Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
If anyone has a spare hour, this might be of interest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tRdDqXgsJ0
In particular, Dr Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist interested in neuroplacticity says:
"It turns out that there is no more effective way to produce localized and specific changes in the brain than behavioral or mental interventions."
He is doing research in "Contemplative Neuroscience", as he calls it.
Those of us in AA know this. It is the 11th step of the program and it is the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.
What's more, it is clear from his work that science can now explain the significance of Bill W's experience that "nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with alcoholics."
What Dr Davidson is showing in the lab is that meditation on compassion produces biochemical changes that affect or mood, thinking, health and general well-being -- even resistance to disease.
My limited experience with this is that to help another *without judgment* alters my whole way of thinking in a profound way that cannot be learned except through repeated efforts to be of service. And, for myself, I cannot effectively be of service without asking that my motives be clear, that my attention be on the suffering of those who are still in the grips of this disease and that I attempt to act with altruism. A single compassionate act changes my whole attitude and outlook.
How can a selfish and self-centered person like me achieve altruism? I can not, completely. But with repeated examination of my motives, prayer, meditation and work with others -- doing my best to let go of the results, I do change. This is, in my opinion, the heart of the spiritual experience so vital to recovery.
And here is science that addresses exactly the mechanism of change in our thinking when we "work the program".
I certainly thought this was an idea worth sharing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tRdDqXgsJ0
In particular, Dr Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist interested in neuroplacticity says:
"It turns out that there is no more effective way to produce localized and specific changes in the brain than behavioral or mental interventions."
He is doing research in "Contemplative Neuroscience", as he calls it.
Those of us in AA know this. It is the 11th step of the program and it is the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.
What's more, it is clear from his work that science can now explain the significance of Bill W's experience that "nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with alcoholics."
What Dr Davidson is showing in the lab is that meditation on compassion produces biochemical changes that affect or mood, thinking, health and general well-being -- even resistance to disease.
My limited experience with this is that to help another *without judgment* alters my whole way of thinking in a profound way that cannot be learned except through repeated efforts to be of service. And, for myself, I cannot effectively be of service without asking that my motives be clear, that my attention be on the suffering of those who are still in the grips of this disease and that I attempt to act with altruism. A single compassionate act changes my whole attitude and outlook.
How can a selfish and self-centered person like me achieve altruism? I can not, completely. But with repeated examination of my motives, prayer, meditation and work with others -- doing my best to let go of the results, I do change. This is, in my opinion, the heart of the spiritual experience so vital to recovery.
And here is science that addresses exactly the mechanism of change in our thinking when we "work the program".
I certainly thought this was an idea worth sharing.
Thanks!!!
HUGE. And not just relevant to AA'ers. Good advice to anyone, imo.
Thanks JA.
The fact that this researcher is really looking at meditation and compassion -- two things so central to step work -- and explaining how these actions alter the brain and body just blows me off my feet!!!!
Great post - people of spirituality have been saying it for a long time - great that science is starting to show it to be true.
My experience is that it never fails to benefit me, but only if that benefit to myself is not my primary motive.
A PhD in genetic biology from the Institut Pasteur and he goes to India, meets Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, shaves his head, takes the vows and goes on a 3 year meditation retreat -- first of several. Speaks at least 3 languages fluently. Happily travels the world in service of others. Author, photographer, donates all money he receives to charities in Asia.
Happy, self-effacing, humble, funny, friendly, altruistic and always smiling.
And everywhere he goes he tells that not only can the be happy but how to achieve it.
Of course, he has serenity and happiness because of hard work to achieve, maintain and deepen a spiritual awakening and it reminds me, not only are we delivered from the hell that is active alcoholism, we get a program that allows us to "wake up" and see that a life run on self-centered fear is empty.
I spend my short amount of time on my knees every morning asking for his grace and grace for others, and to keep me clean today. Anything over a couple of minutes my brain switches me to swinging a hammer. I figure an extra second a day is progress.
I am constantly working my brain out, concentrating on things. I have to because I realized how self centered I was.
I look at a drawer and concentrate on what's in it.
I actually think I read that here.
Good post and I know this retraining your brain stuff works with alotta help from the powerful & our friends.