• Identification of the specific malady or symptoms.
  
• Identification of the cause of the malady.
  
• Removal, where possible, of the causal agent.
  
• Protection of the weakened area from reccurent injury or
  reinfection or opportunistic infections.
  
• Strengthening of the body and immune system to prevent
  future injury or infection once healing has occurred.

If one examines the various different programs of recovery, one
will find all of the general elements one uses in treating medical
ailments.

In some instances, there is a need to greive for that which is lost
and may never be reclaimed -- such as in the death of a close
loved one. It is can be helpful to be aware of the various stages of
grief which a person generally passes through:

denial -> anger -> bargaining -> depression -> acceptance

It can be helpful as it allows a person to recognize why they are
feeling as they are as well as determine whether they are stuck in
a given stage for some reason. It is also helpful to remember that
not everyone will spend as much time in any given stage as the
next person, and this does not always correlate to the significance
of the loss. One person may reach acceptance more quickly than
another. One person may be "stuck" in denial or anger or
depression for a considerable period of time, whereas another
may even seemingly skip one or more stages such as anger,
bargaining, or depression.

Now, as to how this applies to Recovery from Mormonism and the
RfM Stories and Discussion Board, I believe the following things
ought to be considered. The Discussion board is often one of the
first places a person finds information about the specific cause of
their malady. The stories likewise serve to help a person identify
and clarify the symptoms of their malady and the source of their
discomforture as it pertains to Mormonism.

Once the identification of the causal agents have been made,
treatment can progress. Almost always, the treatment is self-
administered in the form of removing that which causes the
discomfort, for example: ceasing to adhere to strictures one
deems inappropriate; such as no longer paying tithing, attending
church, wearing garments, abstaining from alcohol, coffee, tea, etc.
Additional measures may include avoiding "church friends" or
spiritually abusive or manipulative family, friends, or church
leaders.

The Bulletin Board also offers a safe place to vent frustrations,
disucuss problems and challenges with others or internal conflicts
which one might find difficult or impossible to do at home, with
friends, or with Church advisors/leaders for fear (whether justified
or not) of harming or even losing valued relationships with family
and friends. The Bulletin Board also provides a forum for soliciting
the advice of others who have walked the road before on how to
deal with difficult and challenging situations.

The Bulletin Board and stories also contain valuable information
that may be used to strengthen or fortify oneself against the
onslaught of personal attacks or the seduction of returning to
Mormonism. It provides a place where one can rally courage from
the support of others to make difficult and even painful decisions
which one desires to make in order to further the individual
recovery process.

Nevertheless, the Bulletin Board can also be a rough place and
sometimes even counter-productive to the process of recovery
from Mormonism. At times, trolls may visit and taunt or abuse
those who post or visit here with the old mind-control techniques of
shaming and guilt-tripping, warnings of divine judgment and
retribution, accusations of sin or desire to sin of all kinds, etc. At
other times, discussions of personal agendas of regular posters
may become heated and the board errupt in a volcanic flame war
of opposing personalities and posts full of vitriol, contempt, or
anger directed at other posters. Fortunately, the moderators and
other posters on the board are usually able to minimize such
occurances when they get well out of hand, or appear to be on the
brink of becoming so.

Can recovery from Mormonism take place at the RfM website and
discussion board? I think the evidence bears out the fact that it
can and does. It is certainly not a perfect system. Perhaps an
even better system might be possible. However, the RfM
discussion and story boards definitely do help in the recovery
process. Just like AA, there are some who recover and then stick
around to help others, and there are some who simply move on
with their lives, finding other things to fill the void which
Mormonism or the RfM discussion board and group once filled.
Hopefully, whatever the path one takes, it leads one to a full
enjoyment of life.