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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> I Can't Prove I'm an Alcoholic
Post Info TOPIC: I Can't Prove I'm an Alcoholic
barisax


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I Can't Prove I'm an Alcoholic
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There isn't any proof.  I suppose if I had continued to drink the way I had been, a doctor could look at my liver or other vitals and say, this guy is an alcoholic.  But other than circumstantial after the fact evidence, there's really no proof.  We say we're like the man who lost his legs and can't grow new ones... or the pickle that can't be changed back into a cucumber.  We have our 20 questions and most of us have a lot of yes answers on there if we're honest, and it only takes one... but it's not a scientific proof.  Not a mathematical equation.  Medical science has its definition of alcoholism, and it's classified as a disease, but there isn't a go / no-go, absolute test for alcoholism.  Nor is there an identified cause, or cure.

So, I have to ask myself, what proof do I need?  I think about what Dr. Paul (Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict) said in one of his speeches:  "I didn't come to AA because I was an alcoholic, I came because it was the only way I could get a pass out of the psych ward of the hospital I was on the staff of". 

My yes answers to the 20 questions are subjective.  Summed up: drinking was affecting my life in a negative way, and I had little or no control over my drinking.  Sounds like an alcoholic.

But you want the real proof?  Since I joined this fellowship called Alcoholics Anonymous, and practiced to the best of my half-assed ability these steps and this program of recovery, my life has gotten steadily better.  If someday science says I'm not an alcoholic by some empirical definition, it won't matter - because this program for alcoholics has changed my life.  I don't want to not be an alcoholic, I'm not looking for science to declare me cured.  Cured so I can... drink?  That's the only thing cured could possibly mean, and I have no desire to drink today.

A pill to cure alcoholism might make a big difference to many people some day, but it wouldn't make much difference to me right now.  As long as I don't drink, and continue to practice these principles to the best of my ability, I really have no use for a pill.  Even if I *did* take the alcoholism cure pill, I'd consider it just another hedge against a relapse.  I would not want to trade the fellowship of AA and this way of life for an off-the-shelf solution.

Barisax

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leeu


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Nice!! THANKS.

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jazzyblue


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Barisax, I remember once saying that I wish I could package AA into a gift wrapped box and give it away to everyone regardless if they were an alcoholic or not. The gift isn't in our not drinking anymore, the gift is in our new way of life!! I agree with you, I don't want a pill that will cure me, I want my new way of life!!! ((((( Hugs )))))

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Sue
Bob K


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I once heard a man at a meeting say "If all there was to sobriety is not drinking I would be out getting drunk right now" That was a turning point for me. I realized I all ready knew how to not drink I needed to learn how to live without drinking and the 12 steps and the fellowship of AA taught me how to do this. If I was offered a pill that would allow me to drink I would respectfuuly say no thank you my relationship with God and my friends in the fellowship work just fine for me.

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Dave Harm


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What is amazing about the 12 Steps is that while we are alcoholics... alcohol is only mentioned in the first step.

I needed to first put down the alcohol then the other 11 Steps were helping me learn how to live with myself...

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"A busy mind is a sick mind.  A slow mind, is a healthy mind.  A still mind, is a divine mind." - Native American Centerness

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ciamar


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barisax- yes...the bottle was just a symbol, a manifestation...being able to drink moderately was not the solution for me, since selfishness and self-centeredness were (and still are) my real problem....

I think it is a small miracle when we come to realize we don't care if there's a 'cure'...



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Mike B.


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Nice post Barisax and others.  I've come to learn that the AA program is a design for living.  I didn't know that when I entered the halls.  I thought I would learn how to not drink???  Not drinking is part of it, but I didn't realize that working the entire program that my life would change to the point where I didn't need to drink any longer.  What a gift!

Today, the steps led me to God and he does many things for me that I've never been able to do under my own devices.  I'm very grateful today!

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Halfwolf


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I hope they dont invent a Pill for a Cure, as an ex-drunk I would probably want to test it.

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FlyingSquirrel


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I can't prove I'm in love with someone.

Or something.

I was in love with alcohol, almost from the beginning.  It took awhile for that love affair to blossom into the full spectrum of things that, objectively, someone has defined as "alcoholism".

But like you said, it's not possible to prove something that's inside of you.  But that's just one more excuse many people use to drink.

And I also can't prove that my life has become more spiritual.  Or even define spirituality.

This entire program defies proof and that is why it often comes under attack by those who feel that everything must be scientifically proven.

All I can say is that so far, it's worked for me up to now.  And I didn't even have an "honest desire" to stop drinking at first.  Though I did have a desire to have a better life, and had finally recognized that alcohol was a big part of my problem.  The "ism" was the rest of my problem.

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Keep It Simple
happycamper


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I can prove that Im an alcohlic. But Im not gonna do it today.

In all reality, dont need proof. I know it in my head and in my heart and thats all that matters smile.gif

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