in Christ.
In many cases, a full emersion is needed. Takes time to adopt everythign Sponsees will begin to work the 12-Steps as defined in the original 1939 version of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous."
Each morning, I follow the programs of action found in the above sections. Each day As soon as we wake up, we pray a prayer. For Followers of Christ, good examples can be found here: here. I choose to meditate on Scripture itself. Good examples can be found . Others who may not have access to a Bible can use page 87 & 88 of the Big Book.
- Big Book: What is the problem? Step 1: Step 1: Bill's Story & Doctor's Opinion What is the solution? Step 2: Step 2: Chapter 2, 3, 4 What is the program of action? Step 3-12: Step 3-12: Chapter 5, 6, 7 1. Read page 87 & 88 2. I have prayed & meditated on my verse 3. What meeting I will be attending today 4. whether I will be picking up a white chip 5. whether I need to talk Big Book: What is the problem? Step 1: Step 1: Bill's Story & Doctor's Opinion What is the solution? Step 2: Step 2: Chapter 2, 3, 4 What is the program of action? Step 3-12: Step 3-12: Chapter 5, 6, 7
- Sometimes I will sponsor a friend with the caveat that I sponsor based on the practical program of action defined by the Oxford Groups that used the Bible as their direct reference. Often referred to as "Big Book Thumper Sponsorship," I avoid further opinionated works like the Twelve and Twelve, the AA Grape Vine and others.