The classification of alcoholics seems most difficult, and in much detail is outside the scope of this book. There are, of course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable. We are all familiar with this type. They are always going on the wagon for keeps. They are over-remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision. There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink. He plans various ways of drinking. He changes his brand or his environment. There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from alcohol for a period of time he can take a drink without danger. There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written. - Dr. Silkworth
Is there any literature that anyone could recommend on the various types or classification of alcoholics? The reason I ask is because the description of the "psychopath alcoholic" frightenly sounds like me. Would I know it if I was a psychopathic alcoholic? What if I'm just in one of the described "over-remorseful resolute" delusions right now? Dr. Silkworth kind of makes it sound like that kind of alcoholic is a write off. What if that's me? What if its you? I feel very compelled to do some further research :|
-- Edited by Sober McHappy on Saturday 5th of January 2013 08:56:21 PM
Still searching to be terminally unique? I was in the beginning too.
Rest assured, you're just like me... I thought I was all of those things, mostly this or mostly that certain days, but after I stopped thinking I knew anything... I started to get better.
You don't know James, and you don't have to. Stop thinking about it, stop worrying about it. Let that stuff go for now and just do the deal. It's good that you're a little scared... so go with it now. You care, and that's a good thing.
You just don't know everything and it's gonna be okay if you just stay the course. We promise ; )
P.S.
Remember that most of the time we're wrong. Just keep that in mind with every little fret you have, you can probably just put an "I'm probably wrong" at the end. Things should start looking up once you get the hang of that.
__________________
Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
Sober...I was 5 years alcohol free and in the Family Group side of our twelve steps and wondering all of the time so I went to college on the disease of alcoholism and substance abuse and when I graduated that course line I stood on the front stairs of the college and realized that had I been more patient and open minded I could have saved the money. Doesn't matter I did what I did for the reasons I did them and got many answers to my mind altering, mood altering, spirit altering and body altering addiction that I needed to know...for me. I am an analytical and at the same time ADD and ODD which helped me understand myself as alcoholic with "other" maladies. I've met tons of naysayers in the program cause the personality side of recovery has...tons of naysayers and I'm here for me, my recovery and my life. Go after the information so that you might be able to more understand and then be able to work with others of your ilk. There is no one shoe fits all in AA...the larger percentage of the fellowship will not have a program that includes long life and will die at the will of the shot glass or beer. That for me is reality as I have lost family members and friends who were terminally unique only because they were like me...attention deficit (drawn only to the substance in the bottle and not the color of my skin) and oppositionally defiant (in denial about what others outside of me who had a clearer vision) against what I was being told.
My entire sponsorship actively supported me "going after what ever I find to attain and maintain my recovery". They insisted I do it and would ask me how it was coming. For that I am grateful and for that also I know I was loved unconditionally. Alcoholism mimics many disorders and the older question was, "Does the alcoholic drink because they have problems or...have problems because they drink"? I went on to work in the field as a behavioral therapist...now I have the experience. Now I know. Am I terminally unique? I am an experienced and knowledgeable alcoholic. I have rarely if ever introduced myself as "an" alcoholic and simply "alcoholic". For me alcoholism is a disease and not a person. I am Jerry F, and I am alcoholic. I am also Tuberculic, ex-Catholic and more. My Doctor's Opinion is that I stay away from all medication and chemicals which are mind and mood altering which ever way I know how to do it. "We came to understand that we alcoholics could not drink like normal people".
The classification of alcoholics seems most difficult, and in much detail is outside the scope of this book. There are, of course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable. We are all familiar with this type. They are always going on the wagon for keeps. They are over-remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision. There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink. He plans various ways of drinking. He changes his brand or his environment. There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from alcohol for a period of time he can take a drink without danger. There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written. - Dr. Silkworth
S-MC,
When the Doctor writes " we are all familiar with this type", he means this is one of the most common types. You can recover if you give yourself to the simple program and get honest with yourself. Tashia called it Garden Variety...not unique.
pg 58 Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.
Pg 98 ...Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
This is what's important for now: There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest. ... pg. 58 BB
Don't talk yourself out of the solution because you think you're unique, we all tried that at one point ... truth of the matter is, is we're all more alike than different ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
great topic, but i was even more uniquer than you.... LOL, just kidding. i learn new things every time i go to a meeting. it is amazing to watch people grow and mature emotionally. there are those who want to find an easier softer way than doing the steps and recovering, and those who have accepted AA as the best way to stay sober. i plan to stay with and in AA, it is the only thing that has made recovery a happy thing, the best thing that has ever happened to me since my 2 boys were babies, and they are almost as old as me, now... LOL. keep coming back and please keep sharing, thanks for being here.
