Alcoholism is a serious illness.
It does affect everything about a person and definitely does impact the mind along with body. Mind, body, and spirit.

Recovery from it is so life-changing that I say that my core self today is nothing like my core self 4+ years ago or whatever.
The change has been HUGE. Just huge. I can't even put into words all the positive stuff that has occured to me.

When I first came into AA, they said that the only thing that would need to change about me was everything.
I did not understand that statement at all. And, I of course wouldn't expect either a person who never had the illness to understand it.
The thing is that the change for the better doesn't happen in one day, but it does get better pretty quickly all things considered.
And for new people, I tell them the same thing that was told me----yes, everything needs to change about oneself----but you can only do it a small bit each day and just do recovery one day at a time.

I fortunately didn't have any thoughts of ending it all, so I was lucky on that part.

Warping of the mind is a fair statement like Tetsuo said.
Before AA, I knew lots of poor self-confidence, lots of anxiety, no real peace of mind or happiness.
I had lots of insecurities too. And I didn't really like myself AT ALL it seemed-- or other people that much. I didn't fit in. I was different and didn't even understand myself well a lot of times.

All of that has changed and is still getting better a little each day.

Is there another way besides AA? Maybe so, but I have been so happy with the AA steps and program that I wouldn't do it any other way. I can't imagine it being better actually.

Can a person quit on their own? Really difficult question but I think it depends on how far the person's illness has progressed. And most people with this disease seem to wait until things get really bad before they even admit or reach out for help. I was forced into the program by the law and it turned out to be the only 'right' thing that the court system did.

Amanda, I am not trying to discount your opinion in any way. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I can understand what you are saying. The thing about the 'power of the mind' though seems to be that the 'drink' eventually becomes how a person copes with almost anything and everything. The power of choice becomes lost in the process at some point. And the mind of an active alcoholic is not always healthy---especially in regards 'power of the mind'.
Drinking has to be abstained from for a good length of time before the craving lifts and before rational choices can be made on how to handle situations that the non-alcoholic would have no trouble handling.

And I can't even comment on the giving up of smoking or other drugs since my only drug of choice was alcohol.

I know Rusty is on the road to recovery...
Rusty---I already know I mentioned it before, but your posts remind me alot of me when I was at that stage.
The outlook is great for you but I know it is rough in the beginning.

The transformation of a person who first comes through the doors of AA to the point of recovery when the illness is in full remission is one of the most amazing things I have experienced.

I for one recommend it and doing what the people in AA say even though it is hard to understand at the time.
In the end though it's just for people who want it though. No one should ever force it on someone.



Last Edited By: Ronnie45 May 23 08 5:29 PM. Edited 1 times.