This weekend I have been a bit desperate trying to find something that can help me as obviously I am scared of everything to happen again and I don’t want It.
Anyway I got to Talk to this woman that her and her husband help people with tobacco, alcohol and other addictions and also with resilience.
I really liked the way she explained things to me in a way that they dont see alcoholism as a sickness, they believe that a lot of places that help to stop drinking have a very strict way of saying to us that we are sick, that we dont have the control, that we can’t see the people we used to see, go to a dinner where everyone is going to be drinking, go to a bar, go to a party … many things obviously that involves drinking …
The way they do things IS to make you free from alcohol but using your power not your will, Because the will and the temptation takes a lot of energy and normally ends with a drink.
They work as trying to make a new map in our brain where our decision is all It matters…
To know you can have that drink but you just don’t want to Because it’s your choice to don’t be like everyone else, etc
Of course you need the Will to get to the point but not to get through the whole time …
Also I dont feel normal when I drink. .and a lot of people probably thinks the same about theirselves… but what IS normal when you are under any substance? We think is normal Because the world that surround us made us think It was normal. That apparently IS really cool and fun to drink…but the reality IS a different one…
Anyway I just think It was a very good and completely different point of view…
This is a very short way to explain It but
I Will read more and try to get more information about it because I find It very interesting and helpful and maybe I can post again if anyone is interested.
Even though I have many friends who are sober and I meet people and just have fun without alcohol or meet people in the gym, I cannot deny that it actually IS normal where I live to be using too much alcohol and other drugs.
We can create that world towards a more sober one. But until then I can only see my sobriety as a glowing feature of mine. The benefits of sobriety may shine stronger in the presence of the damage done by alcohol in others. That way to see never made me feel left out. I dont need to feel superior its just hard to deny that sobriety has benefits in places with many drunks.
Although in humankind the use of substances has always been part of the natural curiousity so I dont condemn the act of it. But just because something was naturual doesnt make it healthy or desirable
Keep it coming!
What I’ve learnt in this community is, that everyone’s path to sobriety is truly their own. Sure, the traditional 12-step programmes feature heavily, but they don’t hold the monopoly on sobriety. Loads of people here chose different ways. You have to find your own way with your own plan that works for you. Don’t dismiss what you’ve not tried. Keep doing what works and change what doesn’t.
I love it! It really speaks to me… ‘using your power not your will’, ‘you can… but you just don’t want to… its your choice’.
Thank you for sharing this Fernanda… please tell me more about this approach. Xxx
What you’ve described is basically the AA principle of being empowered, just a different take on it, but if it works for you go for it.
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ program of recovery, there’s a fair few these days. When I got sober AA was pretty much the only game in town and luckily it worked for me and is still working for me over 20 years later.
The only problem I have with what you posted, is that Alcoholism really is a disease and has been recognised as such by the WHO in1955, the AMA in1956 and the BMA in 1969 to name a few and Alcoholics really are sick, but we’re sick people trying to get better ODAAT, but also bear in mind that what ever program you use, it only works if you work it.
Take care.
&