The Doctors Opinion
As you read through The Doctors Opinion starting on pg. XXV, you will notice Dr. Silkworth has distinguished five types of alcoholics; pg. XXX
Write the five types out – the last one first.
5. Entirely normal in every respect – except in the effect alcohol has upon us
4. Manic depressive (bipolar disorder)
3. Abstinent for a while, we can drink without danger
2. Unwilling to admit we cannot take a drink
1. Psychopaths; emotionally unstable, self-absorbed, no thought of others
“How many of these five types can you identify with in your life?”
If you’re not sure about the psychopath part, perhaps you could ask yourself a simple question;
“How many times have I driven while intoxicate?”
Look up restless, irritable, and discontented in the dictionary:
Restless; worried, anxious, uneasy
Irritable; abnormally sensitive, easily annoyed, peevish
Discontented; dissatisfied, uneasy, a craving for something one does not have – bottom of pg. xxviii
“What does restless, irritable and discontented look like in your life?” Give examples from you own life. Take time and be really thorough with this part.
After talking about restless, irritable, and discontentment, ask this question again: “How many of these five types can you identify with in your life?”
Bill’s Story chapter One… pg. 1
Emphasize Bill’s progress through alcoholism. It started out as fun, then fun with problems, then problems with fun, then problems with chaos and catastrophe, hopelessness, despair, jails, institutions, wet-brain, and death.
What is the solution? – A power greater than ourselves!
“Can you afford to continue to risk your life on the arrogant notion that you know all you need to know.
There is nothing new you might experience that would profoundly alter your life for the better?”
~ Paul Baxter
In the Big Book they call that – contempt prior to investigation!
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
It is a spiritual program!
One of the things that will become apparent as we proceed through the Big Book and work on the steps is the emphasis on prayer. Although the Twelve Step program is not religious in nature, there is a great deal of attention placed on prayer, meditation, and contemplation.
Many times throughout the book you will see the words we ask, or we say.
They are directing us to begin connecting to a higher power of our own understanding, through some form of prayer.
When these words appear; take a moment to think how to say this as a form of prayer. This is one of the main action steps you can start right now to grow and strengthen your connection to your higher power.
“For those who believe, no proof is necessary.
For those who do not believe, no proof is possible.”
~ Stuart Chase
Homework: Read Dr. Bob’s Nightmare and one or more other stories from the back of the book. (Freedom from Bondage is good story: pg. 544)
Close each session with the Serenity Prayer.
End of session 1b
The Doctors Opinion, and Bill’s Story