Alcoholism is a family disease, i am glad that your husband is attending al-anon. Perhaps he will bring home the book called Alcoholics Anonymous. I believe they too use the same book. Please try to read the "Doctors Opinion" at least today. See how mangled alcoholism is.
""It's frightening, yet appreciated to know the facts."""
Yes, hopeless it may sound, but yet there is hope. That is the beauty of situation. It wakes up our inner self and then we look for solution.
Dr. Silkworth says the following:
On the other hand-and strange as this may seem to those who do not
understand-once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who
seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving
them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for
alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few
simple rules.
There is some history around this doctor. He had worked with lots of drunks and finally saw Bill W recover and then ended up helping others and saw the fellowship grow. That was back in 1935.
Wonderful Clarence. That is very true for a real-alcoholic: I guess you are referring to this segment in the big book.
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.
Also the book says:
Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective
mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases,
neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His
defense must come from a Higher Power.
Hope I don't come out negative. When you say were in AA, did you embrace the program of AA? There are many people who just get caught up in going to meetings. Sometimes even 2 or 3 meetings a day but never picked the book called Alcoholics Anonymous. Never attempted to work the program. Our book says, what we have is a daily reprieve contingent upon we being spiritually fit. It takes 11 steps to reach there and then continued working of 10, 11 and 12 every day is when we stay spiritually fit. Hope i am not overloading you with fact. But hang in there.
A friend of mine called couple of days ago. I slipped couple of months ago, 2 duis with a car wreck. Same reason. Drifted away from the program and meetings. Slowly the spiritual malady kicked back in and then he went out. And in deep trouble now.
If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit
entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount
you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be
suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will
conquer.
The above is from 'We Agnostics' chapter of the book called Alcoholics Anonymous. You may read the whole book on-line googling "Alcoholics Anonymous".
The mental obsession is something what the modern day medications can't give any relief. That is the sorry state of the mind and body of the alcoholic. Even though, we know we going to get ill, we take a drink. And if you are an alcoholic, the only solution is spiritual. Please look into some AA meetings around were you live. Also try to read the book called Alcoholics Anonymous online.
question is: Is there anyone out there who has learned to go
from quite a few years of serious heavy drinking to occasionally
controlled, non life altering drinking?
If you are an Alcoholic, the chances are nil. People get offended when hearing these. I am not here to say that you are an alcoholic. It is for you to decide. But just wanted to clarify the word Alcoholism. Its just a person who lost ability to control his/her drinking. There is this mental obsession. Constantly thinking about drink or after a prolonged period of absence, they con themselves into the idea that they can now drink a one or two bottles of beer. Then there is the physical craving that forces one to go out of control once you put that first drink in the body. Finally the RID. Restless, irritable and discontented when not drinking........
Its not about living under the bridge, not about getting several DUIs, not about being in Jail/prison........Its just those symptoms. If you honestly look into your drinking escapades, you will be clearly be able to see the powerlessness.
First time i am hearing this. But, this one, probably is not the one alters the mood and pushes alcoholics into a vicious cycle. i am glad it is that way, then there would be no recovered alcoholics.
That is part of alcoholism. Once an alcoholic puts a drink in the body, then the physical craving kicks in and we end up drunk. But that is not the only problem. The next day we wake up and start all over again. There is no defense against the first drink. Thats why we need spiritual help.
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