Call Now 082-442-4779 or email info@pathwaysplettrehab.co.za
Addiction and emotions anonymous
Emotional habits are the key to addiction. Such habits creep up on us, without us being aware of it, until we get to a point where nearly everything triggers the same response—fear, grief, or anger. Overwhelmed by these emotions, we seek relief—who wouldn’t—in some act or substance that can distract, divert, or deaden our feelings. The problem is that this “solution” is not one. It deals with the symptoms but not the underlying cause. Our emotions keep flooding and we grow increasingly dependent upon our solution to the point of being obsessed with it.
At Pathways we understand the importance of the emotional aspects of treatment and never underestimate the importance of bringing body, mind and soul as a united triarchy into treatment. If we want long term recovery, we need all our faculties and talents to come to the fore!
What is emotions anonymous?
Emotions Anonymous (EA) was formed by a group of individuals who found a new way of life by working the
twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, as adapted for people with emotional problems. We invite you to discover, as we have, that our EA fellowship of weekly meetings is warm and friendly, and that it is also important for achieving and maintaining emotional health. The Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions are our guides for our meetings and for living one day at a time because ours is a twenty-four hour program.
Emotions Anonymous is a non-profit organization, supported by the voluntary contributions of its members.
We thank Alcoholics Anonymous for their permission to use the program, and we thank the God of our
understanding for guidance.
Pathways Plett runs a world class emotional guidance programme based on the emotions anonymous model of recovery. We treat depression, all forms of anxiety and bi-polar disorders as well as personality disorders. All of these issues can lead to addictive behaviours. Getting to the bottom of the emotional aspects of the problems people face is something that is often overlooked in some addiction recovery programmes. Emotional habits are the key to addiction. It creeps up on us, to a point where nearly everything triggers fear, grief, or anger. Emotions anonymous is key.
Emotions Anonymous puts it this way:
- We come to EA to learn how to live a new way of life through the twelve-step program of Emotions Anonymous which consists of Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, concepts, the Serenity Prayer, slogans, Just for Todays, EA literature, weekly meetings, telephone and personal contacts, and living the program one day at a time. We do not come for another person—we come to help
ourselves and to share our experiences, strength, and hope with others.
2. We are experts only on our own stories, how we try to live the program, how the program works for us, and what EA has done for us. No one speaks for Emotions Anonymous as a whole.
3. We respect anonymity—no questions are asked. We aim for an atmosphere of love and acceptance. We do not care who you are or what you have done. You are welcome.
4. We do not judge; we do not criticize; we do not argue. We do not give advice regarding personal or family affairs.
5. EA is not a sounding board for continually reviewing our miseries, but a way to learn to detach ourselves from them. Part of our serenity comes from being able to live at peace with unsolved problems.
6. We never discuss religion, politics, national or international issues, or other belief systems or policies. EA has no opinion on outside issues.
7. Emotions Anonymous is a spiritual program, not a religious program. We do not advocate any particular belief system.
8. The steps suggest a belief in a Power greater than ourselves. This can be human love, a force for good, the group, nature, the universe, God, or any entity a member chooses as a personal Higher Power.
9. We utilize the program—we do not analyze it. Understanding comes with experience. Each day we apply some part of the program to our personal lives.
10. We have not found it helpful to place labels on any degree of illness or health. We may have different symptoms, but the underlying emotions are the same or similar. We discover we are not unique in our difficulties and illnesses.
11. Each person is entitled to his or her own opinions and may express them at a meeting within the guidelines of EA. We are all equal—no one is more important than another.
12. Part of the beauty and wonder of the EA program is that at meetings we can say anything and know it stays there. Anything we hear at a meeting, on the telephone, or from another member is confidential and is not to be repeated to anyone—EA members, mates, families, relatives or friends.
So why are emotions so key?
Letting go involves being aware of a feeling, or an emotion. It involves letting it come up, staying with it, and letting it run its course without wanting to make it different or do anything about it. It means simply to let the feeling be there and to focus on letting out the energy behind it. The first step is to allow yourself to have the feeling without resisting it, venting it, fearing it, condemning it, or moralizing about it. It means to drop judgment and to see that it is just a feeling. The technique is to be with the feeling and surrender all efforts to modify it in any way. Let go of wanting to resist the feeling. It is resistance that keeps the feeling going. When you give up resisting or trying to modify the feeling, it will shift to the next feeling and be accompanied by a lighter sensation. A feeling that is not resisted will disappear as the energy behind it dissipates.
Pathways Drug Addiction Rehab Centre
For more information on emotions anonymous and addiction recovery get in touch.
Call Now 082-442-4779 or email info@pathwaysplettrehab.co.za
