10 truths I have learned about recovery and this disease of addiction
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 42
10 truths I have learned about recovery and this disease of addiction
I have been around the program for a few 24hrs and there are some undeniable truths about this disease and recovery that I did not want to accept when I first came around, although I heard it at almost every meeting in some form. Maybe they can help someone.
1. You will not quit until you have had enough. This one sounds so harsh, but like the book states "It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness" I know for this alcoholic it took every treatment center, hospital bed, DUI, pint of blood I threw up, etc to earn my plastic chair.
2. The booze\drugs are not the real problem. No one who has any respect for themselves pounds poisonous chemicals into their body until they slip into oblivion. The booze\drugs were the solution, at least for a while. Booze\drugs could help us escape our miserable existence filled with unhappiness, all derived due to selfishness and self-centeredness.
3. The same man\woman will drink again. If putting down the booze was enough, there would be no need for the 12 steps, meetings, sponsors, or a big book. It is like a knocking rod in your engine. A can of STP oil treatment will quiet the knock for a week or so, but the rod is still bent. A spiritual awakening is required to fix the real problem.
4. No human power could have relieved my alcoholism. Lord knows everyone tried. Judges, lawyers, girlfriends, etc. I have spent my life placing dependence on other people. But because they are human, they will always fail us, just like we failed them. This is where a power greater than myself is required.
5. This is an inside problem with no outside solution. I have always thought, if just had the right girlfriend, band, job, income, blah, blah, then I would not need to drink. I was trying to fill inside holes with outside things. Healing starts on the inside when we work steps two and three. There is a sufficient substitute. It is the fellowship.
6. I am powerless over alcohol, and pornography, and Ben and Jerry’s, and caffeine, etc. My disease changes clothes all the time. The good news is that I recognize it. Look, if it feels good, taste good, looks good, I want more of it. Moderation is not in my vocabulary. But I have tools today that I can use. Sponsor, prayer, meetings, talking to another alcoholic.
7. My life is unmanageable. It does not say my hair is unmanageable, or my checkbook is unmanageable. My life in unmanageable. This means everything. I finally got the guts to fire myself from management and made sure I was marked "no re-hire!" This was really tough to accept. I am so damn self sufficient, enough to get me killed.
8. It is not the caboose on the train that kills you. The craziest thing I have ever done was done sober, and that was to pick up the first one. After the first one, it is two, three, and the next thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire. It is alcoholism, not alcoholwasm.
9. I cannot think myself out of this disease. It says this many times in the big book. My sponsor gave me a test. It goes like this:
Self knowledge avails me:
A). Everything I have ever wanted.
B). Half the s#it I needed.
C). Jack s*it.
Being too smart for this program will get you killed.
10. You must give it away to keep it. Huh? I hated these little quips, like surrender to win!. Arggg. But this is one of the greatest gifts of the spiritual awakening. When I work with other alcoholics, I feel whole, useful, and like I am doing God's work. It is indescribable. When I first heard this I said "hooey"! Man was I wrong.
Of course, there is sooooo much more. I just had to get that out. Thanks for letting me share.
1. You will not quit until you have had enough. This one sounds so harsh, but like the book states "It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness" I know for this alcoholic it took every treatment center, hospital bed, DUI, pint of blood I threw up, etc to earn my plastic chair.
2. The booze\drugs are not the real problem. No one who has any respect for themselves pounds poisonous chemicals into their body until they slip into oblivion. The booze\drugs were the solution, at least for a while. Booze\drugs could help us escape our miserable existence filled with unhappiness, all derived due to selfishness and self-centeredness.
3. The same man\woman will drink again. If putting down the booze was enough, there would be no need for the 12 steps, meetings, sponsors, or a big book. It is like a knocking rod in your engine. A can of STP oil treatment will quiet the knock for a week or so, but the rod is still bent. A spiritual awakening is required to fix the real problem.
4. No human power could have relieved my alcoholism. Lord knows everyone tried. Judges, lawyers, girlfriends, etc. I have spent my life placing dependence on other people. But because they are human, they will always fail us, just like we failed them. This is where a power greater than myself is required.
5. This is an inside problem with no outside solution. I have always thought, if just had the right girlfriend, band, job, income, blah, blah, then I would not need to drink. I was trying to fill inside holes with outside things. Healing starts on the inside when we work steps two and three. There is a sufficient substitute. It is the fellowship.
6. I am powerless over alcohol, and pornography, and Ben and Jerry’s, and caffeine, etc. My disease changes clothes all the time. The good news is that I recognize it. Look, if it feels good, taste good, looks good, I want more of it. Moderation is not in my vocabulary. But I have tools today that I can use. Sponsor, prayer, meetings, talking to another alcoholic.
7. My life is unmanageable. It does not say my hair is unmanageable, or my checkbook is unmanageable. My life in unmanageable. This means everything. I finally got the guts to fire myself from management and made sure I was marked "no re-hire!" This was really tough to accept. I am so damn self sufficient, enough to get me killed.
8. It is not the caboose on the train that kills you. The craziest thing I have ever done was done sober, and that was to pick up the first one. After the first one, it is two, three, and the next thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire. It is alcoholism, not alcoholwasm.
9. I cannot think myself out of this disease. It says this many times in the big book. My sponsor gave me a test. It goes like this:
Self knowledge avails me:
A). Everything I have ever wanted.
B). Half the s#it I needed.
C). Jack s*it.
Being too smart for this program will get you killed.
10. You must give it away to keep it. Huh? I hated these little quips, like surrender to win!. Arggg. But this is one of the greatest gifts of the spiritual awakening. When I work with other alcoholics, I feel whole, useful, and like I am doing God's work. It is indescribable. When I first heard this I said "hooey"! Man was I wrong.
Of course, there is sooooo much more. I just had to get that out. Thanks for letting me share.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 226
Oh thank-you, that’s a good word I think I'll use that.
I do this like this too but it makes false reference to the Big Book in the 9th truth and based on this I would have a hard time passing it around to anyone.
All Good Things,
I do this like this too but it makes false reference to the Big Book in the 9th truth and based on this I would have a hard time passing it around to anyone.
All Good Things,
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,954
Wonderful and I might add that the great fact is: 
I can recover from alcoholism with different 'truths' than those stated above.
I can recover from alcoholism with different 'truths' than those stated above.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Winter Park, Fl
Posts: 27
Originally Posted by zencat 
Wonderful and I might add that the great fact is: I can recover from alcoholism with different 'truths' than those stated above.
I can recover from alcoholism with different 'truths' than those stated above.Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,954
Originally Posted by Mastermind1987
Theres not another way for me, a spiritual solution for a spiritual problem.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 333
will probably get in big trouble for this, but reading through that list, I immediately felt that it is saying that only AA will stop me drinking. Well, if that's true, should I give up now? I have no intention of going to AA so am I going to fail? Have I misread it?
No offence meant, but I do feel a bit annoyed.
No offence meant, but I do feel a bit annoyed.
Knucklehead
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davenport, WA
Posts: 4,005
Originally Posted by Coolmummy
will probably get in big trouble for this, but reading through that list, I immediately felt that it is saying that only AA will stop me drinking. Well, if that's true, should I give up now? I have no intention of going to AA so am I going to fail? Have I misread it?
No offence meant, but I do feel a bit annoyed.
No offence meant, but I do feel a bit annoyed.
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
Posts: 13,954
Originally Posted by Coolmummy
will probably get in big trouble for this, but reading through that list, I immediately felt that it is saying that only AA will stop me drinking. Well, if that's true, should I give up now? I have no intention of going to AA so am I going to fail? Have I misread it?
No offence meant, but I do feel a bit annoyed.
No offence meant, but I do feel a bit annoyed.
I think its the ole "if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail" mentality that comes from devoting oneself to a single ideology. And for some people that works for them. As for me, I'm trying to develop a set of personal beliefs that reflect an accepting attitude of various addiction treatments. Rather than develop a narrow and constricting attitude of beliefs that comes off as arrogant.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 201
Don't worry coolsmummy. Its a proven fact, unlike many of the statements given by fishman35 (who is only interpreting the big book), that the majority of people who recover from alcohol do so without going to AA.
AA has helped me because I was unemployed, felt alone. Having that peer group, seeing people recovered and living fulfilling lives and it occupied my time while I was unemployed. I used to go meetings every night.
I found the big book fuelled my depression, so I left it well alone.
I now go to a meeting once a week, I like the majority of people in AA and like to keep in touch with them, I am eternally grateful for the people who gave me a support when I was at my lowest ebb.
AA has helped me because I was unemployed, felt alone. Having that peer group, seeing people recovered and living fulfilling lives and it occupied my time while I was unemployed. I used to go meetings every night.
I found the big book fuelled my depression, so I left it well alone.
I now go to a meeting once a week, I like the majority of people in AA and like to keep in touch with them, I am eternally grateful for the people who gave me a support when I was at my lowest ebb.
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