HL>Gee Jane, I got sober in the rooms of AA.  Perhaps, since I didn't need
HL>to be in an inpatient treatment center I'm not a *real* alcoholic.  I
HL>seem to remember you accusing me of that a couple of years ago....
NO, dear, I didn't.  YOU interpreted my remarks as that, went off on a
tangent of your own, and remained there.  I was also presented with the
same information by another alcoholic some years ago, asked where it
came from, got out the Big Book, and read it over for myself.
To each his or her own.
HL> JK> I am sober because a counselor at Shadel Hospital in Seattle, the
HL> JK> first tretment center around here, got me to work there in 1969.  I
HL>I'm sober because a dear friend 12-stepped me in AA.  It was *there* that
HL>I learned if I didn't pick up the first one, I wouldn't get drunk.  It
HL>was also in AA that I learned that I had a choice as to whether or not
HL>to pick up the first one.
And, if you knew the full story and didn't just stop when your
particular buttons were pushed, you would know that I went to
Shadel because of two friends who were going to A. A. and had taken me
with them.  That didn't convince me that I needed help.  I thought A.A.
was fine for those poor folks who did need it, but I had my house, my
kids, and was even driving my own car to work at Shadel's!  My own
denial system was very much intact years ago.
If it hadn't been for the staff at Shadel's sending a certain patient in
to talk to me, a patient who was a 12th stepper in A.A. and who was very
convincing, I might not have been persuaded that something was actually
wrong with me.
Denial is individual.  Breaking through it takes a lot of education and
a lot of skill.  We professionals do not have the luxury of saying that
a 12th step call is successful if the person making it remains sober.
We HAVE TO STAY SOBER no matter what is presented to us by whoever and
whatever comes around.
And, we are also expected to be able to motivate EVERYONE who is before
us to quit or reduce their use of harmful substances, not just those who
personally relate to us.
If I had to worry about folks liking me or what I said, I would be very
much ineffective as a counselor.
HL>Lest you think I've been slacking on my recovery, I've been the therapy
HL>route, and have discovered certain neurotransmitter problems that may
HL>or may not have been a predisposition to my drinking....however, I
HL>don't think that since those have been taken care of (chemically) I
HL>can feel free to drink like a non-alcoholic.
The reason that alcoholics keep on drinking is that alcohol seems to
provide an instant "fix" to the problems these faulty neurotransmitters
provide us.  Then the stuff becomes markedly unfriendly and turns on us.
At that point, the alcoholic will create new chemicals out of the
alcohol which are then stored in body and brain fat.  It is the drawing
out of these that constitutes extended  withdrawal.
HL>Therefore, it occurs to me, that whatever the cause, be it emotional,
HL>mental or physical, once the pattern of alcoholic drinking is set,
HL>there can be no return to non-alcoholic drinking.
The emotional and mental are but the effect  of the body going amuck.
There are emotional conditons that are the direct result of a lousy
diet.  Today we know there is no seperation of the mind and the body,
that they are one and dependant on each other.  Freudian psychiatry has
long since been replaced by the work of other men (and some women).
One of those helped Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob with the fourth step.  Yup.
Dr. Jung was the first man in medicine to say that Freud wasn't all
right.  And we have all benefitted ever since from his wisdom.
HL>I'm not sure what your point in these messages is.
Simple.  I'm very tired of watching folks in recovery, long term
recovery, incidently, die or be chronically ill needlessly.  Mostly
because they figure that all they have to do is to stay sober and go to
meetings.
 Are you espousing HL>therapy, inpatient rehabs, nutrition or
what?
Nope. I'm advocating a return to the full First Step which starts with
The Doctor's Opinion.  And that we give credit to those professionals
which have labored long and hard to inform us about neurotransmitters
and remedial diet.  That is much more important than all of the pills we
could create to provide a fast "fix".
  Also, I've not noticed HL>anything regarding the spiritual aspect
of AA in any of your posts? HL>Do you actually work this program, or are
you doing a variation of HL>it that is of your own devising?
I've long since found conferences that are about the spiritual aspect of
life that go much further than A.A. does or should.  I also have found
some on philosophy.  I am a firm believer in the words written on pages
569 and 570 of the Big Book.  As well as being permitted to find the
answers on an individual basis.
I could relate how this got started for you if you like, the night I was
sitting in a meeting at old Freemont in Seattle listening to Big Pete.
A voice I'd never heard before seemed to say, "I am.  I need no excuse
for being.  I am one with eternity."
Took a few years and a lot of soul searching, reading a lot of books,
and asking and sharing with quite a few folks before I learned what that
meant, and what sitting on the right hand of also means.  Had to
complicate all to h*** and back to understand the simple words.
But then, that is another story.
 * SLMR 2.1a * Press any key to continue or any other key to quit
   
--- JCQWK
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