Self Help Programs Work

Self help programs are available for all types of psychological, emotional and physical disorders. Research shows that they work well alone in some cases and improve the outcome of professional treatments. Support groups, for example, improve quality of life issues for cancer patients and their families. Here’s a look at a few of your options.

Alcoholics Anonymous

AA is for people that have drinking problems primarily. Narcotics Anonymous or NA is for people that have been addicted to drugs of other kinds. Not all communities host NA meetings, but addicts are always welcome at AA meetings. The 12 step program is basically the same.

The program was started by an alcoholic (Bill W) who was told by his doctor that a religious experience would be necessary for him to overcome his addiction. What he and millions of others have learned to do is to accept that there is a higher power greater than they are and that the strength of the higher power will keep them from drinking. The program works.

Emotions Anonymous

The idea of EA is attributed to Bill W as well, who continued to struggle with depression and other emotional issues, even after he had been sober for many years. The group “Neurotics Anonymous”, abbreviated N/A to avoid being confused with Narcotics Anonymous, was formed in 1964 by Grover Boydston, an AA member and psychologist, and eventually became the international group “Emotions Anonymous”. Emotional Health Anonymous is a similar, but unrelated group.

EA is one of the 12-step self help programs patterned after AA. Anyone that suffers from depression, neuroses, mental illness or emotional disorders of any kind is invited to attend.

GROW

While AA and EA groups refer to a “higher power” rather than God specifically, GROW members speak of God often. Although people from all denominations are welcome, non-Christians may feel uncomfortable with the wording. Like EA, the group was founded for people with emotional or psychiatric disorders, especially obsessive behavior.

Recovery International

Unlike the other self help programs mentioned here, RI makes use of cognitive behavior therapy, which means changing the way that one thinks and reacts to thoughts. Members suffer from anxiety, depression, phobias, obsessive compulsive behavior and similar issues.

After completing the program, participants report no more anxiety than is experienced by the general public. Members require less medication and psychotherapy. In other words, they “recover”.

The self help programs mentioned here were designed for those with addictions or mental illness. There are also support groups for friends and family members, typically in the same building and running on the same schedule. If the meeting is listed as “open”, everyone is welcome to attend.