Addictions
“Never feel shame for what you did to survive. For some people, just staying alive is an act of courage”.
Understanding Alcoholism
It is so hard for people who do not have an addiction to understand those who do. Until her dying day, my Mother refused to believe I was an Alcoholic. She saw alcoholics as homeless people in back lanes drinking out of paper bags.
When I told my Mother there was something wrong with me she said, “You just drink a little too much dear, it is just a case of will power.” Alcoholics used to hear this all the time; however it is wonderful we have come so far in understanding that Alcoholism is a serious addiction, or as some would like to call it, a disease.
As a recovering alcoholic who has not had a drink for fourteen years, I can tell you first hand what this hateful addiction does to people, and what it is like to live your life with your mind and body screaming for alcohol.
I asked myself: Am I an alcoholic?
I found out when I went to Alcoholics Anonymous that there are different types of Alcoholics, and after hearing other people’s stories I even managed to convince myself that maybe I was not an alcoholic after all. I did not drink every day. I did not drink at work. I had never ended up in the drunk tank; in fact I didn’t even know there was such a thing until I went to A.A. I had not lost my job, I had not lost my family. But I had to face reality, and the reality was I was a binge drinker.
Binge drinking
Once I had that first drink I could not stop and would drink until I passed out. For me this was a blessing as I suffered from Insomnia. However, I would wake up the next day with a terrible hangover, feeling like death warmed over and swear I would never drink again. But after only three days my mind and body had completely forgotten the hellish hangover and was once again screaming for Alcohol.
This is what people need to understand: When you are in the midst of a serious addiction you will do whatever you have to do to get that drug, in order to end the craving that has taken over your mind and body.
Does Alcoholics Anonymous work?
This morning I was watching a very interesting debate on a media channel as to whether A.A. works. I found myself getting really frustrated with some of the dialogue and assumptions by the three individuals involved. One woman was a Psychotherapist, one woman had written a book on the question titled, Does AA Work, and then there was the interviewer, who was doing his best to get some black and white answers. One thing I found extremely amusing, was the author of Does A.A. Work, stating there is really no way to know how well A.A. works as it is an anonymous program and cannot be measured.
Does AA really work?
I shall now give my humble opinion on whether A.A. works, and my answer is yes and no. First, we have to define what ‘works’ means in the context of A.A. Does it mean just staying sober? No, it does not. As an alcoholic with fourteen years sobriety, who was in and out of this program like a revolving door I can share my personal experience, and what I observed over a twenty-year period.
When I joined A.A. in 1985 I was broken, and sick and tired of being sick and tired, as we say in the fellowship. I had a wonderful sponsor, who sadly after years of sobriety is drinking again, and her grown children have become estranged to her. My sponsor took me through the twelve steps. A.A. is a spiritual program. I enjoyed this, as basically the steps teach us how to live as good people, who are not self- centered. After a year I believed I could drink like a normal person i.e. have a glass of wine with dinner, but I could not. Once I had that first drink I could not stop. My mind and body were screaming for more alcohol. If I knew I was meeting someone for a drink after work, I would not be able to concentrate all day. I was watching the clock just waiting to get that first drink down me. A.A. affirmed for me I was without a doubt suffering from Alcoholism and abstinence was the only cure. They were 100% correct.
However, going to meetings for me was a nightmare. I got so frustrated listening to the same people tell the same story day after day. I would become so full of anxiety I would have a panic attack if I did not leave. I also hated that the groups seemed like sheep. No one had an original thought. They had simply replaced their addiction to alcohol with an addiction to the fellowship. If one person made a profound statement everyone would agree, and use the statement without giving it any thought. An example is, “God never throws anything at us we cannot handle.” After hearing this a hundred times I lost it and screamed out, “If that was the case no-one would ever commit suicide you morons”. I think that was the last time I ever attended a meeting.
Why I started drinking
The first time I drank at the age of fourteen I felt euphoric, and that night I slept like a baby. I had suffered from insomnia all my life. Alcohol took away my anxiety. Alcohol calmed my brain down so I could focus on one thing at a time. Alcohol took away my fear of life and made me feel confident. Alcohol became my best friend. Only years later was I diagnosed as having acute ADHD and Manic Depression. I was given the appropriate medication and as I stated, have not had or desired a drink for the last 14 years.
Does Alcoholics Anonymous work for everyone or just some?
Yes, A.A. works for some people who love being a part of a fellowship. For people like me, the answer is both yes and no. Yes in terms of teaching me the twelve steps that every human can benefit from, and no because without my medication I would never be able to stay sober.
