Inspired by the teachings of Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth

Although there are mentioned important  righteous traits to acquire within the 12 step  program, What is  missing from the 12 step programs is the rectified wisdom of an actionable guideline to help bring about righteous conduct and change.

For example , but not limited to;

• What is a Higher Power… G-d
• What is Humility, and how to acquire this trait
• What  is Honesty
• What is Sincerity

Typically 12 step programs rely on collective consciousness of people of the program or ‘recovery room’ of the concepts as mentioned (but not limited to those) as above; G-d, Honesty, Humility, Sincerity, which is limited to the consciousness of the group. And may lack what we may call according to Judaism ‘ actionable rectified wisdom’ .

There are many that have found an amount of recovery in the  12 step programs. For a Jew to be successful in recovery (of anything) according to a Torah definition,  he must access and integrate the appropriate ‘program of recovery’ for his body, mind and infinite soul, to become rectified … what the 12 step may refer as clean and sober requires for the Jewish neshama’s recovery the infinite, limitless wisdom of the guidelines of the 613; the Torah.

Although is is widely held that once an addict-always an addict, it remains possible , but unfortunately rare , that a  according to Jewish wisdom , a Jew  who is most astringent and mindful in the changing of  those character traits that have caused his transgression(s)  can affect  rectified change of his desires…. Tshuvah  and Tikun (rectification). A person that has truly rectified his yetzer hora (desire)  over substance(or other) would never personally claim so , so he may sit on his laurels  consumed with celebration of his ‘achievement’. That  would be haughty/arrogant, paradoxical  to the traits of his acquiring such  Tikun .He may however come to be aware of his life’s changes through the objective source.  A person of such loftiness will see his conquering of his yetzer hora as a having acquired a  great gift in his ways to acquire continued ways of perfection with his next challenges.

Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
lawrenceJlax@gmail.com

There are many different ways and degrees that OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) can manifest in a person.

Everyone at one time or another has experience this issue to some degree. The defining criteria for possible treatment of disorders such as this may be determined by degree of unmanageability.

Almost everyone knowingly or unknowingly has experienced this issue at some degree at one time or another,  so through this awareness it  becomes important to know  that we must strive to always try to treat each other with kindness so as not to unwittingly ‘trigger’ and  cause harm to another as we will see.

Everyone’s threshold for dealing with life’s stresses is different.We need to always try to be careful and kind.

Accordingly, the Torah says we shouldn’t  use of harsh words (words of might or arrogance) or sarcasm, noting sarcasm as cloak for anger, rather we should use words of kindness and compassion.

Some people may think of OCD  as simply a physical problem,  like when someone has behaviours of ; repeated checking to ensure a door is  locked door, repeated checking to assure if the stove has been left on , or not stepping on a crack in the sidewalk. These, and a myriad of body, mind and soul issues can be true. Some issues may include problems with impulse control overtly or subtly,  so OCD can affect what we do, how we do it, and our relationship with people.

The Obsession comes from the inability to ‘let go’ of a thought.  Thoughts roll around in the mind, and closure of any kind is elusive.

This Obsession (the thought/mind) may then become the Compulsion (the desire to act/body) as  the inability to resolve (the disharmony) of a thought may consciously or unconsciously may seek resolve (release) through an action or behavior…the Compulsion. It should be noted that the power of such angst can become a great gift if it becomes  channeled in to a positive direction.

Like most maladies in the world, the underlying trigger is stress or anxiety related.  Each person’s trigger is unique . Most OCD issues are manageable.
As a metaphor, OCD (an episode)  can start like mosquito bite. If you leave it alone and don’t scratch it , it will eventually stop itching and heal quicker. But if you scratch it once, you may come to scratch it twice… and so on, until it eventually bleeds, and even that may come to give a person some degree of paradoxical pleasure.

OCD is like an open loop in the thought process that may remain as hurdle in the thought process. It may manifest as an unmanageability in behaviors and actions and may associated (inter-connected) to an array of mental-emotional-mood disorders including; autism, Asperger’s, Turrets,  PTSD, depression, bi polar disorder and addiction etc.

People with anxiety related issues are often very sensitive. When they hurt, they may hurt deeply and have difficulty feeling well again.

Lawrence (Leib Getzel) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
www.lawrencelax.com
www.auraoftorah.com
lawrenceJlax@gmail.com

Marijuana – CHS; Cannibanoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Recent findings (2016) have revealed new dangers of marijuana smoking. It turns out that Colorado is ground zero for these findings which are also found in States with relaxed marijuana laws. This was the featured topic of a CBS News medical expose.

Medical marijuana is still in the research stage. The demand, and in many places the legislation, has surpassed the known and unknown perils of the use of this drug.

There have been some promising results in the use of certain components of the drug, but even those benefits may come to be compromised if the drug and its legal status are prematurely exploited.

A serious medical issue has come to light from Colorado who set a new trend in relaxed marijuana laws in the USA. Since 2009 there has been a doubling in ER visits of cases involving regular users of marijuana. The illness is called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS which causes dehydration and kidney failure. Even with the marijuana related medical experience of the Colorado ER, it may take 4-5 ER visits to finally narrow down a diagnoses.

Where there may be wonderful medical benefits found in marijuana , the zealous and irresponsible pursuit to make this drug widely and easily available may have serious negative consequences on real medical developments.

Greater access to marijuana in some places is a relatively new so there are many health, social and other issues that have not yet been revealed.

The desire for access to marijuana is simply not a good enough reason to validate broader distribution. There are numerous factors to consider which may include; medical/scientific short, medium and long term effects, physical, emotional and mental health effects, and the protracted social and economic impacts are all still in the infantile stages. If you want to know more about it, talk to an Addictions Counselor that deals with this issue on the front line. I am here to to answer your questions and help.

Lawrence (Leib Getzel) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
lawrencejlax@gmail.com
www.auraoftorah.com

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12 Step and Torah; Serenity Prayer
please click on;

http://www.auraoftorah.com/torah-and-12-step-series-hte-serenity-prayer/

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An important article…

Grape Expectations:  Getting Drunk on Purim

http://www.auraoftorah.com/grape-expectations-drinking-on-purim/

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