2
These observations would be academic and pointless if our friend never took the first drink thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion.
The phenomenon of craving can not overcome us as long as we do not take that first drink. This phenomenon seems to be a physical result of our increased sensistivity to alcohol. The book changes focus at this point and addresses the problem of why we are unable to abstain from drinking by using our own willpower.
3
Therefore, the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather than in his body.
The author's discussion of the mental aspects of alcoholism begins here. Our allergy to alcohol, described by Dr. Silkworth, and our mental obsession depicted here combine to make our alcoholic condition appear seemingly hopeless.
8-13
Once in a while he may tell the truth. And the truth, strange to say, is usually that he has no more idea why he took that first drink than you have. Some drinkers have excuses with which they are satisfied part of the time. But in their hearts they really do not know why they do it. Once this amlady has a real hold, they are a baffled lot. There is the obsession that somehow, some day, they will beat the game.
Alcoholics are every bit as baffled by their drinkign as everyone else. Who in their right mind would continue to drink knowing the awful consequences? Many alcoholics appear to be sane when not drinking. Their judgment and willpower are adequete in many areas, but not where drinking is concerned. The delusion that we will be able to control our drinking overrides our ever growing experience that we can not.
One AA explained: "The difference between an impulse, a compulsion and an obsession is that an impulse is when upon seeing a can lying in the road you want to kick it, a compulsion drives you to kick the can without thinking and an obsession causes you to search all over town for cans to kick."
14-15
But they often suspect they are down for the count. How true this is, few realize.
By the time we begin to suspect our drinking might just possibly be getting out of contol, that perhaps drinking might be causing some of our problems, it is probably too late to stop without help.
16
Ina vague way their families and friends sense that these drinkers are abnormal, but everyone hopefully waits the day when the sufferer will rouse himself from his lethargy and assert his power of will.
Those around us, many times, see that our drinking is abnormal before we do. Commonly, we deny to ourselves and others that our drinking is out of control. We feel drinking gives us relief from the circumstances of our lives.
23:17-24:2
The tragic truth is that if the man be a real alcoholic, the happy day will seldom arrive. He has lost control. At a certain point in the drinking of every alcoholic, he passes into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is of absolutely no avail. This tragic solution has already arrived in practically every case long before it is suspected.
This is a definition of alcoholism we can test for ourselves. Do we sincerely desire to quit drinking entirely? Are we able to? Have we tried to quit and failed? How many times? Have we promised our familes we will stop and then found ourselves unable? Have we failed to stay sober even after we made this promise to ourselves?
Source:
The Annotated AA Handbook
a companion to the Big Book
Frank D.