My first assignment from my counselor in outpatient treatment was to read “The Doctor’s Opinion” and reflect on that in a journal entry. So here we go!
It seems like there’s so little information at first, but the more I ruminate on it, the more I realize was said. First, it’s interesting how way-back-when, alcoholism wasn’t really categorized as a mental illness. They treated the physical, and attempted to treat some of the mental aspects, but were at a loss for why treatment wasn’t working for many “hopeless” alcoholics. But then came along Alcoholics Anonymous, and these “hopeless” addicts were suddenly living sober, productive lives.
I also find it interesting how he refers to alcoholics as being allergic to alcohol. It sounds kind of funny, at first, because isn’t an allergy supposed to cause some extreme physical reaction? From sneezing, to hives, to anaphylactic shock? But in a way, it does make sense. Whereas most people can have a drink, or, two, or even binge, they don’t suffer aside from probably a horrendous hangover the next morning. Alcoholics, on the other hand, have that ONE drink, and then start craving more. Just another drink. Oh, hell, in for a penny, in for a dollar, I may as well just get drunk tonight. The next day, you say to yourself “I’m not going to drink, tonight.” And that resolution seems absolute, especially if you have a nasty hangover. Until it gets towards the end of the day, the hangover has subsided, and then you start craving it. “What’s one more night,” you say to yourself. “I won’t drink tomorrow”. While maybe not an allergic reaction in the sense we tend to think of it, it causes a physical reaction that only alcoholics have. We crave that drink in a way non-alcoholics cannot understand.
The other item that stood out to me was when he spoke about the spirituality that is necessary to sobriety:
“After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery.”
I honestly haven’t put too much stock in that, especially since I’m not Christian and AA seems heavily Christian based. But over the past week, I’ve started to feel a bit more connected to my religion and deities - and I haven’t in a LONG time. I don’t think I’ll ever “understand” the program as it was originally written, but I’m feeling like I can get there in my own way and make it MY program. With my own connection to the gods and all around me. To use that as a support system, in addition to the human connection I so badly need.
I think that’s all I have to say about “The Doctor’s Opinion”. Next up: The jay-walker’s story.
~Stephanie~
Loading comments...