8-11
Why does he behave like this? If hundreds of experiences have shown him that one drink means another debacle with all its attendant suffering and humiliation, why is it he takes that one drink? Why can't he stay on the water wagon? What has become of the common sense and willpower that he still sometimes displays with respect to other matters?
These are not rhetorical questions. They are placed here so that we will ask them of ourselves. Our lack of an adequate answer to these questions, that ring so soundly of the truth, shines a bright light on our predicament.
14
We are not sure why, once a certain point is reached, little can be done for him.
Have we reached the point where little can be done for us? Have we reached the point where there is little hope for our recovery? Having arrived at the pint where there is little that can be done for us, where is it that we can turn for a solution? Admitting that we have arrived at this point is the first step in recovery.
22:16-23:1
We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink as he may do for months or years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantely confirm that.
If our experience confirms that to be true for us,then perhaps we are alcoholic and in need of a solution.
Source:
The Annotated AA Handbook
a companion to the Big Book
Frank D.