Has anyone found success in incorporating two different recovery methods together, e.g., AA and SMART Recovery?

[Fides_et_Spes]

I am 37 days in to my sobriety and have been attending AA and have a sponsor. I have no issues with AA and have already met some great people but I just came across the SMART Recovery website and some of it seems interesting as well. It seems though some of the ideologies of each program may be contradicting. Has anyone tried to participate in both and found success or is it best starting out to just stick with one?

[ibizan]

in NA the acronym for God is Good Orderly Direction!it is so!the anxiety/depression is normal considering what we did to ur brains for years...soaking them w/alcohol and messing w/ serotonin dopamine and neurotransmitters w/drugs and alcohol!i was told 2 years for the brain to return to some normal functioning... i though ah nah!oh yes!so be patient w/urself......u didn't get this way overnite....and Rod and Sara and i know God is Dog spelled backwards!:)

[Fides_et_Spes]

Thanks everyone for your responses and support! I definitely don't turn up my nose to religion or GOD being a religous person myself but I do hear negative talk about AA because of those reasons. For me I just want to get sober and stay sober I've lost so much already and I just pray for the strength to accomplish that. I also want to keep an open mind about everything available to me to make it happen. My main problem right now is dealing with the daily anxiety and depression. I'm just trying to be patient and hopeful it gets better.

[dominosarah]

Many people turn up their noses when AA/NA is offered as they feel that it is all about religion.  That is so not the case.  They speak about "God' being our higher power, it doesnt mean it has to be the guy in the robe with purple sandals.  It can be a bush outside your window if that is what you choose.  All i know is i am not doing this alone.  When i finally surrendered,the fight was over.  I changed my playground and playmates and work my program every single day.  Today i am grateful to be sober and clean.  I am finally living, not just existing~~~

Congrats on your sober time!  Keep it going~~    sara

[rod44]

I agree my friend, I think at the end of the day it comes down to how badly you want it. I take what I need and leave the rest behind but I do so without prejudice. We are all different, have different beliefs/views but our common goal is to get and stay sober.

[ibizan]

well put my friend rod!and another thing important about AA and any other sober/clean support group is being around sober/clean ppl....and those w/years of recovery who serve as guides/mentors 4 us!

[rod44]

Congratulations and well done on 37 days sober.

I an only speak from my experience of recovery witch was in AA. I found that difficult enough at the time, I was confused did not/ do not agree with some of their ideologies. People get frightened away by the idea that some of these recovery programs may be based on religious beliefs. Spiritual awaking that is spoken about in AA for me was being able to understand that I could live a normal happy life without the need or desire to drink. That I could end the crazy insane behaviour, the crazy insane thinking, planing my life around my drinking.  I think if you want to maintain a good healthy recovery you need to be honest about your drinking and the behaviour surrounding it, you need to understand how that was and will continue to damage your life and the lives of those around you if you chose to drink. Witch ever program you choose remember it is about you getting sober, that is the end goal so don't get bogged down in  ideologies.
Work with your sponcer.    

[ibizan]

Yipppee!Someone is posting that i can have an open minded conversation w/about this topic!I am soon 2 b 28 yrs.sober/clean.I did 25 day inpatient many moons ago,attended AA/NA for I qualified for both programs!There was much about both programs i didn't agree with but much that i did....i took what i could use and left the rest.I've met many great ppl in AA over the years and I can still see their faces and hear their words of wisdom.I checked out Rational Recovery which helped to establish SMART.A really good book is Sobriety Without Religion by Dr.James Christopher.RR began in ur state of California.I am an eclectic.....i have opened my mind to many other resources out there for there is an ocean of it.My sis is a devout Buddhist and i find their teachings 2b some of the best stress/anger management that is centuries old.U should try to find some Rational Recovery meetings in ur state!Keep us posted!Thanks for this thread!