LauraSFO1

Has anyone read up on this? I went to their website and it's basically "make the decision to stop drinking and that's that, you no longer drink". No groups, no therapy, no AA, etc. Anyone have success with this?

Anna

Not me.

I'm not an AA person, but I work at recovery every day.

tellus

I was excited when I first found RR, as AA isn't for me. But the more I read their literature, the more I saw they're more about AA-bashing than they are about recovery. I'm skeptical of any group that puts that much effort into bashing its competitors.

I've yet to find my recovery solution, but I know RR isn't it.

Jersey Nonny

I don't explore "alternative" recovery methods, any more than I explore "alternative" religions. I found my recovery the good old fashioned way in the rooms of AA...the 12 Steps have been my sober way of life for the past 28 years. I'm really glad I didn't look for an "easier, softer way".

Anna

Laura, whatever recovery program works for you is what you should choose.

Here is a list of recovery programs:
Recovery Programs

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/?Media=PlayFlash

LifeRing Secular Recovery
http://www.unhooked.com

SNART
http://www.smartrecovery.org/

SOS - Secular Organisations for Sobriety
http://www.secularsobriety.org

Women for Sobriety
http://womenforsobriety.org/


Information and analysis about addiction treatment and harm reduction:

http://www.peele.net/

A useful AA reference:
Online AA resources (not official AA):
http://www.recovery.org/aa/

Moderation Management, the one group that deals with moderate drinking; useful for the guidelines:
http://moderation.org/

Some variations on 12 Step:

Agnostics AA:
http://agnosticaa.org/

Alcoholics Victorious (Christian 12 step):
http://www.alcoholicsvictorious.org/12-steps.html

Pagan approach to 12 steps:
http://members.aol.com/JehanaS/recovery.html

Another Christian recovery site:
http://www.celebraterecovery.com/message.asp

Rabbi Twerski's interpretation of the 12 Steps from a Jewish perspective:
http://www.a-1associates.com/AA/jacs_journal_2.htm
__________________

Hevyn

Tellus, that's exactly what I thought when I found RR - and it had seemed like an answer for me at the time. I told my counselor about it (when I had to go to classes for my DUI) and he was livid, saying it was evil of them to persuade people away from AA & maybe prevent some from getting well through AA because they get sidetracked with RR. RR does sound so much more do-able to some people. Something just didn't seem right about it, but it must have worked for some or they wouldn't still be around. I respect and commend those who stay the course with AA. I myself haven't committed to it yet.

nogard

wow aa bashing on a grand scale. If they have a recovery program simply get on with it and tell others about not bash bash bash.....

Anodyne

While I've never read up on any of their literature, I know that, personally,
I thought it out, made lists of pros and cons, examined alllll the negatives
that were either directly caused by my drinking or that I had put myself
in the position to them to happen while I was drunk.

Rationally, I decided to quit drinking at least a couple of years ago.

I've become to firmly believe my disease is anything but rational, and goes
deep enough that simple rational decision making wasn't enough for me to stop (although, being sober IS very rational for me, and I would think
so for all addicts).

I've seen people hugely up in arms against AA, literature talking about how out-dated it is, etc. I won't get involved on any 'side' because I believe
that no one program or method is going to work for every person. I believe
that if someone finds something that DOES work for them, then I am very
happy for them, proud of them, and inspired by them.

If anyone finds one thing that works for them: AA, religion alone, decision making, medicine, obscure Russian philosophical texts, the culture of the Sherpas, whatever, then you found a darned good thing for yourself.

Dee74

I haven't tried RR or indeed any programme. I look forward to any adherents out there putting their .02 in here.

Personally tho yep - anything that seems more about bashing the competition would put me off, just as those AAers who insist theirs is the only way do...

Moderation in all things

D

IO Storm

Anodyne..you are funny. It nice to know you.

RR..I see railroads..I see cars..Can you spell that without any bashing?

Just as I avoid a church that bashes another..or political figure..or (person

for that matter)..I would avoid a recovery program that did so as well...

way too negative for my sanity and serenity...musts for continued sobriety for

moi! I am strong, but I'm not stupid.

Jersey Nonny

Just a thought...if it were just that simple, wouldn't there be a whole lot more people getting sober that way?

Quote:

just as those AAers who insist theirs is the only way do...

I'm not so sure that's the case, as that those who've been successful in their recovery through AA don't know enough about any other way to recommend it. You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? AA has been working just fine since 1935 for those totally committed to the program. If it hadn't worked for me 28 years ago, I might have, in desperation, sought out another way. Thank God, that wasn't necessary.

mikel60

I checked out Rational Recovery after reading this thread last night and didn't see much there... still searching for the Sherpa stuff, though. It sounds great.
Mike

Pinkcuda

Dang!!!! I wish someone would have told me that years ago.
If it was that easy, there wouldn't be a need for programs and support groups to help us. The reason that A.A. is so prevolent is that it is the biggest. Nothing more! It's not the best or worst. It's the biggest. It's also the only one with hundreds of meetings in my immediate area as well as just about anywhere I go in the world.

LauraSFO1

Whatever works for people I'm all for. I don't understand why anyone would "bash" a recovery program, or why people refer to different methods as "competitors". What works for some may not work for all. We all have to find our own way.

Pinkcuda

Because we're Alcoholics. That's why we need programs that help us "fix" our outlook towards things.

Jes23

Hello,

I have actually read the book and found it very helpful. The website doesn't give you much info on what it actually is. Its not just "realize you have a problem and stop". There are ways to change your behavior without going the religious and AA way and this book can guide you on some of those ways.

Being someone who is very put off by AA, I found RR to be a breath of fresh air. I would suggest going to the Secular Recovery forum on this site with this question since many of those people have found a non-AA way to not drink.

Hope this helps

tommyjp

it seems to me that AA are the biggest bashers of the lot. the message is do it our way or go out and die. I also get a bit tired of hearing how AA works when no one can offer me any more evidence for this than the moon being made of green cheese. Won't really be able to be sure about rational recovery until I've used it for a bit longer.hope it does obviously.

hypochondriac

Welcome to SR Tommy

There is a lot of info about RR here in the secular connections forum. I credit it with getting and keeping me sober although I have not followed their advice about avoiding other recovery groups and have also used AA and SMART. I thought it was necessary when I first got sober to pick a side and stick to it. Now I couldn't care less I see good and bad points in all methods and I am just making it up as I go along... Also AVRT isn't actually as simple as some people suggest, and it actually requires a subtle mind shift which can take some effort to maintain. Personally I like stuff that makes me think about things differently so I am grateful for it. Glad you are here x

Dee74

Hi Tommy

in the 6 years since this thread was started we actually have a new rule in this forum now to reflect the fact that bashing other recovery methods, no matter who it is, isnt what we do here at SR.

I recommend you visit the Secular Connections forum if you are interested in a non 12 step approach like RR

D

Joe Nerv

I couldn't and didn't get sober until I found AA. I'm sober over 29 years now. AA works for me.

Don't know much about rational recovery, but from what I know about AA, it was born out of the fact that certain people couldn't remain sober by will power mind control alone. A few people found something that worked for them, and the fellowship evolved and grew to enormous proportions. I can't imagine that happening if it wasn't working.

If something else works for someone, great.