The word binge appears twice in the first 164 pages of the Big Book as far as I know.
In Chapter 7, page 90 it states..."Sometimes it is wise to wait till he goes on a binge. The family may object to this, but unless he is in a dangerous physical condition, it is better to risk it."
In Chapter 8, page 112..."But after his next binge, ask him if he would really like to get over drinking for good."
That's all I could find. :)
-- Edited by vixen on Wednesday 25th of January 2012 01:27:52 PM
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
My sponsor and I have been discussing binge drinking and cannot remember where/if it is mentioned in the AA literature. We have both searched our Big Book and 12 & 12 and cannot find it.
Of course now it is driving us crazy! Anyone know? Thanks so much.
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Everything is the way it is supposed to be or it would be a different way.
Yes, but the terms "Bender" and "binge" were not used. The whole book deals with drinking to excess/binging. Stories like the man who added whiskey to his milk and then went on a big old bender after that is one example.
I think that some folks want to classify themselves as different than other alcholics because their pattern was to drink in spurts of a few days or a week and then not drink for a while. Therefore, they don't identify with those of us that became round the clock drinkers.
I would suggest to give up the distinction and just consider yourself "a real alcholic" like the rest of us. It does not matter if you were a "binge" drinker. If the pattern caused the same incomprehensible demoralization and you are clearly powerless over alcohol such that it makes your life unmanageable, that is all you need to know.
My observations is that so called "binge drinkers" eventually progress to around the clock drinkers as the binges get longer and the time in between gets less far apart.
If it's not in the big book, it's because it's not essential for you to know and I believe that is the case here. There is no point in trying to make yourself unique from other alcholics in a program that needs us all unified.
*Of course I am making a lot of suppositions here and I don't know the full story, so forgive me if I just went on a diatribe without all the info.
Mark
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Also called sprees. Discussed by Dr Silkworth in the Doctor's opinion. Pg xxvii [3rd edition] 1st paragraph. "After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they may pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again." Hope this helps.
I always aspired to be a plateau drinker but I lacked the required control. So for me it was binges benders and sprees ending by being broke, too sick to drink or locked up. There also seems to be a political definition of a binge, something like 5 standard drinks in one night, not really what i would call a binge. God bless,
The word binge appears twice in the first 164 pages of the Big Book as far as I know.
In Chapter 7, page 90 it states..."Sometimes it is wise to wait till he goes on a binge. The family may object to this, but unless he is in a dangerous physical condition, it is better to risk it."
In Chapter 8, page 112..."But after his next binge, ask him if he would really like to get over drinking for good."
That's all I could find. :)
-- Edited by vixen on Wednesday 25th of January 2012 01:27:52 PM
Good point Vixen. Getting over drinking for good is the important thing to remember. Thanks...everyone for the feedback. Wonderful insights, indeed.
Wow, Mark! I had to laugh out loud. Good responses.
My sponsor & I are have 24 & 26 years. We are convinced alcoholics. We are working with a girl who binge drinks & that is how we began discussing it.
We love to challenge ourselves often to finding different discussions in the Big Book and other AA Literature. Keeps us working the program and being the best Sponsors we can be.
Thank you everyone for helping with the Big Book quotes. We had found all of them but we thought somewhere there was something more specific to define the binge driner. I guess we are 2 old ladies with poor memories <grin>
Catrine
-- Edited by Catrine on Monday 30th of January 2012 04:12:14 PM
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Everything is the way it is supposed to be or it would be a different way.
