Powerless? Unmanageable?

“We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker.”

Craving didn’t do it for me as far as definitions go. The good Dr. Silkworth put the “screws” to me in the next sentence;

“These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.”

A habit that cannot be broken. Yep, now that makes perfect sense to me. Endless problems without solutions. Yep again… Powerless and unmanageable.

Post from: Blisstree

We Admitted We Were Powerless

The Hideous Four Horsemen:
Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair

Hideous? – Hateful; shocking. Syn. — Frightful; ghastly; grim; grisly; horrid; dreadful; terrible.

Terror – Extreme or Intense Fear

Bewilderment – Confused, Puzzled, Befuddled, Disorientated

Frustration – The feeling of annoyance when one’s actions are criticized or hindered

Despair – Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.

From page 151;

“For most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination.”

Know any “normal” folks? How long has it been since your drinking was convivial? When was the last time your drinking introduced you to a healthy relationship? And how long has it been since your imagination morphed into nothing more than nightmares?

“It means release from care, boredom and worry. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good.”

Care? Who gives a damn! Boredom? Being chased by blue lights isn’t boring, is it? Worry? Heck, its become old hat to be wondering about how I’ll provide for my family. That’s no worry anymore – back to who cares? Pour me another…

“Never could we recapture the great moments of the past. There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did and a heartbreaking obsession that some new miracle of control would enable us to do it.”

Yeah, but I don’t drink nearly as bad as my buddy Jerry…

“As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened, ever becoming blacker.”

This time will be different. Hey – check her out…

“Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did – then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen – Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.”

Ouch, this feeling sucks. How did I get here? Hey bartender, 101 on the rocks and keep my glass full okay?

Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand!

Post from: Blisstree

The Hideous Four Horsemen

I’m not a leader so don’t follow me

I’m not a follower so don’t lead me

Walk by my side and

We’ll get through this together

Thank you…

Post from: Blisstree

Together

Dr. Silkworth wrote in The Doctor’s Opinion;

“We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker. These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.”

It seemed as if my problems had no solutions. The depth of my problems had become hopeless. There was one thing which made them go away. “A” drink, which directly followed that constant, “wonderful” decision. The same decision I had made thousands of times when my problems overwhelmed me. **** It!

Of course, in those days I had no clue that I had lost the concept of “A” drink!

Social Drinker? What is a social drinker? I never was one but I’ve been told what a social drinker is.

A social drinker goes to a bar, orders a drink. Finishes that drink (later on LOL), orders another drink. A bit of time passes and the bartender asks the social drinker if they’d like another. The social drinker says;

“No. (NO!??) I’m starting to feel it.”

Social drinkers are very sick people

A Sober, Clean Day To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Powerlessness – Can You Identify?