Recovery...as this drunk sees it #9

The most controversial aspect of the recovery program

of Alcoholics Anonymous is the spiritual aspect

that is proposed by most recovered and/or cured

alcoholics and addicts.

As a proponent of the AA twelve step programs,

in this chapter, I will rely on the twelve steps of AA

and use them as a guideline and as a basis for understanding

how a spiritual program is essential to continued sobriety.

The AA preface says that AA has no affiliation with any
sect, denomination or institution, and neither endorses
or opposes any causes.

There is no cult, AA is not a religion, and the concepts of Christians, Muslims, Jews,
Hindus, and every other (200+) religion in the world are compatible with the twelve steps
of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The only requirement is that the drunk understands that there is a power greater than the ego

of any individual, especially his.

The only requirement to join AA is a desire to stop drinking.

The only requirements to remain a member of AA are don’t drink,

go to meetings and help another alcoholic achieve sobriety.

A relapse does not negate membership in AA.

Upon relapse it is suggested that an alcoholic go to a meeting as soon as possible,

same day, next day, drunk or sober, go to a meeting, ask for help and accept suggestions.

All of the twelve steps are but a suggested program of recovery.

The following is a general purpose explanation of the steps:

Step One: Starting a new relationship with ones inner self by acknowledging powerlessness and human limitations.

Steps Two and Three: Establishing a new relationship with a God of ones understanding,

based upon belief, trust and surrender rather than upon disbelief, denial and the need to control.

Steps Four and Five: Focus on self. The alcoholic/addict is seeking self realization by calling for honesty and humility rather than dishonesty and grandiosity.

Steps Six and Seven: Asking a Higher Power, or something outside of self, to remove

the defects of character and moral deficiencies.

Steps Eight and Nine: The alcoholic/addict admits a willingness to return to the human circle and continues to heal emotionally by making restitution to those they had harmed by their addictive behaviors and actions. In AA terminology, they are beginning to clear the wreckage of the past.

Step Ten: This step suggests an ongoing daily emotional and moral inventory to gauge the spiritual foundation of the recovering person.

Step Eleven: This step suggest that the alcoholic/addict maintain a conscious contact with their

Higher Power through prayer and meditation.

Step Twelve: This step is the foundation of AA, one alcoholic helping another, carrying the message not only by word, but also by action. Actions that show the benefits of living a good moral and spiritual life gained by practicing all of the steps in their daily lives and not drinking,

one day at a time.

It can never be said enough times that the drunk/addict is a very selfish and self centered person.

It is all about him or her.

The drunk believes that he is God, and that he is always right, and their needs are the most important.

If that attitude of grandiosity does not fly and it does not allow them the resources required to enable
their addiction, the addict can turn his Mr. Hyde into his Dr. Jekyll (the women call her Sybil)
and they learn to sing any tune that you may wish to hear.

Self pity is an alcoholic specialty.

The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are used to have the addict/alcoholic reduce their ego,

minimize their emotional self will and grow into a mature individual who is capable of having a civil relationship with themselves, others and their Higher Power.

Alcoholics Anonymous is not just learning how to stop drinking alcoholically; it is about learning how to live without the drink. The idea that an alcoholic can learn to become a social drinker must be smashed.

For the alcoholic the first drink is one too many.

A sponsor is needed to guide an alcoholic through the steps. Sponsors do not demand or give orders, they make suggestions that the work required to do the steps is begun and continues to be reviewed as necessary.

The book “Alcoholics Anonymous”, commonly referred to by AA members as the “Big Book” gives guidelines as to how the steps should be worked.

The first suggestion is that the steps be worked in the order in which they are written.

Many a relapse has bee caused by the emotional trauma caused by an alcoholic in early recovery who immediately jumps down to step Nine and tries to make amends to everyone they believe they have harmed. The word amends means to change.

The alcoholic should not use the words “I’m Sorry,” to make amends, he or she must change their behaviors and prove that their intentions are to make right what was wronged before they can approach those they have harmed.

Amends will be made in God’s time, when the addict/alcoholic can prove that they are remorseful, that they have changed their attitude, no longer use the old habits of lying, cheating , stealing, and that they truly mean, from the heart, what they say.

(Check to make sure the drunk does not have his fingers crossed.)

Alcohol and drugs ruin the heart and soul of the individual and it takes time to heal the heart,

relocate the soul and learn to have the courage to put both in front of others.

Without a heart and a soul you cannot show remorse, you cannot change and you cannot be of service

to self, others and a Higher Power, and you will not find any spirituality.

Spiritual is a word that means something different to every person in this world.

There are no barometers, no thermometers, no blood test, and no Rorschach test that can measure someone’s spirituality. You either believe you have it or you don’t. Most people who have spirituality

are usually not aware of when they became spiritual or how they became spiritual.

Becoming spiritual just happens when you do not drink, drug or use any mind altering substances

and you practice tolerance, patience, kindness and love.

When everyone in the world becomes spiritual, we will know world peace.

The alcoholic who attends AA meetings will eventually learn to keep a spiritual tool box.

The tool box is filled with those things that can keep the drunk away from a drink and can help him/her to survive the emotional traumas of daily living.

            1.) Go to meetings.

            2.) Have a sponsor.

            3.) Work the steps. (Most important are steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve.)

                   Step one is the only step that can be worked to perfection and it must be used every day,

                    I am powerless.

4.) Have telephone numbers. (Your sponsor may not be available,

keep calling until you talk to someone.)

            5.) Literature. (Big Book, AA approved literature, daily devotionals, etc.)

            6.) Help another alcoholic.

            7.) Prayer and Meditation.

            8.) Laughter, music, journaling, hobbies.

            9.) Proper diet, exercise and rest.

            10.) Service work. (AA meetings need some help to stay in existence.)

            11.) Make a daily gratitude list.

            12.) Learn to practice what you preach. Faith without action is dead.

It may seem daunting, but properly balanced the alcoholic can learn to do what is necessary in a few hours

a day. The addict/alcoholic must remember how much time was spent procuring the drink or the drug, how much time was spent using the drink and the drug, and how much time was lost while under the influence, when the heart and soul were out of commission and compared to the time spent in recovery, most recovered or cured will tell you that they are grateful for all the extra time that they now have in their day to enjoy living.

AA is about teaching the drunk how to live and love with the extra time that has been given to them by their Higher Power.

Spirituality and responsibility go hand in hand for the recovered addictive personality.

The alcoholic is responsible that anywhere, anytime, an alcoholic ask for help,

the hand of AA must always be there.

The recovered must let God work his miracles through their hearts and souls, they must learn to spread

unconditional love and kindness to everyone, and for that they will receive their own spirituality.

Happiness is helping someone help themselves.

Michael_e