“Find the Courage to Take a Scary Leap” 6:00 a.m. on almost any Sunday will find me back in bed – having been roused by Sophie my 16 year old rescue dog (who rescued whom?) – with coffee and the Sunday New York Times. I will work my way through the Book Review, Magazine, and Op-Ed sections before arriving at the Business news. I always start that section with the weekly interview which this past Sunday was with Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS.
And, Finally, Follow-Up… Having run through the typical Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday progression of our Intensive 5 Day Program, we now come to what we consider the most important part, Follow-Up. First, however, let’s note that 95% of all programs don’t even do follow-up. They just tell you, “Don’t drink. Go to AA.” Like that’s going to work. After all, if it was going to work for you then you didn’t have to spend $30,000 to $200,000 on “rehab.” AA is, after all, available for free in a back room near you.
Friday, At Last! Friday is wrap-up day, the end of preparation and the beginning of action. It’s an exciting day as well as one with its own share of trepidation – as in “Geez! I’m really going to do this!” We often note that the five days are foundation work, creating systems which will allow you to adjust and adapt not only your behaviors but your relationships too.
Thursday, Thursday… Having now run through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we’re ready for Thursday which includes beginning to tie things together in ways that build a plan that will carry through the next 12 weeks of follow-up – and the rest of your life.
Wednesday, Wednesday… Having reviewed Monday and Tuesday’s program agendas for your consideration, we now move along to Wednesday. By this time we will, together, have begun to rough out a picture of what you are medicating, what is habit, what is self-image, and what some of the contributing factors – and people – are. This is always a mosaic of bigger pieces and smaller, and distinctly individual.
Tuesday, Tuesday… Continuing with last week’s theme on what we’ll actually be doing during the 5 Day portion, Tuesday is when we begin exchanging information. On Monday you will have completed Dr. Jane Loevinger’s Sentence Completion Test. On Tuesday we open up with a discussion of the results, why they are important, how they relate to your drinking, how they are reflected in our website and newsletter and, hence, your decision to work with us rather than being “worked” by the Steppers.
Monday, Monday… While all of you are different, Mondays here tend to have a common theme: Anxiety Reduction! Yes, beginnings engender angst, and we know enough not to fight it. You are, after all, coming to an unknown program with people you only know, mostly, by phone and email. You are investing hopes, money, and an uncertain future with confused outcomes and conflicting emotions.
Once again I am grateful to a former client who wrote the following update we’d all be well advised to ponder upon: “I think that “aging” has to be resisted as much as possible, even though stuff happens. In December, I had my first ever surgery. Actually, the surgery wasn't bad and the recovery wasn't either. What aggravated everything, however, was a really long bout of extremely painful sciatica that began around August and is only now beginning to really abate. I couldn't walk, and exercise was difficult. What was worse was my slow realization that I had been traumatized - first by the surgery, which in fact got my attention, and then by my lack of efficient movement..."
Sabotage! While it’s hard to fathom, some people, including those who have implored you to stop the alcohol abuse, will sabotage your progress towards a less medicated life. These will too often include spouses, children, other family members, friends, colleagues, and others with whom you associate.
No, Alcohol is Not Your Main Problem - What???? That’s right – alcohol, drinking, alcoholism, demon rum, call it whatever you want, isn’t your real problem. It’s the symptom that’s also become a secondary, and an obvious but distracting, problem.