[matt_w]

I just went to a mental health professional for the first time last week after being sober for over two years. I had to swallow my pride, both in myself and my sobriety, in order to seek help for some outside issues. I believe that it is God's will for me to avail myself of any help He provides through others, and if the treatment I am receiving can make me of better use to others, it will be a success.

There are some in AA who would claim some sort of "old-time" authority that our program of recovery holds every answer for every problem. A look at the history of our fellowship shows that this just isn't so. Let's not forget what the founders were like when it came to any sort of medical, psychological, or spiritual path. They were incredibly open-minded and willing to try anything, including ouija boards, hydrotherapy, psychoanalysis, and LSD (under clinical conditions). Bill W suffered years-long depressions in sobriety for which he tried every treatment available at the time. Would something like SSRI's have helped? Possibly. Would he have tried them if his doctor recommended them? Absolutely.

I have seen stone dope fiends able to take opiate painkillers under doctor's supervision for surgical pain and come out with no ill effects. Such is the power of God. I have also heard people in AA tell newcomers that their psych meds break sobriety and that all they need is the program. This advice is not only misguided, but can be deadly. We are drunks, and need to focus on what we do best, treating alcoholism.

Best,

Matt