I originally checked out this book at the library thinking it might be a funny spin on why women drink, unfortunately, i was in for a pleasant surprise in that it actually dove into statistics of women drinking and aa. In the end, i reached that state of pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization described in the book, alcoholics anonymous. Two aa members twelfthstepped me, and one of them gave me his copy of the big book as he left. The idiots guide to the twelve steps revised 0699 for. Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect. 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. The authors engaging, conversationalstyle prose engages the reader from the first page to the last. We have an erroneous vision of what an addict looks like. Man, that sentence bitchslapped me across the face hard when i read it for the first time. 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. 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. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. 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.
I didnt know if i had a physical allergy, a spiritual malady or was just an outright mental defective. That aint in the big book northwest arkansas alcoholics. No matter how far down the scale we had gone, our experiences were always the fault of others. Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. 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. Incomprehensible demoralization is a harrowing tale of drug addiction and recovery. We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. Hear recovered addict and big book mucker, cameron f. Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. Or, they got the warning notices on the job or, the judge sentenced them to a and they thought they were coming to find the.
We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. We comprehended the word, incomprehensible demoralization and knew what hell was. The power is yours, grandfather, thank you grandfather. The big book of alcoholics anonymous never tells us directly how to work the first two steps. More often than not, when i looked up some of these antiquated words, i realized that by their definition, there was really no other way to put it. 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 morning swearing off alcohol. It could be your doctor, lawyer, postal worker, or the little old lady that lives next door. In the spirit not the letter of alcoholics anonymous aa. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals usually briefwere 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.
More about alcoholism m ost of ushave been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. For example, a person might say they would never have sex in exchange for drugs. Paid pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization pms poor me syndrome. 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. 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 morning swearing off alcohol and doing it all over again. Im coming to, i dont know whether i am awake yet, or still dreaming. Over any considerable period, we get worse, never better. It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. Big book spiritual experience pg 567 spiritual experience the terms spiritual experience and spiritual awakening are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms. His marriage was deteriorating, but the pills were more important. Silkworth aa big book aa anonymity statement anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better. Incomprehensible in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps. Impunity exemption or freedom from punishment, harm or loss.
Alcohol, the magic elixir, gave us a new freedom and a new happiness. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. 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. We didnt regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it until the morning after. The seeds i was sowing were those of selfishness, resentment, fear and dishonesty. In the portion of how it works read at many meetings, we hear our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas.
A suicide attempt landed me in the hospital and a psychiatrist told me i should go to aa. More about alcoholism from chapter three of the big book of. The big book of alcoholics anonymous describes the gift of desperation as pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Demoralization in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism original manuscript. The person sitting next to you in church could be an addict. Incomprehensible in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12. This was the time of incomprehensible demoralization, as bill calls it. Acronyms used in alcoholics anonymous and other 12 step programs and word abreviations. I dont know, i think the big book was beautifully and perfectly written.
Why drinking moderation does not work for alcoholics. Big book believing in god beats our old knowledge dead drinking ends all dreams. How grateful we were when our sponsor, or other caring members of the fellowship, helped us fully understand what bill wilson meant in more about alcoholism top of page 35 in the big book 4th edition when he said, so we shall describe some of the mental states that precede a relapse into drinking, for obviously this is the crux of the. Weare convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Big book spiritual experience pg 567 recovery farmhouse. But the stories in grapevine helped me to understand that i wasnt unique or alone. But the book is refreshing in its style, quite close to spoken language, not sanitized like the big book, and has a recovery agenda instead of a god agenda. Yea for art thou a colorful writer to stretch your mind around such an appropriate and relateable term as pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. These three words sum up what it feels like to get the gift of desperation. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. Original manuscript chaper 3 more about alcoholism alcoholics anonymous alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr.
Incomprehensible demoralization or the bitter morass of self pity. The warning signs lead to incomprehensible demoralization. And just like the big book says, 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. Admitted to god, prayed to god, told god, oh my god. Incomprehensible demoralization drew me in and held me captive. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about god. We are convinced to a man that addicts of our type are in the grip of a.
Kim, rather than simply posting a link to a page from the big book which, after all, anyone can read for themselves it might be more helpful to others if you explained why the page was helpful to you. Northwest arkansas alcoholics anonymous that aint in. 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. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control. From chapter three of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Impossible joy the good news for lust and sex addicts and other sinners. I wish not, but if this scenario ever happens to someone, it would be equivalent to incompressibly demoralizing. Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jay walking. Pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization recovery. I do not think this word means what you think it means. My thoughts were either on yesterday, which often led to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization, or tomorrow, which often meant fear. Well, when you come here, you dont have to be or five minutes before you hear, my higher power greater than myself, i humbly asked him with a capital h.
The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye. Back from that pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization of sex on the streets, and now several years sexually sober, i was nevertheless down for the count. One analogy i connected with early on in sobriety was that of the orange. Grandfather, free me, free me of that bondage i created with alcohol, let me experience the noble and exquisite feelings you have created and given to me as part of your creation. When i first came to aa, i couldnt understand what was meant by incomprehensible demoralization in the big book.
At the time when i read the big book i was so irritated, but there i was, reading this book. With gods help we will get the psychic change talked about in the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Jared combs describes the life of an addict and pharmacist. Incomprehensible demoralization occurs when a person starts a downward spiral of justifying behaviors that they would have previously considered immoral or absurd. Pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization recovery farmhouse. Incomprehensible demoralization alcoholics anonymous. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism alcoholics anonymous. Plummeting into the pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization that that relationship became, i had my. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page.
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