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My experience with self-help goes back to the early 70's when it first exploded onto the scene. It was during another time of war, at a time of social and political upheaval when alternative lifestyles and cultures were being freely examined and pursued in juxtaposition to the established order of things, as confidence in the legitimacy of traditional authority was questioned. On all fronts it was a time to take things in one's own hands, away from the "experts" and be one's own expert. It was a time when it was almost sacrilegious not to be rebellious, different and self-motivated.

Because of the climate then, I was literally propelled into "self-help". There were newly forming support groups of every kind; there were numerous self-improvement books and audiotapes, some of dubious value, but all in profusion to choose from. I knew that I wanted help, but I had little trust in the expertise of authorities and feared most people, in general. Coming from a highly educated background, and being more comfortable among the books of a library than among other people, I sought out the self-help "how-to" book route for that help.

It was in these books that I was able to safely interact with others who shared the same thoughts, feelings and experiences that I did. It was through these books that I realized I was not alone in my grief, pain and suffering. They also showed me that, in being willing to accept the tools that these books offered, I was not alone in pursuing my recovery. Whether or not I knew it at the time, it was the first step in my joining with other human beings who wished to share their recovery with me.

Hindsight can be a wonderful teacher. We often do not know the purpose of the journey we undertake until we are far into it. What I initially thought was the safety of bookish isolation was eventually transformed through self-help, as I reached out and began to trust other people, ultimately to participate in support groups. I learned in these groups that recovery is a shared prospect. Now I see how my journey has led me to the fortunate position as director of a self-help information resource, where I have the opportunity to collect volumes of information on self-help resources throughout the state, in print, on the Internet, and wherever I can find it. And, in the spirit of true recovery, I am only too happy to share this information with my peers.