The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Can someone still be sick eventhough they have not used or drink in years? How does one completely recover? Does it go deeper then just stopping or quitting?
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"It's impossible said pride. Its risky said experience. Its pointless said reason. Give it a try whispered the heart - Anonymous (via Tad)
Alcoholism is never cured, it can go into remission if the person abstains. Yes one can stop without a program, but the spiritual side of their lives suffers. I have known a person who stopped cold turkey, but he was angry, resentful and genuinely not happy. He did eventually join AA.....
Alcoholism is a lifetime recovery. Im sure there are some exceptions to the rule. Ive never seen one.
The disease of addiction affects the person on every level of their being or as I was taught mind, body, spirit and emotions. From my experience if the alcoholic/addict stops drinking or drinking/using (my wife was alcoholic/addict) only and doesn't do anything about the other levels which are just as affected or more by the chemical and behavior the "ism" personality remains or at times its called the "dry" drunk syndrome. The samething happens with the family members because we becomes as sick or worse in that we don't or didn't have the anesthesia of alcohol to block out reality...we went thru it wide awake and got alter also.
Alcoholism is a disease and Alanon is for members who "Live or HAVE lived with the problem of alcoholism" The reason for this is that once we live with the disease our thinking becomes distorted and we develop coping skills that might appear to work for a time while we are in the insanity of alcoholism. These tools soon become destructive and we are then filled with anger , resentlemnt, self pity and this is true for the alcoholic.
Alcoholism is far more than not drinking. Stop the drinking and the alcoholic is very much in need of support as they develop new coping skills. AA supplies a safe place to do this.
Please check out the face to face meetings they work
Absolutely, it's a defect in thinking, coping with real life. If the thinking doesn't change then the end result will be the same, which is going back to the coping skills someone has to numb out/deal what is going on with real life.
As codependents we have our own stuff that we are going through too, stark raving sober which is so not fun either. I still get a tad irritated when someone in AA or Alanon says .. well the family members are sicker than we are. All I can think is ya think we all got here on our own? LOL? Going through crisis after crisis, lie after lie, living with the disease is just crazy making and we are stark raving sober. We are doing the best with can with the limited tools we have when we don't have our own program of recovery.
I know people who have 15, 20, 30 years of sobriety who go to AA meetings and Alanon meetings as well the one comment that is always made is .. they STILL need meetings? Whatever program of recovery someone chooses, it is always something that someone who is a RA has to admit daily in the mirror when they get up .. Hi there, I'm an alcoholic/drug addict and today I have been given the opportunity for another 24 hours of sobriety. I will always have to be aware of my draw to A's and be reminded that I have to keep the focus on me.
Hugs P :)
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Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
