"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:cgicpv$tjp$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> "Fred Exley" <fexly221@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:10ipcj3r29i6hb3@corp.supernews.com...
> > >Usually, it's just really miserable. What kind of weird shit
> > > did you see when you closed your eyes?
> >
> > I think I had the 'pre-DT's'. No hallucinations, but while resting,
> not
> > quite asleep, some kind of prehistoric bird suddenly came right at
> me so
> > fast it made me jump to avoid getting hit.
> >
> >
> > >Well, now at day 5 it is all over. I feel fantastic. I am loving
> life.
> > >I am sooooooo glad to have alcohol out of my system! I never ever
> want
> > >to go through that again and I do not want to ever drink again -
> ever.
> >
> > My sentiments exactly. Now I'm trying to remember from each relapse
> just
> > what exactly tripped me up. In every case it was my thinking, not
> any
> > particular event. I always get my confidence back up after a month
> or so
> > dry, and quit going to meetings or these newsgroups. That's one
> action I'm
> > going to take this time around -stay close to the meetings and ng's,
> for a
> > constant reminder of the hell it was. -Fred
> >
> Hi Fred,
>
> Firstly, I hope that what I am about to say will not cause you to
> become offended.
>
> From comments you've posted here, I've got the impression that you
> found Step 1 helpful. If you have chosen to follow the AA route to
> recovery and think you have done Step 1 to your satisfaction, do you
> think now would be a good time to move onto Step 2 ?
>
> ATB
>
> JB
>

I'm there too, JB. The above action is in addition to believing only a
higher power can keep me off the stuff. Thanks -Fred






>

"Fred Exley" <fexly221@msn.com> wrote in message
news:10ipfm3he6qnh24@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
> news:cgicpv$tjp$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > "Fred Exley" <fexly221@msn.com> wrote in message
> > news:10ipcj3r29i6hb3@corp.supernews.com...
> > > >Usually, it's just really miserable. What kind of weird shit
> > > > did you see when you closed your eyes?
> > >
> > > I think I had the 'pre-DT's'. No hallucinations, but while resting,
> > not
> > > quite asleep, some kind of prehistoric bird suddenly came right at
> > me so
> > > fast it made me jump to avoid getting hit.
> > >
> > >
> > > >Well, now at day 5 it is all over. I feel fantastic. I am loving
> > life.
> > > >I am sooooooo glad to have alcohol out of my system! I never ever
> > want
> > > >to go through that again and I do not want to ever drink again -
> > ever.
> > >
> > > My sentiments exactly. Now I'm trying to remember from each relapse
> > just
> > > what exactly tripped me up. In every case it was my thinking, not
> > any
> > > particular event. I always get my confidence back up after a month
> > or so
> > > dry, and quit going to meetings or these newsgroups. That's one
> > action I'm
> > > going to take this time around -stay close to the meetings and ng's,
> > for a
> > > constant reminder of the hell it was. -Fred
> > >
> > Hi Fred,
> >
> > Firstly, I hope that what I am about to say will not cause you to
> > become offended.
> >
> > From comments you've posted here, I've got the impression that you
> > found Step 1 helpful. If you have chosen to follow the AA route to
> > recovery and think you have done Step 1 to your satisfaction, do you
> > think now would be a good time to move onto Step 2 ?
> >
> > ATB
> >
> > JB
> >
>
> I'm there too, JB. The above action is in addition to believing only a
> higher power can keep me off the stuff. Thanks -Fred
>
>
>
>

HA! HA!
JB, our resident private eye, is now working Fred's program for him.

"Fred Exley" <fexly221@msn.com> wrote in message
news:10ipfm3he6qnh24@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
> news:cgicpv$tjp$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > Hi Fred,
> >
> > Firstly, I hope that what I am about to say will not cause you to
> > become offended.
> >
> > From comments you've posted here, I've got the impression that you
> > found Step 1 helpful. If you have chosen to follow the AA route
to
> > recovery and think you have done Step 1 to your satisfaction, do
you
> > think now would be a good time to move onto Step 2 ?
> >
> > ATB
> >
> > JB
> >
>
> I'm there too, JB. The above action is in addition to believing
only a
> higher power can keep me off the stuff. Thanks -Fred
>
Dear Fred,

I've recently had cause to revisit Step 2 myself. In so doing, I've
been thinking a great deal about the word "sanity"; what it means
to me; looking at relevant posts on this NG and talking to my Sponsor.

Maybe you won't mind if I share two views on the word "sanity" that
I re-discovered while Googling. At this time, I'll keep to myself the
view which I favour:

View 1.

"....... your post reminded me of my own struggles coming to terms
with step two. Having experienced a psychic change from day one, when
it dawned on my alcohol befogged mind that possibly I need never drink
again, I temporarily "rewrote" step two, and changed the word "sanity"
to the words "emotional maturity."

After a little study, I recognised that in context, the "insanity" of
step two referred to the insanity of taking the first drink,
repeatedly, despite disastrous consequences.

Rewriting "insanity" back where it belonged, I then realised the
operative word of the entire step was "could" (possibly) as distinct
from "would" (assuredly.)"

--------------

View 2

"I know that alcohol causes me insanity. I knew that some years ago,
but continued to drink anyway. To arrest the insanity I had to stop
taking the substance I know causes it. But I was insane, so carried
on drinking regardless. Why? Because I didn't like the person I'd
become and yet the only way I knew how to avoid the feelings I was
having to live with was to use drink to suppress them.

In getting sober, I had to learn how to live with myself and with bad
things I had done, and was doing, and no doubt will do (because I'm
human). I needed to realise I'm not perfect after all.

So, in order to become restored to "sanity" (whatever that is) I have
to start by putting down the drink. But then I have to work on
myself, with the help of my Higher Power. He helps initially by
helping me not pick up a drink, but he helps in other ways that drive
me mad too. I need to let go of anger and resentments. When I fail
to do so, it hurts. I need to seek serenity, and I don't give it to
myself. I feel these symptoms are all elements of my insanity, so I
felt that Step 2 goes deeper than the insanity of just picking up a
drink.

I'll think about this some more. But for me personally I feel Step 2
has more meaning than just the drink...just like for me personally the
first part of Step 1 has more meaning than just alcohol."

-------

ATB

JB

"Gail" <sweetpawprints_920@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:10ipjlgeg4u5j78@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Fred Exley" <fexly221@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:10ipfm3he6qnh24@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message

> > > Hi Fred,
> > >
> > > Firstly, I hope that what I am about to say will not cause you
to
> > > become offended.
> > >
> > > From comments you've posted here, I've got the impression that
you
> > > found Step 1 helpful. If you have chosen to follow the AA route
to
> > > recovery and think you have done Step 1 to your satisfaction, do
you
> > > think now would be a good time to move onto Step 2 ?
> > >
> > > ATB
> > >
> > > JB
> > >
> >
> > I'm there too, JB. The above action is in addition to believing
only a
> > higher power can keep me off the stuff. Thanks -Fred
>
> HA! HA!
> JB, our resident private eye, is now working Fred's program for him.
>
Dear Gail,

I've been told that no-one can work another person's recovery
programme for them. Maybe you can think of a reason why they cannot
do so.

JB

" readandpost®" <readandpost@yahooORhotmail.com> wrote in message news:<Oy0Xc.12336$sO2.542@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>...
> : "Mark" <mrollings327@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> : news:6a036ff0.0408242338.3ba49f5@posting.google.co m...
> : > Hi there, I am new to this NG, just found it. Great info and
> : > discussions.
> : >
> :
>
> welcome mark.......................besides writing in a journal, are
> you planning on doing anything else for your disease of alcoholism?

Well, that is what I need to figure out. Sounds like AA is great for
alot of people but it is not for me. I just don't like anything that
is too structured - it makes me feel confined. I believe that is part
of what drove me to drink - feeling confined by the structure of work
and everyday life.

I feel like I need to focus on the things that made me drink, and
address those instead of trying to fight alcoholism.

> Well, that is what I need to figure out. Sounds like AA is great for
> alot of people but it is not for me. I just don't like anything that
> is too structured - it makes me feel confined. I believe that is part
> of what drove me to drink - feeling confined by the structure of work
> and everyday life.
>
> I feel like I need to focus on the things that made me drink, and
> address those instead of trying to fight alcoholism.

Sounds like you have a plan for yourself. I wish you the best. Stay in
touch...if you feel confined here just power off.

-Steve

:
: I feel like I need to focus on the things that made me drink, and
: address those instead of trying to fight alcoholism.


that is one of my definitions of AA.................it was a place,
full of wonderful people who helped me to find out WHY i drank and
what i could do to change that!

i don't FIGHT my alcoholism anymore...............................

i hope you find the help that you need.
have you considered an ONLINE AA meeting with less structure?
http://www.aa-intergroup.org/

just a thought,
rosie

" readandpost®" <readandpost@yahooORhotmail.com> wrote in message news:<rL2Xc.8628$Nb7.6178@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>...

> congrats to you fred, for reaching this point!
> way to be!
>
> rosie

I'll add to those congrats Fred.

Chegg

"Kenny" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message news:<cghv7c$h6c$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> Day 12 for me and feeling good physically but am finding it difficult
> handling "friends" who are still drinking and inviting me to join them. One
> other thing is that during my last drinking bout one of these "friends"
> stole a considerable amount of money from me. I don't have proof in the
> legal sense but I am 100% sure. I have not confronted him as yet, he will
> deny it and I can't accuse without proof. I really don't know what to do
> here but I have got to resolve it some way. This is the type of thing I
> would use as an excuse to drink again, I would get drunk and THEN confront
> him leading to who knows what.

Notwithstanding the fact that you don't have legal proof, Kenny, what
kind of a friend could this person be, I wonder? Perhaps it's worth
the money to *do nothing* and therefore never have to deal with this
person again? If you keep doing what you're doing now, presumably you
won't be worried about this in five years time...

Anyway, you already know exactly what's going to happen - you said so
yourself. Why bother?

Best

Cheggs

"Mark" <mrollings327@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6a036ff0.0408251418.1663e222@posting.google.c om...

>
> I feel like I need to focus on the things that made me drink, and
> address those instead of trying to fight alcoholism.
This is what AA does, but the thing may not be what you think. Most of us in
AA (at least in my home group) say that the thing that made us drink is seen
in the mirror--like Pogo said "We have met the enemy, and he is us". By the
way how do you focus on the things that made you drink without fighting
alcoholism? (serious question) Give AA a try, shop around for a group you
feel comfortable in. AA can be as loose or as tight as you want it and that
can change with time and growth.
Good Luck
John