Welcome to Debtors Anonymous! Here
you can find a new way of living that offers recovery from compulsive
debting and hope for a healthier, happier, more prosperous life. We
suggest that you keep an open mind and attend at least six meetings as soon as
possible. If you do not like one meeting, attend another. The important
thing is to keep coming back.
Here are some suggestions to help you get started:
· First and foremost, we suggest
that you stop incurring any new unsecured debt, one day at a time.
Unsecured debt is any debt not backed up by some form of collateral.
Although refraining from compulsive debting may be difficult and
painful, it establishes a solid foundation for our recovery.
· We recommend attending D.A.
meetings regularly. Attending meetings gives us a sense of hope, an
opportunity to identify with others, and a chance to meet people who
can help us.
· To gain clarity about how we use
money, we record our expenses and our income. A good way to do this is
to buy a small notebook or planner that is easy to carry. Throughout
each day, we write down everything we spend and any income we receive,
no matter how small the amount. Do not be discouraged if you cannot
keep perfect records. If you lose track, begin again as soon as you
can. We believe in progress, not perfection.
· We recommend purchasing and
reading D.A. literature, where you may find useful suggestions and new
insights. We also find it helpful to read these books: A Currency of Hope, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. When you read A.A. literature, we suggest substituting the words debt and debting for alcohol and drinking.
· We suggest that you begin by
working the Twelve Steps and by practicing the D.A. Tools because we
did not arrive overnight at the circumstances that brought us to D.A.,
so solving our problems has required time and effort. While using the
Tools of D.A. provides some relief from compulsive debting, working the
Steps leads to recovery.
· We suggest that you work the
Twelve Steps in order, preferably with a sponsor or an experienced D.A.
member who has worked and continues to work the Steps to the best of
his or her ability. For us, true, long-lasting recovery results from a
spiritual experience gained by working the Steps.
· We recommend beginning with Step
One. The sense of despair or "hitting bottom" we felt when we first
came to D.A. was the first step in our recovery. We saw that our own
attempts to scheme and manipulate our debts did not work. We admitted
that we were powerless over debt. We were ready toask for help.
· To help you work the program, we
suggest asking someone who lives the recovery you want to be your
sponsor. Sponsors help us work the 12 Steps, use the D.A. Tools, and
carry out our Action Plans.
· After you have recorded your
income and expenses for (preferably) 30 to 45 days, attended at least
six meetings, and made a commitment to D.A., we suggest that you ask
two members of D.A. (usually a man and a woman) to meet with you in a
Pressure Relief Meeting. These two D.A. members should have abstained
from incurring unsecured debt for at least 90 days and had two Pressure
Relief Meetings, and if possible they should have recovery from issues
similar to yours. As the members of your Pressure Relief Group, they
will help you review your situation and formulate a Spending Plan and
an Action Plan.
· We suggest that you practice the
principle of anonymity. Who we see and what we hear at meetings and in
private conversation is kept confidential. This principle allows all
members the freedom to speak openly and honestly without fear that our
words or deeds may be used to harm us. Please respect the anonymity of
all D.A. members.
If you decide that D.A. is not for
you, keep us in mind for the future. You are always welcome. Debtors
Anonymous will be here when you need it.
©2006 DA General Service Board, Inc.