Bulletin: Gibson Enters Recovery Program

121. Hi all,
12 steps or not, one thing most people don't realize.. in fact very few... is what really drives addicts of any kind. Just like those of us that have other bad habits, most addicts are simply not doing this behavior on purpose. This has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing with Mel's choices or views or words.

I have discovered the average adult today has 97.4% of all their capacity (thoughts) working against them, and nearly all of it is hidden in the subconscious, because I am the first to actually measure it. It amounts to more than three million negative thoughts working against people at any one time--and it is consistently higher in addicts. Up to 99.9% of all thoughts are negative, in fact. These people simply have more visible and arguably destructive bad habits than most of us. But, we all have it.

That little 1-2% can make a big difference. So, the blogger who commented about his past is, in a way, right--because most of that negativity is there as children and we just continually add to it unknowingly.

And, the good news is, it is now possible to be FREE of the reasons people are addicts in the first place, in less than 2 weeks elapsed time, without reliving all the reasons why people do that destructive behavior in the first place. "Thought Shifting" is the new technology. Really, if you are doing illegal or legal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or addicted to many other things (food, sex, work, gambling, etc.) it's all the same. And, the REAL cause is as unique and individual as every person.

Do I think the 12 steps will help? Well, if you go by the dismal 3-30% success rate (less than chance) then no, I don't. Because for me, the only thing that constitutes real, true help is to be totally free to live the life you were meant to live, as the Masterpiece you are meant to be. And, if you look at what they focus on--fear you will go back to your habit again, so you need to go to meetings for the rest of your life--then I would argue even the people who are no longer addicts are not really free of their addiction. They are simply white knuckling it. After all, if you can never drink again, are you really free? I'm sure a very, very small percentage are. But, not many.

However, have they helped people in some way? Yes, sometimes they do. There are better ways, like removing all the reasons you have the addictions in the first place. But, they don't know how to do that (I do.) And, if he has checked himself into rehab, perhaps he is at least open to getting whatever he can from the process.

So, I say cheer him on for at least trying to help himself. The absolute worst thing we do for addicts is assume they are not going to be helped, anyway. They feel our skepticism and they pick up on that. Some will even sayto themselves "Why bother, everyone expects this from me, anyway." That is a shame for any human, and, celebrity or not Mel is still human.

Warmly,
Pam Ragland
http://www.PamRagland.com
http://www.PamRagland.com/eraseaddictions.htm (live in 1+ weeks, free info.)

Posted at 10:24PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Pam Ragland

122. Maybe the stress of living next door to Britney Spears was too much for him! He was putting his house on the market because of all the press attention and being concerned about his family.
I doubt there is anyone here who drinks at all that hasn't at one time driven drunk, home from a party, etc. It really is very common, though very unsafe. If there were harsher laws for drunk driving it would help deter people from taking this risk, but most states just tolerate it, including repeat offenders.
Seriously, just because he needs help with an alcohol addition does not mean he is a bad person. Everyone has problems, addictions, etc, it's how and whether you address it and try to change it that shows the true merit of an individual.
None of us are perfect, including a lot of you HATERS here who use this sad news for your political agendas. Bless you Mel-may God help you beat this problem for good!

Posted at 10:28PM on Jul 31st 2006 by Parkers6

123. It would seem that those attacking Mel Gibson literally want to crucify him for the alleged comments he made after his drunk arrest. The only two people that actually know the truth of what Mel Gibson said to them after his arrest are the two arresting officers that charged Mel Gibson on DUI charges. On top of that the entire world press has based this story on a phone call made to the reporter that broke the story to the press. The reliabilility of this so called phone call leaves a lot to be desired. A man with an alcoholic drinking past like Mel Gibson who is charged while driving drunk making outrageous comments obviously has a very serious personal problem that needs attention and help. No right thinking person can take any thing he says in that condition with any degree of credibility. The National Director of the Anti Defamation League has gone so far as to suggest that Hollywood distance itself from Mel Gibson. With all due respect to the ADL Director Hollywood quite clearly distanced itself from Mel Gibson the moment he had the courage to direct the highly successful "Passion of the Chirst." Mel Gibson paid $25 million dollars out of his own pocket to make the "Passion of the Christ" because no studio or any one else wanted to help him in Hollywood. He received 100 fold in return at the box office for having the courage and tenacity to make this very beautiful powerful moving film about the last 12 hours of Christ's life. As far as I was concerned the "Passion of the Christ" was one of the best movies that I have seen in the last ten years and quite clearly deserved a major academy award or two. If the National Director of the ADL is so concerned about defamation in the movie industry, Why did he not make claims and charges against the "Davinci Code" movie which savagely mocked and attacked the Catholic Church and more importantly the Divinity of Jesus Christ who is in fact God come to earth as man to suffer crucifixtion on the cross for the salvation of all mankind? What does the ADL say about television cartoons being used to mock and blasphemy the Virgin Mary and the Catholic Church, and shows like Comedy Central which are also be used to mock and attack the teachings of the Catholic Church and even mock one of the most beloved Saints of the Twentieeth Centurary, the late Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta who was lovingly know as the "Saint of the Gutters. because she served the poorest of the poor, many in their last hours of life. The National Director of the ADL should be less selective and more proactive because Hollywood has been responsible for an awful lot of anti-catholic defamation through their recent movies and television programs. Unfortunately for Mel Gibson his greatest sin in the eyes of Hollywood and others is that he had the tremendous courage to make the "Passion of the Christ" which became a phenomenal blockbuster success all over the world. And unlike the "Da Vinci Code" and another movie like the "Last Temptation Christ", Mel Gibson totally made his movie according to the Gospels in the bible. "The Da Vinci Code" on the other hand was based on fiction and total fabrication to the point of blasphemy. I have stopped seeing Hollywood films in recent years and refuse to even see any awards shows expecially the academy awards because of their total snub of Mel Gibson's the "Passion of the Christ." I definately plan to see Mel Gibson next blockbuster film "Apacolytco" which was filmed entirely on location in Mexico and is to be released on December 8, 2006.

Posted at 1:18AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Frank Ruffolo

124. Prentiss's comments are absoluelty irresponsible and self- promoting - Passages believes in "massage therapy" will get you sober for 50,000 dollars a month. And exactly how many people have stayed sober that went through Passgages? Everyone in the sober community knows that place is a joke. AA is free. Prentiss is a snake oil salesman. shame on him

Posted at 1:31AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Laura

125. I predict that he's going to check himself into rehab . . . at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Marvin Hier is going to become Mel's new best friend.

Posted at 2:09AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Jeffrey

126. FYI MEL IS NOT A CATHOLIC. Mel Gibson is not a Catholic and the church has distanced themselves from him. He is not part of the ROman Catholic CHurch (ie the Vatican does not recognize his chapel at his house as being part of the Catholic Church) so whoever said the church needs to distance itself from him well how can they when he isnt close to them anyway? He is what is called a traditional catholic. He rejects everything that Happened in Vatican two (changes made within the church mostly the fact that the Mass is no longer said in Latin) and some other things. So he is not a catholic.

Posted at 3:32AM on Aug 1st 2006 by lauren

127. Glad he's getting help, in whatever form. Who hasn't done/said something completely idiotic when using??
Relapse is hard on everyone, but to have it debated and splashed around the world has to be incredibly hurtful and humbling.
I wish him well. It CAN be done.

http://reachingupforair.com/Debbier.htm

Still Reaching!

Posted at 5:31AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Debbie

128. Man oh Man what is this country coming to , HEY GET A GRIP !!!! we have more important things to worrying about other than trashing Mel Gibson Leave Mel alone it
It really doesn't matter,don't ya have a life? get out of those people lives in Hollywood and get your own, he's in REhab how, tring to get his house in order
you should do the same weather you need to or not theirs a dark clude a coming
you should worry youself and yours, instead trying to get in mel's life besides the man apologized, weather or not you forgive him it's up to you
he's no anti semite any one with half a clue can see that , and I'll see his next movie sure as sh&# don't judge a man until you've walked in his shoes give him and yourself a break

Posted at 8:41AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Hal9000

129. Alcoholism knows no financial boundaries. We've all had friends or family that do and say stupid things when they are drunk.
When things like this happen to a celebrity it amazes me how the comments fly from those that are holier then thou.

Alcoholism only has two ways out. Get sober or eventually die. Even when one finds sobriety they can relapse years later and pick up right where they were. Studies are showing it is hereditery, It lives in people wating to take hold of their lives....and it does
Those who think it is a choice are not informed. It is clearly defined as a disease.
I
I'm sure that those of you that are being judgemental have lived a perfect life, never done one thing you are ashamed of, and have every right to sit on a pedestal looking down on others.

WE as a people are responsible. We have created this society.
Did you know there is enough food on this earth to feed all people? Yet , we ask why does God allow hunger? WE allow it!!! No one else.

*jumpng off soap box now*

Posted at 9:58AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Christy Jo

130. Well, if something is for sure, it's that once Mel starts, he can't stop drinking. So what's he do to? Sit at home? At least he's addressing the problem. Maybe if the Sheriff's department pulled over and processed him sooner like they do with everyone else, he wouldn't have been allowed to progress to the point he believed he "owns Malibu". I'm sure that came to a surprise to the many businesses and other multi millionaires on and around the Malibu area. Mel Gilbson's been afforded a reality check. Some celebrites really feel an 'entitlement' which isn't real, and they're never called on it. If we got them all drunk, most of them would crash and burn once their fans thought how they really think.

Posted at 10:53AM on Aug 1st 2006 by Superstar Steve

131. welcome to the disease of alcoholism.one of the most misunderstood diseases.to come back to a normal life is like crawling thru hell.mel is trying like a lot of people out here in the world .we all make mistakes in life.pick yourself up and dust yourself off and get on with life.the world needs more education on addiction,and more compassion.

Posted at 11:12AM on Aug 1st 2006 by rita divirgilio

132. I am an Anti-Semite, and I say way to go Mel! The Jews are the ones to blame for all wars. The Jews own the media, and I say that is why Mel is getting hung out to dry.

Yes Mel, you should be punished for your DUI and severely!. But you should not be punished for saying the truth about the Jews.....

Bravo Mel

Posted at 12:01PM on Aug 1st 2006 by Robert

133. Wellllll, Mel has just said what so many hundreds of millions all over the world are and have been saying now and for thousands of years. How such a very small number of people of billions of people in this world can be so powerfull as to control the workings of the world is an absolute miracle. Now, the hatred of hebrews. If you are a follower of jesus, remember, he was a very religious hebrew who taught the laws of hebrew and lived the life of one He never started or promoted the movement of another religion, not even in his name. It would have been the worst sin of his God. He died as and was given a hebrew (jewish) funeral and berial. If Mel is a follower of a religion of Jesus, he is a follower of hebrew religion as his God was. He has insulted Jesus religion and the others of his followers who were hebrews and non-hebrews also. "Jesus was a f...... jew also. HOW VERY SAD!

Posted at 12:10PM on Aug 1st 2006 by richard altman

134. SUCK UP!! He's trying to get on the Press good side! Make him self look like a good guy by getting him help that if you ask me he doesnt need. He drunk once and did a dum ass thing! O well, pleolpe fuck up some times.

Posted at 12:27PM on Aug 1st 2006 by Jaclyn

135. Ya need to want to be helped and well. . . . Such is life. He got caught. Normal person would just be a statistic.

Posted at 12:39PM on Aug 1st 2006 by Jam`