Debtors Anonymous (DA) is a Twelve Step program for people who share a common inability to maintain financial solvency. DA was founded in 1971 by members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) who found that their financial difficulties were caused by an addictive disease not unlike alcoholism, compulsive debting. In the DA program it is considered a personality defect that can be gradually changed over time. The only requirement for membership in DA is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. As of 2003, there were over 500 DA meetings throughout the United States and in 13 other countries throughout the world.^[1][2] A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles for recovery from addictive, compulsive, or other behavioral problems, originally developed by the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) to guide recovery from alcoholism. ... In finance solvency is the ability of an entity to pay its debts with available cash. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Logo for AA Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an informal society for recovering alcoholics. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... Unsecured debt is a financial term that refers to any type of debt that is not collateralized by any specified assets in the event of default. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In DA two terms used in the program, "terminal vagueness" and "compulsively inattentive," describe characteristic behaviors of compulsive debtors. They refer to systematic avoidance monitoring one's finances. In this way compulsive debtors either overestimate or underestimate their account balances, but never know exact amounts. So, in DA members are encouraged to "keep numbers" — record each penny owed, spent, and earned. One such method advocated is to make a "spending plan." A spending plan is essentially a list of of all products and services to be purchased. Members review these and assess whether items on the spending plan seem reasonable. A variation on a spending plan is known as the "envelope method." In this method members separate each of their expenses in to categories and then fill envelope with the amount of money they can spend in each.^[2]

Unlike other Twelve Step programs, DA meetings include an "accountability" session. After opening the meeting with readings of DA literature, and sharing about that and other topics, in the accountability section members are allowed to ask questions and interrupt each other to give advice. Outside of weekly meetings, members are encouraged to organize "pressure relief meetings." In such meetings, a newer member invites two veteran members to review his or her financial records in detail and give practical advice.^[2]

DA has one conference-approved book used as standard literature, A Currency of Hope. It includes DA's adaptations of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions includes DA's original Twelve Recovery Tools and Signposts.^[3] Researchers have found that a lack of DA approved literature was one of the common obstacles preventing potential members from entering the DA program. It was also found that the necessities of admitting powerlessness, attending meetings, and being open to individual interpretations of the Twelve Steps, were similarly problematic for potential members.^[4] A twelve-step program is a self-help group whose members attempt recovery from various addictions and compulsions through the use of a plan referred to as the twelve steps. Characteristics All twelve-step programs follow some version of the twelve steps. ... The Twelve Traditions of Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous define the appropriate relationships between an AA group and its members, other groups, AA as a whole, and society at large. ...

Compulsive Buying Disorder

Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) is characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying behavior that causes adverse consequences. Most persons with CBD meet the criteria for an Axis II disorder. CBD is found in 5.8% of the United States population, of which approximately 80% are female. It is frequently comorbid with mood, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders. Onset of CBD occurs in the late teens and early twenties and is generally chronic. CBD is further distinguished from OCD hoarding and mania. Along with medication, like SSRIs, DA has been showing to be a promising treatment for CBD.^[5][6][7] Personality disorders form a class of mental disorders that are characterized by long-lasting rigid patterns of thought and actions. ... In medicine and in psychiatry, comorbidity is either The presence of one or more disorders (or diseases) in addition to a primary disease or disorder; or The effect of such additional disorders or diseases. ... A mood disorder is a condition whereby the prevailing emotional mood is distorted or inappropriate to the circumstances. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Substance abuse refers to the overindulgence in and dependence on a psychoactive leading to effects that are detrimental to the individuals physical health or mental health, or the welfare of others. ... Look up chronic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Compulsive hoarding (or pathological hoarding) is a term which is used to describe extreme hoarding behaviour in humans. ... Mania is a severe medical condition characterized by extremely elevated mood, energy, and thought patterns. ...

External links

• Debtors Anonymous

References