Most often, when you ask a sober, recovered alcoholic: “How are you doing?” — they will proudly say “I’m doing great! I’m staying sober and I no longer even think of drinking!  It’s the LAST thing on my mind!” (Almost as if — “Yes! I’m due for a good pat on the back!”

It’s always intrigued me, how recovering alcoholics, and addicts, want recognition and attention for — doing what they should be doing anyway!  I mean, what would you think of a Normal non-alcoholic, non-addicted, healthy  person that said something like “I’ve continued breathing! I don’t even want to hold my breath for long periods of time!  I’ve had no desire to turn blue and pass out lately from not breathing!” (And, they feel they should get some credit for it!)  LOL.

For a recovering person — the NORMAL thing to do is to NOT drink and to NOT use any mood and mind altering substances!  I don’t think it’s normal that we should obsess over getting some recognition from staying sober!  It’s what we’re supposed to be doing — regardless of what’s happening in our lives, good or bad.

So, what’s the deal with it?  I think it comes from our problem of being Self-Obsessed.  We spend a great deal of time “thinking about ourselves!” We talk to ourselves.  We tell ourselves stories — most often, about ourselves.  We tell ourselves how good we are and how bad we are.  Often, in our gut, we don’t really feel that we deserve our self accolades — but in our heads, we spend an unusual amount of time trying to convince ourselves that we are right and our feelings are wrong.  And, while we try to focus on thinking about other things and function according to what we believe is normal — at the core of our being, we are we are constantly having that never-ending conversation with ourselves about ourselves.

What is the solution?  The solution is: we must experience an entire, radical, transformation of our thoughts and attitudes. In the Doctor’s Opinion of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, Dr.  William D. Silkworth, refers to this as “an entire psychic change.”

The Doctor’s Opinion, section in the Big Book, is the foundation of the entire book Alcoholics Anonymous.  Without the Doctor’s Opinion, the rest of the book doesn’t make sense.  The Doctor explains what’s wrong with us — the problem centers in our mind AND our body.  Physically, our body has an abnormal (not normal) reaction to the substance alcohol.  Our body does not metabolize alcohol the same way that a non-alcoholics body metabolizes alcohol.

So, the solution would seem to be: total abstinence from alcohol, in ANY FORM AT ALL!  Once we understand this — we can understand why it is not safe for the alcoholic to drink. Most alcoholics, myself included, vowed over and over and over and over again — “I’ll never touch the stuff again!”

Then, in a few hours, or days, or months — and sometimes after MANY years of being totally abstenant from alcohol — and with NO INTENTION OF DRINKING AGAIN, seemingly mysterious — the alcoholic discovers that he/she is holding a drink and has already returned to drinking.

The problem that prevents the alcoholic from continued sobriety is: the problem that centers in the alcoholic’s mind.  The problem that exists in the mind is a conscious and unconsciou (not aware of) thoughts and attitudes about alcohol, about life, and about ourselves.  And, the only known solution, that has worked over and over and over again — for long-term sobriety is: an entire psychic change. (Transformation of thoughts and attitudes, both on a conscious and unconscious level).  And, this is the purpose of the 12 Steps.  The actions required in “taking the Steps” produces the psychic change. This is what the rest of the Big Book is all about.  To describe in detail, and to give precise instructions, for taking the actions (the 12 Steps) to produce the psychic change, referred to in The Doctor’s Opinion.

Dallas B.

If you need help now for an alcohol problem, drinking, or alcoholic addiction — please go to www.step12.com