I think the most difficult thing...

[Divinah]

Is trying to live life as a "functional" Alcoholic/User.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

[notwrapped]

Yes Devinah I do.I did that for many years.Of course what I thought was functional was a really distorted few of the truth.Once you get the drug/drink out of your system you have to learn how to "Live Sober" learning to live life on lifes terms is quite a challenge but for me the rewards of sobriety far outweigh the challenge itself.
One Day at a Time my Sister.
God Bless,
Larry

 

[Divinah]

Yeah, I've been sober three years now and could never see myself enslaved that way again.

Just, sometimes it dawns on me...how grateful I am that I'm not there anymore and even daily struggles seem easier when I just think "thank God I'm sober for this". It sounds crazy, but true.

To be in that state of brokenness seems like such an unreal nightmare...and I know that some are still there...I feel a duty to offer support.

 

[notwrapped]

i agree totally .We say at meetings "We only keep what We have by giving it away".I find helping others who are struggling keeps it green for me.Been there done that Not goin' back.

 

[LoG]

Is trying to live life as a "functional" Alcoholic/User.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

That certainly was difficult but imo it pales in comparison to living life as a dry drunk. Not drinking or drugging with no God and/or program would have me vacillating between being suicidal and homicidal.

 

[leftoverture]

Once we are sober and living in God's will, life is easier because we're no longer swimming upstream. As it says in AA's big book, "we have ceased fighting anything and everyone"!

 

[Divinah]

That certainly was difficult but imo it pales in comparison to living life as a dry drunk. Not drinking or drugging with no God and/or program would have me vacillating between being suicidal and homicidal.

I'm not sure I understand Lion of God.

Are you agreening and yet, elaborating with your views...or are you angry about something?

 

[Divinah]

Once we are sober and living in God's will, life is easier because we're no longer swimming upstream. As it says in AA's big book, "we have ceased fighting anything and everyone"!

You know, I think my sobriety and anyones for that matter, has to do with dealing with the TRIGGERS we have. May start for some as anger or jealousy or depression and evolve into so many other things...it's hard to trace them back. But, I think we have to come to a place where we can be honest with ourselves about what our primary triggers are ... we have to "Identify and Acknowledge in order to Correct". Sometimes we make it impossible to even identify, nevermind acknowledge our issues, therefore we make Correction/healing impossible. Even if we find, in our desperation some level of self preservation where, we maintain sobriety through program or any new way of life or religion...if we don't allow our Living God to help us ID, Ack. and Correct/Heal those original issues...we're not likely to maintain success, in my opinion.

Would you agree?

 

[footprints1973]

Yes, I totally agree....Resentments kill. We alcoholics cannot afford to have them. I think we need to pray everyday for God to keep us on the sober path and to follow His will for us.

God is my Rock, and He brought my sponsor into my life. She is guiding me through the 12 steps of AA. That's were I've reunited with God, laid my problems at His feet, asked Him to remove my defects of character, and make amends...mostly importantly, I learned to keep this priceless gift I have to give it away...to the alcoholic who still suffers.

By the way, isn't it great to be sober and free?
Laura (Footprints 1973)

You know, I think my sobriety and anyones for that matter, has to do with dealing with the TRIGGERS we have. May start for some as anger or jealousy or depression and evolve into so many other things...it's hard to trace them back. But, I think we have to come to a place where we can be honest with ourselves about what our primary triggers are ... we have to "Identify and Acknowledge in order to Correct". Sometimes we make it impossible to even identify, nevermind acknowledge our issues, therefore we make Correction/healing impossible. Even if we find, in our desperation some level of self preservation where, we maintain sobriety through program or any new way of life or religion...if we don't allow our Living God to help us ID, Ack. and Correct/Heal those original issues...we're not likely to maintain success, in my opinion.

Would you agree?

 

[Divinah]

God Bless you...I'm so glad to hear these victory stories.

You know, having this victory and not sharing with those who suffer is an abomination, I think.

"Freely we were given, freely we should give".

As one person put it to me...It's like sitting at an all you can eat buffet and stuffing your face while others sit around you starving to death."

Well, PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS MERCIES AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

 

[leftoverture]

You know, I think my sobriety and anyones for that matter, has to do with dealing with the TRIGGERS we have. May start for some as anger or jealousy or depression and evolve into so many other things...it's hard to trace them back. But, I think we have to come to a place where we can be honest with ourselves about what our primary triggers are ... we have to "Identify and Acknowledge in order to Correct". Sometimes we make it impossible to even identify, nevermind acknowledge our issues, therefore we make Correction/healing impossible. Even if we find, in our desperation some level of self preservation where, we maintain sobriety through program or any new way of life or religion...if we don't allow our Living God to help us ID, Ack. and Correct/Heal those original issues...we're not likely to maintain success, in my opinion.

Would you agree?

This is my experience, strength, and hope. . .the 12 steps of AA are based on Biblical principals. . .you can check this out and you'll find it is true. The single Biblical principal that stands out most is repentance. Step one you ID and acknowledge your situation, "we learned we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics, this is the first step in recovery" (Alcoholic's Anonymous, page 30). Once you have done that, you come to believe there is a God (step 2) and you make a decision to follow God (step 3). In steps 4 & 5 we undertake what is best described as "vertical repentance", in other words, we get right with God. Later, in steps 8 & 9 we embark on "horizontal repentance" - we get right with our fellow man. Horizontal repentance makes our vertical repentance complete.

Having completed our repentance, we are now Christians (assuming you acknowledge Jesus for who He is) and we are "new creations". 2Corinthians 5:17 states: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) Our identity is no longer "alcoholic" but "child of God". We have been transformed in a miraculous and supernatural way. We no longer want to drink, nor do we want to live to satisfy our selfish desires. God is our boss and we want to please Him. Steps 11 & 12 become our desire and we do them naturally (well. . .more naturally than before).

This is the process for everyone who repents before Jesus, though some of us (like me) grow into it a bit slower than others. I think modern psychology has made way too much about triggers and so on, we fall victim to Freudian lies about who we are and what we can do about it. Jesus Christ has the power to transform, to change us from the inside out, and all we need to do for that to happen is to work the 12 steps in humble repentance before an Almighty God. If we are sincere in our "innermost selves" He will take care of the rest.

Make any sense to you?

 

[Divinah]

in that, if you apply biblical scriptures to the twelve steps, then you will have the ultimate victory.

And overcoming Triggers are key...to not just overcoming whatever your addiction is but VICTORY in life.

Being able to apply that victory to every other aspect of your life. Otherwise, what happens with most people is they redirect their void to something else, gambling, smoking, drug addicts start drinking, for some sleeping around, depression.

Sure, by God's deliverance there can be healing in all areas of our lives without needing to do anything to achieve it, but we do have to work to maintain our relationship with him and therefore an annointing in our lives.

Are you telling me as an addict...you've found victory without ever knowing, identifying or addressing your triggers?

 

[leftoverture]

Are you telling me as an addict...you've found victory without ever knowing, identifying or addressing your triggers?

Yep. Back when I got sober no one even talked about "triggers". We just worked the steps, went to meetings, prayed to God.

 

[Divinah]

Cause that never worked for me. I despise AA meetings. I don't want to knock'em cuz people say they help...but me...yuck!

So how long have you been sober now?

 

[leftoverture]

Sixteen years. I'm just leaving for my Tuesday night AA group. Great bunch of people, great place to be the light of Jesus.

 

[Divinah]

Truly inspiring, well just because we disagree on certain methodic issues...I'm sure we can agree that just as sure as each person suffers in different ways that could not possibly be disected...surely different methods of healing would apply...by God's Great Mercy. And praise the Lord for that.

I just got in a little while ago from a Bible Study I hold...It is such a blessing and necessity for me...the biggest Blessing and reinforcement of my strength is in helping and counseling others, knowing that I'm serving in obedience to the LORD. I tend to counsel and minister to some rough elements to people who are facing really harsh circumstances...so my methods tend to be way "matter of fact" and no beating around the bush.

But really, I too see it as just an opportunity for me to jsut come before the Lord and go to his word with my "friends". And to see people grow and be so hungry and start to have victory, whether planting a seed or watering one that's already there...it's such a blessing.

 

[Divinah]

Yep. Back when I got sober no one even talked about "triggers". We just worked the steps, went to meetings, prayed to God.

Also, maybe in the process, your triggers may have been indirectly addressed and with your faith...you had healing. I would say with your success, that must be the case on some level.

For instance...some people drink to self medicate...wouldn't determining what they're trying to medicate be important to address. Some to escape abuse, to deal with anger, just to release stress...all forms of self medication if you ask me.

Don't you think...even though you found victory, praise God without doing that directly...people benefit from that. It's just one way the recovery process has evolved.

 

[leftoverture]

For instance...some people drink to self medicate...wouldn't determining what they're trying to medicate be important to address. Some to escape abuse, to deal with anger, just to release stress...all forms of self medication if you ask me.

I think I drank because I was an alcoholic. . .

 

[LoG]

At the meeting I was at we were discussing the different types of fourth steps that are prevalent. There is even a difference between the AA Big Book and the 12 & 12. The format in the Big Book for example deals more with "triggers" whereas in the 12 & 12, the focus is more on the 7 deadly sins.

For myself, I prefer the Big Book method since I find the knowledge of my triggers to be valuable information. Even though I am a new creation spiritually, the flesh can still be triggered by my old patterns and character defects. God has not fully removed some of them since I sometimes am afraid to fully let them go. Not surprising since I had many of them long before I found the solution to my shame and guilt in drugs and alcohol. The temptation to medicate in other ways now that I no longer indulge in those two, is something I still need to be careful of.

 

[leftoverture]

The format in the Big Book for example deals more with "triggers"

The format in the Big Book does not deal with "triggers" it deals with "root causes". A root cause being the character defect (ie: selfishness, fear) that we are going to confess as sin.

The concept of "triggers" is not mentioned in AA's Big Book as far as I can tell. The whole concept of "triggers" is a bunch of Freudian psychological nonsense. . .you might remember Freud. . .he was a Darwinist and a pagan. . .he committed suicide (with a friend's assistance). . .