This blog is for sharing our wisdom, insights, hope and joy experienced in our journey of recovery from alcoholism. The subjects will cover a wide range of topics; all are intended to raise awareness through reflection, and help us grow by staying sober and improving our lives.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Reflections on the road to Recovery from alcoholism-There is a solution
Reflections .............................................................on the Road to recovery
There is a solution
In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous there is a chapter named "There is a solution". It is a chapter that gets read and discussed on a regular basis especially when newcomers are present.
The other day I attended a meeting and as the content of the chapter was being read I had a thought that went like this, "There is a solution-and its not alcohol!
The meaning for me goes back to the idea that I suffer from alcoholism-emphasis on the "ism". This means that I had and have many issues that negatively affect my thoughts and actions. These need to be addressed- continuously-for me to have any kind of peace and contentment.
For many years I used alcohol to medicate these problems... defects..call them what you may..and for a while alcohol seemed to be the solution. At least temporarily- numbing and deflecting the problems until I got sober...where they then returned worse than ever.
Many years ago while in treatment I spoke to a counselor who asked "So whats your problem- why do you think you are here"? I listed a number of "issues" I had- with people, jobs, situations- life in general. He asked, "What about alcohol? I responded (rather angrily), "You fix my problems and I won't need alcohol". Translation- Dont take away my solution until you take away the pain and difficulty of life- His response, "Maybe if you quit drinking you wouldn't have so many problems". That was a shocker..(as a matter of fact I asked him to repeat the statement since I knew it was important but needed more time to really grasp the idea!).
So in essence he was saying alcohol is not the solution its the problem. Then of course I was left with the question, "then what is the solution..because I cannot live like Ive been living without something to take the place of alcohol".
The answers came ..sometimes quickly sometimes slowly...which will be the subject of future posts.
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