There Is A Solution
Review of Session 1b
“What could you identify with in Dr. Bob’s Nightmare, and the other stories you read?”
“Did you notice the same progression in these stories?”
Fun, fun with problems, problems with fun, ever increasing chaos and calamity, hopelessness, incomprehensible despair.
“Why Did You Drink?” What was the thought that preceded the first drink: The next drink? What was the hoped for, perceived result of drinking: Good times, no worries, companionship, love, relief from stress and concerns?
Read Chapter Two; There Is a Solution… pg. 17
This chapter describes the crux of the problem.
It details the parts of the disease of alcoholism.
Most people in the fellowship are familiar with the first two indications.
You will hear quite often that alcoholism is an obsession of the mind and an allergy of the body.
The mental obsession: I can and will control and enjoy my drinking!
The physical allergy: Once you start drinking you can’t stop.
Unfortunately the main symptom of alcoholism is often not mentioned.
It is the symptoms of the Spiritual Malady that defines alcoholism: we cannot control our emotional nature and have placed ourselves beyond human aid.
An excellent example from the Big Book of what “beyond human aid” would be, is when one of the most famous and revered psychiatrists in the world from the 20th century, Dr. Carl Jung, tells you he thinks you are utterly hopeless and he can’t help you.
“When you are sick, how do you find out what’s wrong with you?”
If you’re not an alcoholic, you would probably visit a doctor!
What does the doctor do? He diagnoses you.
He will ask you what your symptoms are.
What does every disease have in common? There are symptoms!
“What are some of the symptoms of alcoholism?”
Start with the first two columns, then list all the spiritual malady symptoms you can think of for the third column.
Make a diagram like the example below.
The Spiritual Malady
How do you know you are in the Spiritual Malady? You have the symptoms.
And what do all the Spiritual Malady symptoms produce in our lives… PAIN!
And what is our solution to PAIN… WE DRINK!
The insane idea that we can control and enjoy our drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.
If you are a real alcoholic, what happens every time? You are off on another spree. When the run is done you make
some form of solemn oath to “never drink again!” Then what happens?
Over some period of time the Spiritual Malady symptoms kick our ass again until the PAIN gets too much for us, and
we go off to the rock tumbler of our addiction once again.
“How does the allergy and mental obsession manifest in your life?
What does it look like for you?”
This is the end of Session 2a
Step One