THE DOCTOR’S OPINION

 “Competent businessman of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of a type I had come to
regard as hopeless” – I identify with this because my bottom was never the stereotypical picture
of alcoholics – being homeless, sitting a bench begging for change. BUT I have to remember that
my illness has just not progressed to that point YET. My OUTWARDLY comfortable lifestyle has
also been a major factor in me delaying getting sober. I’d think, “Well, I haven’t lost
EVERYTHING yet.” BUT I wouldn’t have felt I’d lost everything until I had NOTHING and NO
BOOZE left.
 Basis of AA was developed when Bill W. “commenced to present his conceptions to other
alcoholics, impressing upon them that they must do likewise with still other.”
 “Other methods had failed completely” – I identify with this because I have tried EVERYTHING I
know. Religion couldn’t do it, books couldn’t do it, rehab couldn’t do, I certainly couldn’t do it. I
don’t really have any options left (Gift of Desperation)
 “You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves.” RIGOROUS HONESTY. I love
this concept because “I want the truth” (even though I have been a LIAR my entire life). Ironic,
eh?
 “The body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind” – I have an “allergy to alcohol.” I
remember something that “Biker” Jerry said at a speaker meeting. To summarize, “The first time
I drank alcohol I puked all over myself and shit my pants. If I ever ate a strawberry that did this
to me, I’d never eat strawberries again. BUT, I drank again.” First few times I drank, I got
EXTREMELY sick, but kept going back like a moth to a flame.
 “We work out our solution on the SPIRITUAL as well as the ALTRUISTIC plane” – Spiritual =
Higher Power, Altruism = helping other alcoholics (BONUS ROUND!)
 “Of course, an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving for liquor and this often
requires a definite hospital procedure” – DETOX is needed to eliminate the PHYSICAL craving.
Once you are detoxed, the physical craving is gone and cannot be reactivated until you take the
first drink. “If you don’t take the first drink, you won’t get drunk.” “The only relief we have to
suggest is entire ABSTINENCE.” Agreed. Now I have to work on the PSYCHOLOGICAL craving (for
ME, that’s where the real danger lies).
 “The phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate
drinker.” – Not everyone drinks until they go to sleep and then starts thinking about it as soon as
they get up (but I did). Once I have a drink, “the phenomenon of craving at once (becomes)
paramount to ALL OTHER INTERESTS.” “Only living, one might say, to drink.” Living to drink and
drinking to live. SAD ☹
 “These allergic types can NEVER safely use alcohol in any form at all.”
 “Despairing wives, the little children” – these are the family and friends who love me and I am
crushing them under the weight of worrying about me.
 “Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol.” The effect
I liked was FEELING NUMB. It numbed me from anxiety (the reason I started drinking AND
smoking). It was my baseline so I always felt the same (NUMB) and then acted like I was having
real emotions (I realize that now that I’m having REAL emotions and I don’t know how to act).
 “Restless, irritable and discontented.” – That’s been the definition of my life the last 23 years.
This will continue unless I “can experience an entire PSYCHIC change” and “something more
than human power is needed to produce” this.
 “Well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful with a firm resolution not to drink again.”
Don’t know how many times I said, I’m giving it up for GOOD this time.
  Dr. Silkworth does not “believe that alcoholism is entirely a problem of mental control.” I have
tried using willpower, tried building my willpower, and only went back to drinking HARDER
because my willpower failed me and so I felt like a failure.
 “I must stop, but I cannot” (That’s me) “You must help me!” (I have never reached out and
asked this until this time. Other people did it for me, but it was never me.)
 Types of alcoholics – I think I’m the manic-depressive type (I’d love to say I’m the “normal in
every respect except in the effect alcohol has upon (me)” but I’ve got issues.
 “Most chronic alcoholics are doomed” there is “no hope.” – Doomed to death or a life that is
simply existing, not truly living. There are fates worse than death.
 After one year of sobriety, “from a trembling, despairing, nervous wreck had emerged a man
brimming over with SELF-RELIANCE and CONTENTMENT.” Considering how long (and how much)
I drank, a year seems pretty generous to get so much back. I need PATIENCE. It’s worth it!!
 “Patient had made his own diagnosis” – only I can diagnose myself as an alcoholic. I’m
judgmental, so I need to stop taking others inventories in ALL areas of my life.
 I came in with a lot of doubts and old tapes, but I have “become ‘sold’ on the ideas contained in
this book.” “Though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray.”

Just want to add that I’ve started listing to Joe and Charlie’s Big Book Comes Alive and I LOVE IT. Their
commentary and insight into this first section has got me HOOKED.