Hypoic's Not-Anonymous Group Meetings:

A new weekly recovery group for addictions called Hypoics Not-Anonymous* is beginning on Sat, 12 noon. Contact person is Dan Umanoff at 941-926-5209, Butch Carlin 941 - 494 - 7053, or call Steve Graham at 941-302-2567 to find out the location and directions to the meetings. Bring a chair. It is free of charge and open to anyone with addictions to substances, behaviors, people, thoughts, and beliefs, in other words, anyone with Hypoism. All addictions are symptoms of Hypoism and therefore all kinds of addicts attend the same meetings. We are in recovery from the disease, Hypoism, not just a single addiction. Hypoism is the neurological mechanism that causes all addictions according to the Hypoism paradigm of addictions. Read "Hypoism in a Nutshell" or "Hypoism Hypothesis" [ http://www.nvo.com/hypoism/hypoismhypothesis/ ], the theory of the disease, on this web site to see what Hypoism is. This realistic and purely science-based paradigm is not professional, psychiatric, psychological, religious, medication or new wave spirituality based. It is hypoic helping hypoic according to the Hypoism concept of addictions and its science-based recovery program delineated in the Book, Hypoic's Handbook obtainable on this web site. It can be used to replace or, if you desire, supplement A.A.-type 12 step meetings, though that approach is not recommended. It has no connection to any treatment program, therapy, agency or business and is similar to 12 step programs in that respect. Bring your own refreshments. No basket will be passed around. *Historically, 12 step anonymity originated out of fear of discrimination, stigmatization, and ostracism. Despite anonymity, these fears have been substantiated over the last 65 years. In fact, anonymity has perpetuated their continuation. Anonymity was rationalized by A.A. as the spiritual basis of the traditions; to keep recovering alcoholic's false pride about their recovery in check. An additional reason for anonymity was the protection of A.A.'s reputation, in case a publicly known A.A. member resumed drinking, his identification with A.A. would injure A.A.'s reputation. These needs for anonymity have turned out to be either false or ineffective. Checking ego and false pride is accomplished by the surrender of the third step, and A.A.'s reputation is both unimportant and hasn't been protected whatsoever by relapser's anonymity. The main things anonymity has done is to keep recovering people quiet and unobtrusive to the rest of society, in the closet of shame and fear, and inaccessible to research on addictions and recovery - all unhealthy things.

The reason we are not-anonymous is that anonymity has not only backfired on A.A. but also has helped maintain addict's fear, shame and guilt. It has allowed addict haters to pick us off one at a time as they so desire. These feelings and their accompanying self effacing and degrading behaviors must end. Addicts need to come out of this closet of fear, shame, and guilt and stand with pride in the light of freedom. Anonymity has fostered the shamful aspects of addiction and is currently maintaining the Psychological/Religious paradigm of addiction and all its destructive effects on all hypoics. It has also made addicts fearful and impotent to change discrimination against them. We must be "in their face" from now on or else put up with the abuse. Our passivity and anonymity contribute to our own demise and genocide. We can't have our anonymity and our freedom. One or the other. Instead of being fearful and submissive to discrimination, we will fight discrimination through the N4A. Read: http://www.nvo.com/hypoism/thenationalassociationfortheadvancementandadvocacyofaddicts/

All successful reversals of minority group discrimination have historically been accomplished through activism, legal battles, and confrontation rather than through anonymity and passivity. Additionally, we must participate in research we deem helpful to our wellbeing aimed at improving the understanding of 1) our disease, 2) its genetics and physiology, and 3) its recovery. Likewise, we must actively participate in policy decisions concerning addicts and addictions through the N4A.

Anonymity has evolved into a boogyman that has hurt addicts and kept us ignorant about ourselves and our disease instead of helping.

Anyone interested in establishing other meetings of Hypoics Not-Anonymous, please let us know before doing so. We would like to have them consistent with the concepts of Hypoic's Handbook. I, Dan Umanoff, M.D. will help you set up your meetings and how they shall be run.

The N4A will be the legal, activist and education arm of the program. Currently, the N4A is waiting for your participation and funding. We need tax deductible (501 c 3) contributions in order to accomplish these goals. Please send in as much money as you can spare so we can get going on these goals. They cost money. I cannot accomplish the N4A's goals and programs with my own finances. We need your financial help. All money goes to the workings of the program. See the N4A's page on this site for more details about it.

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Promotional Link: For the importance of "rehab," and where to find one right for you please click the following underlined blue ad link ---- (not an endorsement).

While shouldering the drug rehab cost could seem a bit a heavy, it is also important to keep in mind that rehab is your addicted loved one’s only real chance of giving up the drug habit.

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