1.
These men may well have a remedy for thousands of such situations.
The doctor recognized this program for what it is: the most successful treatment for chronic alcoholics that has ever existed. He saw that carrying this message to those who still suffered would ignite a great fire of recovery bringing this solution to alcoholics everywhere.
5-9
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 taht 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. But we are sure that our bodies were sickened as well. In our beilef, any pictures of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete.
This "must" can be taken in two ways. (1)Our bodies are as abnormal as our minds. This is the inescapable conclusion of anyone who has experienced alcoholic addiction and the phenomenon of craving. (2)The authors might also be expressing to us that this conviction is a necessary component of our recovery.
The doctor's theory explains why we are unable to stop drinking once we begin. We stop off after work for one drink and wind up staying till closing. We decide to have one drink to relax and end up drunk. Understanding the physical reason for this is as important as understanding the mental causes. When alcoholics drink, we develop a physical craving for alcohol compelling us to continue drinking.
10-13
The doctor's theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us. As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little. But as ex-alcoholics, we can say that his explanation makes good sense. It explains many things for which we cannot otherwise account.
Reading this chapter helps us to take the first step in recovery from alcoholism. Admitting we are powerless over alcohol is not so difficult when the physical aspect of the illness is so clearly illustrated.
*Definitions:
Allergy: an abnormal reaction, an increased sensitivity.
14-15
Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer.
The authors saw the value of medical care during withdrawal from alcohol. Application of the theories and techniques presented in this volume can best begin after we emerge from the fog of our last drunk.
What this book has to offer is a simple kit of spiritual tools. These tools are offered to us rather than forced upon us.
*Definitions:
Altruistic: an action taken due to an unselfish concern for others.
Imperative: mandatory
Souce: The Annotated AA Handbook
A companion to the Big Book
By Frank D.
Source: Annotated AA Handbook
A Companion to the Big Book
by Frank D.