THE WISDOM of the MWO METHOD

[Rusty-576]

Yes if it wasn't for this site I would have never even made this far thank you and for all the people who have been there for me. what a wonderful site

[Margoms]

I'm new to MWO but I feel that I have a family here and a new feeling of hope. Looking forward to the future.

[Chief]

Great thread, Kate.....

This place certainly changed my life.......coming up on 1 year AF......hard to believe. This time last year I was drinking 15 beers a day......now the smell of beer makes me want to puke....

MWO saved me from myself.......I've made some lifelong friends here and I'm forever grateful that I stumbled onto this site last July.......

Have a great weekend, everyone...

Don

[4theboyz]

For me it has been the group hugs that are always available. There is something therapeutic about the sharing and support with the people on this board that is not available in a book or supplement that I know has made all the difference in my recovery.

Thank you for this thread btw!

[nancy]

I think the website has been going through a phase lately in favor of Antabuse and Lenair.

The web community created and fostered by RJ is really amazing, so many smart if often sad people! I have learned an extraordinary amount just by reading.

In terms of the program itself, I think what it fosters is use of effective medication (topomax in the book) where appropriate, relaxation and visualization, treatment in privacy in your own home, supplements to get your body healthy again, support from a strong anonymous online community and no insistence for abstinence. In fact the book is about a woman who wants to moderate.

In practice, what I see is that Topomax can help people moderate but some are turned off by the side effects or by the idea of taking an anti-seizure medication. I think if people were willing to take medication, more could probably achieve moderation. Without it, I don't see many able to achieve moderation so we see this web community develop mostly around the goal of abstinence. It could also be that people able to moderate are not getting a lot of support because so many seem to be failing at it.

The basic principles of the program are still very sound. I agree with all of them and think that what is needed is a better medication as the corner stone with fewer side effects. Also we have to recognize people with drinking problems are not all alike as AA proclaims. We probably need different programs and maybe some could moderate.

I think Roberta's book My Way Out is really a great, inspiring story about a woman taking things into her own hands. I would also like to add that I think she has done a great service to women with drinking problems as I think the needs are different from those of men.

[KateH1]

Wow! Don, you are coming up on one year!! I am so happy for you. You have impacted so many of us here, to work at our own sobriety. I for one am so grateful to call you my mentor and friend! Congratulations!!

Nancy, I respect your right to feel as you do. I also agree that we all need to figure out our own way. As most people know I am a strong advocate for being alcohol free. Yet, I have no judgment towards those that have healthy drinking habits. More power to them. But, true moderation is not about struggling with alcohol all the time in order to be able to drink moderately "sometimes".

When I first arrived here, I wanted to moderate. But, I did not want to have to really on a drug in order to do so. Just as I did not want to have to take drugs to stop all together. Again, this is just my choice for me and in no way reflects anything on anyone else's decision. My decision to live as a non-drinker is a result of how great I feel and think living this way. I really have no reason or compulsion to drink alcohol. I just feel too darn good without it! To me, being able to drink a glass of wine, is just no longer important to me. I choose to focus on so many other things that I value.

For, whatever reason, Roberta's book was the catalyst for the changes in me. The support here was what helped me to push through. For this, I am grateful and always will remain so!

Best to All!
Kate

[Accountable for Me]

Thanks for the thread, Kate! Great reading.

I have never had the support that I find here, in my 'real' life.

MWO and it's program is where it's at, baby! It really can work, if you work it!

[KBCE]

Thanks for your great post Kate. Although I am new, I have been so inspired by you all. I need to be AF and being here with you all has really helped me in my struggles. Thanks to all of you. Have a wonderful weekend!

[livingfree]

Wow -- As I stop to reflect over the past 6 1/2 months of my life "since" finding MWO ... my eyes fill with tears. I found this site mid December after logging onto a different site. I never had looked to forums for information, let alone a community. But I stumbled onto this "other" site to "once again" try to find some motivation or inspiration to help me quit drinking. When I logged onto this other site and created a password - a message popped up that said - WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST DAY SOBER. It shocked me as I wasn't really planning on quitting today .... I just wanted some "inspiration" to quit tomorrow ... or the next day .... or next week .... or probably after Christmas. I received an instant message of welcome and so logged off. But that message stayed in my head. Quit?? REALLY Q-U-I-T and stop trying to quit??

I continued to drink as usual and the next desire to quit a couple of weeks later I remembered my new web site. I tried to remember my password and could not log in for the life of me. BUT on the advertised sites on the right column .... MY WAY OUT jumped out like a neon sign.

I clicked - and BOY DID I CLICK!!

I read. And read. And read. Then ordered. Just anticipating the "help that was on the way" made me make January 1st 2008 my first AF day. It was another 9 days until I created an account on MWO - and my life has been dramatically different since.

The supplements, the CD's, the unsuccessful run with TOPA, but MOSTLY - the friendships here are my success of being ALCOHOL FREE since January 1st. I didn't even know what AF meant when I first read.

Kate - you, WW, MM, Thankful, Bootsie, Believe and Mya were my very first major connection here. I can not tell you how deeply I feel for people whom I know like phone and pen pals. Many others I have also grown to love on this site.

But RJ - you are a gift from God. Your desire to find your own way out - is EXACTLY what I KNEW I would find someday. And that someday happened for me.

I can not begin to express my love and gratitude - for all of my dear friends here - and for you lovely RJ.

Kate - you always "bring it back home" - Thanks Sweetie

[Sunbeam]

I have my life back thanks to this site - how priceless is that!??? The support here, with my daily reading and frequent posting in the hardest days, made all of the difference.