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My Name is Roger, and I'm an alcoholic
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Roger Ebert

Posted on 08/28/2009 1:31:53 PM PDT by RKV

In August 1979, I took my last drink. It was about four o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, the hot sun streaming through the windows of my little carriage house on Dickens. I put a glass of scotch and soda down on the living room table, went to bed, and pulled the blankets over my head. I couldn't take it any more.

On Monday I went to visit wise old Dr. Jakob Schlichter. I had been seeing him for a year, telling him I thought I might be drinking too much. He agreed, and advised me to go to "A.A.A," which is what he called it. Sounded like a place where they taught you to drink and drive. I said I didn't need to go to any meetings. I would stop drinking on my own. He told me to go ahead and try, and check back with him every month.

The problem with using will power, for me, was that it lasted only until my will persuaded me I could take another drink. ...

A.A. believes there is an enormous difference between bring dry and being sober. It is not enough to simply abstain. You need to heal and repair the damage to yourself and others. We talk about "white-knuckle sobriety," which might mean, "I'm sober as long as I hold onto the arms of this chair." People who are dry but not sober are on a "dry drunk."

...

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: aa; ebert
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To: Fido969
old timer...hehehe

10/19/005...

third time around though since 92'...

161 posted on 08/31/2009 5:02:00 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: Ditter; the long march
I'll butt in on this one too...

'dry drunk' for ole gilbo was the near 10 yrs I abstained from alcohol use...

in that time, my attitudes and outlook on life in general swung from a recognition that God could and would direct me to a good life...

to a point of depression and misery that usually only other real alcoholics can identify with, being 'self inflicted' by my selfish desire to run the show for my benefit and tramplin everything around me...

leaving the Blessings of God, in my case the Lord Jesus behind as I faced the world alone [with only my demons to 'help']...

when I asked, He answered...

162 posted on 08/31/2009 5:13:57 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: ichabod1
good insight...

if the Spirit leads you to church, great...there are many there who wont venture to AA because it is non religious...

lots of work to be done...

163 posted on 08/31/2009 5:20:06 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; tiki
I, among others truly know that the burden was dealt to our spouses who didnt have any 'escape' like we did...

most of us would never have stayed in that situation for 5 minutes, much less 5 mos or yrs had the shoe been on the other foot...

for myself, and Im the only one I can truly speak for, the growth in a personal relationship with God is the only real 'sobriety', and that can come from anywhere, but AA has a decent track record of gettin people to open up to the 'God concept'...people who have cut themselves off from His Grace and think they cant come back...

mrs g watched and waited, she has gone to many a meeting w/ me to try to understand the insanity of alcoholism [she didnt like the al-anon though], but she will never truly know the alcoholic side, as I will truly never know the damage I caused her...

Gods Grace has been working and will continue as long as we seek it...

164 posted on 08/31/2009 5:35:32 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: Gilbo_3
I am glad that you finally asked the Lord for help but please don't think it is only alcoholics who reach that point. We all have things in our lives that cause us depression and despair and those of us who ask for help from Lord God are the lucky ones.

I had really never heard the term “dry drunk” except when liberals were demeaning George Bush so I really though it was a term invented to insult him. Liberals could not celebrate the fact that he no longer drank so they figured a another way to make fun of him. I have been thoroughly castigated for my ignorance.

165 posted on 08/31/2009 5:40:20 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Gilbo_3

Good for you guys. God Bless You. :)


166 posted on 08/31/2009 5:47:18 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Ditter
Oh No Maam, alcoholics dont have a corner market on anything except self infliced misery...heheheh...

I have come to believe that my alcoholism is truly a Blessing though, as it gave me an opportunity to see the strength of God demonstrated in a way that is undeniable...I see many 'godly' people that seem to have no real purpose or joy in their lives...

that changed the whole priority of 'life', as I now am tasked to work with others, who as I, wouldnt heed the words of someone who hasnt 'been there', and I can relate my 'come to Jesus' experience in the liquor store parking lot and hopefully help them to face the Lord and seek healing that only He can give...

as far as the smart-a$$$ed comments from others, please just realize that as a population, alcoholics can be 'touchy' and especially on AA threads...we are all capable of mis reading a comment...

167 posted on 08/31/2009 6:04:40 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: Gilbo_3

Keep on keepin’ on!


168 posted on 08/31/2009 7:07:40 AM PDT by Fido969 ("The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." - Albert Einstein)
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To: Gilbo_3

Yup. I have always found that to be the case.

It is when I am driven to me knees ( due always to my own arrogance and sense of being able to ‘handle it’) that I am finally ready to surrender to win.


169 posted on 08/31/2009 9:20:20 AM PDT by the long march
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
The Lords Blessings and Grace back at ya Maam...

we aint all bad, just human [thats bad enough]...lololo...

170 posted on 08/31/2009 9:37:45 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: the long march
unfortunatly, the 'human condition' is the keystone to our ailment...alcohol is but a convenient manifistation that my demons use to 'play' to my independence from God...

fortunatly, He answers EVERY time the heart truly seeks Him...

171 posted on 08/31/2009 9:41:57 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Luke 22:36...Trust in the Lord...=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: Gilbo_3

“... drinking is but a symptom...”


172 posted on 08/31/2009 9:49:55 AM PDT by the long march
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To: RobFromGa

Inactive? You didn’t go back out did ya?


173 posted on 12/12/2009 3:27:42 PM PST by MountainYankee
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To: MountainYankee

looks like I need to host the image somewhere else!!


174 posted on 12/12/2009 4:37:45 PM PST by RobFromGa (The FairTax is to tax policy as Global Warming is to science.)
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