This program works; it really does!
 
 
  Breaking Free Chizuk #1501  
 
 
In Today's Issue
   
12 Step Attitude: The Program works if you want it to work
Testimonials: Yiddish Site Accolades
12 Step Attitude: How can I reconcile Torah and 12 steps?
 
 
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12 Step Attitude
 
The Program works if you want it to work
 
By GYE

Rarely do climbers stare up to see how far away the top still is. Instead, when they rest, they look down toward the starting point of their journey. The view they see assures them that they have already come a long, long way.

Like the climbers, we need to keep our eyes on where we are and where we've been, not on where we're going. When we become discouraged with the progress of our recovery, we only need to look back over how far we have come. The rewarding view gives us courage to continue. Many of us recall times when we lived without hope and the sense of impending doom. Now we look forward to life with confidence.

Today, I will remember to face my climb with optimism. Even if my progress sometimes seems slow to me, it's still a long way from where I once was.

Testimonials
 
Yiddish Site Accolades
 
By Yankala
 
By GYE Member

GYE saved my life, my children, and my upcoming דורות. My first language is not English, so I signed also up on the Yiddish forum. There, I found a rabbi who understands people very well, and he opened the world to me. B"H, I'm growing and growing, so I wanna thank you all for being the right שליחים to bring me back my life!

Hashem should pay you all back!

12 Step Attitude
 
How can I reconcile Torah and 12 steps?
 
To help with reconciling Torah with the principles of 12-Step recovery from addictions, various Rabbis and frum mental health professionals offer their extensive writings on the subject.
 
By GYE

Rabbi Kaganoff's "Addictions: Halocho and Hashkofo."

This book is a few hundred pages long, but if you have the time and the patience, you will find most of your concerns with the 12 steps, attending meetings, etc. adequately addressed. In particular, the question "Are the 12 steps kosher?" is answered on page 115. Issues of halocho surrounding sex addiction are discussed on page 193 and on.

Multiple Rabbinic Haskomos on this sefer are found inside. Here is a quick endorsement from the Orthodox Union.

***

Also in Rabbi Kaganoff's book, a collection of letters from a member of S-Anon (12-step recovery fellowship for spouses of addicts). These are must-reads if you are confused about when to consult Rabbonim and when someone else with issues of marital intimacy.

***

Rabbi Avi Tenenbaum, a regular contributor to GYE's cohort of mental health professionals, offers his perspective in a comprehensive overview titled "12 steps: What does Hashem's Torah say about them?"

Rabbi Dr. A. Twerski had this to say about Rabbi Tenenbaum's work: "...Lucid clarification of the 12 steps... eliminating some of the misunderstandings that have cause some people to be hesitant to embrace recovery..."

***

"12 Steps" in Hebrew.

This is what GYE member had to say about this multi-page article:

"An amazing Hebrew-language booklet, explaining the 12 steps from a frum perspective -step by step and in length."

***

Finally, Rabbi Shais Taub in the article Judaism and Addiction Recovery offers his perspective. In this article, you will find a link to his book, "G-d of Our Understanding," dealing at length with appropriatness of 12 steps for Torah Jewry.

In the article titled "Addicted to the 12 Steps?", Rabbi Taub also addresses the pitfalls that a Torah-observant Jew may encounter when attempting to work the 12 steps.

Do you think you may have a porn addiction?
 

Do you have a problem with obsessive and compulsive porn use? Have you seriously tried the tools on GYE and feel that you are not getting better? Maybe it’s time to consider joining a 12-Step program.

Porn Anonymous (PA)
If you’re compulsively acting-out with pornography and masturbation we suggest you explore joining Porn Anonymous (PA). If you need help deciding whether to join PA, call Michael at 347-699-2368, or email help@pornanonymous.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit pornanonymous.org (Hebrew: p-a.org.il / Yiddish: pa-yid.org).

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
If your compulsive acting-out has progressed beyond the screen (with other people, paid sexual services, etc.) we suggest you explore joining Sexaholics Anonymous (SA). To figure out if SA is for you, call Dov at 917-414-8205, or email Dov at dov@guardyoureyes.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit www.sa.org.

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