User:Cowebd/Debtors

Debtors Anonymous (DA) is a twelve-step program for helping people who struggle with addiction to compulsive patterns of unsecured debt, DAs' stated purpose is to help its members to gain and maintain financial solvency by abstaining from incurring any further unsecured debt through support groups (also called 'meetings') and literature: According to DA, some (but not all) examples of compulsive debting are credit card addiction also called credit card addict syndrome, shopaholic behavior also called shopping addiction, compulsive credit card use also known as credit card abuse and for some others, compulsive underearning, also known as anorexic earning syndrome to name a few, although not all, of the most common patterns of compulsive debt also called compulsive debting.

Similarity of each of these syndromes despite their apparent differences: All such patterns, despite their apparent differences on the surface, are seen by Debtors Anonymous has having the same underlying issue: a self-destructive addiction to running up unsecured debt. Although these various patterns of compulsive debting can appear to be quite different on the surface, Debtors Anonymous maintains that all of these seemingly different problems have the same root issue: a self-defeating and compulsive or addictive pattern of incurring unsecured debt.

Debtors Anonymous maintains that successful recovery from any of these (or related) patterns of behavior requires a personal commitment to refraining from incurring any new unsecured debt while achieving personal financial solvency one day at a time and in so doing, working towards a life of prosperity, serenity and balance as the result. Debtors Anonymous support groups (which are called 'meetings') and literature are all focused towards a non-pressuring approach to helping its members achieve this ongoing result for themselves.

History

In 1968 members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) who believed that their financial difficulties were caused by an addictive disease not unlike alcoholism founded an organization named Penny Pinchers and then later renamed Capital Builders. Eventually this group committed to a rigorous twelve-step approach and in 1971 was organized under the name Debtors Anonymous.

Concepts

Membership

Membership is open to anyone with a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. DA members may specifically identify themselves as, among other things, compulsive debtors or compulsive underearners.

The Term 'Compulsive Debtor'

Compulsive unsecured debting, also known as 'compulsive debting', is considered to be a serious clinical disease, similar to other addictive diseases like alcoholism and pathological gambling.

Different Types of Compulsive Debting (And What They All Have in Common)

Some of the common variations on this pattern that show up in Debtors Anonymous support groups and are represented in DA literature, that nevertheless all have the same underlying issue of compulsive or addictive debting, are listed below--

Compulsive Debtors and Credit Card Addiction (Help for the Credit Card Addict)

Many in Debtors Anonymous abuse credit cards, and DA also holds that those with other compulsive debting problems will also abuse credit cards if they begin to use them. DA says that compulsive or addictive credit card abuse shares the same underlying issue with all of the other syndromes mentioned here: addiction to living in unsecured debt. In this sense a credit card addict is really addicted to easy access to unsupported debt. In order to help arrest their addiction, all DA members, regardless of the pattern of their compulsive debting behavior, strive to refrain from further credit card use along with refraining from all forms of unsecured debt in order to help arrest their addiction.

As a replacement to a lifestyle of compulsive debt addiction, DA offers many tools and lifestyle options that can support and encourage a prosperous and financially solvent alternative to living in self-destructive patterns of credit card addiction or any other kind of unsecured debt.

Compulsive Debtors who are also Compulsive Underearners

'Compulsive underearners' have viable skills, but are trapped in self-defeating (financially anorexic) patterns of not earning enough money to maintain solvency; Other traditional names for this syndrome are 'poverty addict' or 'poverty addiction' (not to be confused with people who are born or fall into poverty for other reasons), 'financial anorexic', 'financial anorexia' or 'compulsive pauper' and sometimes the term 'starving artist' has also been used to describe the syndrome although not all impoverished artists have the problem nor is everyone with this problem an artist. Workaholism and or work avoidance syndrome (the clinical problem) may or may not be a part of this pattern. A kind of excessively self-sacrificing mentality, resulting from any of a diverse range of psychological issues, including codependency, may also underly this particular pattern of compulsive debting. Although codependency therapy or recovery alone will not be enough to address this syndrome, since at this stage it has become a clinical addiction to unsecured debt and poverty.

Although this particular version of the compulsive debting syndrome appears somewhat different on the surface, DA literature maintains that it also shares the same underlying root issue with other compulsive debting patterns. DA holds that this particular syndrome also covers an underlying self-destructive addiction to compulsively living in unsecured debt. DA literature describes the concept of 'prosperity' coupled with (and firmly based on) 'solvency' as an alternative to the lifestyle of chronic financial lack, stress and crisis. DA tools and literature are oriented to helping the compulsive underearner, as well as people with other compulsive debting patterns, to work their way out of these self-destructive patterns.

Compulsive Debtors who exhibit Shopaholic Behavior, also Known as Shopping Addiction

Some come to DA for help with serious compulsive shopping problems that fuel their underlying addiction to running up unsecured debt. DA mantains that the compulsive debting syndrome covers underlying emotional and perceptual issues of lack, or the irrational belief that 'there is never enough for me', that can fuel shopaholic behavior as well as other patterns of compulsive debting. DA support groups and literature are oriented to assisting those with shopaholic syndrome, or shopping addiction, as well as other compulsive debting patterns, to help arrest these behaviors and replace them with healthy, solvent and prosperous lifestyles.

Vagueness and Inattentiveness a Universal Issue with all Compulsive Debting Syndromes

Two terms "terminal vagueness" and "compulsive inattentiveness" are used to describe the characteristic behaviors of all compulsive debtors, regardless of their surface patterns of behavior. They refer to a systematic avoidance of monitoring one's personal finances, leading to an overestimation or underestimation of one's account balances, coupled with chronic and self-destructive patterns of financial chaos, crisis and stress. Debtors Anonymous suggests a range of 'tools' for living designed to help the compulsive debtor to overcome her/his pattern of self-defeating vagueness about the financial details of life and to help them to live more effectively in reality.

DA Tools or Practices

Meetings (Support Groups)

Debtors anonymous support groups are called 'Meetings'. They are free, anonymous and open to anyone struggling with problems related to compulsive debt. In DA meetings (support groups) people share their experience, strength and hope along with the Debtors Anonymous program of recovery (the 12 Steps along with a range of additional tools and suggested practices adapted to aid recovery from problems with compulsive debt).

The tone of DA support groups, or meetings, is non-pressuring, non-judgmental, nonpartisan and neutral on all outside issues (religion, politics, and other recovery approaches are not discussed in the groups in order to preserve a feeling of safety and inclusion for all members regardless of creed or background). Anonymity (the privacy of group members ) is protected. Support group or 'meeting' participants also never share their last names.

Keeping numbers

Members are encouraged to "keep numbers" a practice that requires recording each cent owed, spent, and earned.

Spending plans

A spending plan is essentially a list of all products and services to be purchased. Members regularly review their spending plans and assess whether items and amounts in the spending plan are reasonable.

Envelopes

A variation on a spending plan is known as the "envelope method." In this method members separate each of their expenses into categories and then fill an envelope with the amount of money they can spend in each.

Pressure relief meetings

Outside of attending regular DA meetings, members are encouraged to organize "pressure relief meetings." In these meetings, a newer member invites two veteran members to review his or her financial records in detail and give practical advice.

Outside of attending regular DA meetings, members are encouraged to organize "pressure relief meetings." In these meetings, a newer member invites two veteran members to review his or her financial records in detail and give practical advice.

Vision Work or Dream Work Versus Escaping into a Dream World

Compulsive debtors of all types seem to share a deep desire to escape reality. Retreating into a dream world and acting out financially while simultaneously getting taken care of by others (credit card institutions, other creditors, family or other institutions to name a few possible enablers) are common themes in all of these patterns. Paradoxically, the life of chronic financial crisis, stress, deprivation, poverty and dependency that results often causes compulsive debtors to give up on viable dreams for creating a better life in the real world.

Instead perpetual daydreaming or negative ruminating punctuated by acting out self-destructively with money (either passively or aggressively) ends up replacing ones real aspirations for a better life. In Debtors Anonymous, various tools and activities help the compulsive debtor to dream and visualize in healthier ways in order to help create a better life in reality rather than escaping from it. So learning how to dream in a way that reengages with real life is considered an important tool for recovery in DA. However DA cautions that dream work or vision work without ongoing commitment to the need to abstain from ones compulsive debting patterns, including daily commitment to the actions that create and maintain solvency, will just end up in further retreat from reality rather than real recovery, solvency and a prosperous movement towards a realized life of ones dreams.

Literature

In addition to numerous DA conference-approved pamphlets, DA has a conference-approved book also used as standard literature, A Currency of Hope. A Current of Hope includes DA's adaptations of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, a description of compulsive debting, a brief history of DA, and thirty eight stories written by DA members explaining how DA has affected their lives. DA has recently announced that it will commission a writer to produce a second book. A study conducted in 2002 found that a lack of DA approved literature was one of the common obstacles preventing potential members from entering the DA program.

See also

• Compulsive buying disorder
• List of twelve-step groups
• Oniomania

Further reading

• Benson, April Lane; Bengler, Marie. "Chapter 14: Treating Compulsive Buying". Handbook of addictive disorders: a practical guide to diagnosis and treatment. pp. 451–488. ISBN 0471235024. OCLC 53224831. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)
• Brazer, Leonard (2000). "Chapter 17: Psychoeducational Group Therapy for Money Disorders". I shop, therefore I am: compulsive buying and search for shelf. pp. 398–430. ISBN 0765702428. OCLC 301650820. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)
• Hayes, Terrell A (1996). Social and self-labeling processes in recognizing compulsive indebtedness: findings from Debtors Anonymous (Ph. D. in Sociology thesis). Vanderbilt University. OCLC 37916407.
• "Chapter 18: Debtors Anonymous and Psychotherapy". I shop, therefore I am: compulsive buying and search for shelf. 2000. pp. 431–454. ISBN 0765702428. OCLC 301650820. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)

External links

• Debtors Anonymous Website that describes DA recovery program as well as locations and times of support groups (called meetings)
• Works by or about Cowebd/Debtors in libraries (WorldCat catalog)