aa.org has a list of publications including booklets like Problems Other Than Alcohol and Medications and other Drugs.
It is recognized in our literature that seeking help from professional resources when such is needed is not incongruent with the principles of A.A. Many of us also have mental health issues or other conditions that may require properly prescribed medication. For these issues, we seek the resources to deal with them--we in A.A. do not "play doctor" and tell people to do this or don't do that, though we will share our experience, strength, and hope. My own 2-cents worth is ALWAYS be honest with health practitioners and tell them about the alcoholism. Also make the effort to find health providers who have training and knowledge about alcoholism, in addition to their medical or psychiatric specialty.
Hi, In the book Alcoholics Anonymous it says " there are those too who have grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest. " There is a lot of room for folks in A.A. Wayne
AA has no opinion on outside issues, which I think the pamphlets mentioned will probably state in some form or another. Been a while since I looked at them.
I found that much of my mental illness, or what I perceived as such, went away upon working the program of AA. My experience has been that if a person has other issues on top of drinking, it's difficult if not impossible to make progress on those other things while the person is still drinking.
I think many people are similar to my own experience in that active alcoholism can lead friends, family, self, and even doctors to believe there are "mental problems". That doesn't mean there aren't also mental problems. I thought I had mental problems long before I ever drank. Alcohol *solved* my mental problems, how could it cause them? Actually my mental problems were caused by alcoholism, which I believe I was born with, not alcohol. But there was no solution while I continued to drink, nor was there any solution in several years of psychiatry in my teen years *before* I had ever had a drink or any mood-altering substance.
So needless to say when I found out what I really was, I was relieved to finally know. Alcoholic. Relieved to know, and relieved to know that There Is a Solution.
It is interesting to note the Karl Jung had a lot to do with the creation of the big book and the philosophies behind it. Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob were friends of the field of psychology and Bill Wilson discussed having to receive outside help himself in many of his writings. So...I believe there is no "official" statement as is the case in much of AA's standpoint (Anonymous at all levels pretty much)....But, clearly the founders were educated, interested, and open minded.
Mark
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
