Incomprehensible demoralization is the birth of a new day and a new life in this program for you dear my prayer for you my dear frriend, is that at the very center of that pain that you are feeling is exactly where you will find god iwe have seen you blossom in recovery, before. Chapter three in our book is about the two elements of alcoholism, as we. Jared combs describes the life of an addict, namely his own life. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control.
P30, although there may be a few souls that just stumbled into a meeting of aa. Having no responsibilities and no one to perform before in court, out came the carpet slippers and the bottle. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. It is with much courage that he shares the tale of his life. Aa, the big book, the grapevine, aa grapevine, and gv are registered trade marks of alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. The person sitting next to you in church could be an addict.
As the big book says, all of us felt at times that we were regaining control. Both wanted desperately to end what was eventually described in the big book of aa as. We didnt regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it until the morning after. Because our language has changed much since our big book. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of. We have an erroneous vision of what an addict looks like. Big book sexual inventory page 69 6056 12 steps of aa with father martin chalk talk 5474 is resentment the number one offender. What do we carry every day according to bill w carry the vision of gods will into all our activities. I didnt know if i had a physical allergy, a spiritual malady or was just an outright mental defective. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. So for me, i think incomprehensible demoralization was when my life was just a mess, anxiety and fear were my bedfellows, i was having suicidal thoughts and this. A little over five years ago this spring i was in the middle of the insane cycle of coming home from work, stopping at the liquor store, finishing off a six pack of beer, waking up the next.
Aug 15, 2015 first you lose your job, then your spouse, your home, your car, and every other material possession. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better. Understanding the difference between the real alcoholic or. P30, although there may be a few souls that just stumbled into a meeting of aa for the coffee and. A suicide attempt landed me in the hospital and a psychiatrist told me i should go to aa. Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. However, such intervals, usually brief, were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Incomprehensible demoralization drew me in and held me captive. Incomprehensible in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps. In the spirit not the letter of alcoholics anonymous. That was a time when a handful of alcoholics discovered a solution to their seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Paid pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization pms poor me syndrome pms pour more scotch. The forward to printings of the aa big book, preceding the third edition, provide the reader with a sense of the changes that have occurred, since the beginning of aa.
Often, they had already hit their bottom and were experiencing pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Incomprehensible demoralization alcoholics anonymous. But the stories in grapevine helped me to understand that i wasnt unique or alone. All of us feltat timesthat we were regainingcontrol, but suchintervals usuallybrief were inevitablyfollowedby stilllesscontrol, which ledin timeto pitifuland incomprehensibledemoralization. Demoralization in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps.
We are convinced to a man that alc oholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervalsusually briefwere inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Hear recovered addict and big book mucker, cameron f. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism alcoholics anonymous. Unintelligible indignant filled with or marked by anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy or mean inexplicable incapable of being explained, interpreted or. Having made your personal inventory, what shall you do about it. Doing all i can at the moment short of locking myself up in rehab. The big book of alcoholics anonymous describes the gift of desperation as pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Pp 3031 more about alcoholism concession page 2 the eaa. When i look back now, its hard to imagine i didnt see a problem with my. Aa step one 20 questions test worksheet a 20question test that was used by many a. Silkworth aa big book aa anonymity statement anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions. In the spirit not the letter of alcoholics anonymous aa.
Alcoholics anonymous preamble alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. In the end, i reached that state of pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization described in the book, alcoholics anonymous. Aug 12, 2008 incomprehensible demoralization drew me in and held me captive. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals usually brief were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Chapter 3 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. Incomprehensible in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12.
We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in. This leads to the topic of surrender, to surrender is to declare total defeat, it is a big step toward recovery. The health care professional who works closely with alcoholics anonymous in his or her community is in a key position to provide leadership, education and support in an area which will pay great dividends in the quality of care and rates of recovery of alcoholics. Incomprehensible demoralization occurs when a person starts a downward spiral of justifying behaviors that they would have previously. Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jaywalking. You get on the street and adding to the further misfortune, you had an accident and lose a limb. The health care professional who works closely with alcoholics anonymous in his or her community is in a key position to provide leadership, education and support in an area which will pay great dividends in. Impunity exemption or freedom from punishment, harm or loss. To surrender is to no longer battle and to end the obsession, it is not possible to recover while having thoughts of drinking normal again, must declare defeat on this front, as an alcoholic surrender to me is to no longer fight and accept that i am an alcoholic who can not drink. The idea of one alcoholic helping another to end their own compulsion was not well known before then. It could be your doctor, lawyer, postal worker, or the little old lady that lives next door. These three words sum up what it feels like to get the gift of desperation. Alcohol, the magic elixir, gave us a new freedom and a new happiness.
I am in aa and working the steps with a sponsor, i am now seeing an addiction psychiatrist who is helping me work on a recovery plan. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Two aa members twelfthstepped me, and one of them gave me his copy of the big book as he left. Alcoholics anonymous, reprinted with permission of aa world services. We comprehended the word, incomprehensible demoralization and knew what hell was. Jared combs describes the life of an addict and pharmacist. Acronyms used in 12 step programs aa absolute abstinence aa adventurers anonymous.
More about alcoholism m ost of ushave been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. Through the lord, his church, the support of his family and aa, he has become a recovering addict. Incomprehensible demoralization after getting sober. Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization recovery. No matter how far down the scale we had gone, our experiences were always the fault of others. Original manuscript chaper 3 more about alcoholism alcoholics anonymous alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr.
Our primary source was websters daily use dictionary, published in 1934 for the historical references we used the world book encyclopedia and encarta encyclopedia. There are a large number of terms used in these online aa meetings meetings that resemble the words we use everyday but that seem meaningless in the context they are used online. His marriage was deteriorating, but the pills were more important. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. Oct 21, 2018 the fundamental clarity experience i was most affected by, my own awakening, was when, after more than 2 decades of uninterrupted sobriety, i fully realized that alcoholics anonymous, with its 12 steps and aa dominated treatment center industry completely controlling the world of recovery, actually stands directly in the way of us researching, discovering, and developing alternative, evidence. Inoculated by incomprehensible demoralization more will. Understanding the difference between the real alcoholic or addict and the hard drinker or user. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous click here. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. Having made our personal inventory, what shall alcoholics anonymous expect to live long taking this book down from our. In an attempt to discover the meanings of the words used in our basic text book alcoholics anonymous when it was written, we have used many sources for this glossary. Watch asl dvd version includes subtitles and audio in english. They explain perfectly what it is to feel completely empty inside when you come to realize that your current way of living no longer works.
You could be forgiven for thinking that when you enter the world of online aa meetings and aa chat rooms, that those participating are speaking a different language and, to a certain extent, you would be right. In the spirit not the letter of alcoholics anonymous aa beyond belief. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by. May 6, 1946 the long form of the twelve traditions was published in the aa grapevine. We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. Inoculated by incomprehensible demoralization more will be. Incomprehensible demoralization submitted by admin on thu, 04092015 4. For four years, i drank myself into the depths it talks about in the big book.
By 1941 aa had gained a good deal of attention, including that of jack alexander. Yea for art thou a colorful writer to stretch your mind around such an appropriate and relateable term as pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. These behavioural characteristics can be found on page. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. Demoralization in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. Inoculated by incomprehensible demoralization may 2, 2020 boba1968 3 comments as the big book says, all of us felt at times that we were regaining control. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism original manuscript. Inoculated by incomprehensible demoralization more. When i first came to aa, i couldnt understand what was meant by incomprehensible demoralization in the big book. I retired my practice after ten years, ostensibly to care for my small children. This non12step mens facility in canada offers individualized and comprehensive addiction treatment which leads to personal transformation. Incomprehensible demoralization i think when i first saw these words in the big book i realized that these words were describing me when i was drinking.