Posted on 08/28/2009 1:31:53 PM PDT by RKV
In August 1979, I took my last drink. It was about four o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, the hot sun streaming through the windows of my little carriage house on Dickens. I put a glass of scotch and soda down on the living room table, went to bed, and pulled the blankets over my head. I couldn't take it any more.
On Monday I went to visit wise old Dr. Jakob Schlichter. I had been seeing him for a year, telling him I thought I might be drinking too much. He agreed, and advised me to go to "A.A.A," which is what he called it. Sounded like a place where they taught you to drink and drive. I said I didn't need to go to any meetings. I would stop drinking on my own. He told me to go ahead and try, and check back with him every month.
The problem with using will power, for me, was that it lasted only until my will persuaded me I could take another drink. ...
A.A. believes there is an enormous difference between bring dry and being sober. It is not enough to simply abstain. You need to heal and repair the damage to yourself and others. We talk about "white-knuckle sobriety," which might mean, "I'm sober as long as I hold onto the arms of this chair." People who are dry but not sober are on a "dry drunk."
...
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.suntimes.com ...
Of course I do.
I pay attention.
Touche.
Isn't THAT the truth? I was ambushed by a gal at my first meeting- she gave me her phone number and got mine. She told me she was my sponsor. She didn't take "I'm not ready for that, thanks" for an answer ;) For that- I am eternally grateful. 06/29/82
“Al-Anon/AA is NOT for everyone, but it sure helps many.”
My Ex is a binge drinking alcoholic. I went to one Al-Anaon meeting 15 years ago and it was almost impossible to walk into the room, as if at that very moment I was admitting I had a problem in my life. But a very kind lady took me aside and let me know that it was OK.
I never went back but that one moment helped me to begin to realize it wasn’t my fault.
A couple of years after the divorce I took my son to an Alateen meeting after a he had a particularly brutal episode with his mother. I left him there and came back when it was over. His words were “Dad, I don’t need this, these kids parents are getting drunk and beating them every day. Mom just gets drunk at night.” So, we never went back but that was enough for him to realize it wasn’t his fault either.
He’s a sharp kid who has his is own way of dealing with his mom, keeps her at distance. The younger son took a more blunt route, he doesn’t see or speak to her anymore. And she’s fine with that in her own demented way.
Sad. We raised our two nephews. Their mother was in and out of rehab about a dozen times; prison twice. Ended up a meth head and now she’s in a mental institution. I wish she were dead.
The ways in which she messed up her kids’ lives is beyond words.
And interestingly enough the only one who is angry in this whole exchange is you. I do not need to “grow up” (whatever you mean by that). And if you have noticed I have made NO comment about what the “cause” of alcoholism is. ( nor will I). I hope you have a prosperous life
I know I find it sad that the traditions don’t seem to be taught much any more.
Thanks.
I need to give this link to my students.
Many have informed me of their needs/interests/problems in this area.
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=2326887%2C128
So I can print the link off for them.
**AA Ping**
????? Really ... sign me up!
***Me too
Congratulations, old timer. Keep coming back.
Sobriety date, October 26, 1975
***Good for you, old timer. If I could do so quickly, I’d post that image of a room full of clapping people. But I can’t, so I’ll say the Serenity Prayer.
The 12 Concepts weren’t even around when some of us first went through the door.
Gotta ping "RobFromGa" for that....
Is there a friends of Lois ping list?
What's a "friend of Lois"?
Our children are all adopted so they did not inherit what ever it is that made his family so self destructive.
***That’s an interesting way to halt the progression of the family illness.
Good Catch, I missed it on the first pass.
It seems that Roger might be drawing the name of AA into public controversy by not maintaining anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV and film.
I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you ;-)
just kidding, in case the winking eye guy didn’t give it away
This is an anonymous program so you’d best freepmail me for the answer.
Thanks friend, keep coming back,it works.
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