Monday, September 04, 2006

Again, with the searches!

I am feeling rather uninspired this morning. I could write about the fact that the man I have recently stopped seeing, but haven't stopped thinking about, called on Saturday night - but no, I said I wasn't going to write about him again. Don't want to feed that whole thing. I could write about feeling not particularly well physically, but that is boring. I could write about pulling weeds in my flower bed this morning, but I think I would not bring the necessary attitude of recognizing God's blessings to that right now.... So! I decided to check my site meter and write about what ever the latest search was that brought some soul to my blog. Voile! Not ten minutes ago someone got here by searching:

"How do you know you're an alcoholic?"

Let me first preface this with somewhat of a disclaimer.... I am an alcoholic. I am not an expert on alcoholism, but I am a person who has stayed continuously sober, by the Grace of God and the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, since July 24, 1984 - so I have some experience with sobriety and working with lots and lots of drunks.

"It did not satisfy us to be told that we could not control our drinking just because we were maladjusted to life, that we were in full flight from reality, or were outright mental defectives. These things were true to some extent, in fact, to a considerable extent with some of us. But we are sure that our bodies were sickened as well. In our belief, any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete. " Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxiv

"they cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distict entity. It has never been, by any treatment with which we are familiar, permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to suggest is entire abstinence." -- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxviii

There are folks who drink heavily and are able to stop. But then there are alcoholics, like me, who when they want to stop find they are unable to. They wake up with resolve to never take another drink, only to find themselves with a drink in their hand by noon, or seven, or nine - sure that this time it will be different. This time they will not drink too much or get in trouble. This time they will just have one, or three, or who the hell cares anyway.

At one of my first meetings, someone said something that struck me profoundly. He said "I didn't get in trouble every time I drank, but every time I got in trouble, I was drunk." I never knew what was going to happen to me once I picked up a drink, but I would pick up the drink anyway - with great resolve to not get drunk. I could no more stop the progression of my disease than I could have stood on railroad tracks and tried to stop a train. But I didn't know that until I got to Alcoholics Anonymous and admitted complete defeat. I have not found it necessary to take a drink of alcohol since that day.

And for that I am truly grateful. If you are having a problem with alcohol and finding that you are unable to stop, please give yourself a break and contact AA. There are people there who can help you. (there is a link on my sidebar with information on how to contact AA)

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

There it is!!!

"or who the hell cares anyway."

I understand that one!

Thanks MC...

Unknown said...

Amen. I love that quote about trouble....Always stuck with me. I think my Dad told me that when I was 17 or so....Took a long while to sin k in.

JJ said...

Wow MC awesome post and awesome idea to write about the last search.
Stop thinking about you know what...thinking hurts...well at least it does for me..lol.
I see you and love you,
JJ

Trudging said...

Awesome, awesome post

Sober @ Sundown said...

Even recovering alcoholics have to pull weeds every now and then.......

Somehow my blog got listed in About.com, and I get regular visitors from that site. I have no idea how that happened.......

Anonymous said...

,,this post is another example of why I always say you kick ass MC..no frills ..no gimmicks..
just truth!
Thanks for just being YOU :)
and sharing here with us.

lash505 said...

Very nice post. I questioned myself a little this weekend.

Amerynthe said...

"There are folks who drink heavily and are able to stop. But then there are alcoholics ..."

MC, I'm still working out if I'm one of the heavy drinkers who can stop or if I am an alcoholic ...

This is the last time I am going to try and control my drinking to sensible levels and if I can't do it then I will have to admit what I fear the most - that I have become an alcoholic.

But your posts are so positive that actually I am not as scared as I was, if I do have to admit it. Being an alcoholic could be the end of the world, but being a sober alcoholic could be the start of a whole new one ...

Greg said...

Good morning MC :):):) Nice post thanks :):):)

Anonymous said...

MC:
What a great, great post this is! I love the way you put it down here. Awesome example of ESH.
Peace,
Scout

Anonymous said...

MC:
What a great, great post this is! I love the way you put it down here. Awesome example of ESH.
Peace,
Scout

Gooey Munster said...

Your message is brilliant MC.

Even before writing on the topic, I truly appreciate your human-ness and emotions. You are real and a authentic soul.

Michael said...

22 years sober that is amazing that means you was 33 when you quit, I was 35 and now I am 37 already my life feels infinately richer.
I love AA meetings