{"id":1145,"date":"2010-11-09T12:01:20","date_gmt":"2010-11-09T18:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/?p=1145"},"modified":"2013-07-21T11:29:39","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T16:29:39","slug":"twirl-015-111010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-015-111010","title":{"rendered":"TWIRL 015 (11\/10\/10): Stages of Change in Recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This Week In Recovery Lesson<\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><em>Stages of Change in Recovery<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The changes in the lives of recovering people tend to occur in stages, from not being ready to acknowledge that a problem even exists, to actively doing whatever it takes to solve the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Stages of Change Model was originally developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente at the University of Rhode Island when they were studying how smokers were able to give up their habits. The SCM model has been applied to a broad range of behaviors including weight loss, injury prevention, overcoming alcohol, and drug problems among others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In each of the stages, a person has to grapple with a different set of issues and tasks that relate to changing behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The stages of change are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul type=\"square\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Precontemplation\u2014not yet acknowledging that there is a problem behavior that needs to be changed<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Contemplation\u2014acknowledging that there is a problem but not yet ready or sure of wanting to make a change<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Preparation\/Determination\u2014getting ready to change<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Action\u2014Changing behavior<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maintenance\u2014maintaining the behavior change<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Relapse\u2014Returning to older behaviors and abandoning the new changes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For this NewLife EXPERIENCE lesson here, the focus is on the first four changes. The precepts of FREEdom from MEdom Project is that we need to continually be in the active place of surrender in commitment to relationship with God in order to maintain recovery into the new life experience that is real freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1.\u00a0Pre-contemplation<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I am not in recovery at all. I am experiencing unpleasant, and perhaps severely destructive consequences in my life but I do not connect my circumstances with addictive \u2018me\u2019dom behavior. I might perceive that I am very unlucky or that the world and everyone in it seems to be out to get me\u2014even God.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Notice the tenor of King David\u2019s words as you read this Psalm. He sounds like a victim who has been beaten by the world and now is taking a beating from God. David appears to lack recognition between his \u2018me\u2019dom behavior and the most severe consequences of his behavior (including incest, rape, and murder within his family , as well as a deflated kingdom).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Psalm 38:1-11:<strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1<\/span><\/sup><\/strong><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> O Lord, don\u2019t rebuke me in your anger<br \/>\nor discipline me in your rage!<br \/>\n<sup>2<\/sup> Your arrows have struck deep,<br \/>\nand your blows are crushing me.<br \/>\n<sup>3<\/sup> Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;<br \/>\nmy health is broken because of my sins.<br \/>\n<sup>4<\/sup> My guilt overwhelms me\u2014<br \/>\nit is a burden too heavy to bear.<br \/>\n<sup>5<\/sup> My wounds fester and stink<br \/>\nbecause of my foolish sins.<br \/>\n<sup>6<\/sup> I am bent over and racked with pain.<br \/>\nAll day long I walk around filled with grief.<br \/>\n<sup>7<\/sup> A raging fever burns within me,<br \/>\nand my health is broken.<br \/>\n<sup>8<\/sup> I am exhausted and completely crushed.<br \/>\nMy groans come from an anguished heart.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\">9<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> You know what I long for, Lord;<br \/>\nyou hear my every sigh.<br \/>\n<sup>10<\/sup> My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,<br \/>\nand I am going blind.<br \/>\n<sup>11<\/sup> My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.<br \/>\nEven my own family stands at a distance.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What do you suppose David is talking about?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say\u00a0are David\u2019s perceptions of God?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say David means when he says, \u201cBecause of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say David is talking about when he says his wounds \u201cfester and stink\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What might David be talking about when he says, \u201cMy heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say David is talking about when he refers to his problem as a \u201cdisease\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2.\u00a0Contemplation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I am still not participating in recovery. I continue to reap the consequences I have sown with my behavior.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether I have figured it out on my own or I am finally receiving the messages transmitted by others, I am beginning to connect the dots between \u2018me\u2019dom behavior and the severity of my circumstances.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Notice how the tenor of King David\u2019s words are different when he has connected the dots between his behavior and his circumstances, is broken under the weight of it all leading him into repentance\u00a0and a desire for recovery in his life.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Psalm 51:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1<\/span><\/sup><\/strong><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Have mercy on me, O God,<br \/>\nbecause of your unfailing love.<br \/>\nBecause of your great compassion,<br \/>\nblot out the stain of my sins.<br \/>\n<sup>2<\/sup> Wash me clean from my guilt.<br \/>\nPurify me from my sin.<br \/>\n<sup>3<\/sup> For I recognize my rebellion;<br \/>\nit haunts me day and night.<br \/>\n<sup>4<\/sup> Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;<br \/>\nI have done what is evil in your sight.<br \/>\nYou will be proved right in what you say,<br \/>\nand your judgment against me is just.<br \/>\n<sup>5<\/sup> For I was born a sinner\u2014<br \/>\nyes, from the moment my mother conceived me.<br \/>\n<sup>6<\/sup> But you desire honesty from the womb,<br \/>\nteaching me wisdom even there.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;<br \/>\nwash me, and I will be whiter than snow.<br \/>\n<sup>8<\/sup> Oh, give me back my joy again;<br \/>\nyou have broken me\u2014<br \/>\nnow let me rejoice.<br \/>\n<sup>9<\/sup> Don\u2019t keep looking at my sins.<br \/>\nRemove the stain of my guilt.<br \/>\n<sup>10<\/sup> Create in me a clean heart, O God.<br \/>\nRenew a loyal spirit within me.<br \/>\n<sup>11<\/sup> Do not banish me from your presence,<br \/>\nand don\u2019t take your Holy Spirit from me.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\">12<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Restore to me the joy of your salvation,<br \/>\nand make me willing to obey you.<br \/>\n<sup>13<\/sup> Then I will teach your ways to rebels,<br \/>\nand they will return to you.<br \/>\n<sup>14<\/sup> Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;<br \/>\nthen I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.<br \/>\n<sup>15<\/sup> Unseal my lips, O Lord,<br \/>\nthat my mouth may praise you.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">16<\/span><\/strong><\/sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.<br \/>\nYou do not want a burnt offering.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">17<\/span><\/strong><\/sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.<br \/>\nYou will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">18<\/span><\/strong><\/sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Look with favor on Zion and help her;<br \/>\nrebuild the walls of Jerusalem.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">19<\/span><\/strong><\/sup><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit\u2014<br \/>\nwith burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.<br \/>\nThen bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What\u00a0has changed for David\u00a0in Psalm 51 as he prays repentantly for his selfish sin, compared to his prayer in Psalm 38?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-How would you say David\u2019s attitude has changed?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say\u00a0his perceptions of God appear to be in Psalm 51?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Preparation\/Determination<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I now recognize that I am in trouble in my current state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My \u2018me\u2019dom beliefs about who and what I am and what I\u2019ve done are killing me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The way I relate to others is destructive and futile.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The way I view the world and others and allow it all to define me is damaging and I am helpless\u2014powerless\u2014to fix it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My life is unmanageable and I need help. I want help!<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What do I have to do?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. ACTION!<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I have embraced my chance at a new life and I am fully participating in committed surrendered recovery<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I have come to believe in what it takes to successfully recover from my \u2018me\u2019dom condition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I am doing whatever it takes!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say are the key differences between pre-contemplation and contemplation stages of change?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What would you say are the key differences between preparation and action stages of change?<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What will it take?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whatever it takes!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What stage of change are you in now, and where would you like to be?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-What do you think it will\u00a0take to move from where you are to the next stage?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">-How far away from ACTION are you at your\u00a0present stage of recovery?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Please now, refer to this week&#8217;s <a class=\"wp-oembed\" title=\"Open TWRAC 015\" href=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/twrap\/twrap-015-111010\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"color: #003366;\">TWRAC 015<\/span><\/a> for your challenge to action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-via=\"StevieMG\">Tweet<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"twttr_buttons\"><div class=\"twttr_twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=TWIRL+015+%2811%2F10%2F10%29%3A+Stages+of+Change+in+Recovery\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-via=\"\" data-hashtags=\"\"  data-size=\"default\" data-url=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-015-111010\"  data-related=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Tweet<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Week In Recovery Lesson Stages of Change in Recovery The changes in the lives of recovering people tend to occur in stages, from not being ready to acknowledge that a problem even exists, to actively doing whatever it takes &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-015-111010\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lessons","category-twirl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1145"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3364,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1145\/revisions\/3364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}