A Question: What Is Alcholism and What is the Common Solution

[wordman]

Good morning friends. My name is Scott and I am an alcoholic. Today I have 45 days sober. I am working the steps with my sponsor. part of my step two exercise is to ask other fellow alcoholics two questions and write down there responses. I would be greatful fto anyone who would reply to these. I am also doing this at my meetings that I attend. The questions are

1. What is Alcoholism


2. What is the common solution

Peace and blessings to everyone for this day and forever

Love

Scott

[Emimily]

I'll bite -

1) Alcoholism is a disease of the mind and the body, where the body experiences the phenomenon of craving after the first drink and the mind experiences mental obsession after the first drink. This disease leads to a spiritual malady (in my opinion) that leaves the alcoholic with one motive - to drink.

2) I believe the common solution differs. I don't know that there is one. I'm in AA, so my solution is surrender - clean house - help others. But I'm not so egotistical today to suggest that my solution is the only one out there, or the "common" one. Lots more people die alcoholic deaths than get sober in AA. I'm one of the lucky ones.

hope it helped, and welcome!

[RufusACanal]

My answer is the answer is in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous; read it daily!

[CarolD]

Hi Scott....

!. When I continued to drank tho my goal was to abstain.
2. God and AA

Thanks for asking me to share my experience

[Tazman53]

Welcome to SR Scott, my name is Martin and I am an alcoholic.

1. I am the alcoholic they speak of in the BB, the one who has lost the choice to not drink. (Short version)

The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink.

2. The solution for me:

There is a solution. Almost none of us liked the self- searching, the leveling of our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the process requires for its successful consummation. But we saw that it really worked in others, and we had come to believe in the hopelessness and futility of life as we had been living it. When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at out feet. We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed.

The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves.

Congrats on your 45 days, it keeps getting better as long as you keep working it.

[Jfanagle]

1. My definition of alcoholism as it pertains to ME is really rather simple. "I officially declared myself alcoholic when drinking interfered with my life." In the end, I would always consider how my ability to access alcohol would be effected by the rest of my daily requirements and obligations.

2. The common solution was simply the "institution" of a "new way of life" that made it possible for me to find in this new manner of living what I had been lacking in my old way of life. It was this void or "lacking" that I had attempted, but never succeeded, to fill with my consumption of alcohol.

It is important to me that I understand that I was NEVER SUSTITUTING alcohol for what has now become my new way of living. I am replacing the VOID that existed, hence our reference to "alcohol is but a symptom" of our problem.

Jon

[Barto]

Mountain Girl is pretty much dead-on with the Big Book’s definition of the disease of alcoholism, except that the obsession of the mind is what causes an alcoholic to take the first drink (despite past experience that tells us that this is a very bad idea). Once the first drink is taken, the phenomenon of craving kicks in and the alcoholic [mostly] cannot control how much he will drink or what he will do.

Since this is the 12 Step section, I’ll give you the 12 step solution – finding and maintaining a relationship with a power greater than yourself who will remove the obsession to take the first drink, thus negating the phenomenon of craving (or physical aspect of the disease).

To further understand what this means, I defer to Rufus. The big book breaks it all down really well. You can get one at any AA meeting.

[sugErspun]

Well - probably as good for me to write this out as it will be for you to read...


1- Alcoholism- My body will not stop once I start (craving described quite well by Em above). My mind will bring me to the first drink no matter how important it is that I don't drink (I will get the craving on me - and won't be able to stop). I suffer from a spiritual malady that I describe as feeling 'seperated' from the world. Alone, fearful, self-willed.

2- The common solution. The Twelve Steps of AA as outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, at least that is what the book says - I stopped arguing with that book a long time ago.


Sounds like you have a good sponsor. Know the problem - Know the solution.

~Adam

[wordman]

Thanks to everyone for there replies. I have a big book, but I was doing this exercise both at meetings and on here at the direction of my sponsor

[wordman]

Thanks to everyone!

[bballdad]

hi Scott

I`m Tommy and I am a alcoholic

Scott,this is not too short,but it is something I use with new guys sometimes to get them to see a picture of my alcoholism.It`s worth the read.

from the Big Book, the Dr`s Opinion

"In this statement he confirms what we who have suffered alcoholic torture must believe-that the body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind. It did not satisfy us to be told that we could not control our drinking just because we were maladjusted to life, that we were in full flight from reality, or were outright mental defectives. These things were true to some extent, in fact, to a considerable extent with some of us. However, we are sure that our bodies were sickened as well. In our belief, any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete.
The doctor's theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us. "

Alcoholics of OUR/MY type! Chronic alkies -Am I convinced I am one?
3 things to consider<pay close attention to the 3 things listed below,which are my examples>
1-the physical
2-the mental
3-the spiritual

what are the symptoms of the allergy concerning the
1-physical factor with me?

the phenomenon of craving ( associated with chronic alcoholics only - me)
I could not control my drinking
I was found passed out in my car
I wrecked the car drunk (a lot)
I was in jail for being drunk and disruptive and other things (drinking always Involved)
lost jobs due to drinking
lost my family 3 times due to drinking
and a lot of just crazy drinking..


that was what the world saw me do regularly....
that wasn’t my alcoholism, it was the outward sign of my alcoholism.
My sponsor pointed out alcoholism comes in people, not bottles.
It is bottled up in my head!


2-The mental symthons
mental obsession to drink
Blackouts
*rationalizations (which are a form of insanity) such as:
it’s his fault
it’s her fault
if you was married to her you would drink too
the boss isn`t fair
the cops are out to get me
Another drink will get the job done
it will be different this time
I don`t have a problem with booze!
etc,etc
a lot of just crazy thinking and excuse making!

now if I combine number 1 and 2 it will take me to the gates of insanity and death! Number one will be there regardless of what number 2
says if I didn’t find a spiritual solution to change number 2.
Numbers one and two show me I have a abnormal body and a abnormal mind when it comes to drinking booze.

Only chronic alcoholics of our/my type have the physical factor

Many times I went into a bar just wanting a few to get to feeling better. I would wake up hours later and didn’t remember anything. The AA people told me I had blackouts. I drove in them too.


3-the spiritual symptoms
restless
irritable
discontented
<self will>
(page 52 shows me other symptoms)
I had trouble with my personal relationships (including fights, divorces, separations, etc)-which destroyed trust
i was a prey to depression
I had emotional problems
I was full of fear
I was not help to others
I am not happy, I was miserable
I could not make a living
etc

those things(number 3) keep the number 2 and number 1 going-
I was so miserable I had to drink to find some relief
and then once started,I was on the merry go round again. The vicious cycle.I could not stop.

Page 64
for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.

When I apply the steps to my life, number 3 is changed, and then the other 2 are changed..... Except the physical craving (from the physical- number 1), which don’t matter if I never take the first drink. It works from the inside out, a inside job the old-timers say. Human power is of no avail...~thank God for AA~

the 12 steps of AA are a solution to my spiritual malady-a way from death to life!

thats my alcoholism from the big book

[sugErspun]

Scott ( wordman ), I am of the curious sort.

Is your sponsor having you do this as part of your second step????

I ask because I think the first question (What is alcoholism) - is more pertinent at the first step (admission of the problem).

Just curious.

Oh, and Welcome. Stoked at 45 days.

[wordman]

Yes, he is having me do this as part of my second step. What is alcoholism and what is the common solution. I never ask my sponsor why he is having me do this. I trust him. He has good sobriety. I was in AA 10 years ago and fought with my sponsor all the time and tried to do things my way. I did a written frist step detailing my drinking story of powerlessness and unmanageability. I am doing several written and spoken and reading assignments on the second step. My gut feeling as to why he is having me do this is A: Because I am an isolator, I need to approach other alcoholics and talk to them. I did this at a meeting last night and got 10 responses and ten phone numbers. It's getting me active in the program,
B: To help me come to believe in a power greater than myself by hearing other people's answer to the common solution, which has, almost to a person been working the steps and finding a higher power. I am enjoying this little assignment that my sponsor ahs given me. It is getting me more active at my meetings and I am meeting more alcoholics and getting involved in service. There are those that are around AA, and those that are in AA. I have to be IN AA if I want to be sober today. Have a great day

Peace and Blessings to You Now and Forever

Scott
Day 46

[sugErspun]

Thanks for sharing Scott, I hope my inquiry did not come across as critical, it was pure curiosity on the different bounces we all have in our steps along the same path.

Another note to common solution: "The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe." - pp. 25
http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_BigBook_chapt2.pdf

The book tells you how to have such an experience.

[wordman]

No I did not think you were being critical at all. Thanks for sharing