Posted on 02/09/2011 1:43:14 PM PST by truthkeeper
Former television personality Laurie Dhue says she no longer knew who she was and was tired of suffering in silence from alcoholism when she decided to quit drinking and get help four years ago.
Dhue, who turns 42 tomorrow and was an anchor for the Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN, battled her addiction to alcohol for "at least" a decade and a half, she told the "Today" show Wednesday.
"I hid my alcoholism for many, many years," she said. "I was probably a high-functioning alcoholic, as so many people are. But there were cracks, certainly, and there were definitely times when people asked me what was wrong, and I just -- I didn't even know, myself."
Dhue remembers the day she realized she had a terrible problem and decided to get help...
(Excerpt) Read more at aolhealth.com ...
What worked for you, would kill many of us.
I am defenseless against my first drink or drug. It is my relationship with my Higher Power, that helps me stay stopped, and only one day at a time.
You went it alone, your words implied. I am glad it worked for you. For many of us, self-will simply does not work. We needed AA, a sponsor, 12 steps, and -- most importantly -- a Higher Power. I call my Higher Power "God".
I've made the occasional Eaglette scream. :)
She can have me!
....You are so terribly.... wrong when you say "the alcoholic can't do it alone." IT'S THE ONLY WAY THE ALCOHOLIC CAN DO IT.
Versus
It's you and God and NOBODY ELSE.
Yes, good for Laurie.
It’s a shame the story had to come out if she didn’t want it to, but it won’t hurt her at all.
Too many people have had or still have similar problems, but she’s dealing with hers.
Four years is an excellent start.
I rent my garments and put ashes on my head that week.
don’t get too technical in your descriptions there ;)
Caught that when I read the article too.
I hope the kara police catch up with this POS.
Excellent point.
Evidently the "Private Prayer Breakfast" wasn't so private after all..........that "reporter" needs an ass whipping.
Man, Laz, you've been one of my fav FReepers for years, so it pains me to be so harsh. I am WAY politically incorrect when it comes to alcoholism; conventional "wisdom" is an oxymoron when it comes to treatment. Yeah, this "higher power" business is just another way of saying "you and your God." I just call my Higher Power by the name I know Him by.
Alcoholics do it "alone" in that they have to find the strength from an INNER place, and God (or "higher power," whatever ...) is the one Who makes it possible. But no other HUMAN (not God, but human) can do it for you.
Laz, here's the deal: it's a crappy thing when a whole culture of "recovery" is beating people over the head with the lie that "they can't do it alone." It is the ONLY way they can do it -- and if you haven't figured out that by "alone" I mean humanly alone (God comes from within .. or the "higher power," for those who won't brook help from God!), that's your own cognitive dissonance.
People can -- and DO -- overcome addictions "alone" (as in, without dragging a whole bunch of other humans into it) all the time and no doubt have since time immemorial. This culture of "you can't do it alone" is disgusting to me not only because I know for positive sure that it is FALSE, but because it fosters a false self-loathing in terms of convincing perfectly good, strong, worthy people that they are too weak, dissipated, needy, and dependent (outside of God, or that "higher power" euphemism) to take charge and have victory.
Many -- not all, but many -- AA-style recovering alcoholics continue DELIBERATELY to make alcohol a major focus of their lives in one way or another, for years and years after they've taken their last drink. As far as I'm concerned, they have yet to beat the monster. It's a choice they make, and frankly, it's a choice made BECAUSE of all that human "help" they're told is so necessary; they live for decades without ever drinking a drop of booze yet remain in the clutches of alcohol because they think about it constantly. It smacks to me of self-absorption and self-pity. Quit drinking and MOVE ON, already. Jeeeeez.
One day at a time? LIFE is one day at a time. If you still look at every day as a battle against alcoholism, then you need to do some serious introspection as to WHY.
You say you coudn't have done it without the help of AA, support groups, etc. Maybe so, maybe not. But seeing as how from the start you've been brainwashed into believing you couldn't, I don't think you have the faintest idea whether you could or not. And as I know you for a fabulous FReeper who plays a big part in making the place so special ... I can only think, "Heck, if I could do it, Laz could do it."
It's you and God, or that "higher power" thingy. In other words, "alone" within the context of self-responsibility; we all have God within; some of us are fortunate enough to know that we can lean on Him and accomplish pretty much anything when we do.
Be honest -- the honest truth, Laz, is that you quit drinking ALONE (with the help of God, but not of any human). They didn't help you stop drinking any more than cheerleaders at a football game help the team win. Moral support is wonderful, loving, and inspiring, but in the end ... you (and God) do it alone. No other humans can do it for you, and to lie to people and tell them that they CAN -- which is exactly what this "You can't do it alone" mantra really is -- is something that should really make you take a keener look.
???
Tequila literally made me halucinate. Literally. So my drink of choice was scotch .. with water, or with soda, or neat. Hey, I drank my life quota by the time I was 30, so I have nothing to complain about and EVERYTHING to be grateful for. :^)
ADDENDUM: Besides, I'm perfectly capable of being crazy while sober. Do it daily! But at least I'm harmless crazy this way! ;^)
What is it exactly that you did do to stop drinking.
Once I made the decision, everything else fell into place.
It wasn't easy. But it was very simple: stop drinking and save my life, or continue drinking and lose my life as well as bring misery to my loved ones and others.
That’s it?
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