The "Physical Aspect" of Alcoholism as described in the Big Book

"Any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out the physical factor is incomplete" - Dr. Silkworth

At one point I started to buy into the "When telling your story no one wants to hear a drunk a log. We all know how to drink this isn't about drinking it's about recovery etc etc..." YIKES! Did I become ineffective right quick!
Thank goodness I don't listen to everything I hear in meetings today. Thank goodness I have an instruction manual for this thing that tells me what I was like before I found sobriety is one third of my story! Thank goodness I have good sponsorship who can steer me back on course and remind me that my drunk log is the one thing I have that normal drinkers don't. The magic of identification is the entire foundation of this formula. That's why although the 12 steps can work for anyone, sex addicts, narcotic addicts, gamblers, over-eaters exedra... there are over 200 different 12-step fellowships today because of how crucial identification is! If that part of my story didn't matter, we would just all be one big Fellowship. All addictions anonymous. My drinking history is my greatest asset in helping another alcoholic. Page 18 of our book, Bill states:
"...But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished."

Properly armed with facts about myself... "Our description of the Alcoholic" can be found in the doctors opinion, and tells me that what I have is Two fold. Not just mental. It's physical as well. This is described really well. We are talking about the allergy. I can use my way into an addiction. I can't drink my way into alcoholism. Either I'm allergic to alcohol, or I'm not. 90% of society do not have this allergy.  90% of society probably does have the "ism" though. NOT a qualifier. If you look up allergy in the dictionary it is described as an abnormal reaction to a food or substance. A normal reaction to alcohol is having a beer, relaxing, brushing your teeth, going to bed, and waking up and going to work in the morning.  My abnormal reaction is, I have a beer... and it's on!

In the Big Book, Dr. Silkworth states:
"The body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind"
"It's a manifestation of an allergy. The phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker. These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all."
"Any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete"
"All alcoholics have ONE thing in common. They cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This is what differentiates these people and sets them apart as a distinct entity"
I suppose THAT'S why the first drink is the problem.  It's because I have an inability to stop at the first drink.

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